HOW LONG IS THIS THING GOING ON?
In a New England village, not many years ago, the custom prevailed of making personal solicitation from the members of the church there located, for contributions to the several benevolent societies in regular order and at stated times. To this end certain persons were designated in each of several districts to visit all the resident members. A visitor in one of these districts relates that, after a strong presentation of the claims of the heathen world had been made from the pulpit, he was encouraged to visit a member of the church who had not been noted for his liberality, and to solicit funds in behalf of the work of evangelizing the dark parts of the earth. In response he received a donation of twenty-five cents. No other call was made on the individual referred to during the remainder of the year; but when the usual season for soliciting aid for foreign missions recurred, the visitor called again upon him asking for a contribution. He was met by the inquiry: “Didn’t I give you twenty-five cents for this last year!” Answer was made in the affirmative, when the rejoinder came, “Well, how long is this thing going on?” Of course, there was but one answer to make, and that to the effect that so long as men are born with depraved hearts, this process of the more favored children of the Highest contributing funds and efforts for the elevation and conversion of less privileged ones should not cease “going on.” Deut. xv., 11: “For the poor shal never cease out of the land. Therefore I command thee, saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother; to thy poor and to thy needy in the land.” * * *