"The Spirit of Missionary Work"

Rev. Floyd W. Tompkins '72, rector of Holy Trinity Church, Philadelphia, addressed the joint meeting of the Christian Association and the St. Paul's Society last night in Phillips Brooks House. His subject was "The Spirit of Missionary Work."

A man today who does not recognize the power and influence of mission work is an anachronism, the speaker began. Missionary spirit is in the air; and at home and abroad the spirit of active philanthropy and of the advance of Christianity is growing stronger. The great philanthropic work going on in American cities, the spread of the Christian religion in foreign fields, the inspiring work of Bishop Whipple among the Indians-these are the most striking instances of the prevalence and power of missionary enthusiasm.

If men are thoroughly religious they must be, in their own spheres, missionaries. If religion is to them a vital thing, a part of the very fibre of their lives and their interests, as it is meant to be, they cannot in conscience keep from trying to spread it. What wonder that religion is sometimes called a weak and effeminate thing, what wonder that it is often robbed of its influence and uplifting power, when men hide it in the solitary musings of their minds, and date not, or care not to die out it must grow through unselfish service and through philanthropic and missionary work.

The man with one talent, in Christ's parable, was perhaps devout enough in thought, but he did nothing; if he had any religion he kept it to himself, and made it useless. Full and complete religion is the realization that one has his mission of work to do for God, and the determination to do it earnestly, hopefully and with consecrated spirit.