The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-21
MYSTERIES OF GOD"-;;;:::: ;::;.5 =: :: :: :.';': W:

| between what We were and are, had and
have. did and should do or be.
| Time was when the world was not all
open 10 the missionaries of the gospel,
| but now 1t is, and the question for church
| courts is one of men and money to &c
| forth. Time was when the church Itself
| was not awake TO a sense of responsible
~ to carry the gospel awide. but now
| It's chief interest and work are missionary
Time was when the nations were her
mits. and felt no responsibility concerning
| the uplifting of their neiShbors, and even
| Rnme's great protection for It's citizens
| was only for It's own citizens. but now the
last of the hermit nations are opening
their doors. and wrongs to humanity In
any part or the world are of concern TO
| the family of nations. In our churches
we used to be satisfied and approve our
| selves IL we gave so or 70 cents average
| per member each year for missionary
| work. but the liberality of the church has
SO grown that this year the average per
member in the whole United Presbyterian
Church for missionary work beyond our
own bounds is &.26, while the home
church offerings have made the total con-
tributions average S5.52 per member all
over the church.
Shall we be alarmed over the year.y
increase in the calls upon us? Shall the
white man think OF 1t as n burden at all ?
VIII the responsibility and sorrows OF
leadership make us deslrous of vacatinS
our abilities and positions? Nay. nay.
the country has come to such strength
and such sense of responsibility that
there is no more fright over appropria-
tions of billion dollars by Congress, nor
shall We fear the calls on us, but say
that. whatever amy have been past condi-
tions. now. now we are able and expect
to be called on for mucs.
Tt is now time to come out openly
on the Lords side You have been dis
cussing this point for a long time. and
have thought it would some day come
hut you have not actually stepped out
ana lined up with him. And an acquaint-
Ing oneself with proposed step and its
conditions and duties and its life before
actually taking the step Is we'll But now
the time for action has come. II is well
known that men of great reasoning pow
Crs oft fail in decisiveness. The practice
OF balancing arguments. ana seeking
precision, and watching the scales rise
and fall. whom persisted in. incapacitates
"As with Hamlet. SO much meditation
paralyzes action; You have looked at
your Lord in his work and in his person
and in his sacrifice and in his worth and
been more than once almost decided, but
and up to him in tender of your life. How
long will this ipdecision continue?
There have been times in which you
have seen in him far higher standards OF
right, higher .evels of action. higher meas
ures OF manhood. better purposes and
purer master motives than belong to the
lines in which you are living. and in such
hours you have felt shame over yourself
and deep secret worship for him. Well:
Is 1t not now time to act? Do you feel
free to speak with any respect OF the mo-
sweet sense of victories over the flesh and
temptations and the gentle life in you?
There IN great unsatisfactoriness in
dragging along through life with uncer-
tainties all the time. with the furttveness
and apology for the sort of position we
are in. evading. explaining, defending-oh.
II is all so pitiful.
"A music that is all minor will not do.
There must be some place In 1t for a
grand march, with the sound of the drum
and the bugle in it. and the rich full
tramp of the deep bass battalions coming
on to n hallelujah! The standards of life
attained by men in the. past were for
those men good enough. but now more is
rightfully expected. When we were a
child we might without challenge think
as a child and do as a child. But now the
race is in manhood. and what was will
not now do. A church elder might, with
out loss of credit. own and operate a still
in those days. but now
"You were only a beginner in the Chris
tian life, and needed much OF attention
yourself from the minister and stronger
ones to coax you along. But now-it would
be unfair to expect those stronger ones to
spend their time and strength to nurse
you along. Rather YOU should work with
them in lifting somebody else.