The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-01-23
Nils, i,nary 1 Work.
ANDERSON. S. c.. Jan. Q. 1895

ANDERSON, S. c., Jan. 2, 1895.
Dear Ladies of the Benevolent Society:
On reading the Leatiet of DR.. Chester
and his com mittee in Nashville and other
late communications from the same
quarter, I have been deeply impressed
with the tone of their feelings. Their
anxiety for the honor of our beloved
Church in pushing forward the mission
ary work is very great. Though 1 have
no authority to onioin any duty upon
you, yet you will permit me, as an old
friend, to urge the following upon your
attention.
The thermometer has dropped down
$4,000 during the last year below the
standard interest of our church In the
work of evangelizing the world. And
this fall is not due to the pecuniary pres
sure of the time. That complaint, now,
80 quickly framed into an excuse, is due
to the fact that our expectations OF the
steady advance in our comforts and nc
plans of prosperity, which we have for
wears past enjoyed, have simply been
checked, and we are complaining rather
for comforts which we had anticipated
than for those which we had lost. The
child with his hands full of candy and
toys is crying because he cannot 60 to
town. On the other hand everything
that We need to buy is phenomenally
low, and it is safe to say that. as peo-
pie, We arc as comfortable and as well
supplied as we ever have been.
It is safe to say, that we have spent as
much for our epjoyments during the
past month including Christmas as would
send two men OF God to distant countries
to carry the news of the great salvation.
This painfully significant decline Of
our church to meet her Obligations and to
rescue her honor from disgraceful retreat,
tells that an iusidious apostacy from God
is creeping into our churches. And every
one of us, my dear sisters, must share
the reproach. There are two suggestions
wished to make, secondipg those of DR..
Chester and the Nashville Com mittee.
|. The one is to emphasize that word
INFORMATION. 1t is just impos-
sib!e for you to carry forward the
missionary work by impulses and heats,
fits and starts. You must know some
thing of the great foreign work, it's needs,
it's successes, its missionaries and their
triumphs. You must read. should be
extremely sorry to think that you de-
clined information for fear of it's respon-
sibilities. The very advice which I have
formerly given you, is urged by DR..
Chester. The Missionary Journal of our
church must be before you, and II not
taken by every one must be read by
select articles at each of your meetings by
some good reader. There is even literary
Improvement in it. The appointed reader
will always prepare to read we'll. This
is the object Of your meetings, mutual
information and slim ulation in work.
And, dear sisters, let it be q rule that no
towns news, no parlor calls, no strangers,
no street incidents, no kitchen informa-
ton shall be detailed during the hour
given to the Lords work. Let the hour
be consecrated by solemn prayer to the
work of the Master. The Presidents
gavel must rap all foreign chat out OF the
room.
And let me commend, besides our own
missionary periodical which once be-
fore com mended to your attention. 1t is
the Worlds Missionary Review, by DR..
A, T. Pierson, IS and 20 Astor Place, New
York, price $500 per annum. 1 can in
most unqualified terms recon- mend it to
YOU as grand Review, monthly, OF the
missionary movements OF all denomtna-
tions, as presenting all kinds OF lnforma-
ton, statistical, historical, geographical,
that will enrich your minds even If you
never give cent for missions. Dear
sisters, take these two Journals. You
must read-Read, READ-or you will
never run this business of the Lord sue
cessfully.
2. The second suggestion I wanted to
make is that you unhesitatingly send
what moneys you have consecrated to
foreign missions at once to DR.. Chester.
I understand you have about 5000 for that
purpose. The Committee will duly ac-
credit so much to you on the year '95 to
'96. Their pressure at this moment is
very great. Let not your money be idle
now. He very earnestly but very res
pectfully requests it. God will enable
his willing workers to make more during
the coming year. He will bless your
labors.
I understand that you have, besides,
5000, which you had originally intended
to put stone steps to the church. It has
been practically idle for years while the
cause Of our Lord Is calling for help.
Why stands it there all the day idle ?
Could you do nobler thing with 1t than
to give it to the Lord? Will beautiful
steps, fsttering our pride, ever pay as
we'll Will the men ever do any better
If YOU take church building out Of their
hands? Is not your sanctuary as neat
and commodious as is consistent with
the crying wants of mankind and the
meekness Of our Lord himself. Let the
men build churches and manses, but
YOU, my dear sisters, keep tho inside
track of them in benevolent work and
lead them as you are qualified to do it,
in self.denying holy work. Pray over
IT, nv friends, and take the advice of an
old friend, who loves and thanks you for
many past kindnesses and devote all
your $500 to the Lord for his mission work.
May Gods blessing rest upon you.
Yours very truly.
D. E. FRIERSoN.