Publicity in Christian Work.
THE London Friend says: It is a trite remark that, in matters of every day life, few men seem able to stand popularity and fame, and in higher things it would, perhaps, be difficult to say whether the fear or the praise of man is the greatest snare. It has often been remarked that even she whose deed of loving thankfulness was declared by our Lord himself to be worthy of being told for an everlasting memorial of her, is only spoken of as “a certain woman,” and this is not a solitary instance. It is related of Father Taylor, the sailor missionary of Boston, that on one occasion, when a minister was urging that the names of the subscribers to an institution (it was the missionary cause) should be published in order to increase the funds, and quoted the account of the poor widow and her two mites to justify this trumpet-sounding, he settled the question by rising from his seat, and asking in his clear, shrill voice, “Will the speaker please give us the name of that poor widow?” This remark hits the true solution of this question of publicity. The account to which he alluded may seem to warrant us in recounting and publishing the details of Christian labor, in so far as they will encourage and help others in similar circumstances. But it will be found not unnecessary to guard carefully against such a reliance on outward sympathy as may weaken that individual responsibility and independence which are so essential; and, above all, lest any echo of their labors coming back to scholars, teachers, or workers, should crowd out of the minds of any what should be the constant thought of all of us, “Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.” For “we are unprofitable servants, we have done that which it was our duty to do.”—Golden Censer.