Though inexperienced with the pen, and somewhat in the field as an active evangelist, yet I have observed some things, concerning the work and sacrifice of the evangelist and his family in carrying out the "Go preach the gospel" (Mt. 16:15). There is more involved in the term "Go," than the mere leaving of his family. If that were all it would not be quite so bad, since Jesus says, "There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, father or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, but that he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time; houses, brethren, sisters, mothers, children, and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life" (Mk. 10:29, 30). This we have experienced pretty well, but what of the family?

We often leave them at home in a little log hut, assuming the responsibilities, which rightfully belong to the husband. Had it ever occurred to you just how gloomy and sad it must be for them in the absence of the father and husband? We see the mother as she goes about her daily routine of toil, as she cares for the cows, chickens, pigs, house work; but greater still, the training of the children, which is such a great responsibility for one. She must economize, so as to help meet the obligations of the evangelist. For a few days every month or two the family is permitted to be with its head, but even during that time, they are not permitted to enjoy that time as they would like, since the work has piled up until the evangelist must devote the greater part of that short time in working and making ready to leave again, and there is little consolation in his being at home, because he and the family are ever conscious of the fact that he must soon leave again.

Soon the time arrives for the preacher to take his leave. He must look into the face, wet with tears, of the one who makes the greater sacrifice, while at the same time he feels the children clinging about his knees, and he hears a faint whisper in sobs, "Daddy, don’t go!" Evidently, the wife and mother makes the greater sacrifice. Brother Alfred Elmore, in the dedication of his third edition of Maple Valley Poems to his beloved wife, said: "The companion of my youth, and the sharer of my toils for thirty-three years; who has been a keeper at home, and raised up her children in the faith of the gospel, and thus aided me in my arduous toils in the ministry." Think of the tired business man—how he rejoices to see the hour come, when he can walk out of the office and join the family circle at home, but this is an every-day affair with him. If he is called on to work over- time, he does not like it, as it makes him late getting home. Then, think of the evangelist, who has his time booked a year ahead or more; when he nears the close of a meeting, looking forward to the glad hour he can greet his loved ones again, having been away for a month or six weeks; only to hear the brethren implore: "We think we now have the best chance to do good and gain a harvest, we have ever had, if you will just stay a few more days." As usual, he is persuaded to stay a few more days, which may, or may not, be the thing to do, but at any rate, his visit at home is cut short, his expenses are increased; but when he is finally handed the support, nothing is added for the extra time, and many times no appreciation shown for his sacrifice.

The evangelist works hard all summer, many times spring and fall, trusting that his support will be sufficient to meet his obligations and to tide him over the winter months, when the brethrenare frozen in and are too dead to have any meetings; only to be disappointed by the meager support he receives, and must go out among the world, looking for some job of work, with an ax, on the rock crusher, saw mill, road building, etc., etc. Many times he fails to get sufficient work to tide him over, and he is forced to go in debt to get through. Brother J. D. Tant says that many churches treat the preacher like some farmers do their milk cows—"milk them all summer on the grass; turn them out on the range to make it through the winter as best they can, and round them up in the spring, expecting them to start in with a good flow of milk again." (This may not be his exact words, but it is, at least, the substance of the thought). Anyway, he is called out in the spring, about 1000 miles from home, for a meeting, and he barely makes expenses, and, so, it goes most of the year.

Now, it appears to me, that if the brethren can thus treat the evangelist and his family, and at the same time, they enjoy the abundance of this world’s goods—"faring sumptuously every day"; and then be saved in Heaven; surely, the evangelist can be saved, if he quits the field, and gets him a job, in order to support his family. But, we know that the Lord intended that the "church is the pillar and ground of the truth," that "by the church the manifold wisdom of God should be known," and that the evangelist should preach this gospel to the world, for, "How shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach, except they be sent?" (Rom. 10:14, 15). Paul said, "they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). This shows that the church is to hold up the preacher’s hands, while he gives his life as a sacrifice for others. If he gives all his time to preaching, he must be supported by the brethren.

If the evangelist gives up the preaching, the brethren are ready to tell him that he has sinned, or that he will be lost. Now, is it true that all the responsibility rests upon the preacher? Certainly not! Please, read 1 Tim. 5:8. If brethren would give more to the cause of the Lord and spend less for the pleasures of this world, there would be more preachers in the field, more souls saved, and more loyal congregations established. Yes, and the preachers and their families would, at least, have the necessities of life. Although the preacher’s living and traveling expenses have increased the last few years, yet many of the loyal (?) churches are supporting less for their meetings. Why is this? Possibly, the evangelists have neglected to teach as they should. Let us speak out, brethren, and "declare the whole counsel of God."