Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-01-20
SERMON ON
TIRE GREAT west

The Rev. s. B. Evans, pastor Of 81.
Pauls M. E. church, Sunday morn.
ing, preached missionary sermon to
his congregation that was little out
of the ordinary channel Of discussions
on that subject. The principal points
of interest brought out by the speaker
were in reference to the great West CT
the United States, and the need Of
Missionaries being sent there to plant
the banner of Christ and save the
country for God.
Taking his text from Matthew 8-10.
"Thy Kingdom Come" MIR. Evans
talked in substance as follows: "Ths
prayers recorded in the Scriptures rep.
resent many varieties of life. There
is no long prayer recorded, although
reference is made to whole nights be.
ing spent in prayers. These were ma =
In closets, when the petitioner
alone with his God. The Lords prsye.
is comprehensive and clear. The sen.
tences are short, and have world Of
meaning in them. Every Christian
says the Lords prayer. but how mean.
ingless is it to very many. It 10 too
frequently said merely as q custom or
form.
| The first petition in this prayer 10
for the salvation of the human race.
In its breadth and sweep it takes In
the whole wide world for Jesus-"Thy
Kingdom Come !" The Kingdom Of
God will overthrow the kingdom Of
the devil, and set the captive souls at
liberty. This prayer connects the ono
who prays it, with the whole world.
II we do not mean 1t, better not say 1t.
God may take us at our word. That
church helps itself most, which 10
most interested in the spread of the
Gospel. The missionary spirit 10 the
surest means of spiritual growth
of the church. We should consider tho
missionaries as our servants. represent
ing us and doing for us. just as In tho
time of war. the loyal citizen feels
that every soldier at the front 10 his
soldier. Missionary intelligence 10 all
that is needed to fire us with enthusi.
asm. There is nothing more thrilling
than the history of missions. or the
lives of missionaries.
have often wished that the church
in which preached had son or .
daughter of its own in the missionary
field, from whom we could receive,
direct, the result of the work. But
we can keep in touch with these liv.
ing missionaries. for what they need
is not merely financial support, but the
prayers and sympathy Of Christians
| at home.
The close fsted and penurious Christ.
ians say: Yes, that is the way 1t goes.
am tired Of this everlasting dinRing
for money. 1t mars the church ser-
vices of today. These like many other
people, think of missions and mis-.
sionaries only in connection with for.
eiRn lands, and they are opposed 10
sending money away. Especially whom
we have so many heathen at home.
am going to say something now
that may come to you as great sur
prise.
OF all the mission fields in the world
today Christian America is the largest.
II the foreigners as they flock to this
country, were met with the gospel and
the religion Of onr Lord Jesus Christ
instead of naturalization papers and
the ballot box, it would go long ways
toward settling the difference between
capital and labor. There is q very
fruitful missionary field at homo.
Then add two words to my text, so IL
will read. "Thy Kingdom Come In
Americai
The West is vast empire. II will
soon control the affairs Of this nation.
Place go. 900. 900 Of the United States
in Texas, and it would scarcely be
more densely populated than Ger
many. Put them in the Dskotas and
the population would not be moro
dense than that of England or Wales.
Pus them all in New Mexico and tho
density would not be more than that
of Belgium. 1t is said that Texas
could raise the Worlds supply Of cot.
ton at one bale to the acre, and then
have remaining for a cattle ranch .
territory larger than the state Of New
York. The West will soon dominate
the East AS goes New York 80 goes
the nation, will soon give way to the
expression of. As goes the West SO goes
the Union!' 1t will elect the presi-
dent and control the legislature. When
the centre Of population crosses the
Mississippi, the west will have . ma
jority in the lower house and will
soon get control of the Senate.
The West will direct the policy Of
the Government, and by virtue Of tho
population she is destined to have.
influence and determine our National
character, and therefore. our destiny,
The great missionary field Of the
world is the United States. Since
prehistoric times population has
moved westward, as il driven by the
mighty hand of God. It still moves
Westward. The worlds sceptre pass
ed from Greece to Italy, from Italy TO
Great Britain, and from Great Britain
the soeptre is to day departing. It 10
passing ON to greater Britain. to ous
mighty West, there to remain. for
there is no further West. Beyond 10
the Orient.
The West is today an infant. but
shall one day be giant, ip each Of
whose limbs shall unite the strength
of many nations. We must send labor
ers into this, the greatest Of all fields,
for the harvest truly is great and the
laborers are few. There are some
haroic missionaries on the frontier.