The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-10

freedom OF semi-civlIIzed lie which at
tracts tho brave and encourages the law
less Tho boldcst spirits, therefore the
most reckless men have always been
found on our frontiers. As the frontier
has advanced westward, ardent, restless.
rash and lmpulsive men have pressed tow
ard tho land 81 the setting sun. Nc now
have no frontier as that phrase was for
merry understood. It's westward advance
has been STAYED by the golden shores Of
tie Pacific. Tie result IS, the majority Of
the wild, vigorous spirits who have adj
vancCd with the frontier are here TO stay.
Many OF them posscgs bold. inqulrlnB
minds, challenging everything doubling
everything believing nothing. Having re-
volted from the religious training ihey re-
away the faith OF their fathers aud ceased
10 Worship the God OF their mothers. they
ure here, bold, restless, recisless wanderers
in the spiritual world-w without God and
without hope.
The sltepticlsrn OF these persons consti.
tutes one great difficulty in the way 81
our evangeliguc work IN the West But
the greatest ciihculty TO be overcome IS
the stolid Indifference to divine truth on
the part OF 30 many of tho people. They
have been so long without the gospel thnt
they appear to think they can do very
well without IL. They have no respect for
n preacher AS a preacher and very little
use for MIN except 70 bury their dead
The search for truth with which 20 com
bat the skepticism OF his hearers VIII slim
ulate the thought. invigorata the Intellect,
and make 4 strong preacher stronger
man, and viii XIII weak one ] have
seen the apostolic pioneer of Methodism
in Western Texas d&ev a. !. RotteD SO
east down and dtsplritcd by the careless
ness and Indifference OF the people hero
that he was almost ready 70 give Up the
work in despair More man once he has
said This Is the hardest field I have ever
worked in'-hard, not beeausa the people
are rude or lawless. but because they are
indifferent, and appear TO attach no impor-
lance whatever 10 the truth We preach
fIbfa M nfYa ,afrV
arise out OF its difiiculties-the the diflicui.
ties 10 be overcome are the measure III
our requirements
our work In the West requires robust
men-men who are strong physically mon
tally, spiritually 1t requires men VINO are
strong physically TO perform the duties,
bear the strain, and overcome the difficult
ties which are incident to this field men
OF vigorous Intellect who can answer the
objections OF EainsaNers and solve the dlf-
ficultics OF honest doubters--inen OF com
manding Individuality which will enable
them 70 overcome the tnnitternucA OF the
people and mako itself felt In their social
and religious life--meu Of sterling ntrg-
rity and uu iiiuching allegiance to God and
the church, which will command the 70
spect Of the enemies OF the cross. and en-
able them to he tho sons OF God without
rebuke In the midst OF a crooked and per
verse generation, among whom" we are 70
shine as lishts IN the world' holding
forth the word of liEht-mcn OF large
heart and tender sympathies which will M
their souls with intense, yCarnlng love for
sinners and lead them to sacrifice them
selves to save the people.
Our work in The West requires The best
men the church possfascs-;he Pauis and
the Barnebases OF Our beloved Zlon-cdn-
seorated men--men entirely given up 10
God and the work Of saving souls-men
wholly sanctined by the spirit of truth.
moral heroes who are prepared to put their
lives into their worlt-holy, Chrlstllke men
fun OF the Holy Ghost and OF ncwer.
There Is no room IN this Western field
FOR weak mon or l6ggards. They are
worse than uSelcss--they are Injurious
Before this corner of the Lords vine
yard produces the abundant harvest II
Is designed by God 10 produce it win
men who do not count their lives dear
unto them, and are willing to sacrifice
themselves to extend the kingdom OF our
blessed Redeemer.
The field Is n grand one and under the
blessing of God and the care of the church
VIII eventually Yield an abundant harvest.
The people are generous to a fault, hos
pitahle and kind, and when converted to
God VIII make az noble a people as can
be found on the face Of the earth i love
the West expect TO proclaim the truth as
y Is In Jesus In the West as long as I
live aud be buried I'm her soil when ] die
The anxiety | feel for the success of our
work here and n realization OF the i'm
port1nce OF the church NJ large, under
standing the nature Of our work, must be
my excuse for putting these thoughts
ing to the church. Send us men. give us
money TO keep them alive and by the
grace of God the West-the skeptlcal In
different West-will yct vie with the East
In Dralsing our God and shouting the glad
hosannas of our King