The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-15


the lives of men, and they knew that
these new lives would demand new
social combinations. They knew that
no human tyranny could exist where
Jesus Christ was King.
We must not confuse the immediate
aim with the secondary aim, nor with
the ultimate result of missions. There
is no work in all the world so powerful
to accomplish secondary results as the
work Of foreign missions. OF course,
the habits are changed and the civic
life reorganized. But that is not the
immediate aim. The immediate aim
is not social nor civilizing. but reiig-
iops And I had rather. as Mr. Speer
says. "Plant one seed Of the life of
Christ under the crust of heather life
than cover that whole crust over with
the veneer Of our social habits. or the
vesture of Western civilization" We
are trustees. but not primarily Of better
social customs, but Of life which will
shane it's own civilization.
The aim Of missions is evangelical
ton. and that is the publishing in all
the world of Gods glad tidings. The
world. I state it thus. for though it
does not. shift our responsibility, it
does tighten our burden. It does not
remove the obligation to hasten with
the proclamation of Christ. but it does
relieve us Of the impossible burden Of
converting the world. We cannot con.
vert a single soul: how shall we con-
vert the world? But we can present
the Gospel in such way to every
sonl in all the world that the response
bility for what is done with it shall
rest no longer upon the church nor
upon any person in the church. but
upon the man himself. We can SO pre-
sent the message of evangeliZation
that we can fling the responsibility for
the worlds conversion back upon God
Himself. for He alone can renew a
human heart.
I do not preach upon missions be.
cause I want to challenge your sympa-
thies, for the philanthropic results
which they achieve. My object is
larger than that. I want your aid in
making Jesus known. I know these
other things will follow. I believe that
God is King. and that the hand that
shaped the world at first is in all the
forces that to-day are shaping life. He
holds the reins Of politics and COM
merce and civilization. 1t was John
Newton who said. he read the New
Testament to see how God loved the
world. but he read the newspapers to
see how He governed it. And I am
convinced that all our everyday affairs
do run into the great goals Of God.
And these things. our governments and
customs and inventions. are but as the
chatf before the wind as compared
with the supreme purpose that God.
who is King, shall reign as King, and
rule as Lord Of Lords.
We are getting to understand the
problem, and these last years are Wit
Messing wonderful movements. The
annual accessions to the churches In
the. foreign fields far outnumber those
Of the churches at home. And in many
instances their offerings to this great
work 20 far before our own. More
work is being assigned to the native
churches, and greater responsibilities
laid on them. Modern missions are
young, but we can almost see the day
when mission boards will not need to
send to foreign fields great sums OF
money, nor large numbers Of preachers.
For the native churches are prolific IN
preachers Of their own who can flnd
the hearts of their people much better
than we can. And already the day
is come when our largest attention Is
given to the teaching and education OF
the preachers. and to the general ad-
ministratiou Of the work. That is the
meaning of this call for endowment for
the great Christian colleges and sem
inaries which are growing up IN those
far off lands.
Paul said be was a "prisoner OF
Jesus Christ" That is the essence OF
the missionary life. The Lords pris-
oner-not the prisoner of Rome, though
he lay in Roman prison. and was
scourged of Caesar. He said he was
an Ambassador in bonds" He didn't
look like that. His old rusty chain
ratified on his wrists, and clanked In
his empty cell. But he said am con"
Quoting an embassy in chains. Oh,
what limitations the missionaries have
endured! Sickness and suffering ana
infirmity and separation from wife ans
children. And what are they doing!
Conducting, an embassy for heaven IN
chains and in a limitation which COD
permits. They do not complain, tney
feel their freedom, and are the hap.
piest men in all the earth. have seen
them. battered and worn, return to the
churches at home. But never ap-
plsud them as some do when they
speak at national meetings. We VINO
remain at home are not worthy to un-
loose the latchets of their shoes. {.
The story of modern missions reads
like a romance. One hundred years
ago it was a forlorn cause. Then the
doors Of the nations were locked, anu
the church itself was either unmisslon-
ary or anti-missionary. Now the sky
is ablaze with light and there is no
self-respecting church in all the land
that will tolerate man in its, pulpit
who does not publish foreign missions.
And all over the world are to be seen
the camp fires Of those who have gone
away with the great evangel.
Can we not read the signs OF the
times? Great days are crowding upon
us. and after years Of prayer and pa
tient labor, the Lord is giving us the
attention OF this great section OF the
city. Can it be saved? Do We believe