Chapter VII: Mr. Mason and Mr. Wilson

Another clear, calm Sunday morning dawned. All nature seemed to be at rest. The missionary had staid over night with a newly married couple. He found them kind and social, and the young man volunteered his help in the Sunday-school. The hour of ten came, and the school-house was again filled to overflowing. The children were there in full force. God bless the children! What hopes filled their little hearts! Visions of books, papers and pictures floated before their eyes.

The missionary was called upon to conduct the exercises. After singing and prayer, he took as the basis of a few remarks, the words: “Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, ‘lovest thou me more than these?’ He saith unto Him, ‘yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.’ He saith unto him, ‘_feed my lambs_.’” What he said was to the point, and disarmed all open opposition. A vote was taken on the question: “Will we now organize a Sunday-school?” This was carried by a handsome majority. When the chairman said: “All who are opposed rise to your feet,” Mr. Steele and a few others did so, but the odds against them being so great, they were ashamed, and soon left.

A superintendent was now elected, and happily the choice fell upon Mr. Brown. The subordinate officers were chosen in like manner. A collection was then taken up, which proved to be a liberal one.

The children were formed into classes, and volunteer teachers appointed. A Bible class for adults was also formed, and a short lesson assigned for the following Sunday. The doxology was sung, and the people were dismissed. Thus the good cause seemed to be triumphing over opposition.

A man who lived in an adjoining settlement had come to this meeting, and being favorably impressed with the appearance and manner of the missionary, and the Sunday-school movement, he invited him to pay a visit to the settlement in which he lived, and endeavor to organize a school there.

“I will come,” was the laconic reply to the man who gave the invitation. “I will be there by Monday evening.”

After obtaining proper directions for finding the place, he took leave of this friend and returned with Mr. Brown. The remainder of the afternoon was employed in giving the superintendent of the newly organized school all needful instructions as to its management, and the best methods of teaching. They both felt happy over the prospects of the enterprise.

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.”

“What are the morals of the children, as a general thing?”

“Of course, where the church members do not perform their duty, their children are neglected; and when they fail to do right we can hardly expect anything better from worldlings and sinners. Lying, cursing, fighting, disobedience and Sabbath-breaking are common sins among the children. The youth drink, gamble and frolic, and some are guilty of heinous crimes. But, thank God,” added Mr. Mason, “there are some noble exceptions both among the children and youth.”

“We must pray God to help us to reform this awful state of morals and religion. We must labor and pray until a great revival is brought about in the Church and among the people,” said the missionary, earnestly.

“If you talk of a _revival_ here they will be down on you, both in and out of the Church,” said the deeply-interested man.

“We will exercise prudence, and call our effort by a more acceptable name; we will call it a _protracted prayer-meeting_,” added the missionary, smiling.

“That will be equally obnoxious; the professors generally say, ‘we pay the preacher to do the praying for us, and that is enough;’ and the irreligious, of course, have little interest in such things.”

“What do you think they would say to a temperance meeting?” queried the missionary.

“That will bring down upon you all the loafers, tipplers and rumsellers; indeed nearly all the church members ‘take some,’ and they would all unite in opposition to you,” sadly rejoined Mr. Mason.

“All these things must be overcome. And if we are faithful in using the means God has given us, the work will be accomplished. I do not despair,” added the missionary.

“May God help us to do our duty!” said Mr. Mason, as he laid the family Bible on the stand for evening devotion.