Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-11-10
CalnaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaae. d. d.

that gladden. the hearts Of those who
are loving and helpful TO their fellow
men. The text is Acts xviii. .. And
the barbnrous people showed us no lit
tie kindness"
\ great book is yet to be written I'M
der the caption The Bright side Of II
Foreign Mssionary's Life" When IA
nous missionaries like Bishop William
Taylor used TO visit my fathers home
when was u boy would stand afar
of and look ut them as the Florentine
people used TO watch the passing
Dante. After the famous Italian au-
thor returned 10 the city Of his youth
his neighbors always said when he APP
peared upon the streets There goes
the man who has been in hell" So for
years felt that a foreign missionary
field was such an inferno as Dante de-
scribcd. felt that 1t was II place in
habitcd by savages and fierce cannl-
balls. | felt that when Il man like Or.
Dun or William Carey or David Liv-
ingstone decided 10 20 to India or Per
sin or Africa or to the Fiji islands he
went TO live among monsters. Mission
aries cut adrift from all heart affec-
tons They forever separated them
selves from the humamitics and the
kindnesses and the loves of their fell
low men But after | took a journey
around the world and visited few OF
the great missionary stations l had
complete change in reference TO my
ideas OF a missionary's sacrifices. True,
the missionary has TO give up many
things for Christ. but what he gives up
IL small compared 10 the joys which he
has in missionary service. The faith
full foreign missionary has the same
kind Of daily kindneSses shown 10 him in
his missionary laborS rs the home pas
tor has by his congregation which sur
rounds him week by week and year by
year The only difference between the
work of the home pastor and that OF
the missionary TO the heather is that
the one is u settled minister over one
pulpit in n civilized land, while the for
eign missionary laborS In virgin soil,
and. like Hunter Corbett or Bishop
Thoburn is a travelling evangelist. with
many native pastors under his control,
of whose work he IS superintendent.
His Greatest Pleasure.
Though the foreign missionary may
have many Joys, | can think Of not one
greater than his opportunity Of travel
ing from place to place to meet and
commune with the Christian native
workers who have been laboring In
Christ's vineyard during his absence.
! have heard my uncle the late Rev.
John Talmage. the famous missionary
TO Annoy. China. tell how the native
pastors and the Chinese Christian
workers would come out TO greet him
when he took his missionary tours.
They would come forth with smiles
and gospel salutations. They would
send messengers everywhere to tell
their absent members that their spir
itual leader was coming. Then these
Christian workers would gather about
the missionary and tell him how the
church was getting along and how
many new converts were made and
what glorious revival they had been
having. My Uncle John would turn to
my father and say: DE Witt. their
greetings make regular Christian
love feast Oh. these missionary tours
are mighty trips 10 me for spiritual
inspiration. When | see what some of
those poor native Christian workers
are willing TO do for Christ II does
seem as though could never do
enough for the Master" such was one
Of the Joys | think Paul. the great for
eign missionary had when he was on
his missionary tours.
Whenever Paul thought OF going to
EpheSus or Philippi or Galaua or
Thcssalonica or to the churches OF
Laodicea or Corlnth think he began
10 say 10 himself. "Oh. II ! can only
take that trip shall be able to preach
the gospel TO thousands who have new
er heard II preached. and shall also
meet the consecrated men and women
OF God who are laborlns In those
churches. Yes; they will all he there.
They will greet me with their prayers
and happy smiles, They viii tell me
about the successful campaigns for
Christ In which they have been en-
gagged. can already see them gath
erlng around me and hear the glorious
talks we will have after the preaching
Of the day IL over. We shall meet to
gether In some upper chamber. as
Christ went on again and again In a
quiet place with his disciples alone to
teach them and 10 have Christian com
munion." Such. believe were the
joyful antlcipations with which the
mighty Paul the foreign missionary,
went forth on his missionary tours.
Kindness From Barbarian..
Such. believe. was one OF the Joys
which were thrilling his heart when on
his last journey TO Rome. He knew he
was 10 preach Christ under the shadow
OF Caesars palace He knew that he
would be welcomed in Rome by the
saints who were living In Caesars
household Yes. Phoebe and Priscilla
and Aqulla the women who labOred
with him in the gospel. We're there.
Epaenctus was there. and Andronicus
and Tunia and Amplias and t'rbane