The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-01-10

n full attendance OF young people ana spoke
of the importance Of parents giving their aid
and sympalhy by teaching the children.
Religious Enterprise.
Postal cards, invoking the prayers Of re.
~ligiously and devoutly inclined women In
behalf OF foreign missionaries. are being ctr
culsted in Abbeville. The plsu seems to be
for each one who receives q card TO write a
similar card TO ten other persons, requesting
that each OF the ten write TO ten others. very
much, as We believe, after the plan which
was adopted for increasing the circulation OF
Florida newspaper. the plan being not en-.
tirely different from the North Carolina
scheme OF selling cherry trees.
With this difference, however. the Florida
newspaper scheme and the North Carolina
plan OF selling cherry trees we're 70 make
money for the individuals. The plan Of
which we now speak Ia meant for. Christian
10 Join In q petition to the throne OF Grace
for the increase Of their zeal or energy In
advancing the Redeemer's kingdom In for
eign lands. -
It is right an d proper to pray for the mis-
sionaries. Some Of them no doubt need our
pI6y 6Iby duu II 10 y hldLCcI vi
that they are not neglected. =
The subject OF missions Is comprehensive
and includes various enterprises. For In
stance: Devout Christians in this part OF the
world are much interested In sendsrg the
gospel to China, to India, and TO Mexico. In
the Northern or Eastern part OF the United
States Christians and philanthropists are
sending thousands and thousands OF dollars
and employing a multitude OF teachers and
preachers 10 educate and Chrlstianiz the
negro at our very doors, bnt for whose moral
and spiritual welfare we seem to be very In
different. .
On q dead level we are inclined to believe
that Q neil - is as good as q Chinaman, and
we fail to be impressed with any idea that an
Indian or O negro, or q Mexican half breed,
iB any better than q Chinaman.
For religious people and for philanthro-
pists there Ia a glamour about helping far of
people. Men who seldom give q dollar and
very rarely give . kind word TO the strug.
Cling nelghbor. are sometimes extremely
liberal when the subject Of foreign missions
IL mentioned. They do this, too, when
It Ia possible that some poor neighbours child,
with q pure heart snd.a good mind, is denied
b benefits Of a Christian education
The best mission aries are good men and good
women, who have been educated. and their
best ield Is at home with their own kind Of
people. Instead Of imbuing our educated
young women with any idea hat the people
o. their own home should be deprived oftheir
presence, their elevatipg influence. and their
Christian example, they should be impressed
with the higher, the nobler and the better
life which they would live as some good
mans wife. The example. the teachings and
the labors ola good mother at home 10 be.
yond computation. The highest estate to
which any woman can reach is TO be the
mother ola good boy or q pure girl.
Does 1t then advance the cause Of the Re
deemer to send a good woman to missionary
fields in foreign lands?
Is not her frat duty to her native land, and
70 her W prople?
The gospel isspread by practical methods.
Christian civilization Is gained by practical
methods, the souls very salvation is won by
practical methods.
Are we then making the best use of our
money in sending our good people abroad a.
missionaries while our streets and our by
ways are nlled by people who seldom enter
the doors OF q .church?
II such people are perverse Of heart and
desperately wicked should they be left. neg
lected In their waywardness?
We insist that their souls are OF as much
value as the souls OF those strangers beyond
the sea.
II may be that their absence from divine
service Is due 70 u lack OF interest In the
aaYviNat .. II fha uarviCo a. !, 40 ottraott,a a.
you not believe that they will be there?
What II theology worth to the average man
or what docs the average man care about the
'ologyf Nearly all OF as have enough ortho-
dox theology 10 save our souls, but q great
many Of us have not enough personal inisg-
rity 70 buy q coat on q credit. We need q re
hgion OF principle. We need q religion, such
as DOR Saviour taught. But what do We know
about theology? Or what do we rsre about
It? We need 70 have the character and the
qualities impressed upon as which were
e1emplihed by our Saviour. The Oh ristian
religion ID intended primarily to govern our
daily lives ON earth. D We should 40
conduct ourselves that we may lie down al
the last. trusting In the mercy and the goou-
ness otihe iGreat Judge. The exercise.of the
faith that IL founded on The consciousness Of
duty honestly performed Is the assurance
thai the pure heart Is always an acceptable
Offering at the throne of Grace. We need les.
Sons in principle moro than instruction In
speculative theology.
We know that the reader is ready to quote
from scripture about going into dark places
with the light OF the gospel. and We would
admit that he can quote reports OF foreign
missionaries as 20 the glorious results OF their
labors. We would detract nothing from the
lustre OF their work. We would pluck no
disdem from their crown. To their eyes the
facts, the conditions. and the circumstances
are faithfully portrayed. But We sometime,
wonder II foreign missionaries know more of
their people than our preachers know OF as.
The Following We're Elected Ofaeers
in Palmetto, Lodge NO. 357, knight
OF Honor.
DR.. g. A. Neuffer, Past Dictator.
L. w. Perrin. Dictator.
F. L. Morrab, Vice Dictator.
' W.. &. DuPre, Assistant Dictator.
W. A. Templefnn, Reporter.
T. F. Quarlee, Financial Reporter.
b. 6, Barn we'll, Treasurer.