The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-01-06
Published by special request

before me beaming with intelligence
and bright with expectation.
The question has been asked "What
is it to be Christian?" The answer
comes: 1.-The realizing of the king
dom Of God within, and the helping to
make it without" One fundamental
principle Of our mission work is, that
we set before each member, the open
door of service and request all to en-
ter it at once. We then should fire.
quently undertake things which re-
Quire practice amid enthusiasm as
we'll as labor, for claiming to be the
Masters followers We should not
count the cost when anyone can be
benefited by our efforts.
Remembering that the responsible
ity of wives and mothers is as great
today, or greater, than ever before,
since each one of us, humble though
our hearts may seem, is helping to
seLd Il message for good or evil
around the world, without need OF
wires for the transmission OF our
thoughts, the electric current OF hu-
man life flashes from being to being
with its message, as an electric bat
terry under the hand OF an operator
speeds it's news to mid ocean or to
another continent. Then how shall
our women meet these responsible
ties or increase it's efficiency? BY
putting on their armOr, and fighting
under the banner which they .ac-
knowledge as their own.
TIME AND MONEY NOT WHAT WE
LACK.
We usually find in our church So
cieties IL minority of enthusiastic, in
telligent members, and ma jOrity
who have read nothing about the
foreign fields, who pay monthly dues,
but who are reluctant to take any
part i'll missionary program. They
are willing in a way to do their duty
by these mysterious races iii foreign
lands, but have never realized the
humane personality of the fathers
and mothers and little children
across the seas, their sOrrOws and
disappOintments, their heart thrObs
and their Joys.
The cure for this Iistlessness and
lack of efficiency is, better missionary
Information. 1t seems difficult for
one to be an ardent missionary
worker who is not to some extent an
interested reader of mission litera-
ture
Read biographies of our mission
aries, read a well written periodical,
look up the countries on map, and
let your imagination play upon the
every day home life of the people
who live there. For the aim of mis-
sion study is to arouse throughout
the church an intelligent and self-sac-
rificing conservation to the work of
missions.
If you say you haven't time to
read, let me remind you that you
have all the time there is. Twenty
four hours a day, seven days a week
tifty-two weeks a year. The vital ques-
ton in ecOnOmizing our time is, what
what we shall let go. Let go some
of the reading of modern novels; let
go those long gossiping chats on our
front verandas; let 60 some of those
twelve page letters to our women
friends; let go some of our elaborate
fancy work and labOriOus planning
OF costumes. Let us not be afraid to
spend some money on missionary lit
erature. 1t is marvellous to see how
many people will pay exorbitant
prices for various articles who are
stricken by fit of economy, when it
is suggested that they subscribe to
q missionary periodical. The price
of the Missionary Advocate or the
Home Mission paper seems as big as
a mountain, but that amount in kid
gloves, perfume, ice cream, and chloe
Olates would be Il mere bagatelle, a
drop in the bucket, so to speak.
People have time and money for
the things they really wish to do. Ii
our hearts are in some social event,
some convention, some interesting
club programme, we are apt to be on
hand, properly clad, and in fine
health and spirits, even if it is rain
ing III torrents. 1t is only church
prayermeeting and the missionary So
WY OIICiC lOSC OIl
OF unforeseen occurrences. A tiny
headache, Il few drops of rain, or a
cloud no larger than your hand, a
chance guest can even keep US away,
SO binding are the obligations of hos
pitallty. But let that chance guest
happen in on the hour of an after.
noon reception, the invited one would
GOip nlU a nj hn T0nnI e
Gus fulfillment of any social engage
ment. I've accepted. you know
and | must be there No, time and
money are not what we lack.
1t is vital concern, cOnsecrated
prayer, and intelligent information
that will increase our efficiency and
interest. 4 band of cOnsecrated mem
bers who know what is going on il
foreign lands, are so full of their sub
Iect that they are running over Will
eagerness. They know where the
countries and the mission stations
are. They have a vivid picture o
the home life of the inhabitants
their religion and customs. They
| realize the difficulties that must bt
encountered. 1t would be easy to bt
efficient in the grand work with this
kind of membership.
But some of us will say, Il really
can't take any part. come becaus,
they think l ought to, but | JUS
can't feel any real interest in mis-
sions. And then you know, l am sc
busy. | have so many social anc
household duties. so much sewing tt
do, and my children make so many
demands on me- No, | have nc
time for reading mission literature
And then we haven't a good library
in the society, that is, | think not
And you know | can't afford to bu,
the books, our expenses are ST
heavy"
When a woman talks like this, vol
can just know that her neck ties, col
lars, ETC., cost more than a small
| missionary library. IT. takes rar,