And at the end, without memorial, died; "No form of bronze and no memorial stones Show me the place where lie his mouldering bones. Only a cheerful city stands, Built by his hardened hands, Only ten thousand homes, The cheerful play Of love and hope and courage comes. These are his monument and these alone; There is no form of bronze and no memorial stone." R XIX THE MISSIONARY'S REWARD EWARD is not the object of the true missionary. He understands that he who seeks to "save his life shall lose it." The motives which constrain one to missionary service should be free from the taint of self-aggrandizement. Nevertheless, there is a reward, and its richness illustrates the other part of Christ's aphorism: "Whosoever will lose his life for My sake the same shall save it." There is a reward of men. It is true that some ridicule the missionary and that others are indifferent to him. But there are multitudes who believe in his work and who honour and love him. He begins to experience this reward as soon as his appointment becomes known. He finds himself a marked man. He is praised by his friends, commended in the local newspapers and is bade God-speed in a farewell meeting in which the dominant thought is expressed in the words of James Lane Allen: "The world will always be a battle-field to you, but the victory will be worth the fighting. And my last words to you are fight it out to the end; don't compromise with evil; don't lower your ideals or your aims. If it can be any help to you to know it, I shall always be near you in spirit, 1 . and if my poor prayers can ever bring you a blessing, you shall have it." These prayers from those who have frequent audience with God are offered around thousands of firesides after he leaves for the field. In his loneliness and isolation, he does not realize how many pastors preach about him, how many young people discuss his work and how many godly women 1 "The Choir Invisible," p. 288. give their richest sympathies to him and to the cause which he represents. His return on furlough, years later, is usually welcomed with every mark of esteem and admiration. At the large annual assemblages of the home churches, foreign missions nearly always develops an enthusiasm greater than that for any cause. It is not uncommon for the foreign missionaries present to be called to the platform and for the whole Assembly or Conference to rise and greet them with generous applause and the waving of handkerchiefs. Many readers will remember the remarkable manifestation at the Ecumenical Conference of 1900 in New York. Spacious Carnegie Hall was packed at every session for nine consecutive days, and so many were unable to gain admission that the largest churches were required for overflow meetings. One hundred and sixty-three thousand people attended that Conference, an average of about 18,000 a day. The Hon. Benjamin Harrison, former President of the United States, said that in all his experience in public life, he had never known any political or other secular convention which maintained its interest on so high a plane for so long a time. The daily press devoted whole pages to the proceedings and the Conference was the talk of the world for weeks. And yet the sole subject was foreign missions, and the central figure was the foreign missionary. It is undeniable that the missionary has a large place in the hearts of God's people and that only the prayers of Paul for his beloved Philippians adequately express the breadth and depth of their affection. This reward of men comes on the field as well as at home. There are exceptions, as in Japan and among the higher classes of the Chinese; but in most fields the natives regard him as a superior being and his power fills them with awe. The native Christians, as a rule, obey him. Many a missionary exercises powers as great as those of a Roman Catholic bishop. kings and princes of Siam and Korea make missionaries their The personal friends, and not only in Africa, but in Syria, Persia and India the people count them among the great men of the land. It would be easy to fill a volume with tributes which have been paid to missionaries by governors, diplomats, admirals, generals, travellers and foreign potentates. Indeed, so great sometimes is the reward of men, that there is occasionally danger that it will affect the missionary's modesty. It does not often do this, but when it does, it is doubly unfortunate; for there is an increasing number of good men and women who hold the missionary in high regard, and if he keeps himself sweet and modest, he will find in their sympathies and prayers a real reward. Then there is the reward of conscience. Independently of any recognition of men, the missionary knows that he has obeyed the call of God and that his life is an integral part of the eternal purpose regarding the world. Probably he has undergone a marked spiritual experience in becoming conscious of this conclusion. He may have had ambitions in other directions. Perhaps relatives protested, or church or business enticed. But on his knees before God he thought and prayed the question through, and the victory brought him what Shakespeare calls "that peace above all earthly dignities; a still and quiet conscience." "Joy does not happen," said Maltbie Babcock; "it is the inevitable result of certain lines followed and certain laws obeyed and so a matter of character." Every one who has tried it can truly say: "Vainly I sought Happiness, but she fled before me constantly. Sadly I turned to duty's path, when Happiness sought me, saying: 'I walk this road, to-day, I'll bear thee company!'" No greater inspiration can come to any man than the conviction that he is in the line of God's purpose and call. There is great reward in knowing that one is using life to the very best advantage. If there is a God, if He is a Being of infinite justice and compassion, if He has given His only begot ten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, if the knowledge of that Son gives deliverance from sin, adds dignity and power to human life and fits for eternal companionship with God-then the noblest task to which man can address himself is to make known that faith to those who have never heard it. We do not undervalue the importance of Christian work at home. There is much to be done in our native land; but the preaching of the gospel to those who have heard it from their infancy and who can easily hear it from other lips if they do not from ours, the development of work already well under way, the joining of oneself to the already mighty host of Christian workers, cannot compare in importance with the consecration of one's life to the millions in unevangelized lands who have never heard the gospel, and who, but for us, may never hear it. And to the missionary has this dignity been given. To him have the words been spoken: "As the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.' He goes forth, therefore, as an accredited "Ambassador" of the King of Kings. Rich reward is in this thought. It is glorious to work for God in this favoured age. The missionary would say, with Governor Roosevelt at the Ecumenical Conference: "Woe to him who pities the worker ! " He feels that he is to be congratulated, not condoled with. The greatest of all tasks has been committed to him and in the performance of it, he is making 2 every nerve and sinew Tell on ages, tell for God." He knows, moreover, that in this work he is laying foundations for future nations. No one can look back over the march of world empires and then consider the nations of Asia and Africa to-day, without being confident that they are to have a 1 John 20:21. 22 Cor. 5:20. |