The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-09-25
EPwoRTH LEAGUE.
Topic For the Week Beginning sept.
2T, 1.-THE Work Of Home
Missions."

Charity begins at home," is an old
saying which has acquired almost the
authority of Bible truth. Indeed, il
might almost be called a translation
into colloquial speech of that passage
Of inspired Scripture, IF any providetb
not for his own, and specially his OWL
household, he hath denied the faith
and Is worse than an unbeliever."
The Christian church has from the
first given special care to assist In all
possible ways by all available means
her own members and people near al
hand. A least this has been her theory
and commission. If neglected in any
measure, that neglect can be accurate
ly measured by her decline In spiritual
ity and apostasy from the faith.
The first officers appointed in the
early church were charged with the
duty Of relieving the needs of the poor
especially the dependent widows in the
church at Jerusalem. In the church al
Joppa, the only name that has been
preserved to US, Is that of woman
who was particularly active in provid
ing clothing for the destitute and re
Iieving their needs by her personal
care. She was appropriately named
"the Gazelle. Dorcas, Tabltha."
Paul gathered with great care from
the gentle churches collections to re
neve the necessities of the poor Chris,
tans of Jerusalem.
Methodism has ever been engaged In
the cause of missions at home. The
work of John Wesley and his immedi
ate helpers was home missionary eff
fort. The labors Of Asbury. Lee and
the early American Methodists were OF
the same character.
The recent enlargement In scope of
this department of our church activity
is in keeping with the needs and de
velopments Of the tines
The criticism Is sometimes heard,
from people whose sympathies or in
formation is defective, that too great
attention Is given to foreign missions
to the neglect Of the home field.
The fact Is, much the larger part OF
our benevolent collections Is spent In
the United States. All the work of the
Freedman's Aid and Southern Educa
ton society Is In the southern part of
our own land, The Church Extension
society helps provide church buildings
and nearly one-haf of the missionary
collections are used for the people of
this country. Nor should the aid of the
board of education in assisting our
schools be overlooked.
In addition to all this must be consid
cred the hospital service, which Is in.
creasing so rapidly the deaconess work
In visitation and relief
Besides this there is the special labor
Of the Woman's Home Missionary So
ciety. The departments of work are
numerous and we'll equipped. It's res
cue work for women in the great cities
hospitals, nurse training. distribution
of clothing and articles of necessity
and comfort to the poor of ali sections
OF the land are all admirable in design
and working. OF special Importance Is
the industrial feature carried on In
schools and model homes. Correspond
ing to the manual training of boys in
Industrial arts and trades IS the teach.
ing OF sewing, cooking, housekeeping
and other occupations to the girls.
This branc:7 of our church work
should be st1.sSied By our leagues for
broadening OF our intelligence and
Quickening of our sympathies and con-
hrnling our diligence in doing good.