The herald., 1898-12-04
TO CARRY THE CROSS OF CHRIST
The Leader Of the Expedition Tells the
Story Of the Crusade

A new and quite unlooked-for element is
to enter into the plans for the Americaniz-
ing of Cuba and Porto Rico.
Christian missionaries are to take hand
in the regeneration of the two beautful
islands. Under the leadership of we'll
known river and ocean preacher hand
some and commodious yacht now building
at Jeffersonville, Ind, is to sail to the
Antilles and, endeavor to start wave OF
religious enthusiasm among the islanders.
The story that follows is written especially
for this newspaper by the missionary who
will lead the expedition.
,JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind, Nov. %
Especial Correspondence to The Herald.)
"Cuba and Porto Rico for Christ. With
this beautiful sentiment as our masthead
motto, we shall sail for the West indies
when our fine yacht, at present i'll process
of construction, is finished. When l say
.we'' | mean band of devoted missionaries,
who will go to Cuba with the same deter
mination to save and to help as our brave
army had to kill and to destroy We are
soldiers of Christ and sailors OF the Gospel
yacht, an army and a navy in one, and
we hope to do great things for the cause we
love.
The gospel ship that is to be built for us
here will be the largest ever launched. There
is TO be a chapel on board, with a seating
capacity of 700. The equipment will consist
of big stock of Bibles for free distribution,
and every man of the crew will be a sailor
missionary.
The boat is to be launched on the Ohio
river and will reach the ocean by way OF
the Ohio and Mississippi waters. All the way
down the rivers missionary work will be
carried on, and en- route for the objective
point, the islands of the West Indies, every
opportunity to preach Christ to the people
will be made the most of
When Columbus iirst visited our shores
the natives were friendly and ran hlther and
thither, telling each other that angels
had come down from heaven to them. But,
alas, our aboriginal brothers found out too
soon that pundcr, not love, was the portion
dealt out to them. But a new day is upon
us Love is our weapon now, and the wings
of a yacht will visit these islanders and the
wives and children, who, as Charles King
ley sings, weep and WORK, and the harbor
bar is moaning
Arise, ye people, Let this work be your re-
form. Send or peace gospel ship, with
its new cry of hope, heaven and God.
The singing alone on the Gospel yacht will
let down the hcodgate of tears and despair
and revive these dear brothers and sisters
of ours Do YOU not believe IN the fatnerhood
of God and the brotherhood of man? Are
they not our own:
The purpse of this yacht, too, will be to
help physically. If hungry and naked, this
sea-going vessel will send for supplies. What
r. 70 cot,lt whom
emaciatcd and broken down with lack of
nutrition. Is not this the cause OF a sickly
soul in siclly body:
We shall recognize no nationality. Cuban
and Spaniard alike will be invited to attend
our floating chapel. The Christian religion
will be spread along the northern and south
ern shores of our new possessions wherever
a community can be found. With mission
aries on board speaking the Spanish Ian
guage the work will be carried on among
the natives OF our new islands as long a
one remains outside the fold of the shep-
herd.
The gospel yacht will be lifeboat to
the rowing wanders of the deep. The Won
derful story that has been preached in all
the cities, villages and hamlets of this IA
vored country will be taken over the storm
tossed waves to the neglected Cubans and
Porto Ricans, and white and coored will
be blessed by the coming of the Bible boat
This missionary yacht will prove itself the
most wonderful and successful missionary
agent that has ever been guided by the low
ing hand of the Great Pilot.
In the large cities rescue mission work
will be carrie,. on among the fallen women
and homeless waits.
In certain districts along the waters edge
are those poor, miserable and very wrecth-
ed mortals who have but one more step to
take and that is a midnight plunge in the
merciless waves that ushers them into eter
nifty.
IN those dark haunts of vice and evil our
men and workers will 90 with the open
Bible and will point those lost souls to
Christ.
They will be invited on board the ship o