Again we find the devoted laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, acting 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 decided relish. 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. Alas! 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 after me, is not worthy 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 dissect 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,” frankly answered Mr. Mason. “Few of them care much about anything religious.”
“Have you preaching or prayer-meetings?” continued the missionary.
“Sometimes prayer-meetings are started, but they die out directly. Preaching is kept up most of the time by this, that, or the other denomination, 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 of many of the members was so bad, that their influence rather tended to drive men from the Church than lead them to the Saviour.”