The missionary was called upon to conduct the exercises. After singing and prayer, he took as the basis of a few remarks, the[70] words: “Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, ‘lovest thou me more than these?’ He saith unto Him, ‘yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.’ He saith unto him, ‘feed my lambs.’” What he said was to the point, and disarmed3 all open opposition4. A vote was taken on the question: “Will we now organize a Sunday-school?” This was carried by a handsome majority. When the chairman said: “All who are opposed rise to your feet,” Mr. Steele and a few others did so, but the odds5 against them being so great, they were ashamed, and soon left.
A superintendent6 was now elected, and happily the choice fell upon Mr. Brown. The subordinate officers were chosen in like manner. A collection was then taken up, which proved to be a liberal one.
The children were formed into classes, and volunteer teachers appointed. A Bible class for adults was also formed, and a short lesson assigned for the following Sunday. The[71] doxology was sung, and the people were dismissed. Thus the good cause seemed to be triumphing over opposition.
A man who lived in an adjoining settlement had come to this meeting, and being favorably impressed with the appearance and manner of the missionary, and the Sunday-school movement, he invited him to pay a visit to the settlement in which he lived, and endeavor to organize a school there.
“I will come,” was the laconic7 reply to the man who gave the invitation. “I will be there by Monday evening.”
After obtaining proper directions for finding the place, he took leave of this friend and returned with Mr. Brown. The remainder of the afternoon was employed in giving the superintendent of the newly organized school all needful instructions as to its management, and the best methods of teaching. They both felt happy over the prospects8 of the enterprise.
Again we find the devoted9 laborer11 in the[72] vineyard of the Lord, acting12 upon his Master’s command. He is now on his way to the neighboring settlement. His journey lay through wood and valley, over hills and prairies—the latter, however, not very extensive. Reaching the settlement, he, in due time, arrived at the house of his friend, where everything had been made ready for his reception. A meal was prepared in a short time, and the missionary partook of it with a decided13 relish14. The long walk and the cordial welcome tended greatly to sharpen his appetite.
The reader will pardon a slight digression. We have followed this servant of God through shadow and sunshine, in his efforts to promote the interests of Christ’s kingdom. Let us compare his lot with that of many ministers of the Gospel. Alas15! how many are there who, because they cannot possess life’s luxuries as well as its comforts, abandon a field in which they might do good! The master has said: “He that taketh not his cross and followeth[73] after me, is not worthy16 of me.” Coming back to our missionary, we find him chatting with the children. They were at first rather shy, but his gentle, winning manner soon brought them to his side, and in a very short time they were most excellent friends. In the meantime their father, Mr. Mason, had returned (having been necessarily absent), and welcomed the missionary to his home. As soon as the chores were done, they sat down by a bright fire and entered into conversation. They did not discuss the various topics of the day, nor dissect17 the characters of their neighbors for the purpose of whiling the time away; but Christ’s cause was their theme.
“Are the people here generally in favor of Sunday-schools?” inquired the missionary.
“I do not think they are,” frankly18 answered Mr. Mason. “Few of them care much about anything religious.”
“Have you preaching or prayer-meetings?” continued the missionary.
[74]“Sometimes prayer-meetings are started, but they die out directly. Preaching is kept up most of the time by this, that, or the other denomination19, but it seems to amount to but little. There is no increase or life about the Church; and you can scarcely tell a member from a non-professor. Indeed, Christianity has fallen into disrepute, and Christ and His cause are brought to an open shame.”
“How sad!” replied the missionary, much moved.
“Yes,” said Mr. Mason, “it is a great pity; but there seems to be little help for it. Several have tried to do something, but all to no purpose. Somehow or other there was no life in it, and Satan, with a few rowdies, defeated every attempt.”
“Are all the people so indifferent?” asked the missionary, with great anxiety.
“I do not know that they are; but the exercises were so cold and lifeless that the people had no faith in them; and the conduct[75] of many of the members was so bad, that their influence rather tended to drive men from the Church than lead them to the Saviour20.”
“What are the morals of the children, as a general thing?”
“Of course, where the church members do not perform their duty, their children are neglected; and when they fail to do right we can hardly expect anything better from worldlings and sinners. Lying, cursing, fighting, disobedience and Sabbath-breaking are common sins among the children. The youth drink, gamble and frolic, and some are guilty of heinous21 crimes. But, thank God,” added Mr. Mason, “there are some noble exceptions both among the children and youth.”
“We must pray God to help us to reform this awful state of morals and religion. We must labor10 and pray until a great revival22 is brought about in the Church and among the people,” said the missionary, earnestly.
“If you talk of a revival here they will be[76] down on you, both in and out of the Church,” said the deeply-interested man.
“We will exercise prudence23, and call our effort by a more acceptable name; we will call it a protracted24 prayer-meeting,” added the missionary, smiling.
“That will be equally obnoxious25; the professors generally say, ‘we pay the preacher to do the praying for us, and that is enough;’ and the irreligious, of course, have little interest in such things.”
“What do you think they would say to a temperance meeting?” queried26 the missionary.
“That will bring down upon you all the loafers, tipplers and rumsellers; indeed nearly all the church members ‘take some,’ and they would all unite in opposition to you,” sadly rejoined Mr. Mason.
“All these things must be overcome. And if we are faithful in using the means God has[77] given us, the work will be accomplished27. I do not despair,” added the missionary.
“May God help us to do our duty!” said Mr. Mason, as he laid the family Bible on the stand for evening devotion.
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1
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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3
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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7
laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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8
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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11
laborer
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| n.劳动者，劳工 | |
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12
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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13
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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17
dissect
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| v.分割；解剖 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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24
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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