The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-07-12

writer. Or, as our topic naturally
leads US to do, dwell upon the place or
the international Postal Union in the
progress of the cause for which
prophets prayed. Here is a message
Of Christian truth: let US TAX even so
simple a one as [ am now writing. II
l devoted the remaining generation or
my life which the tables give wholly
to promulgating thEs one thought, l
could not hope to reach over a thou
sand different persons a week by word
Of mouth Engrossed in the one task,
it would take thirty-three years OF IN
cessant labor. averaging an audience
of one thousand separate individuals
a week, in order to reach n million
one hundred and sixteen thousand
persons. Thanks to the fact that this
is the twentieth century, the printing
press anG p~OStOtilce will unite to carry
this little article to more than twice
that number Of readers within a single
week. The illustration reveals the
way in which the world has prepared
highways for the progress Of all the
messengers Of the King Of kings.
The postman is the servant Of busi-
ness; but as he hastenS all over the
earth he bears also words of love and
cheer and intruction and inspiration
and friendliness. He is the weaver
who knits the remote edges OF the
fabric Of civilization together.
Consider the hungry eyes that daily
watch for the notwithstanding many
of them, for letters which never ar
rive. To remote. empty lives a single
mtsstve means the opening of a win
dow into a larger world. Why not let
that world appea at its best, by writ
ing. to the loneliest person you know,
a greeting of f~riendliness, cheer and
good news of the coming kingdom y?
Tell the best you know about your
friend, yourself and the world. 1t is
true Cnristlike ministry to lift UP the
c~ast-down spirits that can be reached
only by mail.
Letters may say more than spoken
words. Sometimes persons who never
let their heart find its way to their
lips do not hesitate to spread it out on
paper. 1t is often easy to write the
personal word Of religion when it is
not possible TO express it vocaaly. At
various times there have been formed
leagues Of Christian letter-Writers, but
this is a mission which most people
can fulfill without Joining an organiza-
ton or taking any pledge. Why not
sit down right now and do it2
Because some of the early friends Of
Jesus were moved to write letters
about. 1oftiest themes, the world has
the sublime body Of literature which
makes up most OF the New Testament
canon
Every sincere letter OF coincidence
and congratu1ation may be a Christian
use OF the art Of letter writing.
Whenever there creeps into a letter
the slightest trace of cant OF unreal
ity, then it falls short by that much of
being such a letter as Jesus would
! write.
It has beer my fortune to be in
several Am erican homes in Asia when
the mail from the homeland came IN.
What disappointment there were
when the and circulars
were unaCcOmpanied by any personal
letters. Even honored and busy mis-
mari of great denominations who
have been in the East SO long that
their personal ties with the home
Iand have grown pathetically fewer
and fewer, know what 1t is to go
month after month without any sign
that the Church at home, whose repre-
septatives they are, cares for them at
all. In these days of increased mis-
siorary activity, it is we'll to remember
that at least one letter a month to the
mission field s. Christian service.
There is a difference between a let
ter and an essay. The former is per
sOnal, intimate, informal, with the
lights and shadows Of friendly interest.
The best letter writer is not by any
means the b~rdiniest person.: but rather
The one Il can i1npart the most
news, the most cheer, and the most in
terest. PaIlS letters were full of per-
sonal remembrances and greetings.
One Of the most direct routes to
another persons life is by the letter
route. A word of congratulation-of
gym athy-of gratitude-associates
the writer with the affairs of his
friend.
THANK you" letters are not as COM
mon, one fears, as they were in less
hurried days. OF course, every per
son Of breeding writes his bread
and-bUtter' letter, after having been
the recipient Of hospitality. But there
are other letters. equally important.