The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-02-06

pits, In mission stations, Sabbath schools, in
unheard OF places who are doing their best
for God and without any recognition. They
go and come, and no one cheers them. Per-
haps all the reward they get is harsh critic
ism, or repulse, or their own fatigue. II you
have ever heard of any good they have done,
let them know about it. II you find some
one benefited by their aims, or their prayers,
or their cheering word, 90 and tell them.
They may be almost ready to give up their
mission. They may be almost in despair be-
cause of the seeming lack OF results. One
word from you may be an ordination that
will start them on the chief work OF their
lifetime. A Christian woman said to her
pastor: "My usefulness is done. do not
snow why my life is spared any longer, be-
cause can do no good" Then the pastor
sses ee sS0f o sSe rou Sa any
good?" and he replied: SIN the first place,
YOU are always in your seat in the church,
and that helps me, and in the secont place
you are always wide awake and alert. look
ing right up into my face, and that helps me,
and In the third place often see Gears rup.
ming down your cheeks, and that helps me-
What a good thing he did not wait until shi
was dead before he said SO!
There are hundreds of ministers wno have
hard work to make sermons because no one
expresses any appreciation. They are afraic
of making him vain. The moment the
benediction is pronounced they turn on thef
heels and go out. Perhaps 1t was suojecl
on which he had put especial pains. H.
sought for the right text, and then did his
best to put the old thought INTO some new
shape. He had prayed that 1t might 60 to
the hearts OF the people. He had added to
the argument the most vivid illustrations he
could think OF. He had delivered all with
a power that left him nervously exhausted.
Five hundred people may have been blessed
by 1t and resolved upon higher life and
nobler purposes. Yet all he hears Is the
clank OF the pew door, or the shutting OF
feet in the aisle. or some remark about the
weather, the last resort of inanity. Why
did not that man come up and say frankly,
"You have done me good?" Why did not
some woman come up and say, II shall go
home to take up the burden Of life more
cheerfully?" Why did not some professional
man come up and say: "Thank you, dominic.
bless you." Why did they not tell him so?
have known ministers, in the nervous reac-
tion that comes to some after the delivery OF
a sermon with no seeming result, to go home
and roll on the floor In agony.
But to make up for this lack OF outspoken
religion there needs to be and will be
great day when, amid the solemnities and
grandeurs, of listening universe. God will
"say so." No statistics can state how many
mothers have rocked cradles and hove-ad
over il.fantile sicknessss and brought VI.
their families to manhood and, Manhood
and launched them upon useful success
full lives, and yet never received 4e ''Thank
yon' that amounted to Anything. The
daughters became queens inAsocial life or
were affanced in highest realms of pros
perlty; the sons took The fht honors OF
the univ ersity and became radiant in none
tary Or professional spheres. Nof the secret
OF ali that uplifted maternal inf3ence must
ccme out. Society did not sly So the
church did not say so, the world fAa not say
so,but on that day OF all other dafA the last
day. God will say so.
There are men to whom life lis Agrind
and Il conflict. hereditary teP' 4eieto.r1
overcome. accidental enviroeA = 10 On
endured. appalling opnc x and nWS'
conquered, ane N'4.oa or "a dom