Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

our farmers do not, and will not, attend church service in the towns. Our pastors and churches, with one or two exceptions, are in the towns, and therefore do not reach the farming classes, and these form the major portion of our population. The colporteur is the only agent the Presbyterian Church has able to reach them. In this sparsely-settled country, however, a team and vehicle of some sort are indispensable. Our church is losing much every year by not having some one to look more closely after the immigrants who settle in the foot-hills and outranges. This work is urgent and will not suffer delay. In all of the homes there is need of more religious literature, especially for the young people. Generally, parents allow their children to grow up with no moral training or restraint. From childhood up they have been accustomed to rough society and the power of bad example. Soon they leave the older settled 'parts to become herders in the range, where they can indulge their lawless propensities, many times meeting a violent death in some drunken brawl.

The following interesting account of an Indian service is from one of the Board's missionaries in the Indian Territory:

On last Sabbath I attended an "Indian Cry." I will try to give you a description of the meeting. I arrived at the ground and found that there were about one thousand people there, whites, Indians and negroes. There were a number of tents and booths, and a large brush arbor in which to hold the meetings. Going over to the arbor I found a large congregation listening to the preaching of a fullblooded Choctaw Indian. He kept them there for two hours, as he had two funeral sermons to preach. These meetings are almost campmeetings, and are held for five or six days, and always near a burial ground. On Sunday morning the funeral sermons for those who have departed this life during the year are preached. In this case two had died, both men. The widows sit in front, the next in relationship come next in order, and so on. After the close of the sermon a procession is formed, the women in the lead, and they all march to the burial ground. On arriving there the women sit on the ground around the graves and weep. The Choctaw Indians build little log houses over the graves. The men sing a hymn, then prayer is offered, and all return to the meeting ground for dinner; tables are set at each of the booths, and all are welcome to eat. These letters show how this lowly work is

done by the faithful men who have been called to it, and give some suggestion of its necessity and value.

THE VALUE OF TRACTS.

Of late several articles have appeared in these columns narrating the great work wrought by single leaflets, which had found their way, under strange divine guidance, to those who needed their ministry. It is quite the fashion to despise tracts; but there can be no doubt that they are often used of God to accomplish great good. They can go where books cannot be sent and where no living preacher can go. They are like little seeds, which the wind carries, and which lodge in the crevices of the rocks and grow into beauty. The writer of this paragraph keeps tracts and leaflets always at hand, and slips one into many a letter which he writes, and ofttimes does not have to wait long to learn of blessing wrought by these little lowly messengers which he sends out.

These thoughts have been suggested by the following portion of a letter received from one of the Board's missionaries in New Mexico, to whom a grant of Spanish tracts had been sent:

Tracts are among the most important instruments in the hands of the missionary. They enter where the missionary cannot. They preach silently the most wholesome doctrine at the fireside when the missionary is asleep. Like a planted tree, growing while the owner rests, so tracts are working often and often in the silent watches of the night, a thing of life by the blessing of the Holy Spirit. They are a John the Baptist, pointing to Christ, and saying, "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." I was myself awakened by tracts in my early life, when far away on the Sandwich Islands. How I loved those little messengers of peace! I kept them for years sewed together. I read and re-read them. As soon as I was converted, I procured a bundle of tracts every Sunday morning. I distributed ten thousand papers every year. And many a soul has been brought to Christ by them. I distributed tracts in Spain when Isabella was queen of that country; and how eager the people were to get tracts! After I had exhausted my supply, people would come long distances in order to get some. I remem

ber how sorry I felt for that poor people then. I have distributed tracts not only in Spain, but also in South America, Germany, Denmark and in other places. I have sent by mail and by freight (in care of sailors) tracts to Norway, Sweden, France, Italy and other places; but never shall I know what good they have done. The recipient may never know from whom they came, but God knows the souls that have been saved-knows that they are saved, and that is enough. How unspeakably happy must be those who gave their funds to the Lord for extending Christ's glorious kingdom among the nations of the earth! Would to God that more of his people might see the good that is yet waiting to be done by tracts! They would not tighten their purse-strings against those boards and societies that are trying to contribute to the evangelization of the world by these powerful instruments.

TIMELY WORDS.

One of the burning questions of the day is that of the duty of the church in the conflict between labor and capital. The Rev. Robert Ellis Thompson, D.D., professor in the University of Pennsylvania, has recently spoken wise and timely words on this subject, and his address has been issued by the Board of Publication and Sabbath-school Work. It is entitled "The Duty of the Church in the Conflict between Labor and Capital." (Price, five cents.) A few paragraphs of this address are here given. Dr. Thompson says of the duty of the church in this conflict (pp. 14-16):

"To treat in an ecclesiastical way" such a problem as this is to treat it as representing Christ and his methods of social reform. I think his refusal to act "as a judge or a divider" in the case of the disputed inheritance is as apposite an instance of his method as any in the Gospels. No doubt there was a right and also a wrong side in this controversy between the two brothers; no doubt it was a part of Christ's work to abolish all such wrongs out of human society; no doubt the wrong in this particular case was not a matter of indifference to him; and yet he refuses to interfere in the dispute, declaring that to be a work to which he is not called. The reason of his refusal is found in the fact that he deals not with the branches of the world's evil, but with its roots. He is making the tree good that the fruit may be good also. He has no time for

particular cases which might seem to call for his arbitration, because he is so busy with the extermination of the evil tempers of heart and mind which make such cases possible. He shows this by his further utterance on this very occasion. He does not stop with the refusal. He proceeds "Take heed, and beware of coveteousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." And he adds the parable of the rich barn-builder who took the other view of life, and who at the end went out of this life to the other stripped and naked.

If the church is to follow in the footsteps of her Master, she must look deeper than the surface of life in such a case. She must seek the cure of social evils in that spiritual regeneration which gives society truer ideals of life and what it consists in. We need this caution from our Lord's words all the more because in these days we are tempted to look for some more superficial remedy for the deep evils of society. We are inclined to ask by what new

arrangement of our industrial system we can overcome the difficulty-what contrivance will meet our need. Great is the faith of the AngloSaxon race in contrivances! After fifty years' preaching from Mr. Carlyle that no moral results are obtainable from machinery, we still are on the outlook for some mechanical device that shall solve our moral difficulties and enable us to dispense with a higher standard of duty and responsibility; so we talk of cooperation, of arbitration and of profit-sharing, as though in any of these lay our social and industrial salvation. No doubt these all have their uses, and especially the last. It is very encouraging to see that employers of labor in our own city are resorting to this admirable corrective of many of the evils of the wages but they are expecting too much if system; they think that even profit-sharing will prove a cure-all. Its break-down in several notable instances shows that until the temper of wagebetter, even profit-sharing will not bear the payers and of wage-earners is changed for the strain of industrial antagonism, much less get rid of it.

The whole address is intensely practical. Dr. Thompson's familiarity with all phases of this question and his splendid commonsense way of looking at things and dealing with them qualify him in an unusual way for the discussion. He looks at both sides of the vexed and vexing problem and throws much light upon it.

CHURCH ERECTION.

PRUDENCE AS WELL AS ZEAL.

In the annual report of the Board, just published, the statement will be noticed that during the year there have been fourteen instances in which funds given by the Board in former years have been recovered in consequence of its lien upon the property of a church that has been dissolved or that has changed its ecclesiastical connection. The fact of the recovery of the money under such circumstances proves the value of the plan arranged by the General Assembly to preserve to the church the grants made for a specific purpose; but that there should be this constantly-recurring necessity of reclaiming money given in the expectation of insuring the permanence of a congregation suggests the importance of wisdom as well as zeal in the organizing of churches and the location of their edifices. As is remarked in the report, it is true that however prudently and wisely presbyteries may act in the organization of churches, experience proves that success cannot be always assured: churches not infrequently die from causes that could not have been foreseen; but it is also probable that there are instances in which a wise foresight would have counselled delay in the formal organization. Such considerations have suggested the following article by one who has had large experience in the practical working of this Board.

"Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off." It is well to begin with courage and confidence; but it is also well to begin cautiously and wisely, if we would continue steadfastly advancing and accomplish sure and good results. "Which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it?" It is often much easier to begin than it is to finish; easier to gird on the armor with bold anticipation than to come to the grand vic

tory which admits of putting off the armor And this applies to for a well-earned rest. the organizing of a church as well as to the building of a house of worship. There is often too great haste in forming a church, and then saying, "Let us rise up and build." In a general view it is a good thing to see churches multiplied over the land. It is an indication of the spreading of religion, and a promise of health and strength to our national character, and of the triumph of Christ's kingdom. But there may be mistakes of judgment in planting them, and there may be the influence of selfish motives in their origin. It is a matter of regret that every year some feeble churches "die out," and that so often church edifices built with great effort, and with aid from funds given for wise use in that direction, are abandoned and offered for sale. Undoubtedly there are cases where real good has been done by hindering the organizing of a church in a given locality; and the Board of Church Erection has proved itself a faithful and wise steward in declining to contribute to building when the enterprise has not commended itself to its judgment. In this particular a careful revision of its acts will show it to be worthy of commendation. Of course, the responsi bility of organizing a church and recommending it for aid comes more directly upon the presbyteries. There lies the authority of beginning, as there is presumed to be the intelligence of all the facts in the case upon which that authority is to form its judgment. Experience shows that too much care cannot be exercised in this direction. Of course it is possible to be too timid and to fail to take an intelligent view of the promises of the future. Sometimes a sagacious observation of things present and prospective will fully justify the organization of a church with a very few members. But it is also possible to move too quickly, to be influenced by a sympathy with a few individuals which is more generous than wise; or by rivalry with

other denominations that is hardly in harmony with a Christ-like spirit; or by secular considerations which override, unconsciously to the individuals concerned, the aiming for God's glory, by a desire for the improvement of property and the growth of a community. Build the tower; but be sure that the tower ought to be built, and count the cost. Gird on the armor, not boastfully, but as called of God, and with expectation of wearing it to the end.

THE "WARDS" OF THE NATION. The following appeal in behalf of our Indian brethren is one of touching eloquence. Who will heed and respond?

OOWALA, IND. TER., April 11, 1887. REV. E. N. WHITE, D.D.

DEAR BROTHER:-As chairman of the Presbyterial Committee on Church Erection, Presbytery of the Cherokee Nation, I am instructed to address you, showing the wants of the church in the Cherokee Nation, and to ask for such aid and encouragement as is necessary for the successful operations of the work in our bounds. In the Cherokee Nation we have churches at Vinita, Pleasant Hill, Fort Gibson, Eureka, Park Hill, Tahlequah, Pleasant Valley, Seven Houses, only two of which are west of Grand River, viz., Vinita and Pleasant Hill, and not one in the entire country west of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and no place of worship of any kind on that road from Vinita to Tulsa.

In this field, south and west from Vinita, reaching to the Osage and Kansas, and to Grand River south and east of Vinita, we have Rev. A. D. Jacks at Coody's Bluff, Mr. John F. Allen, teacher at Kennedyville, and myself at Oowala; and not one thing in the shape of a church that belongs to us, but holding our meetings in dwellings, public school-houses and often in the woods.

We need four houses of worship here,-one at Claremere, one at Oowala, one at Coody's Bluff and one at Bartelsville.

Brother Smallwood, a Cherokee of full blood, needs a building on Barren Fork. His people will furnish the lumber.

Good and sufficient houses can be built at a cost of five hundred dollars each, size twentytwo by thirty-six feet. The people here are willing to do all they can, but having had so many promises from unauthorized persons, they want to see the work of building begun before they are willing to contribute. They have so

often been deceived by promises, it is no wonder that they are not confiding; and yet their confidence once gained, and they are fast in their

friendship. An opportunity is now offered the Presbyterian Church to occupy this Nation, and the doors and the hearts of the people are open to us.

One of the necessities of this country is the building of manses; and until something is done we shall find it hard to secure and retain ministers. It is not like the states where houses are built to rent. I doubt if a house was ever built in this Nation to let, unless possibly in Vinita; so that many times a minister with family cannot secure a house.

account.

One brother has left us, as we learn, on this Another is here boarding, and his family in Kansas. Another has built a little box cabin, thinking he could save enough from his salary to pay for it, but has signally failed.

Now, dear brother, I have brought to your notice some of our difficulties in order that you might advise or suggest. If I could only see you, or, better, if you or some one of your number could only visit us and see our wants and prospects, I am confident of your then feeling an enthusiasm.

May God open the hearts of his people to the cry of the Indian for "living bread" is the prayer of Yours in him, D. N. ALLEN.

GROUNDS OF APPEAL.

We give below the conclusion of Dr. White's address in the Assembly at Omaha, upon the motion to adopt the report of the Standing Committee upon Church Erection. It followed an explanation of the principles and methods of the Board:

And now, brethren, having laid before you these plain facts, what more is it necessary for me to say? I see before me not only the representatives of this great growing West with its magnificent possibilities for our Lord and Master, but, also, the representatives of many regions that were themselves once young and feeble, but now are strong and vigorous in their mature life.

I appeal to you, brethren, by the inspiration you have received from the sight of these springing empires, that you go back to your churches and arouse them to the claims that the younger portion of the common church has upon the older.

1. Weld this great church together by a bond that nothing can break. Eastern capital

Invest

ists are investing their money here. here your interest, your money, your love, your prayers. Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. You will take an interest in these sister churches when you have money in them. Two or three weeks ago, a church was dedicated in Sterling, Dakota. On a tablet at the side of the pulpit are the words that show it to be largely the memorial to a Christian lady who died upon the Atlantic seacoast. Her children have erected it. I know one of them, and again and again he was in the office asking in regard to Sterling. Dakota and Sterling are different places now to him; yes, sacred places. Our church will be forever one church when welded together by such kindly deeds.

Encourage the men upon the distant outposts. They often feel lonely, these dear brethren, who have to travel 300, 500 or 1000 miles to attend a meeting of presbytery or synod. Often single-handed they must do their work.

What courage and confidence it gives a missionary as far away upon the prairies or upon the mountains he commences his work in some little hamlet or mining town, to know that he has an army at his back! He knows that he is not to be left solitary and unaided.

I remember once during the war riding out from Harper's Ferry down the banks of the Shenandoah. Several miles from the body of the troops I found a single tent upon the river bank, and a sergeant and four or five men in the blue uniform of our army. They were a picket guard. They were alone, but they were not disturbed by the thought. They knew that just over the hills beyond the wood were encamped the army. If there was an alarm, they had but to give the signal and help was at hand.

Such courage you may give to those Christian soldiers upon what we have heard called the skirmish line. They will fight without fear the world and the flesh and the devil, when they know that their brethren stand ready to back them up.

3. See to it that your magnificent contributions to home missions are not made in vain.

Brethren from these western fields, am I not right in saying that unless you can go on to erect a church building, the money expended in home missionary work is largely thrown away?

When I was in Dakota last fall brother after brother answered me that so far as Presbyterian influence was concerned, place after place had been lost because no church edifice could be built.

Our Board has sometimes been called the right arm of the Home Missionary Board. Every church erected speaks of the power of religion, every steeple points upward to God, every bell rings out an invitation.

It is to fellow citizens of the household of faith, to your brethren and kindred, that you are asked to give. It is all in the family. The universal testimony is that unless these rapidly increasing churches are provided with church homes, then the missionary work, its toil, its deprivations, its expense of money and of lives, is for the most part in vain.

Why, Mr. Moderator, if there were no such board as that of Church Erection, the wisest thing the Home Missionary Board could do would be, first of all, to set aside $100,000 to $150,000 to do this very work. Thus every one of the splendid, unanswerable arguments that you heard on Tuesday might here be repeated in regard to this work that to-day we are considering. If our great West is to be won and held for Christ, not only must the gospel be preached by the itinerant missionary, but the ground must be held by an organized congregation, by a house of worship, by a resident pastor. John Knox understood this relation of power to an established and permanent abiding place when he said with reference to the monasteries, "If you would rid yourself of the rooks, you must burn the rookeries."

The wisdom of every army is to destroy its enemies' entrenchments, and then throw up entrenchments of its own.

An infidel writer understands what he is saying when he points to the fact that paganism lost its power upon the Roman world when the heathen temples and shrines were wrested from the priests. He adds, "To emancipate the world from Christianity, we want to break up the houses of worship; if needs be, tax them to death."

Brethren, even such an assault, if possible, would not destroy Christianity; but the converse is true, that, while rearing sanctuary after sanctuary to the praise and honor of God at the rate in this country of more than ten every day in the year, the church of Christ is showing no sign of decadence.

We mark her goodly battlements
And her foundations strong;
We hear within the solemn sound
Of her unending song.

Mr. Moderator and brethren, this work of building churches will never cease until Christ comes again in glory.

« AnteriorContinuar »