Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-13

Gods will is as absolute in the mission
airy, as in the moral world. Disobedience
only brings disaster upon ourselves.
1t is a common conviction that the
problem Of Christian Missions needs a
new solution: not mort. machinery. but
more holy motive stirring the heart
of the church. 1t is BUT the expression
of a growing sentiment af:ong our real
leaders, that missionary methods and
motives in the average local church are
built upon the shifting sands. What a
displ oportiOnate amount Of machinery
there is, to the work done. | can count
eleven societies which still have a name
in my church. to say nothing of the i'm
possible missionary apportionment OF
1860 for 2IS members. We have been
bound so long by the links" that
though ar earthquake should come and
the foundation Of our prison be shaken,
if the doors should be thrown open ana
the bonds lo0sed. so tnat our keepers
seeing. should draw thc sword, habit
would still bid us say in the language
Of Faul do thyself no harm. we are
al here" | would not seem to criticize
the holy women of III church whose
hearts having heard he word of the
Lord Arise. 60" would cry out against
them We're their endeavors one with
less. I am only pleading for a new
recogn ition If responsibility in the rank
and fl" of the church. that power may
be furnished 10 run mis- machinery bet
ter. and that no more shall be imported
than can be used to TIA spiritual adj
vantage of the church. and the best in
terests Of the glorious c?uSe of mis-
sions. When honest men declare that
churoh-life is too expensive to be en-
joyed the danger point mas been reach
ed. Our tIouble lies right here the en-
thusiasm has concentrated in few
and until it becomes The common senti-
mrnt Of tho many. the conscientious
psStOr must guard his church against
intrusion. AMI steadfastly insist upon
having his decision respected. even
though some over-ZealolIs walking dele
gate from the outside may misunder-
stand and oppose.
But By thren. Just as Jonah fleeing
from responsibility, found escape i'm
possible. and sank lower IN misery ana
despair, Just 50 every church is going
down. which does not thrOb with this
S"irit. 1t is a sin that this responsible
~ should be felt only by specialists.
in the work ana moi by the average
church member. no not by the average
pastor. Its wrong that he missionary
should Dear the burden of inspiring the
rhuit h: as unnatural rs for father to
forget his struggling child. The mission
airy ought to he but the crystallized ex-
preston Of the Christian consciousness
that this work must be done. The Mis-
sionary Societies ought TO he our agents
not our drivers and appointments are
sad commentaries upon our lack of re-
sponsibilty. Then let us work for that
which Jonah lacked. and what we lack,
clearer understanding Of our obliga-
ton to Almighty God. ana let us de-
pend no more upon spasmodic enthu-
siasm reused by stories Of success from
the firing line; announcements which
should be expected as a matter of
course: for to be moved only by them,
is an indication of unfaith in the re-
demptive power Of the Gospel The COM
mand is imperative. with or without
success. Go preach my Gospel to every
creature. and when God speaks. mans
welfare lies over the path to Nineveh,
and not to Tarshish.
II RECEPTIVITY
So much for the inviolablity of mis-
sionary responsibility as shown by JON
abs sad plight in his attempted escape
from the omni-present God The second
time the command came. Jonah realized
his responsibility. AMI oheyed preach
ing as he was hidden. The results wera
marvellous. for NinevHh repented If the
Book teaches responsibility. no less does