Newspaper Page Text
July 17, 1912]
MISSISSIPPI LEADS AGAIN.
The "Mississippi Plan" has interested
the whole Southern Preshyterian body.
The church has looked on with more
than ordinary interest, as the Synod of
Mississippi has tried the hitherto untried
idea of supplying vacant churches
with ruling elders, and we have congratulated
ourselves, and received much
comment and commendation from the
brethren and many other sources of our
success. The vacant churches have
oeeu uiwueu, me visiting elders have
been not only greatly blessed, but have
demonstrated to themselves the fact that
they were worth more to the church and
the kingdom than they ever dTeamed of
bcfhg, and the church at large has been
shown what a power they have, which
has been lying dormant all the past
years, for helping In the work of the oncoming
kingdom.
Several years ago our Synod felt the
need of a better trained church, and
better equipped and more efficient Sabbath
schools; that even our pastors
needed waking up to the great needs
and the wonderful opportunities lying
within our churches and right at our
doors; and with a wide awake Home
Mission committee, and a live wire in
the person of the very efficient Secretary,
Mr. W. C. Smith, they made a start
at the good work by having an Institute,
lasting two or three days, at the Crystal
Springs Chautauqua, which accomplished
much, and perhaps gave our Sabbath
school work the greatest Impetus we
had in many years. This Institute was
held for three or four years, but probably
because the place was not central,
and maybe from other causes, we have
not had one for some time; hut while
we waited the Home Mission Committee
was planning.
At Synod last fall a resolution was
passed, "that if the way be clear (the
Presbyterian wty of saying "God willing"),
we would have something like a
training school, and it was left to
synod's Home Mission Committee,
headed by R. L. Campbell, and a new
live wire in the person of R. L. Walkup,
as secretary, and they brought into life
"The Presbyterian Scliool for Christian
Workers," which from June 18th to
30th was the most pronounced success
cf anything of its kind ever attempted
by any Synod any where. The Synod's
committee is to be congratulated on
everything they did.
The place was ideal: Belhaven College,
in the city of Jackson, in its central
location, in its superb equipment, in
the care of its guests, with its splendid
rooms, and comfortable table, was all
that could be desired. The faculty:
I/ook at these names (and you who were
there will never forget them), Dr. "Webb,
Dr. Somerville, Dr. Grafton, Dr. Anderson,
Dr. Vinson, Dr. Carr, Mr. Meggin
.flAn /* ? ? - ? -
-?ir. uray, Mrs. 'Street. Mrs. Lipscomb,
and Miss Allen. Then the platform
manager. R. L. Campbell, could not
he excelled, and then as a man who did
his whole duty as secretary, as the one
who told everyone what he wanted to
know, as the most resourceful man on
the platform, in the dining room, fanning
a street car ride or a picnic, he
was always there and always ready.
Oh, noble men and women who composed
the faoulty, come back again, and
we will sit at your feet, glad to listen,
though you tell us over again, word for
word, what we have just heard. The
rr*"1 *
- . vmnunMii; i ni8 anicie would De incomplete
without a word about the men
and women who tried to make everybody
have a good time. That would be to
mention every one there. We were as one
Wg family, all doing what they could
to make one happy. Perhaps the leader
in this was the gifted Dr. W. M.
Anderson, of DallaB, Texas; and whether
he was on the platform delivering Mb
pungent and pertinent addresses on
THE PB18BTT1&I
"Personal Work," or making a rhyme at
the expense of Mr. Walkup, or Dr. Hutton.
or playing '"NP. 124" as a duet with
Miss Harris, he on the Grand piano, and
she on the upright, he helped every
one to be touched to enjoy themselves
to the utmost.
Montreat and Winona Lake are doubtless
all that is claimed for them, and
we would not for one moment underrate
them, but the rank and file of our
preachers, and especially our tired,
over-worked, under-paid Home Mission
workers; then the great majority of our
elders, deacons, our busy men and women,
cannot go to these far away places,
and many can only go here In the
bounds of the State, for one or two days
at a time; so it is incumbent on the
Synod to make possible some way by
which more of our pastors and people
can be trained along all lines. This is
the day of trained workers, and the
more we can have of It, the better, and
we must put It !n reach of everv man,
woman and child. Nothing can be better
than t.us plan, because tha cost is
low. It 13 estimated that one person
could come from the farthest ioint In
the State, and spend the whole two
weeks at a maximum cost of $25.00.
"We are glad of Mississippi's leadership,
and we sincerely hope other Synods
will follow in her train.
I should not fail to mention Rev. John
Little, who opened our eyes, and filled
them with tears with his magic lantern,
and his earnest plea for our "brother
in black," and Dr. H. F. Williams, who
took us all over the Orient, and made
our hearts ache for fh<> Inn/in 0^,0^
- ?? ?? ??? ? ?? .
Then Dr. Sweets told us of our source
of supply for young men for the ministry,
and about our old mdndsters and
what the church expects of every member.
Oh, there Is so much to do that we
might become discouraged did we not
know that this is a time when men are
doing the impossible every day, and better
than that when we can say with
Paul, "I can do all things through
Christ, which strengtheneth me."
W. MciBride.
THE GREAT COMMISSION FROM A
NEGATIVE STANDPOINT.
Our familiarity with Scrimure. and
the knowledge we have had from childhood
of its prominent characters, often
produces a kind of insensibility to the
great truths intended to be taught us.
W- nftnn IV. TT
. c vi.>vu ?.ue nureau v. urisuans
their first gTeat Joy in taking to their
hearts the new story of love and redemption.
Suppose we look at some
of these great characters from a new
standpoint. Abraham was a free agent.
.Just as we are today; suppose,he had
not hav? responded, when called' to
leave his home, his kindred and all
that was dear to him. And why was
he called? That God might prepare a
chosen people for himself, and a more
honorable ancestry for his son. Just
imagine for a moment the consequences
of the "father of the faithful, the friend
of God shirking his responsibility, and
being an enemy to God; our Bible would
have to be changed.
Just think of the consternation of
the fugitive 'Moses, when ordered to
4.1 - - ~
ia<jc wjb Kreai rnaroan ana wrest rrom
his employ a great army of slaves; It
is true Moses faltered awhile and made
excuses, but he was obedient, and God's
peculiar people were not forever in
bondage.
Just Imagine Joshua not being "strong
and of good courage," and the Israelites
dying and being lost in the wilderness.
Think a moment of David not taking
"the Lord as my Shepherd," the whole
book of Psalms must be obliterated, and
our Saviour changed. Imagine Solomon
not using his God-given wisdom and
we cut out the Proverbs and Ecclesias
AN or TBI BOVTH
tea. Think of Isaiah not saying, "Here
am I, send me," and the main predictions
of Christ's coming would be lost.
Jonah was an unwilling missionary,
and like many of us today wanted to
shirk, and 9 fear that not even a whale
can arouse these hardened consciences,
but only 7,the still small voice."
Just imagine the twelve disciples refusing
the "follow me" of oar Saviour;
these witnesses of our Lord's life and
death, and the Acts of the Apostles not
being there to tell us. Just think of
at Pa 1,1 ?
?. - -u?u voiini lu gv wj iue entiles
saying, 'Excuse me, dear 'Lord, I
have enough to do at home." Suppose
he had not have gone to Rome, and
Galatla, and Bphesus and Phillppl, and
ColoeBe and Thessalonlca, then take
your scissors and cut out your Bible
from Acts to James, for without founding
these churches, where the necessity
of letters to them? Suppose our Saviour
had not have commanded these
early disciples to "Go and preach the
gospel to every creature, you and I
might be as the cannibals in Africa.
And now, O most solemn thought,
suppose our Saviour had have declined
to be a" missionary to this fallen world.
Suppose the Son of God had said, "Father,
let this cup pass from me, not thy
will, hut mine be done." We will simply
have to draw a veil over this wicked
world without a Saviour and the consequent
civilization that comes from,
and follows Christianity.
Tou will say there are great characters
ordered for great occasions, but
let us turn to some of the simple, every
day people and see if we cnn
a lesson from them also. Suppose the
Tittle Miriam had not have been a faithful
watcher, the great law-giver of Israel
mljrht have perished In Infancy.
Suppose Hannah had not have prayed
fervently, even until she appeared
drunken, 'we would not have had1 the
erent. Samuel. Suppose Ruth had had
no desire for higher things than her
heathen neighbors, she would not have
been the ancestress of our Saviour.
Marv. the mother of Jesus, showed a
"ready heart and a willing: mind" when
she said, "Behold the handmaid of the
Tx>rd. be It unto us according to the
word." and the greatest honor of all
womanhood was given unto her.
Suppose Dorcas and the little needle
were not consecrated, where would be
the thousands of benevolent societies
In her name?
Suppose Paul's nephew had not have
told of the conspiracy to kill him, the
work of the great apostle would have
heen cut short.
Supposp thp little (Rboda had not have
hearkened unto Peter, he would have
been left to the cruelties of his enemies.
Suppose that L?ydia, the seller
of nurole, had not have listened to
Paul, then the first convert In Europe
would not have been a woman. T love
to think that her example and Influence
mav have made the great difference 'between
the women of Europe and those
of China and Africa. So we see that
Cod has a work for "both small and
srreat; If we do that work he blesses
the results to us and to our seed: If
we shirk that work, the cause of Christ
suffers and we dwarf our own souls.
Suppose that you hy going or sending,
praying or giving, do all In your power
to reach those 87 souls In the heathen
world, apportioned by our Church to
each communicant, and so earn the
""Well done, good and faithful servant."
But on the other hand If I do nothing
whatever and then say, "I love thee,
my Saviour, but I honestly didn't believe
In your laat command: "Go preach
the gospel to every creature:" those
heathen people are not worth saving,
their false gods are good enough for
them. But I have brought you my own
soul, and I want you to save my chll
~ (855) 17
dren; we are far more valuable than
the heathen." I think I can hear the
Master saying. "Out of thine own mouth
will I judge thee, for I have told you
that "God is no respecter of persons;'
that 'I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance;' that 'God
so loved the world, he gave his only
begotten son.'"
We will close with these verses from
the "Starless Crown;"
"I rose and wept with chastised joy
that yet I dwelt below;
That yet another hour was mine my
faith by works to show;
That yet some sinner I might tell of
Jesus' dying love,
And help to lead some weary soul to
seek a home above."
"And now while on the earth I Btay,
my motto this Bhall be,
To live no longer to myself, but Him
who died for mo."
And graven on my inmost soul I'll wear
this truth divine:
"They that turn many to the Lord,
bright as the stars shall shine."
?E. H. A.
FATHERS.
By Mrs. W. L. W. Miller.
"Six things," says Hamilton, "are requisite
to create a home. Integrity must
be the architect, and tidiness the decorator.
It must be warmed by affection,
lighted up by cheerfulness; industry
must -be the ventilator, renewing the atmosphere
and bringing In a fresh salubrity
day by day; while over all, as a
protecting glory and canopy, nothing
will suffice except the blessing of God."
~ ?oral years ago this clipping came to
my notice, and as time passes the
beautv and ?tr?n ?rth nf
WMOv? ?/?. vuv vvf u-uiuaiitriJ|
husband and wife working together
under the canopy of God's blessing, have
grown upon me. It should be no onesided
affair. The Industry of one will
not atone for the lack of Integrity in
the other, nor any amount of good
humor on the part of one make amends
for the loss of affection on the other's
part, while a disjointed, mangled method
of living can not, in the very nature of
things, evoke or dTaw down upon itself
the rich blessing of the Father, whose
very being is love, justice and order.
As hooks are dedicated, hospitals and
orphanages set apart for special use, as
churches are oonsecrated, so every home
should be sanctified, and the dedicatory
prayeir should be read somewhat after
this manner?"Father of all, may this
house shelter a happy family, may it he
the dearest spot on earth to all the
household, and may one of the many
mansions in the better country at last
receive all who belong to this one."
The disintegration of the home is one
of the perils that menace our national
life, and one of the causes is the*
foundation Is Inadequate. The wife and
mother, even though she have the devotion
of a Lois, the strength of a Deborah,
the voice of a Miriams, the consecration
of Hannah, can not alone
support the Institution whloh God purposed
should rest equally with her,
upon the shoulders of a Samuel, a
Joshua or a John.
I heard a story recently of some ohil
dren who had eatrned their Christmas
money by being caddies for golf-players.
Their father found a memorandum of
thertr Intended expenditures. I? ran as
follows: Mother, one dollar; father,
seventy-five cents; sister Susan, fifty
cents, etc. "How is this, laddie?" said
the father. "Why do you mean to Bpend
a dollar for your mother, and only
seventy-five cents for me?" "Oh!" was
the suPVlent answer, "Mother's mother."
Who but the father Is responsible
for the priority of mother in the lad's
expression of his affections??Presbyterian.