King's Business - 1917-02

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THE KING’S BUSINESS

in old age to have men coming to say, Your example, your presence, your sympa­ thy were like a protecting arm put round my stumbling youth and helped me over the perilous years. My brothers, if a few men can honestly say this to us in the future, will it not be better than Greek and Roman fame? Many are helping the young against their temptations by providing them with means of spending their leisure innocently and profitably. Our leisure time is the problem. While we are at work, there is not so much fear of u s; but it is in the hours of leisure

—the hours between work and sleep—that temptation finds men, and they are lost; and therefore I say, there is no more Chris­ tian work than providing men with oppor­ tunities of spending leisure profitably. But by far the best way to help men with their temptations is to bring' them to Christ. It may be of some service to a man if, in the time of trial, I put round him the sympathetic arm of a brother; but it is infinitely better if I can get him to allow. Christ to put round him His strong arm. This is the effectual defense; and ,no other can be really depended on.

------------©------------ WITH BIBLE COACH IN ARGENTINE

By W ILL PAYNE A Missionary at Cordoba, Argentine Republic

E ARLY in July Mr. Langran decided to take the Bible Coach to the Tucuman district, as it was generally expected that the celebration of 100 years of independence would draw large crowds from all parts of the republic to Tucuman, where the Independence was signed. Part of the journey was made by rail, through long districts where roads were impassable, and great difficulties had to be overcome with the rivers before the coach entered the city. The Christians in the assembly were greatly stirred by the visit, but it was found impos­ sible to hold meetings, during the patriotic feasts; however, we made the most of the opportunity by visiting almost every place of any size in the province, and the chief police authorities gave us a letter that opened the way at each place for the hold­ ing of meetings in the plaza, the railway station or wherever we thought that we would get the largest group of people. Tucuman is the great sugar-growing dis­ trict, and the harvest of sugar was going on, so we found a good number of people about, and as the towns are only1separated from one another by a distance of two or three miles, we were constantly in the

populated parts. We held meetings at eight places, and the attendance in some cases reached 200 to 300 persons or more. It was intensely interesting to see these people, who had never heard the gospel before, listening to the Word. Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Langran ind myself took part in giving the message.' Mr. Peterkin was with us at a few places and joined in the tract distribution. The road lay along the sugar fields almost all the way, and we had some ten rivers to cross, all coming from the snow- clad hills to the west. The nights were intensely cold, and Mr. Jenkins and I had our beds on the ground, made of hay. The old tent has matiy holes in it. Mr. and Mrs. Langran slept in the coach. We were sorry to have to break up the party, but the work at Tucuman and at Cordoba called for attention, and we had to leave Mr. and Mr;s. Langran to go on to La Cocha, where they have had a good time, and we each turned to our respective homes. This work is very attractive, and it is so good to get in touch with these people who have never heard the gospel.

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