Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-21

world $210, 600.
In 1872 she had ninety-six steamships;
in 1895 she had SIT steamships.
In 1872 she had eighteen miles of rail-
road; in 1885 she had 2220 miles of rail-
road.
In 1888 she had S4 manufactures; in
| 1894 she had 1853 manufactures.
In 1872 the postoffice carried 2,57o,656
| letters, etc.; in 1894 the postoffice carried
| 370,314,072 letters, etc.
In 1872 kilograms sent were $4,000; In
| 1894 kilograms sent were 100000.
These are due indirectly to missions.
| The most gratifying triumphs are they
which are due directly to missionary en-
deavor.
/. The missionary has given the nation
the idea of personal God, who creates
and rules the world.
| g. The knowledge of the personality of
| the soul. Buddhism teaches the transmit
grafton of the soul, but few had any true
| conception of what soul is
3. Christianity has given them a true
| idea of sin and its turpitude.
4. 1t has given a Christian literature,
| which may be circulated freely through
| out the empire.
| 5. A higher moral tone is observable.
Laws have been passed prohibiting some
| of the most fragrant forms of immortality.
! 6. Optimism is being substituted for
pessimism.
| Z. The ideal of home life has been given,
| which is destined to work great change
| in the future.
8. The position of woman is materially
| improved.
9. Her educational system has come
| in with the new era
The triumphs thus far are the tri-
umphs of beginnings-they are as dawn
| to the monday splendor; as the seed
| time to the harvest. These triumphs are
a prophecy of great things in the future.
| Mexico: Conditions and Needs"
Rev. C. c. Russell of Sedalia, Mo-, re-
| turned missionary, next spoke as follows:
l. Material-Mexico is rich in resources.
Her soil is productive, and her mineral
| deposits are practically inexhaustible.
| She will one day stand high among the
| nations of the world in financial circles.
| She is already rich. While the few roll in
| luxury the great masses are unspeakably
poor. They live In constant want.
2. Intellectual-In art, in literature, in
| music, In science and in all the lines of
| intellectual work the Mexican people are
great inequalities. The few are grandly
| cultured; the great multitudes are in the
| midst of hopeless and apparently impen-
etrable darkness. Educational influences
| are at work, but move slowly. In the
| meantime the situation is appalling.
g. Religious-Analogous to that which
| has been noticed, the religious situation
| is remarkable, in that the people are re-
versed. The classes have the monopoly
| on the wealth and culture; the masses on
| the religion. Such devotion Is unknown
among us as may be found there Such
severe forms of religious zeal are foreign
| to our civilization. But the culture, the
intelligence of the people, revolts against
all such matters, and it has come about
| that the real bone and sinew of Mexico
| have thrown off the only form of religion
which they have known, and are now
rather unreligious than irreligious. In
the meantime religion and morality are
completely divorced, the moral status be-
| ing as bad, 1T seems, as Is possible.
The needs of Mexico may be expressed
in one word-the gospel of Christ. This
will rectify the material inequalities and
constitute the enlightening influence so
greatly needed. The methods of applica-
tion which would emphasize are these:
l. The Christian life lived among them
by the missionary and his family, show
ing how all the affairs of every day life
may be elevated and ennobled by the
application of that gospel.
q The boarding School, in which the
gospel is brought into closest contact
with the boy or girl every hour of the
day through the word of God and the ex-
ample of the consecrated teacher.
g. The direct preaching Of the gospel,
in which we should use every instru-
mentality in reach, especially the native
Christian, who can be made to work
1.-THE Possibilities of Endeavorers in
Missions was the subject of Rev. G. w.
Glover's address. Among other things
he said:
Two things are to be considered in
determining the possibilities of any
agent:
/. The agent the extent of his powers
and adapta bilty to his work.
g. The extent of it's opportunities.
The agent-The Endeavorers in their
united capacity are 100000 strong. The
power of single life can be determined
by it's educational qualification. Educa-
ton is to the life what the keen edge is
to the woodman's AK. The power Of life
is determined by it's devotion to and faith
in Almighty God. That God has COM
mitted the gospel of Jesus Christ to man
to be given to the world is the strongest
possible evidence of his perfect adapta-
bility for the work.
Opportunities are coextensive with the
| needs of the race. The whole world is
| practically open to the gospel; not only
! open, but calling for It,
| With the facts before us we will look
at some of the doors of large possibili-
| ties that are wide open and are being en-
| tered:
| 1. Social psssibilities-The church has
been hindered by class lines and failure
! to recognize the fact of universal BROTH
! erhood. Remove these lines and imme-
| dlate1y every TRUE SnTlStiSln Will UecOIue
| interested In every other man.
| 2. Educational possibilities are very
large. / am glad to say these are being
| improved. There can be no intelligent
| action without information. The masses
| have not been informed as to the real
| condition of the heather world. Young
people are studying missions They are
! giving out information The lecture
courses reading circles, libraries, etc..
already inaugurated show the power,
| wisdom and zeal of the endeavorers in
| missionary education.
8. The possibilities in raising money are
| great as already shown by their efforts.
/ The Presbyterian young people raised
$55, 900 last year.
| Our church has membership of 200,-
| 600. 1t seems to me that at least one
| fourth--50 000-might be enlisted in the
cents per week plan, which would give
| in round numbers $4,000. Extra cent
| day clubs might be formed in many of
| our churches. A church in Newton,
| Mass OH this plan has averaged $359.20
| the past five years.
4. The possibilities in prayer are unlim-
| tied except by the faith of Gods people.