WE have been trying to classify our missionary men, so that we can think of them with intelligence. We put them down as follows:
First. Men who go ahead and preach, and continue on preaching. These are missionary men in the true sense.
Second. Men that contribute liberally of their substance to support those who are devoted to preaching, and see that their money goes to the men that do the work. These are missionary men also in the true sense.
Third. Men who devise plans, inaugurate missions, and call on other people to give the money, stand ready where the money comes out, or at the missionary box, to catch it, and propose, when they get $10,000, to send somebody to preach! These may be great on devising, planning and inaugurating; but we can not work ourself into the belief that they are missionary men in the true sense. We want to see some proposition for them to go; and we want to know that they are going. This hanging on to rich churches and fine salaries, and proposing to receive the money of the people, and send somebody to preach, is not “the Lord’s plan,” nor any other that will stand in the day of judgment.
The people of God can find plenty of good preachers whom they know to be worthy, who are devoted to preaching the gospel, and not ruining or corrupting it, to whom they can apply all they can give, and not have a dollar consumed by secretary, or any “middle man,” but all will go to the laborer who is worthy of his hire—to the man that does the work. The means thus given will do four times as much work as if sent through so many hands, and all go as intended by the donor. The work is not a local work, and needs no concentration of funds, but is at the door of every man, and the way is open for every man that has it in him to do anything, to do according to the ability that the Lord gives.