The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-04-14
AboutForeign Missions.

A week or two ago the editor of the Press
and Banner stated that he did not recollect
to have written anything about foreign mis-
sions. His attention had been for some time
directed so4a96h to the defense Of the Able
VILE A. R. PTChurch against oppression, and
for the time he had almost forgotten the SUBJ
ject Of foreign mission proper The crushing
Of this little home mission church for the
support OF anybody was receiving
most OF his attention.
There can be no doubt that In the name of
foreign missions the people OF this country
have been greatly imposed upon by various
we'll meaning men.
There can be no sort OF doubt that some
mighty good men have unintenlionally exer-
cised bad judgmentin the collection and in
the expenditure Of the peoples money.
That ministers OF the gospel should occasi-
onally be business failures. Ia natural. And
will anybody deny that the spread Of the COS.
pei is successful only when practical >Ineth.
DDS are applied. Practical methods should
precede the spiritual. When 1t is under
taken TO impress our religion upon others by
impractical or foolish methods failure can
only result. And we think 1t u serious mai
q " ohC ho" ouA PSSP'S NO
benefit OF others which should 20 10 the bull
ding up Of their churches, and the iesding,
and the education OF their W children.
The education Of the ministry along practi.
cal lines having been neglected, while they
were studying theoretical books on t zoology,
It Ia unreasonable TO expect Of item The de-
velopment Of that business judgment which
should characterize proper expenditure OF
the trust money. Their speciality IL theology
and they are SAFE guides as long az they give
instructions on faith, and furnish examples
In good morals, bnt in plain business matters
their judgment has not been developed, and
In too many instances they collect from US
money which ia too otlen spent for little
good results.
While talking Of evangelizlpg the world
they sometimes seem 10 forget taat our own
people have souls and bodies even as stran-
gers have souls and bodies.
The A. R. P. religion Is surely as good as
the religion of any other christians. Then
why Ia II that We are Of such slow nnmerl-
cal growth? 1t certainly s~cannot be attrib-
uted to any lack Of spirituality. And not be-
Ing attributable to spy lack OF spirituality
the failure 10 succeed must certainly be at
tributabie TO a lack of The application oil
practical methods. 1t, therefore, becomes
those OF our rulers who are responsible for
our failure to enquire into their W con-
duct. The people have certaiLly borne grieI-
GUS burdens at their demand, and in return
the people have a light 10 Inquire into the
cause OF failure OF those who are responsible.
Foreign missions, like home Missions, ale
good in their wBy, WHEN properly managed.
tits the rnwite mansgt II ent OF these enter
prises to which the people should object Il
the Ia which are levied upon the people
by any Church are so burdensome as TO be
Injurious TO The welfare OF the church at
home, then 1t is for the people to cast of the
burdens which have been laid upon them.
Those who would be free themselves "'us'
strike the blow.