Evening journal., 1901-05-17

willing to do, and willingness comes from
a thorough knowledge of the subject
about which we are to exercise our in
terest. Therefore it would appear TO be
the duty of every member of a church |
club to inform himself about the work go-
ing on in the missionary field and of those
who are promoting it, Wherever work is |
being carried on. money and interest and |
enthusiasm are needed to enhance aud |
encourage It. and to give these we must |
know about the work which we are ex-
pected TO help, whether the work is car
ried on at home or abroad.
The spirit which animates the Amer
lean church to-day is its missionary |
spirit You can see this in any live parish |
whether in the city or country. Where |
the members Of a parish are intrusted in |
doing for weaker ones, helping a strug |
Cling work, and by self-sacrifce and in
dustry are collecting boxes, church ap-
pointments or money for rebuilding, re-
pairing or reopening churches. The love
Of doing for others arOuses as no other
motive will the truly Christian spirit.
Now when the work is to be done is
clearly in the mind Of the workers, the
duties are so potent, that the immediate
Questions arise how are these duties to be
systematized and performed.
The American church to-day is con-
frOnted by one Of the gravest problems in
its history. Existing in the midst Of
civilization without a superior, maintain
ed and fostered by the highest type Of
American citizenship, and influencing in
a thousand countless ways the policy aud
trend Of thought, legal, political and So
cal. the American church even in its
present status, comes nearer than any
other Christian body to filling the duties
IOf national church. If not In name GER
Itainly in influence. This being the case
the American church cannot content her
self alone with parishes and dioceses Of
a circumscribed geographical limit. She
must have her watchmen on the borders,
lpeering in the lying vista both of space
and time. ready to strengthen the out
lp0sts. eager to advance with the banner
lof the cross, wherever our flag will call
lus This. it seems to me is our national
lChrstian duty and what is theoretically
1.-THE duty Of the church at large, is the
duty Of every loyal earnest and true
Christian.
Now, gentlemen, what is the outlook? :?
south Of u.s. east OF us, or west OF us, we
will find hosts Of our fellowmep still ex-
isting in the mists and miasmfof ignor-
ance doubt and degradation. The leaven
of Christian workers Is still called truth
while the lump is whole" In the
Orient, in the isles OF the sea. in the icy
north, in the torrid south. the seething
! mass Of unregenerate human kind Is
lcrying to us for the purifying light OF the
Gospel OF Jesus Christ. These people
: having come under the protection OF our
flag for bodily and social preservation de-
mand the help and assistance OF the cross
OF Christ for their spiritual redemption
and peace. Civilization can light the
, torch OF the higher life but religion must
, supply the oil and fuel TO keep this flame
; brightly burning in the hearts of men,
We must as a Christian nation take up
the task OF supplying the needs Of the
soul as well as the needs OF the body,
(which means that along with the purifica-
tion Of the state. we must give them the
peace Of the church Of God.
The recent work Of the New York
Church Club will be interesting in this
connection, leading as it does in concerted
and definite efforts towards missionary
work. At its April meeting the following
report was made by its committee Ia
arouse the conscience and interest of the
church towards the needs OF the Philip
pine Islands.
1t was pointed out that political re-
sponsibility carries with it spiritual and
ecclesiastical duty; and, by the comfy
existing between the Church of England
and ourselves, the ecclesiastical jurisdic-
tion and functions Of the Anglican Com
munion within the islands can be pro-
vided for and regulated only by our
. church. All inhabitants Of our commun-
ion depend, therefore upon the church
for the ministrations essential to their
: spiritual welfare"
May this movement be brought up be-
fore our church clubs more formally.
more definitely, so that each club may
select some part of this great field to re-
,, ceive its attention and support, at the
same time cooperating with similar or
, ganizations, disposed on the same lines
until the work is brought to the measur,
and stature Of the fullness Of Christ.
Let us not be discouraged with the en-
tent Of the WORK and the number of
workers. but whatever is done to be Civ
, ing or thanks for each stand, each step
and victory Let us even be thankful for
the task. God will bring the work to a
successful end. After the treaty of
Paris when England acknowledged the
American colonies to be free and indie
pendent. King George III. learning that
a day of thanksgiving had been proclaim-
ed and observed throughout the colonies.
so approved the plan, that he told his
prime minister that ne would like to have
the same observance, as the idea was To
him so beautiful.
His minister replied. $50 it is. your ma
, jesty. but having just lost the brightest
jewel in your crown, you have nothing to
give thanks for" "'Tis true" said the
king, "but l can yet give thanks for God
: Almighty reigneth in heaven over the af-
3 fairs of men, and OF them He is still
the King Of Kings and the Lord OF
Lords"
A glowing tribute was paid to the Boys