The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-06-04

mat the other half 10 doing. for tbs
reagon that they do not care to know
TxIy ta1s pcssindsts OF the wors'
hind, and spend tho time in looking
nackward. They may see the pil!al
Of cloud, but. they never get q Gllnlpst
Of the pillar of fire: hence 1t l. q
gloomy way they 60,
way they go.
Sixty-nye years ago when ! heard thu
first missionary sermons-afvays pre-
ceeded or followed by that Soul-in-
spring hymn.
From Greenlnnd's Icy Mountains
the congregations were about equally
divided on the subjects OF missions
and missionary operations IN foreign
lands. Half Of the people listened
v1th interest to the appeals IN behalf
OF the far-a-way heathens, who were
perishing in their blindness n unbe-
lief. q seemed to be wiling TO
give something for the missionary
cause.
Az 4 boy, standing on. the church
yard. latter the sermon had been
preached and tho collection taken,
Il heard what tho people had to say
about tho matter, In those days. and,
CHILD as I YVES. T could not help be-
ing assonished at the position some
TOOK and a stouf1y maintained.
Memory recalls a conversation
which took place n Sunday at tie
old Red Meeting House." between
some gentlemen with reference to a
sermon tha had just been preached
by the Presiding Elder. on Foreign
Missions. It began about this a
Colonel" said a money-loving gen.
Ito man. whose motto was. Make all
you can aud keep all you make
What do you think OF that ser
mon7"
'-Werl..' answered the Colonel. IN a
sort Of non-commietal way" I don
81 w. ~~4~A~nH n O1vn an nnin-
ion an to the subject discussed, but,
of the sermon. I do not hesitate to
ray It was one OF the finest argu-
ments' ever heard"
II an tell you what I think" said
a gentleman whose shell was rather
hard. x think we've got enough to do
hero at home. and plenty OF use for
all our money. az well: n I never
intend to gives a cent to save people
1 don't know anything about. while
there are SO many home-folks who
need saving"
save home folks. as you call Them
asked a young man, whose heart had
been stirred by the Christly appeal
of the preacher.
That's none of your business,
young man," the hard shell gentle
man answered. as II his mouth had
been filed with green persimmons.
but I repeat we've got plenty Of
use for allrthe money we make. here
at homej'
But" said one Of the stewards,
a gentleman who was noted for his
Christian liberaltiy and temporal
prosperity. as well, 1--WE are command
ed to go into all the world and carry
the gospel to every creature"
why, brother" said another
steward whose religion was bounded
on the north by a desire TO be rich;
on the east by his love Of pleasure;
on the South. by stinginess. and on
the west by ness-that
command was spoken to those desci-
pies who were present when the Saw
iour was about to ascend, and they did
carry the gospel to all the then known
world"
That's the way I look at it." said
an old brother-who vi much. but
CAV nothing. LAS 1 understand it,
salvation Is free; n God. in his own
good time. and in his own way, will
send the gospel wherever he wants it
to go.
by whom will he send it, if his
disciples will neither go nor pay others
to go?" asked a brother who lac
given five dollars in the collection just
taken
20, that's none of my concern" re-
sponded the brother. God will loo
after that part of the business"
81 wouldn't mind giving five dol
lars" said a stout gentleman who gen
orally carried enough silver in his
pocket to rattle: II would not mind
giving If l knew what would
become of it: but they tell me
it takes about four dollars and ninety
five cents to send five dollars to China;
SO, as / loo at the matter, I'd better
give some poor devil, here at home,
five cents and keep the four dollars
and ninety-flve cents myself"
That's the way I look at it," a
half dozen young fellows said in a
breath, and that's about the way, at
least half Of the people thought and
talked On missionary matters sixty
i've years ago.
But, notwithstanding all the dis
c~ouragenlents work went on
slowly at first-but with more rapid
larger proportions, until it has come
20 pass. that all the people are TAX
ing more or less of interest in bring
ing TO pass the time when
he kingdoms of this world
shall become the Kingdom of our
Lord and his Christ.
II / had the space I could not
sell the reader how vast are the mis-
slonary operations, of the various
evangelical churches, and how rap
Edly they are growing. But. I happen
70 have before me an article which
VIII give some Red or what is DeirS
lone to place the Word Of God be-
lore the peoples Of the world.
THE American Bible Society," says
he writer, employs from four to
live hundred men of intelligence and !
utility. These. in turn, employ great
numbers of colporteurs who travel in
and, upon waterways, over noun
aims. through forests with their packs
upon their backs, or with strange
caravans of men or beasts of burden.
These of the Seed can,
always %astonish the natives by read
ng to them in their own tongue from
he printed book. The experiences of
Hessrs. Bear and Turner in the Phil
ppines alone would fiji a volume Of
raried adventure. In South America,
rom the equator to Cape Horn, the
The Bible is carried into the Cam
rs hair tents of the wandering Bed |
puin Arabs of Syria, which they read
n their own dialect. Every day, every |
where the Bible is goicg. :
In the transportation of these mill
lions of Bibles the and
rain are but the first step; then come
he little sailing vessels among the
Coral islands Of the Pacific: canoes
md house boats for Indo-China and
he West Coast Of Africa; bullocks ]
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