Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1926-03-12

~ ~ the Romans in
making an added effort to take to
them the gospel. 1t is his duty, his
debt and he only claims to be an hon
est man trying to discharge that duty
and to pay that debt.
Now IL 1t was for Paul debt, can II
be something less for the rest OF us?
Yet how few appear to realize and
treat 1t SOL The majority of pro-
Tossing Christians regard missions
with utter indifference. They appear
to wonder by what strange freak of
nature a few plous people choose to
go and bury themselves among yellow
or black folk in other lands rather
than to stay at home. They seem to
think that missionaries go out to a
task which is wholly something of
their own prediction.
Moreover. 1t is to be feared that
very many even Of those who profess
a degree Of interest in this work con-
ceive Of It at most as a philanthropy,
charity.
Is there any essential difference be-
tween regarding missions as charity
and regarding missions as debt7
Missions viewed as charity become
a matter Of secondary Importance.
purely optional. calling forth little con-
Germ or prayer or effort, and only
spasmOdic and Insignificant giving.
On the other hand, missions viewed as
debt become a primary, obligatory
matter, calling for earnest concern
and prayer and effort, and for sys-
tematic and sacrificing giving.
Charity foots the list of your ex-
penditures and claims your spare cash,
Debt heads the list, if you are honest,
and cuts out everything nonessential
until It is fully met You give little
of the Interest on your money to
charity. but you dip deep down into
your principal and give it all, If need
be, to pay your debts.
l visited a church and met mum
Der of its leading members, all earning
liberal salaries They possessed real
interest in missions and appeared to
be well informed. But on inquiry
found that that church was giving the
magnificent sum Of S25 year to the
missionary cause. I went on from
there to convention, where on mis-
sionary day an old colored washer
woman put on the plate as her yearly
offering for missions $500 in cash
every cent of 1t sweated out over the
washtub. asked myself the question
What makes the difference between
these two standards Of givings
came TO the conclusion that It was
simply different viewpoints. The
church treated missions as charity
the woman as debt, and both gave
accordingly. To the church it was
only one among a score OF equally i'm.
portant (or unimportant!l things; to
the washerwoman 1t was the one su.
preme thing. They played at missions
as n sort of diversion; she worked at
missions as the big job of her life.
Christian reader, in which light
have you regarded this work-as ex
pressed not by your creed, nor by youi
enthusiasm after some stirring mis-
sionary address, but rather by yeul
actual prayers. and gifts, and effort.
to GO? Has your conscience been con
victed of debt which you owe to tbs
heather, or have only your emotion,
been stirred at times with weak feel
ing of pity for them?
May God convict His children o
their debt, and make them ready Al
much as in them is to meet it, Then
at last. will there be no lack of mis-
sionaries to go. or intercessors to pray
or money to send.
And may this conviction begin witt
you'll