Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-08-07
THE BENEFITS or THE w. M. s.
These Societies Shed Their Influence
Over Wide Territory.

Over Wide Territory.
That the w. NJ s. Is of great ben
eft to the country churches Is fact
to be asserted without argument.
One Of the first benefits to be de-
rived Is that Of information.
Through the aid Of the society the
members learn of the needs OF the
world, and Of the misery, distress
and suffering among the people who
live without Christ and His blessed
Word. 1t being the custom Of
country churches to have preaching
! but once a month, the pastor Is not
able to deal with missions as often
as he should or as he would like
Therefore the w. NJ. S. gives the
women twelve extra meetings year
to hear, read, study and discuss
among themselves, In a way to ac-
tually get more benefit than to
| merely listen to another for an hodr
or less once a year. We really learn
more by taking active and personal
part. We learn this and talk it at
| home and among our neighbors and
| friends. In this way tho whole
church Is awakened to the dire need
Of the Word being sent to those who
have it not, and much interest is
| aroused.
Then the interest of such great
needs is deepened through the So
ciety. A real Christian cannot help
feeling interested when he has
learned Of such needs, and the more
he knows Of them, and the more
fully he realizes the existence of
them, the more he Is touched and
the deeper his interest grows. His
interest becomes SO great that he Is
not only willing to help send the
Gospel himself. but he tries to get
others interested.
Then, our efforts and striving to
become informed are expressions Of
our Christianity. Christ said, GO
ye into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature" This Is
His last command. And again He
said, "If ye love ME, keep my COM
mands." Dare we claim to be
Christ's If we disobey? So, the W.
M. S. Is an expression to our fellow
beings Of our love and obedience to
Christ in helping to speed the Cos
pei.
The w. M. S. develops the home
church by developing the women So
cially and spiritually AS we meet
together from time to time we learn
to know each other better. to sympa-
thiZe and cooperate with each other
in this great work. Therefore we
are developed into leaders and work
ers spiritually.
Knowing the needs, and desiring
to express our willingness to help In
supplying these needs, gives unity
In the church. For If we love
Christ, will we not love what He
loved and try to help those whom
He helped? Loving and obeying the
one and the same great Leader, can
object and the one aim--to spread
the Gospel? You know the proven
bal saying, Omitted we stand, divid-
ed we fall" All being united in the
one great purpose, will 1t not be an
inspiration to each other and the
church at large? Is it possible that
such expressions OF zeal and faithful
ness on the part Of the women in the
churches would be felt by none other
than themselves? No, never! Such
body Of earnestly devoted and
| unitedly consccrated women would
stir any church and inspire it to un-
| dertake greater things for God.
And then, through the knowledge
thus gained, the women become more
and more enthusiastic in their Civ
ing until the whole church catches
the spirit Of more liberal giving.
Many become ready and willing even
to give a tenth Of what they possess
to this great cause.
An important point Is that the
praycr-lifc Of the church is greatly
increased. There are many women
who have never prayed in public. but
in the society they learn to offer
their petitions to their loving IIcav-
enly Father. They may be very
feeble at first. and they find it quite
a task, but we know that 1t IS the
effort and not the eloQucnce Of
| prayer that brings the blessing. God
| loves us. understands MS and hears
even the most humble prayer offered
in faith and in Christ's name.
This all brings us to realize oul
| opportunity. We have learned, en-
pressed and become inspired. so now
We are able to see great opportuni-
ties and to take hold Of them. not
only among ourselves, but through
our influence lead the church to do
the same. And it follows that. with
all these benefits. and many more
| | have not mentioned. we must ma
turally grow in spirit and grace.
AT last. as interest is awakened
from society to church. from church
to county. from county to State, the
| people arc sure to learn Of the needs
Of the world. far and wide, through
| the WOman'S Missionary Society to