The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-06

Haven and New York; for my present
trip have to thank one of your best cit
liens George III. Steuart
About the close of last year he wrote
me letter expressing his desire that
should be present at the great Presbyte-
rian Council that was to be held in Phil
adelphia, the city of brethren and sisters
too. Applause and laughter. pre-
sent myself before you this evening, not
merely delegate from the Free Presby-
terry of Bombay, but also from the For
eign Mission Committee in Scotland and
from many Presbyteries in India and
China and Japan, and in other countries
that [ have visited of late. One of the
things that made me resolve upon an un-
dertaking of this kind was this: That |
would be able to see many of those dear
friends whom [ had seen in the States
and in the Mother Country and Scotland,
who had taken such noble share in
evangelizing the world. 1 have had the
pleasure on a former occasion to see many
OF England's sons and daughters. l
thought by renewing my acquaintance
and friendship | might be of use to my
country in coming to this place My
friends, l tell you that China, Japan, and
the whole world have been blessed by
the Anglo-Saxon people. 1 Am convinced
that if ever there was a time when Chris
tlans were called upon to meet for this
great work of missions, now is the time,
for God Himself is blessing not only one
country but many countries. There is
not time to tell you of the progress of
missions in my own beloved land. India
is 1900 miles long and 500 miles wide,
inhabited by nineteen different national
tiles, speaking nineteen or twenty differ
ent languages, yet there is work for the
whole land-north, south, east, and west
work for missionaries, for thousands of
them. l tell you that God means to bless
you abundantly; God means, through
you, that salvation is to be spread through
the whole length and breadth of this
world. There are nearly three hundred
millions of India, three hundred and sixty
millions of China, forty millions of Japan
all to be brought to the knowledge of
Jesus Christ. And how are they to be
brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ?
You, brethren, representative men and
women, are in eastern countries brought
into close contact with the Buddhist of
Japan and China, and with the idolators
OF Hindostan from morning to evening;
large number Of them have more dealings
with these people than with their own
brethren. And what does God mean by
such condition as that? Just what he
meant in times past. Did not Andrew
60 to Simon and say, eve have found
the Messiah? Did not they bring Philip
to Nathaniel? Did not the woman of
Samaria leave her bucket at the well and
go into town and say, Come and see a
man who told me all that [ ever did,?
and she brought others to know of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Precisely by the
same process the world is to be brought
to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and, therefore, [ hope and pray
during our various sessions that this great
subject will be brought before our AS
sembly and, though Presbyterians, I am
sure we meet In no strong sectarian spirit
whatever, but our grand desire is Just the
same that Jehovah himself had, his heart
was filled with love to all the millions of
inhabitants of this world. We are to i'm
ltate this spirit more and more at these
sessions held here, morning, afternoon,
and evening, and go forth from the Coun-
ell filled with spirit of love and desir-
ing to bring in others to know of Jesus.
China is getting more and more opened
and so are Japan and India. How is that
done? Wherever an Englishman goes,
he carries along with him a mysterious
awe In these old countries | have seen
missionaries from Scotland and England
going singly for three or four hundred
miles into the interior of the country
They are blessed by God Himself with
that influence, and that influence is sane
tilted and to be used for the glory of
God and for the good of human souls. I
again thank your Excellency and your
Honor, and you, dear brethren and Sis
tiers, for the warm reception accorded me.