Newspaper Page Text
October 27, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIAN
and the like; that it removes entirely the element of
"competition"; that it makes the various departments
of the church's work support and help each other;
that it presents the different causes as so many units
in a system which has a common end; and that it is
thoroughly practical and practicable. Those who
have attended the meetings of the General Assembly
will appreciate the fact that any system that will les,
^ , 1 * . a 1 _ 1 f
sen u i.uidiu mcdsuic ui tumpcunon oenveen ine aiiferent
causes is much to be desired. The multiplication
of objects of general benevolence, growing naturally
out of the enlargement and development of the
church, emphasizes the demand for some method by
which each added unit will help rather than hinder
the work, and by which all appearance of "scrambling"
may be avoided.
ANSWERED PRAYER.
The announcement made upon the authority of
cable despatches that Rev. W. Ii. Sheppard, of our
Congo Mission, has been acquitted of charges made
by the Belgian government, has been received with
delight by our people. The charges against Dr.
M ? ?
-viornson were witnarawn some weeks ago. It was
fully expected by our Secretaries and the Executive
Committee, and by Mr. Sheppard himself, that in the
ordinary course of events, the trial would result in
a verdict sustaining the government's charges?an
unjust verdict indeed, but one of immense consequence
to the oppressive policy of the government.
Its reputation before the world and its oft repeated
protestations of innocency were at stake. All this
appears to have been forfeited in the final outcome.
It may be remembered that the last General Assembly
appealed to the Church to give itself to earnest
prayer in behalf of these brethren. During the sessions
of the Assembly many supplications were offered
in their behalf. Special interest in* the case was taken
by a number of other ecclesiastical bodies and executive
boards; notably the Northern Presbyterian, the
Southern Methodist, the Episcopal, the Congregational,
the Baptist and probably others. Sympathy
was expressed, co-operation was generously rendered
and prayer was offered. And now we learn that the
desire of many hearts in this and other lands has
been fulfilled.
An unsympathetic and ungrateful naturalism will
say that the results would have been the same had
no prayer been offered. A reverent and grateful manhood
and womanhood everywhere may say, "The
Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
my God, my strength in whom I will trust: mv buck
ler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
That the result has been attained thrpugh ordinary
human instrumentalities in no respect impairs the fact
of God's immanence in the affairs of his Church, his
guidance toward the great ends which he has foreordained.
This is God's way of subduing all things,
unto himself and maturing his redeemed Kingdom.
We remember that when Peter was delivered from
prison in answer to the prayers of the little company
of believers, they were astonished when they
knew that their prayers were answered. Their faith
was genuine but they did not realize how freely and
* 4 *
OF THE SOUTH. 3
graciously God would hear their plea. It honors our
Lord for us to recognize his presence and his control
in the affairs of the Church and of the individual life.
Is it not true of our Lord's disciples today that
they are slow of vision in discerning the Master's
presence, and hesitant of utterance in saying, "It is
the Lord?" There are many Bethels where his people
may declare, "Surely the Lord is in this place and 1
knew it not."
THE POOR AND FOREIGN MISSIONS.
In the "Abilene News" there has appeared a paragraph
of such foolishness as to astound us.
It says that "Recently a Baptist preacher of Atlanta published
a statement to the effect that there were In a short
distance from the church, four or five thousand white folks
who were too destitute to dress so that they could come to
church. The following Sunday an eloquent secretary of a
foreign missionary society in this same church, raised $11,000
for foreign hospitals, dispensaries, asylums, secular schools,
kindergartens and bribed converts." And it asks: "How do
you suppose the poor people of Atlanta feel about it?"
We do not question these statements in themselves.
But its author is too ignorant of facts to be able to
argue sensibly.
i. Doubtless there are four or five thousand people
in Atlanta who can not dress as they would wish for
an appearance at church. But do these people wish
to go to church? Would they go if we should dress
tnem up ever so hnely.'' That which hinders, them
from church-going is not lack of dress, but lack of
desire. The argument therefore is not true.
2. Between the appeal for money to relieve bodily
discomfort, and for money to save the soul from hell,
there is no comparison. If the one or the other must
needs be omitted, by all means let us save the soul.
But the one does not exclude the other. The men who
give freely for missions are the men who give to relieve
the distressed. . -j
3. The people who talk in this way about foreign
mission work do not know anything about the condition
of men in heathen lands. In northern China
when the temperature is down toward zero, the average
laborer has only straw with which to warm. He
puts it into a clay oven, and lies down on the top of
his oven as the only way to keep warm. In middle
China where ice is often seen, the average man has
absolutely no fire to warm his dwelling. The best
that he has is a charcoal footstove, on which to place
his feet, or a charcoal can to hold within his hands, to
keep them from freezing. Without glass in their windows.
and without a warming stove in their houses,
they shield themselves by multiplied thickness of
bed-quilt garments.
And their food is likewise stinted. A native of India
or China counts a one-cent breakfast or a one-cent dinner,
abundant, and the average of them live on meals
that cost only half a cent. Poverty! No one in this
country can conceive of the poverty of heathen lands.
The Held negroes of the South, in comparison with
idolaters, are rich. When such poverty as we have
described, is realized, no wonder that noble men will
subscribe for its relief. And when they realize that
it is the result of sin and idolatry, no wonder that
they gave freely to overcome the idolatry and sin.