The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-24
Mission work-Its Meaning.


Mission Work-Its Meaning.
There are today in the United states, IN
GLIDING Bible, Tract and Medical societies.
duy-One Protestant general societies or
Boards, engaged either exclusively or par
italy ia the work of Foreign Missions. Ihere
are also thirty WOman's Boards, Whlch Work
through the general Boards OF the den0mlna-
lions they represent; and an uncertain NUM-
her. not less than ten. probably not more than
twenty of individual enterprises, including
fhe various faitl missions. sO-called-the
Plymouth Brethren, the PentecOst Bands Of
she Free Methodist Churches, and the Pioneer
@0udan Mission. These all employ IN the tield
not far from 5000 missionaries {male and
lmale). and about IL 200 native agents; and
AZ home a force of officials, including secre-
taries and clerks, OF which there is no pub
ished record, but which cannot fall short OF
. 100. and they eXpend annually in the whole
work an amount not less than S5,OO0,Oo0. We
may add 20 these the figures IN regard 10 DINER
lands. In Great Britain, Germany, France,
scandinavia, etc, there are about one hundred
and thirty regularly organized independent
societies. thirty WOman's Boards, and per-
nam. thirty individual enterprises. These are
represented on the field by nearly If not quite
600 missionaries and 10000 native workers,
and eXneud annually not less than Sl,0OO,OOO
Absolute accuracy in such statements is
imursetcab'e, but IL is certainly within
f0inds t0 ,ay that the Protestant Churches
of America. Great Britain and Europe are
represented I'M their work for other lands by
N.uU missionaries, and more than $4,000 native
workers, and have expended during the past
wear about $4,000 900. But this is not all.
During the past half century considerable
proportion Of the annual expenditure Of'tbese
societies has been in the form OF investments
l churches, schools and colleges, dwelling
houses, printing presses, bnderies, manufac-
tured volumes of scriptures, educational and
religious bOOks-pretty nearly all the machi-
merry and apparatus OF modern aggressive
Christianity. The total OF this investment
JAS never been even estimated, out could 1T
DE done 1t would open our eyes as never before
So the tremendous force that the Churches
have put and are putting into the work OF
Foreign Missions.
What is the meaning Of it? Not merely the
work abroad but the interest at homer
First. The Church of Christ rs committed TO
the great work of eyangeiizing the world, a5
she never has been before. This is true not
only OF the larger branches butte Of the smaller
ones as well. These missionaries represent
almost every form of evangelical Christian
faith. and the number of churches that are
uOtpersOnally interested in themis constantly
decreasing. Never before has the whole
Church been so bound up in this great work.
10 is, TOO, no merely perfunctory interest.
There is the throb of an intense life IN 1t all.
showing that she is above all things else a
living Church.
second. Foreign Missions are covering the
held as never before. With the exception Of
"A few sections Of Central Asia ana Africa,
these missionaries occupy every inhabltable
land on the globe, are preaching in every
language. to every people, the one Gospel Of
Christ; are battling against every one of the
great false faiths that have held so many
millions IN thrall.
Third. success beyond anything in the past
history of the Church is attending these
efforts: success measured by individual souls
converted, saved from the power Of sin and
brought into communion with God; still more
success measured by tue penetration Of dark
ness with light, falsehOOd with truth, IN the
beliefs of whole races as we'll as nations and
communities. We rejoice In the 1900
Sweepers gathered in IN India, but we rejoice
still more in the indications that the great
powers oil Islam, buddhism, Hinduism ana
the other great religions of Asia and Africa
are little Dy little losing their hold upon mems
minds, and then upon their hearts.
Fourth. by thus committing herself 50
wholly 20 the work, by so covering the field.
by these great successes, the Church has
pledged herself 10 continue the work she has
begun. never drawing back OF falterinz in her
course until the end shall come. She has
given thig pledge 50 the missionaries she has
sent 10 the front; TO the native Christians who
look 10 her for assistance and counsel; 10 tine
great masses who are Just learning that there
is a Christ: 70 that Christ HIMSELF who gave
himself for her. and for nineteen centuries has
led her through much tribuiatiOn 10 her pre-
sent vantage ground. Every one of these
5000 missionaries, every one Of those 10000
native helpers, every cent Of that Sl2,jOO,OOO,
every brick. stone and timber IN those chapels
and schools, every page Of those Bibles and
Iestaments is witness to the pledge.
II rests with you, reader, whether pastor or
church member, young or old, ricn or poor, to
zee that the pledge is redeemed. 60 yourself,
if YOU can. II not, see 10 1t that those who
DO lack for nothing.
Many Of our Missionary Boards are just
closing their financial year, and are watching
anxiOusly to see whether the Lords treasury
will commence the new year with balance or
debt. The one means advance; the other,
stand still, or retrench. We bring the work
before you. and we give you hint at It's
meaning. The rest lies with yourseii.-Ihe
Independent.