Newspaper Page Text
February 7, 1912]
Da REED'S "AS IT SEEMED TO ME."
I have Just finished reading a booklet
with the above title, written by Dr. R.
C. Reed, ProfeBsor In the Columbia
Seminary and published by the Presbyterian
Standard Company, of Charlotte,
N. C., from whom It may be ordered
for the small sum of fifty cents.
It 1b delightful reading. It 1b a great
ihihg when An author kfaoWs how to
communicate knowledge In a way
more pleasant than recreation and
easier than traveling through a novel,
especially Mrs. Humphrey Ward's. Dr.
Reed understands this art. He Is a
learned man, for another book on the
history of the Presbyterian Church
shows It, but he conceals and deludes
<.? u. j/iuper uegree ms vast learning !n
this little brochure. Anybody can and
anybody will understand It Some years
ago I took almost the exact trip he
describes and now feel aB If I had Just
taken it again and I am afresh resolved
that 1 will soon take It over again once
more, and carry this little hook With
me as my vade mecum. Humor, t'terary
ahd historical allusions, a chaste and
agreeable style coax one on right
through the volume and If you don't
believe It get a copy and T prophesv you
will read it through Withoiit stopping.
liiornton Whaling.
ftOfe* *ORET?\ MTSSTfW GTYING 1*.
.TTRE OTHER CATSES? A PLEA
FOR FAIRNESS.
In a recent article Bro. W. H. Mlley
compares a part of the financial report
of the Second church, Louisville,
for 1908, with that for 1911. He notes
that while the Foreign Mission offering
of 1911 was BO per cent, arrester than
that of 1908, the General Assembly and
Colored Missions offerings for 1911
Showed a decrease of nearly 60 per
cent, from 1008. Prom this he draws
the Conclusion that. Forelen Mission
giving: Injures Home Missions.
The writer In consequence of this
reasoning may be exposed by a precisely
similar comparison. Tnstead of
1008 and 1911, take the equl-dlstant
years 1907 and 1910. In 1907 the
Forelen Mission offering was $2,079,
and the Ix>eal Assembly, and Colored
Missions offerlnes were 94.0R5. In 1910
the Forelen Mission offerlne decMned
and so d'd each of the three Home Mission
offerinKB. This comnrrlson which
Bro. Mllev wlselv overlooked, would
prove by its own loe'c that a shrinkage
In Forelen Mission rivlne causes a reduction
In Home M'ssion elvlng also.
Furthermore, from 1908 to 1910
Foreign Missions rose from $1,027 to
$1,808, and local Home Missions from
$2 281 to $2 R26. From 1908 to 1909
Foreign Mlsplons decreased and po d*d
Assembly Missions and Colored Missions.
From 1910 to 1911 Forelen Missions
Increased and so did Colored Missions.
All which proves, to thoee who
like this style of argument, that Home
and Fore'gn Missions rise and fall together.
As a matter of fact it proves
nothing.
Every pastor knows that the contributions
of his church to this or that
cause are often profoundly influenced
"by the death or removal of certain large
givers, specially interested in particular
causes, by the presence or absence
.r\f a lororn HoKt Kv C?"h Q r?<rr>a In
the specific objects of benevolence. All
-these things have {greatly affected the
Second church's giving in certain
directions. Moreover four years ago the
congregation saw their church building
bum, and after two years of practical
homelessness entered the new building
with a big de/bt on their shoulders. In
view of such physical and financial
shochs through which the church has
passed in the last five years it is
wholly gratuitous to drag in Foreign
Missions to explain the fluctuations In
.the chqnqti's benevolence. But Bro.
THE PRESBYTERIj
Wiley's own church of 434 members
confutes his reasoning. Between the
years of his own choosing, 1908 and
1911, his combined contributions to the
three Home Mission causes fell from
$311 to $289. Was this due to excessive
giving to Foreign Missions? No, for
in the same period the church's Foreign
Mission offering fell from $56 to $30.
Stieh local factors as those I have
named make it ustially impossible for
a church to demonstrate ih the brief
space of a five year pastorate the outworking
of a great principle. One
thing I have discovered, however, which
interests me greatly. I find that the
only benevolent cause which through
all this period has risen and fallen with
the changing sum total of the church's
contributions is that of Foreign Missions.
Touching the following figures
the reader will remember that the
Secotid church has been a strong supWJ..
?iJ ? *
jrwi ici ui miiusierini rvuucamun, ann DC"
ing tin Increasingly down town church
has a vast and needy field for home
work at Its dcror.
In 190? we reported for Foreign Missions
$2,079, and for the support and
extension of religion In the home land
$27,924, In 1908 the Foreign contribution
declined and so did the Home, being
$1,627 and $26,479. In 1909 the
Foreign sank lower still and so did the
Home, being $1,507 and $17,405. In
1910 the Foreign Increased and so did
the Home, being $1,868 and $27,710. In
1911 the Foreign went much higher and
so did the Home, being $2,492 and $35,483.
A mere five year survey proves nothing.
But while not a proof, the above
figures are an illustration of what I believe
to be a fact, that Foreign Mission
giving is the most accurate gauge and
register of a church's all around liber
amy, juts*. u.? we utsuaiiy nna me .roreign
Mission minded individual the
most responsive to all the needs of
Christ's Kingdom.
The statement in regard to Christ's
"triple work of preaching and teaching
and healing," that "the only place
where his church is directly and exactly
reproducing this complete ministry
of her Lord is in her Foreign Mission
work," is true. Of course there
are thousands of devoted Christian
doctors in this country, but they are
not sent out and supported by the
church. Tbe church is not "directly"
using the ministry of healing in our
country, because there is no call for it.
dui co aesperaie are me neeas in neatn.
en lands that the church is there called
to reproduce directly Christ's triple
ministry. And she Is doing It with the
same spiritual purpose and the same
blessed results that marked the work
of him who "went about teaching and .
preaching and healing all manner of
s'ckness and all manner of disease
among the people."
Egbert W. Smith.
THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR HOME
MISSIONS.
At the request of the Women's Missionary
Conference, at Montreat, for
1911, the following suggestive program
has been arranged by Miss Lambdin. It
must be varied, of course, to suit local
conditions:
Sunday: A sermon by the pastor:
The work of the Assembly's Home Missions.
What shall be our share in this
work?
Monday: Foreigners in the United
States; the Ind'ans; our Colored work.
Tuesday: The Mountaineers.
Wednesday: The local work, whereevtr
located. v
Thursday: Our Western country.
Friday: Ho^ may we hold young
people for Christ and his service?
Saturday: Prayer for larger participation
on our part In all efTorta for the
evangeliratlon of our own land. DIs
&.N OF THE SOUTH
cussion of tbe importance, and prayer
for tbe early completion of tbe Semicentennial
Church Building Fund, authorized
by tbe General Assembly, that
will mean so much in reaching and
supplying religious destitutions at
borne.
Much material on all these subjects
will be found in the Annual Report,
May number of The Home Mission
Herald, 1911; the Calendar of Prayer
fnv Hnmo Mloolnno 1Q19 *?
oAiwwivuo, auu idduco iur
the past year of The Herald and The
Missionary Survey. If leaflets are desired,
send 5c. to cover postage; or
15c. for leaflets and a copy of the
Calendar of Prayer to the Executive
Committee of Home Missions, P. O.
Drawer 1686, Atlanta, Ga.
Be sure that all who take part on the
program are given time for preparation,
and are furnished with sufficient material.
Instead of devoting a certain day to
Mission Schools, It will be better to
give special emphasis on several days
to this very Important part of Home
Mission work, as the subject for each
day permits.
Remember that prayer and work?
faith and works?go always hand in
hand. Pray and work beforehand for
the meeting. Pray and work during its
continuance, that it may be a time of
great spiritual blessing as well as of
extended Information and intensified interest
in all Honfe Missionary work.
Pray and work afterward that the results
may be abiding.
Perhaps several who feel more deeply
the needs and the inadequacy of the
effort that is being put forth to supply
these needs may be able to meet together
in advance of the public meet
ings and pray specifically for a blessing
upon this time of special prayer.
It will assist greatly in conserving
results if a systematic canvass 1b made
during the week, in the interest of The
Missionary Survey and the Calendar of
Prayer for Home Missions.
If it is desired to make a special
gift to some department of the work,
write the Executive Committee of Home
Missions, Atlanta, and ascertain what
are the urgent needs at this time?they
are many and diverse.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTE ON THE
ITALIAN MISSION WORK
To the Woman's Home Missionary
Union of the Presbytery of
New Orleans.
Mrs. Cosentino is pursuing her
chosen life work for the Master with
the same zeal and love as in former
years; Indeed, with greater, as her opportunities
increase, notwithstanding
the fact that during the past months
she has been called upon to pass
through the waters of affliction In the
lingering illness and death of her husband.
Besides her work of systematic
visitation among the Italians, both
Catholic and Protestant, the special
objects of the devot'on and energy are
the Sewing School, which meets twice
weekly, Tuesdays and Fridays, and the
Sunday school at three In the afternoon.
In the Sewing School are girls from
about eight to sixteen years old, from
various ranks In life, the majority of
whom are from the poorer. During the
past few years material has been donated
for their use, from different
sources. Mrs. Cosent'no frequently has
furnished the poods out of her own
means, rather than not to have the
children supplied; a donation of a .bolt
of cotton from the Elizabeth Blackman
Crawford Band was most acceptable.
The dellpht of the children as they see
the perments cut out, which they are
to make and keen seems almost boundless,
and would brlnp preat joy to the
hearts of the donors could they see
them themselves. We only hope that
they feel as preat pratltude for all that
(137 17
is there done (or them. Devotional exercises
always are held after the sewing
hour. Donations of goods are
usually needed, as the demand is so
great. Concerning the Sunday school.
Mrs. Cosentlno requests that a very
urgent appeal be made for the teachers
who are earnest in their devotion to
Christ, experienced In dealing with
children, able to wield a gentle, loving,
but very firm hand for many of these
children are very strong, unrestrained
personality, are unusually vivacious, always
ready for fun and frolic rather
than for serious work.
Mrs. Cosentlno tells of a number of
boys who would be interested if a teacher
wero nhfninoil An i>?? -?'?*??? ??
_ UM aua uao Uiuiuuny
in speaking the English language,
which almost all the children speak, altogether,
or nearly so, Bhe is in need,
you will see, of help that Americans
could best render.
In our homes of comfort we read
with grateful hearts, and a spirit of
wonder and admiration of "those heroes
bold in faith," who overcame great
obstacles for Christ's sake, yet who in
the end were called upon to suffer
cruel death for the sake of their Redeemer.
Do we count tihe great cost
of our salvation, and then consider that
the loss that we shall have to suffer if
we have failed to do the good that was
in the power of our hands to do? We
may undervalue our ability to serve
Jesus Christ, yet can .we forget that
"All things are possible to them that
Deneve.* For the love of Christ she
labors there and will continue. In order
to mee1- our present obligations and to
provide against the coming months the
Executive Committee has undertaken to
serve a lunch during the Carnival, consisting
of light refreshments, coffee, tea,
choclate, oyster soup, sandwiches, cake
and ice cream. We desire to state that
if any of the out-of-town Societies or
individuals wish to assist us in the way
of donations or funds we shall be most
grateful for whatever aid is rendered.
Iiuncheon will be served at 121 Camp
Street, just above Canal Street, New Orleans.
Monday the 19th and Tuesday the
20th from 10 A. M. to 10 P. M.
Please send donations to Miss Mattie
Pedd, chairman. 270R Chestnut Street,
New Orleans, Tx>ulslana.
ARE YOU TH \ WFTT t SIT0W IT IW
CO\T>rCT.
Thanksgiving Is of little value if our
evrresslons of gratitude have no affect
un?n our own conduct. Aopreefntlon of
h'esalngs ts shown bv acts rather than
by words. Tf we regard cltlransMn as
a nricrtloas tnhortfonp? * ?? u ?
? ... , I.?vt ?c niiwn HI IC~
ao've to transmit ft. not onlv unimpaired.
hut fmnrored. to the next generation:
ff onr educational svatem ban
been a boon to na. It should bp extended
pnd amu'l^ed for tbp benefit of posterity;
ff tbe resources of onr country
bpve a vafue bevond eomnntatlon, It
behoovea us to see to ft that these reaoureea
are not aonandpred, and that
tbe bonntfea which the Creator Intended
for all aball not be monopol'xed by the
cunninsr, the craft, and the avarice of a
few; if our Government gives to life,
liberty, and prosperity greater protection
than any other Government grants,
we can not excuse ourselves If we fall
to preserve It In all Its purity tor onr
children's children; If In our religion
we find a consolation, a life-plan, and a
moral upl'ft, we can not bnt earnestly
desire?and embody tbe desire In deeds
that these shall be shared by those
about us and by those also who, though
separated from us by seas, are bound
to us bv that primal tie that llnhs each
..um.om i/niii, iu B?ery oineT.?William
Jennings Bryan. In The Circle.
The men and women that are llft'nf
the world upward and onward are those
v*o encouraee more than criticise.?
Elizabeth Harris?*.