Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-03-01


ious. And had rather, as Mr.. Speer
says, "Plant one seed OF the life OF
Christ under the crust OF heathen ire
than cover that whole crust over WIN
the veneer of our social hablts, or tne
vesture of Western civilization" we
are trustees, but not primarily or better
social customs. but of life which VIII
shape its own civilization.
The aim of missions is evangelical.
ton, and that is the publishing in all
the world of Gods glad tidings. The
aim is to make Christ known In oil the
world. I state it thus, for though II
does not shift our responsibility, IT
does tighten our burden. 1t does not
remove the obligation to hasten with
the proclamation Of Christ, but 1t does
relieve us of the impossible burden OF
converting the world. We cannot con-
vert single soul; how shall we con.
vert the world? But we can present
the Gospel in such way to every
soul in all the world that the response.
bility for what is done with 1t 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
human heart.
I do not preach upon missions be.
cause 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. l know these
other things will follow. l believe that
God is King, and that the hand that
shaped the world at first is in all the
forces that today are shaping life. lie
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 l 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
chaff 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 90 far before our own. More
work is being assigned to the native
churches, and greater responsibilities
l.. NYnInrn y,iScinnc
young, but we can almost see the day
when mission boards will not need to
send to foreign fields great sums or
money, nor large numbers of preachers.
For the native churches are prolific In
preachers of their own who can hnd
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 or
the preachers, and to the general al.
ministratiOn 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 he was "prisoncr OF
Jesus Christ" That is the essence or
the missionary life. The Lords pris.
oner-not the prisoner of Rome though
he lay in Roman prison. ana was
scourCed of Caesar. He said he was
an "ambassador in bonds lie dldn1
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. ON,
what limitations the missionaries have
C;,I, on1 gnffprinp ana
infirmity and separation from wife ana
children. And what are they dong:
Conducting an embassy for heaven III
chains and in n limitation which Goa
permits. They do not complain, they
feel their freedom, and are the nap
pest men in all the earth. l have seen
them, battered and worn. return 10 the
churches Mt home. But l never APP
plaud them as some do when they
speak at national meetings. we VINO
remain at home are not worthy to I'M
loose the latchets of their shoes.
The story of modern missions reads
like n romance. One hundred years
ago it was fOrlorn cause. Ihen inc
doors of the nations were locked, ana
the church itself was either unmlssion'
airy or anti-missiOnary. Now the SKY
is ablaze with light and there is no
self-respccting church in all the lana
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 or the
times? Great days are crowding upon
nj nffnr nf ana Dn-
tent labor, the Lord is giving us the
attention of this great section of tho
city. Can it be saved? Do we believe
in the strong arm of the Gospel? Then
pour your life into this great work,
The church-this church. exists for no
other purpose than to give the Gospel
to the world Be large in your interest
in our immediate work. But that IS
not enough. Be large in your effort III
worldwide evangelization.