The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-23

Syria, Greece, Cyprus, Slam and the
Gaboon have been occupied and then
transferred to other societies. Now its
twenty important missions comprise
more than 1900 stations and out-sta-
tons in Japan, China, India the Turk
ish empire, Austria, Spain, Africa,
Mexico, the Sandwich Islands and Mi
cronesia; 1885, 900 converts have been
gathered into its churches, of whom
$4,000 are living. It's hospitals, dispen-
saries and relief service minister to
many thousands of sufferers every
year. More than 1000 schools and col
leges, all of them dlstinctively Chris
tan, enroll $1,000 pupils, We shall do
well to remember, by way of compari-
son, that if all the colleges, schools and
academies in the United States that
have ever been called Congregational
were to combine their roll of attend
ance, it would not equal the army of
youth now gathered in the schools of
the American board alone, It's larger
colleges maintain a creditable stand
ard Instead Of encouraging students
to come to America for education, the
uniform policy is maintained that 1t Is
far wiser to plant permanent centers OF
light in the very lands to be evangel-
lied. In all this vast and diverse en-
terprise it Is significant that Congrega-
tionalism reproduces itself. The
churches are essentially selfgoverning
Christ is the acknowledged Head over
all, and the zeal of self-propagatine
faith converts pagans into Christians,
and Christians into missionaries.
And what about the future? The
true spirit of Congregationalism, al
ready conspicuous in its history, needs
emphatic reassertion and larger appli-
cation. The one great purpose for
which the church exists should hence
| forth be closely identified with all Its
| working elements When we talk
about our UNCONVENTIONAL missionary
problem, we must not forget that it in
| cludes not less than 100000 of the
pagan world. That Is our share. How
can we shift this mighty responsible
| ty? Who will relieve us of it? 1t Is
| clear that unless we fall behind as 6
| denomination, we must face this obi
cation and gauge our plans to the high
and broad level of its accomplishment
| When pastors are installed let us ash
this question, Brethren, do you be
| lieve that the evangelization of The
whole world is the final ministry
And when churches are recognized le
| us ask the same question. Let US pu
it into our articles of faith, into oul
| covenants, and into all the constitu
lions of our associations. Here is de
scribed the normal sphere and the ap
pointed function of the entire church il
all its membership, and all its ma
chinery, and all it's associate life.
Then, If I mistake not the call of thu
future is that the strange disproportioI
now existing between expenditures TO
ourselves and expenditures for the sal
walton of the pagan world shall b.
speedily corrected. Who would sa.
that If one-half of our gifts of none.
and of men We're, in the true spirit o
| our Pilgrim faith, devoted to the worl
abroad, it would be too much? Why
the field of that work is not simpl
half, but is larger and broader by hun
dreds of millions of our fellow-men
But the gifts are not a half, nor
fifth, nor a tenth! Only one dollar on
of nineteen given by Congregational
lists for religious and charitable Worl
goes for the reaping of those whitene,
fields, and only one ordained ministe
out of twenty-nine! Not less here, blu
more yonder. 1t is the disproportiol
that rebukes us and delays the chario
of the King. 1t is time, in word, TO
a new exaltation of the Son of God