The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-03
WHY A FOREIGN MIssION2
BY REV. MYRA R. LIBBY.

A MAJORITY of reasons that can be
urged in favor of any mission, can be
used with equal propriety in favor of
foreign mission; there are also
some that may be added. We should
have foreign mission, and the most
foreign one that can be established,
because short of this we cannot make
a consistent expression of the uni
versal faith we hold.-the universal
ideas in which we claim belief. To
profess faith in a brotherhood as
large as humanity, and then declare
by our practice an interest in our
fellow men bounded by the narrow
limitations of indifference and selfish
ness, is far enough from proving our
faith by our works. Until our faith
is SO proven, however, we shall have
failed to make good our claim to it.
What does religious belief amount
to, be it ever SO grand or exalted, if
it simply delights the mind, without
warming the heart, or nerving the
hand7 What avails it to say, GOD
loves the world" when we have no
deep, unselfish interest in showing
how he loves it? A great faith can
never find it's complete demonstra-
ton in intellectual statements there
of. It's only real, valid expression is
in its application to human need,
which must be as limitless as it's own
claim. Therefore, to be in any ade-
quate what we claim, we must plant
the signals of our great love service
on the most foreign fields we can
find.
Then, too, foreign mission is the
most natural and desirable express
sion of great love because it is the
hardest. 1t involves the largest out
lay of time and money and calls for
the greatest sacrifice, and for these
reasons it becomes most inviting. A
great soul never looks for easy things
to do for those it loves. The hard
service is most alluring, and none is
too hard to be eagerly accepted, if it
may bless the one beloved.
Goods great love for the world"
has been and is the clarion cry of
the Universalist Church. What can
satisfy such love in human hearts,
but its expression in the largest SER
vice that can possibly be offered?
Love is not selfish, it cannot be, and
the things that are altogether easy
of accomplishment cannot fully or
permanently satisfy it. When the
Universalist Church will live as it
claims to love, it will find no field too
far, no service too severe for its un-
dertaking
We should have foreign mission
because in the large outlay OF de-
nominational strength for which it
calls is to be found the means of the
largest increase of that same strength.
We are certainly in the grasp of law
in this matter which is inexorable in
the realm of religious affairs as the
law of gravity is in that of material
things.
''F'or we must share if we would keep
The blessing from above;
Ceasing to give we cease to have,
This is the law of love-
1t is the large and increasing outgo
of all our possessions, wisely but
generously determined, that fixes
our rate of Increase; aud while we do
not and should not, first of all give
that we may gain, it is vitality impor-
tant that we recognize this unvarying
relation Of these two things.
Why foreign mission9 Our faith
demands it; our love for humanity
desires it; our growth as denomi-
nation largely depends upon it.
WATERFOWL, N. Y.