Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-07-28
For Needs of
Humanity
BY b. L Palmer. Layrnan
Houston. Texas

/
held an important place in the history
Of human activities unless Il was
founded upon the needs OF humanity
and had for its objective the improve
msnt OF conditions under which man
kind lives.
Some Of these movements have been
along the lines OF scientific research.
and had for their purpose the gaining
Of greater knowledge. BY which the
human race should be benefited Some
have been political movements To give
to mankind a more perfect system Of
government From the days Of Mar
tin Luther down 10 the present time
there have been various movements
OF a religious nature which have had
for their purpose the correction Of
Improper conditions and the raising Of
mar kind to a higher plane Of spiritual
life But whatever has been the char
actsr Of the movement. each one which
has attained success has been founded
upon some human need. and has been
successful only In the measure IN
which II satisfied that need The lay
mems missionary movement Is des-
tined to Be successful and to occupy
4 prominent place in the history Of
the church because its only purpose
u to supply a human need. and be
cause IT has adopted proper methods
for accomplishing its purpose.
The work OF the laymen's movement
Is not revolutionary in its nature.
We do not propose to do a new
work. but to take a new hold upon
the old task and do Il right
Perhaps you think the work of the
church has been well done all the
time. but II you think thus. II Is BE-
cause you are uniformed. and the
first work which the laymen's move
uent purposes to DO Is TO inform
you
We are at present engaged IN
great campaign Of education through
out the whole land
II Is our purpose to give to every
man in the church a thorough knowL
edge Of conditions
We confidently believe that inforua-
ton Is the only thing wherein the
church Is lacking
We believe that churchmen have
the love Of Christ in their hearts. and
the desire. the intelligence. the en-
ergy and the means to do the work
which Christ began
For he only began the vork-uo
more-and then as a sublime evidence
Of his faith in his followers. He In
trusted the completion Of the task
for which be gave bis life 20 fran hu-
manity.
When Christ's work ended mans
work began
From time immsmortai. mission
work has been left to the preachers
and the women
The men OF the church have felt
that their full duty vas done when
they had contributed to the support
Of their local church. and perhaps
shared In the administration Of It's
temporal Affairs The layusn's move
uent exists today for the sole pur-
pose Of disillEsioninx msn-ot AVA
kaning them and Arogsing them to
4 sense Of their fun duty as the sons
Of God
We have been too prone to think
ot our duty to the unevazxelsred peo-
pie Of the world IS i collective duty
the duty Of the ehrueh As a body. II
the world IS to BE evangelical within
the Present generation. il viii Be
done only after NE have come 70 real
IKE that ne have 4 personal duty and
a personal responsibility In eocnsc-
ton with the salvation Of mankind
But you ask. how can I apply ny
individual efforts 20 the work. You
may study. pray. give and serve
Study that you may know the need.
pray that God nay bless your efforts.
The Efforts Of others TO supply the
need. give that those who are texutfnx
their lives TO the work may have
the means to carry IL OF. and serve
in whatever place God may End for
you TO do a service. 10 matter how
humble and gninportant IL may seem
Yes. you admit that you have not
given much time TO study and to
prayer. but you assert that you have
given TO the support Of missions for
years That's a fact The statistics
OF the church show that we have been
giving TO missions. but how much
have We givenf The Protestant
churches Of America have N recent
years given on an average the sum Of
a. cents per member each year to
this cause
Forry-tvo cents, II you have given
more than that. you have given more
than the average.
Forty-two cents 10 carry salvation
to those who dwell in darkness. And
then We sing. VIII there be any stars
IN my CROWN
Brother. do you want a 4o-esnt star
in your crown
Il Is really surprising TO note how
many ehurchmsn there are WHO de-
vote themselves with great. energy to
temporal Affairs and jet cannot be IN
dIesd TO undertake even a small part
OF the Lords work
Can II be that there Il such n
thing as spiritual hook-worm, II
there is. the men OF our ehruehes
have IL bad"
The gnmistakahle symptom Of the
hook-wcru. I am told. Is AN aptitude
for continuous resting
One Result Of Trust
One Of the commands Of Christ that
We must need. yet too often forget. Is
Be not anxious" This Is equivalent
to. Fret not---do not worry He