The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1890-08-29
The Missionary Revolution.

IAANho VI AHN AtHl1AAtNt BOtAA ~ VIZ
part of hcathendom. The universal
appeal is foe more men aud more mon
cy. The same cry is sent forth by the
missionaries of every Protestant de-
nomination, and il is heard rs often
in England rs in our own country.
The late missionary conference ut
Shanghai called upon the Protestant
world to send one thousand recruits to
China during the next five years. The
Independent exhorts the Congregation
alists TO double their contributions for
missionary purposes, declaring that
'fhc Masters business requires hastc."
The Rev. Mr.. Farnsworth, writing from
Turkey, reports that souls arc "pcrish-
ing for lack of little of the Lords
money" The Churchmon is trying to
raise $l,00O0OO for missions, home
aud foreign, and Baptists, Methodists
aud Presbytcrians are appealing with
unwonted energy for more money for
heathen evangeIization.
IL is evident that the purpose Of this
general movement is to rckindle the
missionary enthusiasm, which the re-
ligious discussion of the period has
undoubtedly had tendency TO cool.
In the first place canon Taylor of the
church of England has shown that the
heathen and MOhammcdans of Asia
and Africa arc increasing at the an
nnal rate of more than | 100000
the number of native converts made
by Protestant missionaries, at an ex-
pensc in money of $1O,OO0,0O0 is not
more than 10000 year. The present
missionary methods seem TO him a
great practical failure, and he likens
the situation to "the tortoise racing
with railway train the longer the
race continues the further the tortoise
is left behind"
But the drift of theological opinion
during recent years has exercised a
moro potent influence than those hard
and cold statistics. Formerly the con-
yiction was universal among orthodox
believers that the heathen would be
doomed to hell and everlasting tor
mcnt if they were not converted to
Christianity, and from the first that
has been the great inspiring force in
missionary enterprise. Now The sem
timent is growing more aud more
prevalent that justice requires that the
heathch should have chance for sal
vation by means ofa second probation
in tho world to come. One of the
prime objects of the movement for the
revision of the Westminster confess
sion is TO get rid of the doctrine Of
hcathen damnation. The Andover
school of CongregationaIists also stand
out against decree so terrible. Prof.
Briggs of the Union Theological
Seminary thinks that the theory of a
second probation has not received suf-
flcicnt consideration. Young men Of
fering themselves as candidates for
missionary appointments are Mortified
at the teaching that hcathens arc pass
ing into the torments of hell at the
rate of many millions annually. A
tendency toward universalism appears
throughout the Christian world. The
love of God is the favoritc theme, not
the terrors of His justice. Modern
sentiment so tender and so sympa-
thctic, recoils from the thought of ev-
erlasting suffering for anybody.
Hence the main motive for hcathen
evangclization is passing away. II the
heathcn are not to be damned because
they arc hcathcn, but are to be saved
by angelic instruction in the life to
come, pious pcope have no longer the
reason to sacrifice themselves on their
behalf which they had when they be-
lieved that the fires of hell were burn
ing for the whole hcaihcn world. Ar
tiflcial methods TO rekindle the mis-
sionary enthusiasm of the past may
produce some temporary effect, but i'll
the present drift toward second pro-
baton and universalism continues, they
win have no lasting power.
How different was the case when
these words OF the Westminster con-
fession expressed the common ortho-
dox belief: @Nuch less can men, not
protesting the Christian religion, be
saved in any other way whatsoever,
be they never so diligent to frame
their lives according 10 the light of ma
ture, and the law of that religion they
do profess; and 10 assert and main-
tain that they may is very pernicious
and to be detcsted."-N. i. Sun.
@s~
The excitement over the natural gas
explosion near Shclbyvillc, Ind, still
prevails. The soil for many miles a.
round is imprcgnatcd with gas,and by
piercing it with a stick the gas may be