Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/188

204 the societies and persons who take part in the great work,—the former to render up their accounts, the latter to hear and advise.

Two years ago, there was a want of means for the institute and its labors. The difficulty was laid before the people of the Protestant Cantons. It was proposed that every man and woman should give a “sous” towards the good work. Sixty thousand francs were sent into the missionary fund that year, by these means, and the same sum has been continued annually, since.

In M. Josenhaus, the Superintendent of the institution, I became acquainted with a remarkable and very unusual person. Such ought the peaceful champion of the kingdom of God upon earth to appear; thus ought he to speak, and thus to be penetrated by the feeling of no more belonging to himself, but to the work to which he has been called. Thus decided, thus steadfast, yet at the same time mild and cheerful, ought the man to be who, with undeviating firmness, must prepare young men for the fight of life or death, which is the vocation of the missionary, especially in the regions whither they are generally sent from here. A row of black crosses stands already on the coast of Guinea, and testifies of the dangers which there meet the preacher of the gospel; and yet fresh candidates are continually offering themselves.

The best and most persevering disciples come from the agricultural classes. As soon as they have overcome the first difficulties in their studies, these sons of the soil advance steadily. Youth of a higher