The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-30

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commanded you" That means the
translation of the Sermon on the
| Mount into the life of the world. That
takes time. In the Laymen's MISSION
airy Movement, which is interesting
| our city just now, the idea of uniting
| the energies of the denominations for
a speedy conquest of the world is Of
ten mentioned. BY all e speed
the day when the whole earth shall be
filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters fill the sea. But let us
not forget that the worldwide vision
will not be realized until the sover-
eighty of Jesus is established over the
life of the world. Consecrated men
and money could. within a generation,
doubtless carry the Gospel into all the
world, but it will take more than a
generation before the song that the
multitude sang in the apocalyptic' Wis
ion shall be sung by a thoroughly
| Christianized humanity: "The king
dom of the world is become the king
dom of our Lord, and of His Christ"
| Such is the scope and character Of the
worldwide vision. 1t is a dream OF a
universal golden age. 1t IS a hope of
brotherhood embracing every tribe
and kindred. 1t is the kingdom of
God on earth.
Such a vision is proof either of
sublime faith or folly. Folly it would
be were it not that We have conf
dence, first of all, in the purpose Of
our Father. That confidence in the
Eternal justifies the vision. The
trend of the ages is toward it's realiza-
ton. We cannot prevent the tides
from rising and falling; we cannot
change the course of the seasons; we
cannot stop the planets in their or
bits, but we could do so sooner than
we could keep God from fulfilling His
purpose. Then, too, we have conf
dence in the mightiest OF all solvents
love. 1t is the miracle-worker Of
every age. In Zangwill's great play,
The Melting Pot" in response to the
passionate assertion that in every
land to which ne has wandered or
been driven the imagination Of the
Jew with other peoples has never
been accomplished, he makes David
respond: "You have tried hatred and
failed; try love-" We have not for
gotten the apostolic formula, Faith
which worketh by love-" The world
wide vision would be a colossal folly
were it not for this mishtiest Of all
powers in the world. Moreover, the
heroic achievements of those who
have caught the vision and have toiled
and sacrificed inspires firm confidence
for the future. What seemed impos-
sible has been done. The prosecutor
has turned preacher. The selfish man
has become a lover of his fellows.
Habits and customs have been thrown
off like WORKOUT garments, and indi-
[viduals and communities have clothed
themselves in a new spirit. What has
been done can be done again. This,
then, it is that makes faith in the re-
alization of the worldwide vision rea-
| sonable; confidence in the eternal
purpose, reliance upon the mighty
force of love, the inspiring memory
of the splendid conquests Of the king
dom.
They who see the vision are not WIS.,
ionaries. There is a difference be-
tween them. There are idle dreams
and dreams that prompt to noble en-
deavor. The visionary is impractical,
but among the worlds most practical
men have been those who have looked
upon the splendid picture Of a future
golden age. They have toiled hard 70
make their dreams come true. The
American Board, completing a CEN
fury of activity and growth, owes its
origin to the young seers OF haystack
fame. The men who compose b
Laymen's Missionary Movement are
intensely practical. How to get and
| equip and support the men who will
20 forth to preach and teach; how to
secure the funds necessary to support
them from givers of large and small
financial ability, are the practical
problems they are taking hold of in
an earnest, business-like way.
No one need have any fear that in
terest in the Christian conquest OF the
world will lessen his sense of obliga-
ton to support the work in his W
land and his own church. The truth
is there is no real antagonism between
home and foreign missions. The dis
tinction between them is being obllt-
Grated. Foreign missions are at our
very doors. Samuel j. Mills had the
worldwide vision, but he was a faith
full, intelligent worker in the home
field. Our own land is but a segment
of the great circle of the earth. He
who looks afar from the mountain
top will not fail to see the village at
it's base. The wish to win the world
will spur one on to Christianize his
own land that it may help In the
world-conquest. Our thought to-day
in national politics, in manufacture,
in commerce, in education, is on no
less a scale than that of the earth.
The inventor, the manufacturer, h
thinker wants an open door in every
country for his products. A good
thing, a thing that adds materially to
the Joy Of living, cannot be confined
to any land. Telephones, engines,
railroads, textbooks, the Bible and
the kingdom belong to the world.
I want you all to see the world.
wide vision. 1 have no fear that it
will lessen your interest in our own
church. The people who pray and
sacrifice for the redemption of the
world are not the ones who neglect
the work at home. Rather do they
seek to make and to keep the church
strong, that it may do it's part in saw
ing the world. No better surety could
any pastor have that he will be sup
ported in his work by his own people
than the fact that they are devoted to
the task of winning all nations to
Christ.
l want you to get the worldwide
vision for vour own ca ke. II will eX-