The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-06-07

and industry. By all means let the gen
eral work go on. But here is the spe- |
cific field for religious concentration
and development. This is not chimeri-
cal or impractical. read this morning
that the American Missionary associa-
tion of the Congregational church has
already begun the work at San Juan,
Utuado and Albonito, and all denomi-
nations of Christians, in six months,
will be in those islandy fields, and we
will need with our prayers and con-
tributions to cheer them on to take
for God and righteousness those re-
gions which our American navy has
captured from Spanish perfidy.
1t has been estimated that this Amer
ico-Spanish war cost us s3O0,O00,0O0, 1t
would not cost half of that to proclaim
and carry on and consummnte holy
war that win rescue those archipelagoes
from satanic domination. Who will vol
unteer? l beat the drum of recruit
ing station. Who will enlist under the
one starred, blood striped bi pner of Inn
manuel? Cuba and Porto Rico and the
Philippines are stepping stones for our
American Christianity to cross over and
take the round world for God We need
a new evangelical alliance organized for
this one purpose. In all denominations
there are those with large enough
hearts and who have been thoroughly
enough converted to join in such an
advanced movement; men who, putting
aside all minor differences of opinion,
"belicve in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son."
and who would march shoulder to
shoulder in such a Gospel campaign.
The result would be that those islands,
after scene of gospelizotion, would
assort themselves into denominations
to suit themselves, and some would be
sprinkled in holy baptism, and others
would be immersed in those warm riv-
ers, and some would worship in relig-
ious assemblage silent as the Quaker
meeting house, and others would have
as many jubilant ejaculations as back
woods camp meeting, and some of those
who preached would be gowned and
surpliced for the work, and others
would stand in citizens apparel or in
their shirt sleeves preaching that Cos
pei which is to save the world.
Mark you well that craftsmanship,
however grand it is, and wise men of the
world, however noble, cannot do this
work. Mere secular education does not
moralize. Some of the most thoroughly
educated men in all the world have been
the worst men. Quicken a mans intel
lect, while at the same time you do not
make his morals good, and you only
augment his power for evil. Geography
and mathematics and metaphysics and
philosophy will never qualify people
to govern themselves. A corrupt print
ing press is worse than no printing
press at all, but let loose an open Bible
upon those islands and let the apocalyp-
tic angel once fly over them and you
will prepare them to become either col
onies of the United States government
or, as hope will be the case, independ-
ent republics.
God did not exhaust himself when he
built this nation. Those islands will yet
have their Thomas Jeffersons, qualified
to write for them declarations of indie
pendence; and George Washingtons
capable of achieving their liberties; and
Abraham Lincolns, strong enough &c
emancipate their serfdoms; and Long
fellows and Bryants, capable of put
ting their hills and their rivers and theiI
landscapes into poems; and their Ban
; crofts and Prescotts to make their his
tories; and their Irvings to write theiI
sketch books; and their Charles O'Con
ors and Rufus Choates to plead in theil
courtrooms; and their Daniel Websters
and John G. Crittendens to move theil
senatcs.
The day cometh-hear it all ye whC
have no hope for those islands of be
; dwarfed and diseased illiterates-tht
day cometh when those regions will
have a Christian civilization equal Il
that which this country now enjoys
while l hope by that time this country
will be as superior to what it now il
as to-day Washington and New Yorl
are better than Manila and Santiago
Christ has started for the conquest o
the nations, and nothing on earth or il
hell can stop it. The continents arr
rapidly rolling into His dominion, ant
why not those islands, which for th
most part are only fragments broker
off from continents, the interval land
; having been sunk by earthquakes, al
, lowing the ocean to take mastery owe
them? Each mother continent ha
around it whole family of little cont
nents. If the continents are being 81
rapidly evangelical, why not the is
lands? If America, why not Cuba ant
the Bahamas? If Asia, why not tn
. Philippines and the Moluccas? If Eu
| rope, why not the Azores and the Orli
neys? If Africa, why not Madagascar
and st. Helena? The same power tha
broke them off the mainland can lif
them into evangelization.
In the old book, which has become
new book by reason of modern discoV
cries, especial attention is called to tn
> islands. Declare the Lords praise il
the islands," commands Isaiah. lie
the multitudes of the islands be gla,
, thereof" says the Psalmist. "All tn
= islands of the heather shall worshi
Him. writes Zephaniah. He shal
: turn His face to the islands" prophesie
Daniel. "The inhabitants of the isle
shall be astonished at thee" foretell
Ezekiel. Hear it and declare ii to tn
islands afar off," eXclaims jeremiah
You see from this the islands are not
= be neglected. Perhaps they are tn
Lords favorites, as in households
. there is any favoritism at all it is 70
the weakest. The islands too small {
take care of themselves have the etel