The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 1, January, 1887Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 1, January, 1887
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Dear friends, I would not give you the impression that there are no
discouragements in our work, for there are many. It is with heavy
hearts we oftentimes watch some of our scholars returning to their
homes in the evening, for we know that there everything tends to
overthrow the religious teaching received during the day. Girls
going home to mothers who have no sense of purity and virtue, and
who cannot realize the degradation of their lives. Sometimes those
the most promising, those for whom we have entertained bright hopes
for the future, fail us, and we are almost constrained to cry out,
“This is greater than I can bear.”
But He, whose promises never fail, has shown us that the seed sown
in tears will surely bring a harvest, and the encouragements,
together with the joy of being in His service, outweigh the
discouragements.
I could tell you of young men who have come to our school addicted
to drink, using profane language and tobacco, who to-day are
earnest, faithful Christians, the hope of our school. We gladly
would keep them, yet we bid them “God speed,” as this year they go
to Atlanta University. I could tell you of young girls who, out
of the wickedness and immorality around them, have grown up pure,
consecrated Christian women, doing what they can for the Master
they have promised to serve.
Such is the work the A. M. A. is doing throughout the South. Is
there anyone who can afford not to have a part in this glorious
work? Think of the privilege of being permitted to help lift these
souls, born in ignorance and vice, into the marvellous light of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. Last year, for want of room and help, we
had to turn many away from our doors, and that means sending them
back into the wickedness and ignorance from which they desired to
rise. When I take up the AMERICAN MISSIONARY MAGAZINE and
read therein the appeals for help, the feeling that comes over me
is not unmixed with indignation, for in God’s precious word I read,
“If I were hungry I would not tell thee, for the earth is mine and
the fulness thereof;” and again, “The silver is mine and the gold
is mine, saith the Lord of hosts;” and yet the stewards to whom He
has entrusted this vast fortune do not allow Him enough to carry on
His work. I heard the remark, not long ago, “When money is needed
you can’t compensate with prayer.” Faith and works must go hand in
hand. Shall not the treasury this year be full to overflowing so
that “the barnacles may be cleared off this old ship,” and there be
nothing to impede her progress?
Won’t you multiply your prayers for the work and workers, so that
this year may be the most prosperous, so that we may indeed “have
souls for our hire”!
* * * * *
WORK AMONG THE INDIANS.
BY MISS H. B. ILSLEY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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