The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 02, February, 1878Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 02, February, 1878
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Mr. Woodworth failed to start, Mr. Cutler missed his train, and I
found myself dumped at a station, marked Buckland in the railway
guide, three miles away from the town, and the only living creature
I discovered, from which to get directions what to do and where to
go, was a poor little cat that came bounding to my side, purring
out as plainly as anything could be said—“I am glad to see you.”
After a brief interchange of the compliments of the season, I
buttoned my overcoat, adjusted my satchel, and started up the
only road it was possible to take, and in the only direction
possible—for the road terminated at a river, on the bank of which
stood the depot. It proved to be the right way. How easy it would
be to get along if the right way was the only way in which we could
go! As I drew near the village, the cheery notes of the church bell
rung out their merry call, while well-filled carriages, whirling
along in the direction of the church, told me that the people were
evidently interested in missions. I was on hand, and in time. A
fine audience had gathered; but my brethren, where were they? Well,
they did not come; that was all I knew, and in their absence I did
the best I could. The gift of continuance was given me in copious
plenteousness, and the time was exhausted before I was. I failed to
notice, however, whether my audience was not also exhausted. The
next day the _disjecta membra_ came together again at Sherburne
Falls, and henceforth to the close kept together.
And now as I review this entire series of meetings, the question
comes—have they been profitable? Others, I presume, will ask
the same question, and therefore I take a brief space to answer
it as I may be able. The object we had in view was, _first_, to
impart information concerning the work of the American Missionary
Association, and to discuss its claims upon the churches, to the
end that the receipts of its treasury might be increased, and
its work correspondingly strengthened; and, _secondly_, that
the distinctive missionary nature of our work might have a more
prominent place in the religious thought of the churches, and
thus become a factor in the development of such Christian life
as has a tender regard for those who are despised and poor and
oppressed. So far, then, as our object is concerned, we must wait
for time to bring an answer, but the meetings themselves developed
certain data out of which we can construct an answer. The data are
these: _First_, while no contributions were asked for or taken
from the congregation, individuals, self-moved, have handed to us
considerable money that otherwise would not have come into our
treasury, while pledges have been made of amounts far more than
sufficient to meet the expense of both campaigns. _Secondly_, I
took occasion to ask nearly all the ministers, and, so far as I
could, the leading men attending the meetings, the question—“In
your judgment has it paid for us three men to come here and hold
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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