11. The Morning Drummer and the Preacher
The Morning Drummer and the Preacher "Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."—Psalms 19:4.
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."—Matthew 24:14. In the "Daily Telegraph" of May 1, we read:—" The real essence of Exeter-Hall-ism just now is missionary zeal. The British Empire is wide, and we often quote the orator who spoke of the morning drum of the British army making the circuit of the world as our earth lifts up each section of its surface in turn to be bathed in the light of the sun. But something British besides a drummer is seen and heard in succession as daybreak follows daybreak round the globe. A most unsuccessfully attired Englishman, with clothes that, as a rule, are neither fashionable, well-made, suitable, nor picturesque, is heard and seen with an open Bible in his hands reading or expounding it. 'There is no land where their voice is not heard'; there is hardly a known tongue that has not its version of a Book which owes more of its circulation to English money and agency than to any other international means." This is not exactly worded as one might desire. Perhaps a suppressed sneer is perceptible; but yet, taking it from whence it comes, it is a valuable testimony; indeed, all the more valuable because the witness is not biassed in favour of the fact which he asserts. We only wish that it were still more evidently true, and that worldlings were oftener compelled to admit its power, even if they did so in an almost scornful manner. The duty of the church is to keep her herald side by side with that drummer who is said to wake the morning all round the globe. The fashionableness of his clothes is too small a matter to be worthy of notice; but the best of books in his hand must always be his noticeable mark and sign; thank God that in any measure it is so.
Encouraged by some measure of success in sounding forth the word of God, let all who love our Lord Jesus arouse themselves to do the work yet more thoroughly. When a certain chaplain asked the Duke of Wellington whether he thought it was worth while to teach the gospel to the Hindoos, the man of discipline is reported to have replied," What are your marching orders?" These are clear enough, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature"; what remains but to obey? Once the sneer was directed against consecrated cobblers, but now the lack of fashionable tailors appears to be the point of remark. What matters it? Let the men be sent, and if they be" clad with zeal as with a cloke" they will be fashionable in heaven. May the Holy Spirit rest upon them, and they will be a power in the earth to whom even the most worldly shall yield a silent homage.
"Nor shall the spreading gospel rest, Till round the earth its course has run, Till Christ has all the nations blest, That see the light or feel the sun."