ented and turned to
Christ, but for the material benefits they could get.

As soon as Mr. Beaver left, they quarreled among themselves as to
which one would take his place and be the "big chief." There was no
one capable of taking services, because such things had always been in
the hands of Mr. Beaver and his paid workers, who now were gone. None
of the elders or deacons had ever preached a sermon in his life. Some
tried, but their efforts did not draw the crowds, and attendance soon
dwindled to almost nothing. Then quarrels about the property began.
True, it belonged not to them, but to the mission board; but surely it
was up to the church to look after it while the missionary was gone!
Several so-called Christian families moved into the empty buildings,
with or without the agreement of the deacons and elders; but then,
thought they, the buildings _should_ be occupied, and of course these
people will pay us rent! (They never did.) Church services gradually
ceased. A few faithful Christians remained true to the Lord, and met
in a home for occasional services; but since none had been trained to
lead meetings, all they could do was sing, read the Bible, and pray.

But what had happened at the other station? There the case was far
different. They had gone through the sorrows of war, but they had done
so with the Lord at their side. Continuing the work of the church was
no problem--they had been doing it themselves all along. Money was
hard to get, and many young men had to go to war; but the hearts of
the people were open as never before, and they had baptisms once and
again. They missed Mr. Trainer very much; but they were driven more
than ever to the Lord, and found Him sufficient for their every need.

* * * * *

It is easy to say that one man was right and the other was wrong. But
how many of us would not have followed in the footsteps of Mr. Beaver
if we had not been warned? And how many of us missionaries today, even
though warned, are not still in danger of making ourselves the little
center around which the mission station revolves?

"It's all very well to say that the Christians should take the
responsibility from the very beginning," we think; "but _here_ it is
impossible. These people are too poor! And they are too ignorant! No,
they certainly would do everything wrong if I let them take the lead!"
And so we go on telling everyone what he ought to do, and seeing that
he does