Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-11-24

- "O LII
cising an absent friendi The daughter
was saying her friend was "odd" and
peculiarly Yes" answered the old
father. she certainly il odd and Pc
culiar. She Is so odd and peculiar that
she was never heard TO speak 81 OF an
absent friend" I like that. We can
not be untrue to our absent friends and
at the same time true TO those who are
by our side. We cannot be untrue to
our pastors who are gone and true TO
those who are now preaching In our
pulpits.
But there Is yet another criterion by
which you can judge n minister's best
friends. They are TO be numbered
among those who do not love their
church so much that they are blinded
to the gospel duties which are calling
them outside OF the four walls OF that
church. They are the Christians who
realize that as there is one family lIy-
ing Within the four walls OF the home
so there Is q church family living with
In the four walls OF the church. They
strive To fulfill their obligations not on
~ TO their own family and the church
family, but to those outside who do not
yet know Christ The church family
Is very important family, but II does
not represent the whole human race.
Now. as every father and mother must
help care for the wants OF their indi-
gent neighbors. SO every church family
should and must care for the spiritual
vents OF the great heathen outside
void Therefore the church member
Who simply safs Let US care for our
Own church. Tor our own pulpit and
pew sta Sunday schooP' IS not n true
christfan. The true church niember is
the lot1s Wild lzas. tire missionary ss1irsf
and who realizes his duty 10 China and
Africa and Persia and India as well
as 70 his own city and neighborhood.
Yet II is ut this vital missionary point
that 40 many OF our would be minis
ter's best friends fail. ..-
An Eastern Parable.
1t Is only by our spiritual scattering
that we can gather in, and il Is only
by laying down our lives that we can
save them. An old eastern parable
goes thus: A merchant was about to
go into far country. He gave to two
friends couple OF sacks Of wheat
apiece. He said. Take care OF these
for me until | return" Years passed.
and the merchant returned. He said
to his friends, "Whure is my wheat7''
The FIRST returned to him his two bags
or wheat. which he had kept for the
merchant in storehouse. The grain
was' mildewed and useless. The Sec
ond friend took the merchant out upon
the hillside and showed him his fields
below In the valley waving with golden
headed wheat ready for the sickle
There is your wheat. have grown II
all for You. q, II Is all yours" Then
said the master; "Give me nv tive
sacks of grain back. and the rest shall
be yours" So II il In the missionary
work OF the church. When our church
leaders help us to scatter the gospel
seed upon the other side OF the sea they
have faith that God will give rs a ten
fold, hundredfold blessing. 1t is not
when church lives for itself that IL
prospers. but when IL lives for Others.
Scatter your missionary seed, and the
abundant spiritual harvest shall be
yours. rI t,....... 'i,'
But, lastly, ! remark that the min
ister's best friends are to. be found
among those who are ready and will
ing 20 work In ineOnspicuous places.
These best friends are not the men who
want TO push their way into the high
est places OF the synagogue. They are
the men and the women who are ready
to take the humble places, the insignia.
cant places, the places which, as a rule.
but few people want TO I'LL. and be-
cause these men and women are will
Ing TO take humble positions. how great
temptation II Is for the minister to
give the highest positions TO those who
will not work in the church unless thew
get these high positions! 1 have never
found n true loyal friend to a minister
unless that friend was as willing to
work in an ineonspicuous as In con-
spicuous place.
This nation can well rest her safety
upon the loyalty OF her people. Men
OF all classes. IL necessary, are willing
to die for her in the ranks as common
soldiers and sailors. Commander Bron-
son, late OF the Yankee, one of our
naval gunboats. tells this most inter-
esting experience OF his: The warship
was rounding cape and encountering
heavy sea. One OF his sailors was at
the wheel. The commander watched
the man for a little while, then he said.
You steer very well my man,, The
common sailor saluted and answered.
Il thank you, sir" Have you been
practicing much since joining the
shipT No" well, then, where did
you learn to steer 30 weilfsf with that
the eerrheh sailor replied: "An along
NE Atlantic coast, sir For years Il
nave been aceustomed to steer my own
steam yxcht." There was one Of the
scions Of = wesithy New York family
working as q common sailor. Ave.
mat country - safe whose wealthy
men are ready 90 sacrifice for it like
that And that church Is safe which, Il
nlled with embers who are ready to
work in the aineohspleuous places "A
well as IN the conspicuous. And. nv
friends. as a minister again want TO
add my testimony in reference to this
line OF thought. I have never found a
church layman who was not willing 70
work In an inconspicuous place in the
church. who was ever true, loyal
friend to the minister, II he was placed
In conspicuous one, And. further
more. I have never found man will.
Ing TO work for Christ in an incoii-
spicuous place who. II Christ called
him to a higher position In the church.
was not just as true and faithful In
the higher position as In the lower Q q |
have preached this sermon for two
reasons. want you to know the noble
men and the noble women who. like