The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-15

part not only is essential to their saliva ton, but 1t affects our standing In the Kingdom of Christ. Do you not remember that he said, Every branch that bear eth not fruit he taketh away7' Yet how indifferent most of us are In reference to the salvation of those sinners who are nearest to our own doorstep. Some years ago an American clergyman was preach ing in the streets of Calcutta. As the American was talking a Mohammedan priest stood near and began to inveigh against the inconsistencies of the profess sors of the Christian religion. Then the Mohammedan priest opened the Bible and while he read he pointed to a drunken English sailor near by. He read out loud those beautiful and solemn words of Co., rinthians, which we repeat at the holy communion, And after the same man ner also he took the cup when he had supped, saying. This cup Is the new tes- lament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink 1t, in remembrance of me" Then the Mohammedan priest sneeringly and tauntingly said: There is the white mans religion. There is the white man drunk. Will ye have any such religion as that?" Oh, my brother, we rightly send forth our missionaries into foreign lands to testify of Jesus Christ Shal we not also try to carry the testimony of Jesus to the drunken and dissipated white men at our own doors that they may be liv- Ing witnesses of the power of the gospel to testify of Jesus Christ. Shall we not also carry the gospel to our neghbors. to those who may be living farther away from Christ than the cannibals or the Es- lkimos? Shall we not be willing to kneel lx, tV tuhh or1n oo we'll as send missionaries to preach standing upon the muddy banks of the Ganges?
 Would that the dumb lips of Christian testimony might be opened in the store and on the street, In the factory by the cashiers desk; opened when you are ty- ing up a bundle; opened when you are taking down the goods from off the shelf {; opened when you are bidding the little cash girl good night; opened when you're giving the last instructions to your fore man; opened in the same way as were the lips of a poor old one-armed black man who while he cleaned my shoes on Pennsylvania avenue, in our national capital, taught me one of the mightiest lessons of trust and faith in God I ever learnedl
 "Oh," says some man or woman sit- ting before me, "I could not speak a word for Christ In the store It would not be appropriate. Such a course as that would be resented not only by my employers, but also by the employees. |" Would 1t, my brother? I think such a course would often. be gladly welcomed in the store instead of being resented. have had a great deal of experience with Christian workers. All of them have told me that when they speak word for Christ on the street or in the store al- most without exception they have been listened to kindly. respectfully and thankfully. Rev. Dr. I. I. Gorby, the present assistant pastor of this church, who has worked a great deal among the factories and the stores, has told me that the most respectful and grateful audi enoes he has ever addressed were those clad in overalls and which listened to him while he talked from a table or barrel among the machinery or near the biast. Many employers welcome such efforts, knowing well that they profit by their employees becoming Christians. Some years ago H. l.. Cregier of Washington. Ind. the head of a great stave and head ing factory. placed a gospel minister upon his pay roll He wanted this evangelist to make 1t his business to speak word for Christ to every one of his employees. because" said MT. Cregier, "outside Of the spiritual results 1t pays when l have such a gospel worker among my men. There is less drunkenness, less rows. less crime, less indolence and slothfulness, and my men are happier and better and more faithful" Now my Christian friends, with such a testimony as that be- fore you, do you not feel encouraged to