Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-09-24
AN ESSAY.


1.-THE following essay was composed and read be
fore the County Convention of the Christian Church
in Great Bend, on August 30, 1891, by Miss Ida
Bell.]
OBJECT OF THE ASSOCIATION.
This association, which is known as
the Missionary Cooperative Associa-
tiou, of the church of Christ, in Barton
county, was first organized June 20 and
FL, 1891, at a meeting held in Hoising-
ton for that purpose, at which time
an efficient corps of officers, and the
necessary committees were duly elected
and arrangements made for next, meet
ing.
This society is yet in its infancy.
but we trust it is strong, vigorous,
healthy one, parraking of and assimi-
lating only such food as will be needful
in building up each member of the
body and that the future may see it
developed into mighty power for the
determination of sin.
Before entering into discussion of
the objects we will analyze briefly and
see if we understand the meaning of
its name. MISUNDERSTANDING to
missions Oh the sending of persons to
help strengthen OF build up weak
points; co-operative-to join hand, and
work together as one body In promot-
ing the same cause, in the same sense
as Christ meant, when He prayed that
His followers might be one, as He and
His Father were one.
The object Of this association shall
be:
1st, 10 discuss questions regarding
ways and means of spreading the gos-
pei of Christ In the county. A man
wishing to plant vineyard, will, be-
fore actual labor has begun, lay plans
and systematize his work so that the
greatest amount will result from the
least expense and labor, and thereby
accomplish much more in a given
length of time, than if begun with but
little thought as to how or when it is
to be done. If this be necessary to
success in worldly matters, how much
more 50 in working for the Master,
whose work requires haste, and which
shall tell for time and eternity. So this
association attempts, by calling a meet
ing of the representative membership
of the county to furnish opportunity
for discussing plans and methods by
which the scattered members of the
county may be organized in working
power for good; and also for spreading
the gospel in those parts heretofore un-
evangelical.
End, To bring the members into
better acquaintance and deeper SYM
pathy with one another and to increase
their zeal and their power in the Mas
ter's cause. That was a very wise
command of the apostle, Neglect not
the assembling of yourselves together" :"
We may THINK we can be just as zeal
GUS. and do just as much good by
absenting ourselves from these meet
ings, but such is not the case. There
is a great inspiration to the human
soul in personal sympathy. We can
take in much enthusiasm from the eyes
of others, whose hearts are throbbing
with a common purpose, and whose
is frightened by the light
of hope, and we can read in them love
for the one Lord and for the one race
for which He lived and died. IF ye
have not the spirit of Christ ye are
none of His" What does this mean to
us, my brother, my sister? Do we show
such sympathizing spirit as becometh
a professed follower of Him, who, after
having been scorned, buffeted and
nailed to the cross, said, Father, for
give them, for they know not what
they do?'' If We, like Him, make
the salvation of the world the
object of our lives, then
we will have deep sympathy for one
another. We will love the work. We
will be Jealous to do that which we like
to do, and we will be a power for ac-
complishing much for the Master.
Sd, To furnish protection as far as
possible to churches against the dam
age and disgrace often brought upon
them by unprincipled men who claim
to be ministers of the gospel, but who
have no standing in any place where
they are known. There are many
things of great value in this world,
that are counterfeited, and they are all
looked upon as low. and debasing, and
are condemned by the law, but me-
thinks the most contemplate, the most
ignoble of all is counterfeit christian.
Aud it is lamentable truth that they
are not few in number, but the very
fact that there are such, only proves to
US the worth of christianity. We COM
prehend Christ's prophetic insight into
the future, when ne said, ''Many shall
say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Thy name,