Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-10
Missionary Heroes
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMkINS.
Text: 2 Cor. iv. 1-1s.

now, for the terrible European war Ia
going to make missionary work for
awhile very difficult Those who are
outside of the horrors of the conflict
must do all that they can to supply the
need, without regard to the nation
nlIty Of missionaries we must try to
help them and their work. where the
nation to which they belong can no
longer do so. and follow them with our
earnest prayers.
Therc has been much talk about the
failure of Christianity In connection
with this fearful catnclysm in Europe:
but we must know that Christianity
can never fail; everything else may
pass away. but Gods Word can never
pass away. 1t Is indeed sad that per-
sonal Christianity has not stood az
firmly as might well have been expect
ed. IL every Christian were perfect.
there would be no war. But. ALAG.
many Christians are sadly imperfect,
their Christianity being hardly more
than Il veneer. And all OF us Christians
even when we are sincere, are SO weak
and liable TO fall that we can hardly
criticize any one. We must keep on
Of the world to n knowledge nj Jesus
Christ, and then pray that the power
of God upon His children may increase
and hold them from evil We must
never for moment doubt but that He
who said: Go we into all the world
and preach the Gospel to every crea-
ture." is not only able. but sure to
bring In His own time the victory.
SPIRIT OF MISSIONARY
ENTHUSIASM IS SPREADING
In spite of this war. the spirit Of
missionary enthusiasm is spreading.
Thousands OF young men and women
are now studying In preparation for
missionary career, and the mission
airy fields are full of workers. every
one OF whom Is indeed a hero or
heroine. Az think of some friends
of mine working in China, and OF
others in the Philippines. and of others
In Cuba. and yet OF others In Africa.
ain filled with Joy. because the SPLEEN
did faith and courage OF the apostles
has not failed. but is still living. We
who are ut home must rise up. as well
as we can, toward like high ideal
and work very hard whore we are, and
pray very constantly and give gener-
ously In order that the work may go
forward. The heroes in the field are
Duoyed up In their work by the pray
ers OF Christians. just as the hands OF
Hoses were held up by Aaron and Hur
while the people were fghting on the
plain
Let us note TWO or three character
sites of missionary heroism. The first
- surely a love for souls. When a
"trnng desire to save men enters into
ne heart OF one of Gods children. II
the result of Gods great and per-
Nonal interest. He touches not only the
motions. but the intellect Of Ills child
and makes him see with open eye that
which Is hidden from many, that every
icing whom He has created is worthy
II HIS sight. and can be brought to
aim. The man who feels a tender sym
9athy for little suffering children, as
DO the good physicians now working
in China and Japan: the woman who
'ores the little African children and
nourishes them like "a mother; the ear
nest worker in our settlements who
gathers the waits OF the street and
teaches them how to lead clean lives
these are all full of that divine arec-
lion which Is born OF God, and which
is. therefore. heroic. We can. every
one OF US. cultivate this characteristic.
IL we will only forget ourselves and
think OF others and try TO help them
Every Christian ought to have at least
some one person whom he is loving
into the kingdom; for love can do
what cannot be done by any other
human emotion.
sELF-DENIAL
ELEMENT OF HEROIsM
Another element OF heroism is self
denial The true hero is not conscious
Of II. hut he exercises IL nevertheless,
and Is constantly giving up In order
that others may have. In the case
Of foreign missions II means the leav-
ing OF home and friends and the pa
tient endurance of many trials. per-
haps even the risk OF suffering and
death. But for every one of US II
means the giving up of some things
which we would like to hold. In order
that the lives of others may be blessed
Every time you would like to have
your own comfort. and then freely and
iuietly endure some discomfort in
order that you may help another; every
time you bury the thought OF your own
loneliness and OF the burdens you have
to bear, and go out to cheer others
and bear their burdens. you are culti-
waiting this splendid heroic spirit which
Is born of the Master Himself Let US
remember that this Is something more
than unselnshness: it Is positive rather
than negative: II reaches out open
hands. which drop some OF the treas
ures for which they would fain grasp,
that touch or n gift may be given
to some needy child of the Father.
Heroism Is something more even than
love and self-denial. 1t has the
splendid quality of joy. The man who
does kind deed through necessity
or from a sense of moral obligation,
can never be a hero. Heroism means
much delight in service; the word
spoken or the deed done Is instructive,
unburdened by any thought of pos
sible suffering and enfred by great
happiness. Here is where so many of
US fail We do good things, but we
do them with a kind Of "under-grum-
bling" which really in Gods sight,
who looks at the heart, robs them of
their virtue. We do not rise to the
delight OF service and the honor which
is ours i'm following in the steps of
the Master. Surely this gladness Of
loving must be one Of the elements Of
true Christianity. and one Of the abso-
lutte requirements If we would gain the
title of hero or heroine.
HEROISM DEMANDS
CLOSER LIVING WITH GOD
But there is one thought more, name
ly, that heroism demands close living
and constant relationship to the
dear Lord of US all. There may be a
kind Of heroism which goes forth in
its own strength and by dint Of deter
a lfohn