The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-03
Bessenner Ne7vs

Bessemer, March 2.-(Special.)- THE
Rev. F. B. Powell, pastor of the First
Christian church, preached on foreign
missions at the morning service today
taking as his text, ''Go Into All the World
! and Preach the Gospel''-Mark xvi:15
He said in part
why foreign missions?f First. from
the standpoint of Christian unity. The
magnitude and difficulty of the work de-
mands unity of action. The historic di-
visions and denominationalism of the
western world should not be transplanted
| Indeed it seems likely that the heather
will teach us the lesson of unity. on the
mission field, party names are dropped
and denominational missionaries work In
unity.
why foreign missions? In the second
place, for commercial reasons. Mission
aries open the way for commercial expan-
sion. Fourteen and one-half million dol
lars of oil sold in one year in China. A
sewing machine company offered mis-
sionary $4,000 year to take the agency
in mission country. Do you enjoy mu-
sic? The ivory on the piano keys was
handled by heather. Do you write?
The pencil eraser and fountain pen handle
came from heather land. Ever have ma
laria? The remedy quinine, was given to
the world by missionary.
I'VE are missionary optimists because
God was. God believed in the worlds
redemption enough to give his only Son
to die for it, Mans susceptibility makes
us optimistic. There is no race without
desire for God. No man is too vile to
be reached by the gospel.
Some objections answered: /. Admin
istration costs too much The expense of
administration is but 10 cents on the dol
lar If you send dollar TO China from
Bessemer it will cost you 10 cents. If sent
I'd far off Thibet, it would you so cents
to send a dollar Besides this, the for
eign society is enabled to direct the mis-
sioEary work to the very best advantage,
a thing you alone would never be compe-
tent to do. 2 Others say convert those
at home. But that is not the command.
The command is to preach; that means
declare the gospel. The gospel Is de-
clared in the home land, where We have
preacher to every 1000 people, but in
China they have a preacher to only every
200, ,O0O''
The minister then spoke of the work of
the disciples in the home and foreign
field, showing how that they were central
in point of numerical strength in the
United States and also in all their mis-
sion fields. He said he thought he saw in
to evangelize the world through them.
He spoke particularly of Africa's need,
and told a story of DR. Shelton's heroisn
in the Tibetan field.
In conclusion the preacher emphasized
the fact that 1.-THE gospel Is the power of
God unto salvation" declaring the gos-
pei must be sent to the uttermost parts
of the earth.
Mrs Nancy Elizabeth Simmons. n years
of age. died this morning at 9:53 O'clock
at the residence of her son, on Ninth
avenue after a short illness. of pneu-
mcpia. Mrs. Simmons has lived in Besse-
mer for about 20 years and is loved by
all who knew her. The deceased Is sur
yived by five daughters. Mrs. Eva b. Ca
son of Texas, Mrs. d. o. Philips, Mrs. G.
L. Meigs, Mrs. w. II. Porter, Miss Bette
fTalton Simmons, two sons, w. A. Sim
mons and p N. Simmons, all of Besse-
fner, and one nephew, r. L. Russell OF
Birmingham. The funeral will take place
from the Baptist church Monday after
noon at 2 o'clock. the services being con-
Quoted by the Rev. NJ. X. Thornton. pas
tor. assisted by the Rev. George Stoves,
pa stor of the First Methodist church, and
the Rev. I. F.. Swallow, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church
II. r. Brooke. superintendent of the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, was N
this city for few hours saturday, con-
ferring with the committee appointed by
the Bessemer Board Of Trade To find out
what the railroads are willing to do to give
more adequate depot facilities.
The Louisville and Nashville superir-
tendent said that the company is opposed
to any plan that will change the location
Of the Bessemer depot. But he did ad-
nit that the present depot is insufficient
and said that his COMPANY Is ready and
willing to build better station and that
he was glad the matter had been called
to the attention Of the proper officials by
/ The board of trade committee. He is
of the opinion, however, that anything
constructed to meet present needs will be
entirely inadequate 10 years from now
50 ii is probable THAI the Louisville and