Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-02-22
CHRISTIAN ENDEAyoR.
prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Feb. rs
"a ~. 5. H. Doe

Beginning Feb. rs
BY REV. S. H. DOYLE
Toptc.-Heroes OF home missions; what
ne, teach us--Jer. vii, lis.
The New Testament makes no dis
einction between homo missions and
foreign missions. 1t is all missions
Ehe apostles were sent to tie world
and very appropriately were instruct
ID to begin their work at Jerusalem,
at home But the evanselization of
Jerusaien. Judaea, Samaria and the ut
eer1nost parts of the earth WAS but one
great work. and it is to be questioned
whether the division into home ana
foreign missions has been Il wise and
profitable one Yet the distinction has
been made and the title home mis-
stons" applied to missionary work done
within the bounds of ones own eoun-
try. In this sense Isaiah. jeremiah
and all tie prophets. the apostles and
all who have labored for Christ IN
their own lands have been home mis-
stonaries. AMI their work for CHRIST
has been of inestimable value.
Our own country soon after its set
Element by Christian people became
home mission field. The first subjects
of home mission efforts were the In
ciars. and conspicuous among the he
roes of early Indian mission work were
John Eliot the apostle 10 the In
dams" Jonathan Edwards and David
Eraiuerd. whose lives teach US noble
lessons of heroic service and self sac
rice in the cause of Christ Marcus
Whitman In his sensational saving OF
TIE great northwest TO our country
stands conspicuous among the home
missionaries, who teach US the lesson
Of Christian patriotism. Our home mis-
SION field is still 4 vast one. In the
great west are many sections where
&c gospel of Christ is greatly needed.
but grea test of all are the needs of our
Exceptional populations "-25o.o00 In
CLANS, 10000 mountaineers in the
south. 100000 colored people, 100000
Gexicans. 100000 Mormons. the Alas
kans. the foreign population and we
may include today the 10.O00o00 Fill
pinos What a vast field for mission
ary effert and what deeds Of heroiSm
have been performed in the efforts al
ready made to spread the gospel among
these peoples-deeds that teach every
where the same lessons OF consecrated
zeal and self denial in the spread of
Christ's kingdom. which should fire us
with new enthusiasm in the effort to
win our land for Christ,
But home missions in particular pre-
sent TO us class of heroes Who are
often overlooked We may call them
the quiet heroes. In some faroT. dis
tant field they labor day in and day
cut, month by month and year by year.
The world hears not of them. Their
names are not upon the lips of men,
but quietly, patiently. inconspIcuously
they labor for the conversion of souls
and their comfort and sanctitcation in
Christ To most of US such heroism
may best teach useful lessons A life
devoted 10 the service of Christ is II
heroic life, though the field may be dis
fant from the busy marts of men and
the stories of heroic sacrifice and lone
y struggle may be forever unknown &c
the world and unpraised by men. The
Master knows-'-the Master praises.
What are men?H
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps- Xxi. lilo, Il; cxxxvii. 1-G: lisa
Vi, lilo: Matt. X, SIS; xviii, 10. 20;
Luke xiv. 1913: John XIV. &c. d. Acts