The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-27
Thoughts On the Topic.

We are fired with enthusiasm over the
lives Of men like Livingstone, Gardiner,
Patton and others, and We long 10 have
our lives conformed 10 such heroic
moIds. We need 3 realization OF the fact
that we may possess the fundamental
principles which make missionary heroes
possible We exalt the perils and perse-
cutions Of Paul and all the missionaries
who have succeeded him. forgetting thai
the power OF endurance possessed by
such men may be cultivated by US. We
look at the romance OF missions. and
frequently in the glamour Of what ap-
pears a great service. forget that the
qualifications for such service have come
through patient years Of pIodding. Our
great danger lies il having our eyes
filed with what appears 70 be a mag
ni1cent opportunity for service. but fail-
ing to realize that service is only great
when We are IN the great will Of Cod
Our souls may be fred with a desire to
devote our lives to the cause OF mis-
eions. but If, when all doors are closed
against IS, We are miserable, restless
and rebellous. il is evident that We DO
not possess the spirit Of missionary
herofsm
The missionary is one who is sent
Being sent OF God IS the greatest errand
of life. Where God puts US is our sphere
Of influence AS Mr.. Meyer said il one
Of his recent Mortified addresses. Our
Iamp-stand-the place where God has
put us-is the place where We are 70
shine" To use one Of President Roose-
velt's forcefuI phrases. II is hard for
sore o. Us 10 stay put" received q
letter a few days ago from a young lady
who has q burning desire 10 be a for
eign missionary, and yet the way TO the
foreign field seems closed for the pres
snt, at least, by reason OF ill-health.
Said she, God surely has some little
corner FOR one Of his little ones. even
though all she has 10 offer is a willing
heart God has a place for such.
Though the form Of service may not be
what has been pictured as the ideal. yet
# the errand Of life is performed patti
entity, lovingly and whole heartedIy, the
mission Of tina. life is heroIcally real
lied.
A few months ago one Of our active
Christian Endeavor workers was lying
on his couch waiting the summons Of the
King. II had been the desire OF that
Young man TO become a foreign mis-
sionary. and many plans for special pre-
paration had been talked over months
before. In a peculiar frank way which
he possessed he looked up and said: L
fear that you and many Of my friends
have misunderstood me in what you
considered my desire 10 be a foreign
missionary. I have not had a burning
passion 10 go. but have simply desired
20 20 II Cod wanted me for that serv-
ice" There was as much heroism IN
that life going out Tor God, submitting
10 the will OF God, as II it had been
laid down in fever-stricken Africa or
the Boxer instruction in China. Cheer
ful acquiescence 70 the viii OF God is
the first element in heroisln. As God
looms I'D large in the life. self is hum
bIed. and We are ready for the ques-
tons. Whom shall I send, and who will
70 for us7" And even though the mis-
zion may appear hopeless from the be
ginning, we have nothing 10 do with
that, for the performance OF the viii Of
Cod IS success and the surrendered life
fer Gcd AID Enen IS heroism.
How shall We make our topic intense
Iy practical: that is, how shall We come
into the possession Of missionary hero
ism7
l. Read the biographies OK those who