The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-14

aSk DellWeS Whether there is much room for luxury among the followers of Christ while as yet tWo-thirds of the human race are sunken in ignorance and wretchedness In benevolent gifts per member our denomination is said to stand at the front Nearly half a million dollars in donations for foreign missions last year! A good round quantity! Some say it is too much; but there are quite good many of us at least six hundred thousand. And how much is that per member? An easy calculation shows that it is less than ar ordinary postage stamp per week. But it is probably true that as yet a numerical majority of our entire constituency are giving absolutely noth- ing for foreign missions.
 3. Manifestly the time has come fol st grading up of all the clements Of our church life to Q, higher missionary lev el. Past records of personal sacrifice and heroic achievement are inspiring but it is doubtful whether on the whole we have not seriously faced this mighty undertaking. It is admitted that the one end for which the church exists is to spread the influences and institu- tions of the gospel throughout the world. Let it be so understood. Let this impelling thought pervade every agency of the church until it throbs with the energy of a new purpose. We have covenants and articles of faith; put it into them and have it read at every reception of new members. We have constitutions and associations; put it there. We have sermons and prayer meetings; let it go into them. Special addresses and missionary con- certs are good unless they create the impression that on all other occasions missions are excluded. I would rather have my salt diffused through the food than served up as an occasional meal by itself We have Sunday schools and Endeavor societies, and colleges, and seminaries, and councils, and ordi- nations, and installations, and libra ries, and professorships; let this great ruling idea go into all of them until not a man or a woman or child can be found in the neighborhood of a church who cannot give 8 good account of himself from the standpoint of the worlds evangelization.
 f. There is one thing more. Our Lords last commandment first makes clear reference to three of the four greatest realities appearing upon the human plane-a great wrong, sin; a great remedy, repentance and remis- sion of sins in His name; and great mission, 'Ye are witnesses of these things" But the lone band of disci- pies girded about with organism, vast and populous and dark and bidden to break through it on every side, might we'll inquire by what energy this could be done. So the Master tells them of the fourth great reality, mighty pow CT of accomplishment. "Ye shall re- ceive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" It is true now, as it was true then, than this whole mis- sionary undertaking is to be viewed from the standpoint of the upper room Here the clear light shines; here the all sufficient strength is imparted. And yet this needs not so much to be spok- en as that we should ourselves find that upper room and go forth with the abid- ing baptism upon us.
 Reawakened loyalty to Christ; all possessions held in trust for the king donl's sake; our church life in all it's working elements charged with mis- sionary zeal; and Pentecost for our point of vision--these, if I mistake not, are the watchwords of the hour. They strike deeper than occasional debts and hard times. It is evident that a cam paign of tremendous significance is be- fore the church of God. Were this a conflict with carnal weapons we might we'll lose heart. But the undying ener- gies of righteousness are with us. The great Captain leads His armies, though ofttimes the ranks seem broken and faltering. The Holy Spirit waits to fill with power all who set themselves apart for His control And the day of triumph is surely coming. With quick ened step and hopeful courage let us follow the King until at last the hosts of darkness flee away and the sun of a new age shall rise upon an untroubled and Slorified world.