AND THE BEAT GOES ON

Things do not really change from their foundations.  Such is the case with the missionary societies, whether those that existed in the 19th century or their modern descendants now - money is the fuel that drives them. - ed.

A Long Push! A Strong Push! And a Push altogether! or the grand designs of Missionary labor in the West. - The following extract of a letter to Doctor J. Going, Corresponding Secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, is from one of their hirelings in Illinois:

"It is true that we have not had as great additions to our churches in the west this year as the three former years, yet I think more good has been done by instructing the people and bringing about effort and union, than in any other season.

The time has been that the sound of money would drive all good feelings from a church or an association; but now it produces a different effect, (I mean among the effort Baptists) for many as they draw down their hand from voting to support a good measure, put it directly in their pocket for the means.  Upon a whole I think a missionary and benevolent spirit is increasing and will ere long, like the current of the great Mississippi, push everything before it.  The time has been in this region when one begging sermons (falsely so-called) would have used up a preacher; but now they hear with most thrilling sensations, of the great moral destitution of the world, and the number of men and money wanted; and often when hearing of the wants of the poor heathen portrayed by the missionary, I have seen tears of sympathy stealing from the eyes of many.  On a particular occasion, at Bethel Church brother Davis, the agent of the Bible Society, had delivered a feeling discourse about Burma and China, he took up a subscription of nearly 179 dollars!  A good sign in the west.  The success with which brother Baily meets, is beyond our most sanguine expectations, for all churches that he has visited, have agreed to contribute something for the support of the Gospel. Should my health return, I will give some more particular accounts in the next.

Your humble brother, in the bonds of peace,

Moses Leman

The ostensible object of sending Missionaries into the Great Valley is to build up the churches; but it seems by the above extract, that they have something better still in view.  The church has not increased as formerly, but yet MORE GOOD, something of greater importance to the Mission interest has been affected!  The people have been induced into a system and spirit of effort and union, or Union of Effort, alias Arminianism; and through the industry and zeal of this writer, the people whom he found so wild that they could not endure the clink of money in divinity, insomuch that it had become even hazardous for a devoted son of Mammon to preach a begging sermon among them, lest he should be used up; has succeeded so far in taming these wild fellows, that they can hear begging sermons with "thrilling sensations," and that they have also learned to vote for "good measures; alias Missionary measures, and to put their hands into their pockets for the Sine qua non.  Who will pretend to say, that this ready cash business is not better than the building of Zion?  The time has been when these churches would hear no preaching but Jesus and he crucified, but now, O halcyon day! they are taught to hear with "thrilling sensations" the loud appeal for cash.  But let no sensorius bigot or ignorant blockhead call these touching discourses BEGGING SERMONS; no, let them be called by some other name to take away reproach.  "A missionary and benevolent Spirit is interesting - i.e., a pushing spirit, a spirit that he been wont to "punch with its horns" is gaining, and bids fair, like the great Mississippi, to push all before it!  It has already pushed away the ancient landmarks, set up by the Apostles and primitive saints; it has pushed with side and shoulders until the lane are turned out of the way; it has pushed and scattered the sheep and lambs of the flock in all directions, and now with a mighty push they are endeavoring to push from the walls of Zion, every remaining witness for God and Truth.  Is not this doing better for the Home Missionary interest, than the ingathering of the ransomed of the Lord does?

Signs of the Times, March 25, 1836, Vol. IV