Home Missions
We join with our Brother Hill in our regret that the subject of Home Missions has not taken a deeper hold on the mind of the churches. In the last Record, he speaks as follows. We commend his remarks to the consideration of our readers:
It is a matter of great surprise and no little grief to those who have had our Societies' interest in charge the past financial year, that so few of our thousands upon thousands of Israel seem to have any just conceptions of our field, or our work, or the reward of our labor. We do not say this in any spirit of fault finding, or complaint; but because we have measured the destitution of our land - have endeavored to estimate the importance of establishing and sustaining in every county-town and rising village, every incipient city and populous rural district of the great field allotted to us, the means of grace and an able ministry of the gospel - and have done this while listening to the most urgent appeals from sober-minded and intelligent men, from all quarters, accompanied with most interesting statements of the highest encouragement; and in some degree realizing the responsibility devolved upon us by the great Head of the Church, in His Word, and by His Providence.
Why, my dear readers, is it extravagant to say, that the prediction of Isaiah 2.2-4 seems to be in process of fulfillment in our own land? Surely "all nations are overflowing into it;" and we may do something towards establishing "the mountain of the Lord's house," and furnishing the Word of God and the living preacher for all these millions that are coming to us, and the hardy adventurous, enterprising myriads of our own brothers and friends who have gone westward.
When shall our annual receipts amount to $60,000, that we may be able to meet half the urgent cries that pierce our ears from beyond the Alleghenies and the Lakes? Shall they not be swelled at least to $50,000 the ensuing year? Men of Israel, Help!
Help what? Help whom? Why just read the following extract from one of our popular religious journals, and you will see, that our new school baptist contemporaries with the men of Israel to help them to the annual receipt of $60,000! Those who have the financial interest of the Home Mission machine, are grieved, because they are not in receipt of this trifling sum, of $60,000 per year, which they modestly call for, hinting that it will take twice the amount to meet the urgent cries which pierce their ears from beyond the Alleghenies and the Lakes. How many more of the greedy swarm of religious vultures on this side of the said range of mountains and lakes, are shrieking in the ears of the President, Directors & Co. of this institution, for money, or how much will be required to protect the delicate ears of the manages, we are not told, except it be by Isaiah the prophet who says, they are "greedy dogs, which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter." Isa. 55.11
For and in consideration of this $60,000, or if doubled, $120,000, per annum, the Home Mission Society, proposes to do something towards establishing the mountain of the Lord's house and furnishing the word of God, and the living preacher, to millions, &c. Now we incline to regard this proposition as a cheat; for the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of the Lord's House, and his hands shall also finish it. The headstone shall be brought, crying Grace, Grace into it; "Behold the man, whose name is The Branch; he shall build the Temple of the Lord; even he shall build the Temple of the Lord; even he shall bear the glory; and he shall sit a priest shall be between them both.
As to live preachers, they may be undoubtedly furnished any quantity of such as have animal life, and which may suete the millions - but they can never furnish for money those who are made spiritually alive by the quickening power of the Spirit nor any of its gifts can be bought with money, as their ancient brother Simon learned by actual experiment.
February 15, 1853
Signs of the Times
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