Year: 1861

sionary Secretary, ard published in our t
Church papers. 1 am impressed with the Y
provdential rise, rapid growth and present
prosperity of our missions as set forth in that
picture. The Divine hand has evidently
pointed out to the M. Z. Church those fields
of labor. The future of these missions is
now more promising than the past has been.
Only let the men, money, and prayers of the


Church be supplied according to ability, and


their ultimate and spcely success seems be-


you'd question.


Yet at no time in our Missionary history,


perhaps, has there been so great liability to


failure OF moned resources, for carrying


forward this work. First in order came the


Secession movement in the Church on the


border, depriving the Society Of many thou


sands Of dollars it had formerly received


Then came the political Secession Of the


South, bringing upon us war and its distract


ing evils. The finances Of the Country are


greatly embarrassed, especially in the North


west


The mind of the Nation is almost wholly


occupied with the war interest, and large
drafts are made upon the North to sustain


the Government and to put down the Rebel


lion The danger is that the Church will be


diverted from her great mission work, so far
d as to fail to be impressed with the duly OF
y standing by the banner Of the Cross, howcy'
{ er distracted may be the condition OF the
= country or the world. The banner OF the


Cross FIRST, the flag Of our Country next, and
t, ourselves last, and all these together, each in
o it's place, must be the motto of the Church
y in these times of peril. Under these circnm
"A stances what shall we do? Just this, and nc
less. We must sustain the cause, let como
is what will. This is no time to falter in oul
70 work. 1t is rather just the time to show oul
= superior love to God and His cause.
er Vermont will probably suffer as little from
IN the troublesome times that are upon us as any
re State in the Union, and it therefore becomes
= us to rise up to the demands of the cause o
$. God with a cheerful and brave heart ano
re firmly tread the path Of duty


'5 '5 l. Let us adopt disciplinary plan fol
"a raising our missionary funds. This has never


bee N done TO any extent, at least in the Older
Is portion of our Conference. We have Otter
'e been exhorted to it but have as often neglect
e ed to do it except that we have taken Ell an
" nua collection or subscription in cur congre
m cations. But this does not meet the case
1t We ought to do more, and we must do it, /
a. a. we would clear ourselves from just condemna
X ton in this matter. We ought to give thu
& Church opportunity to contribute frequently
is and regularly, by system, though it be ii
y small sums This will keep the subject con
=, stantly before us, and tend to keep up Il prop
a. or interest.


Iy The Missionary concert OF prayer hel'
s. monthly is a necessary part OF the plan men
IL tionel,-we need 10 pray much more thai
h. we do for this cause, that we may give more


and that what we give, may bear more iralt


2. We ought to make laryer Offering
n tor this cause. We have hardly begun tt
AZ give to this cause as VIC ought 1t is time Il
n. begin to deny ourselves little for Christ
i. Let us dispense with q portion of our luxur


les, and lay aside or do without all mere per
u sonal adornments that we may better adorl
- our profession, and save souls. Great sacrl
a fees are made Of men and money, in behal
re Of the country all seem ready to give prop
in erty and life, il need be, to save their coun
IS try all right And shall we not make a
y oreut sacrifices for God, and his cause, a
IS these make for their country? yes and NOR
is if possible, il we are true to Christ Let u
O. al! give according to our means, as Uod ma
c. orospered us, cheerfully, and earnestly.
4, ~ Young and DID, rich and poor, children ant
as all--lot us bring our pennies, dimes, dollars
as and ones, twos, fvos and tens, to the altar
he the / ord and there leave them with our pray
o, cr.. and wait for the reward in days to come


Shall our Missionaries be sustained in thel