The Newtown bee., 1898-04-08

Wnen we are gone lne puresC, most
DEVOTED soul, have known among the
office bearers in the church, confessed to
me in sadness before he died, that he did
not know that he had ever helped a fell
low mortal to better life. There were
those in bis departure, who honored his
memory, and said, "the good deacon had
been as Christ to them," but he listened
not to their grateful word. But we have
done our duty. Mary had ''done what
she could" We have been "diligent in
business, serving the Lord" We were
kind and sympathetic; we went where
distress had come. We taught little
children the love of Christ. We were of
the group where Dorcas made garments
for the poor. We bore our part in sus-
tanning the church and its ministries.
We thought of the wide kingdom of the
Master. as our missionary field. Or we
stood in society as the heralds of the
breaking day; we believed in the regen-
Grafton of the public standards, in high
er type of conscience, in nobler, more
intelligent citizenship. We spoke for
human brotherhood when demagogues
and infidels would partition society into
classes.
WE HAVE TRIED TO DO OUR DUTY, AS
CHRISTIANS,
where duty called US. Yet our slight
touch, where there was human need, or
our feeble word when Gods righteous
ness was called in question, appears to
US insignificant. Especially is this the
fact when we have tried to estimate the
growth of the seed we have sown. We
expected something more than appears.
Our honest words seemed to have 80
little power or life ia them, but we did
not remain silent. We were outwitted In
endeavor and outvoted in human councils
and we were nigh disheartened. Spirit
usl things make such tardy progress.
Lives are so slow in taking shape under
the influence of prayer. Have we not
yet learned that enduring fruitage comes
into view late in human seasons; that
the best mis- sions move, not with the
hasty tread of men, but with the eternal
peace of God? Our time is now; His
time, forever. We hardly put two and
two together; He multiplies the digits and
squares the tens. To see anything like
cheering progress in the kingdom of
Christ we need to sweep the times of hu-
man society. Behind us the prophets
warned and the apostles invited; behind
us the saints stood for Christ in their
little inches of influence. And we have
seen of the travail OF their souls: but we
have entered upon magnificent vantage
ground because of their toll; the king
dom hastens; our opportunity is world
wide; millenial day is dawning.
THE LOOM OF GODS HEADLANDs FILLS
OUR VISION.
Yet If we begin to aff1cm something of
seasons or decades, the element of dis
couragement enters. Mr. Moody chilled
our hearts last year by discovering 5000
churches which in the previous (l896)
year had received no additions to the
rolls of membership. This fact was
heralded by certain newspapers to prove
the fruitlessness of the churches. MrI
Moody's figures may or may not prove
the leanness of those churches. The in
crease of numerical rolls does not en-
brace all the work of devoted church
and there are churches which would be
benefited by numerical decrease when
decrease ment a larger Individual respon-
sibility. Such q criticism as this is made
within too narrow limits and accounts |
not for the forces of God which DEFY hu-
man bookkeeping. Mr. Moody did not /
tells US that the year In question was
really one of the largest in numerical re-
suits throughout Christendom, He did Il
not say that 1t was day Of hereism in Il
missionary centers, and particularly In
Armenia, that is not para1leled in apos-
tolic times. He did not speak OF his own i
and the apostolic work Of other wrought I
in the heart Of the cities, whose silent,
divine power is leaven that outstrips the
years Of the calender; nor did he remem-
Der that he was nearing the close OF the
century which begau, according TO the
bookkeepers. with one professed Cnria-
tian to 14.5 souls covered by the census,
which upon the completion Of the half
century was one to every SIS souls,
which to-day By authentic tables ID one
TO every three souls.
A Law AS TRREvOKABLE
~ the Law that holds the stars In their
places has affected The sowings Of the liY-
Ing church Of God. Not prayer has Il