The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-03

same means at our command, and yet
it is but the preliminary work. 1t is
but the organizing of our forces. We
are now ready for work. The work is
not done. We are needed there now
as we were needed seven years ago.
We are needed as branch of the
Christian army cooperating with all
the ether Christian forces. We are
also needed because of our peculiar
gospel. If we were needed then and
are needed now, why commit the bus
mess blunder of throwing away what
we have already accomplished forthe
want of little consecrated persist
ence? Why not be resolute of pur-
pose? Why not follow up our adj
vantages! Why not push ahead
Why should we abandon a fight so
we'll begun and abandon it without
an honest struggle to win?
Nv.
Why not retreat from Japan? Be.
cause at is not necessary. If I
know myself l have no false pride
which would prevent my accepting
a retreat on the part of our church
wherever it should be clearly neces-
sary. Washington knew how to re-
treat as we'll as to advance. No man,
no church, ought ever to be ashamed
to retreat where retreat is honorable
and necessary. But l affirm that
there is nothing in our situation to
make it necessary that we should re-
treat from Japan. Upon it's present
efficient basis, our mission could be
maintained for $4,000 year. In this
form it would be honorable to us. It
would be efficient in the field. 1t
would be creditable all around.
Would this mean a burden to our
home church? No man can show
that it would if the burden were even
nearly fairly distributed. Look at
the matter moment. Our last Year
Book reports 1922 parishes. Let us
make the number 1000 instead.
What would it mean to raise annually
the $4,000 needed? A single glance
will see that it means an average of
$500 from each parish. Where is the
man with any faith who would say
that this is impossible? 1t ought to
be done in single hour on any Sun
day morning in the year. That it
should require month is nothing
less than amazing! That the Con-
vention should go pleading through
three months or six months for this
paltry sum is nothing less than hui
miliatingt Eight dollars a parish an
nually for the sake of our Japan
Mission needed, and yet in practice
for the current year we have less than
$4,000 One feels like hiding his
head in shame! Only $500 parish
needed, and yet scores of parishes
contributing not cent. Where is
our missionary zeal? Where is our
faiths Where is our conservation
Or, look at it from another point of
view. Our last Year Book reports
49,025 members,-not members of
the parish, but members of the
church. What would it mean if the
sum needed were divided equally
among these members2 1t would
mean but sixteen cents each to carry
the Japan Mission. And yet, we
talk about retreatl Away with a
spirit SO mean and pusillanimous as
this. If this is the best we can do.
let us hide ourselves in some OBJ
scure corner of the earth where the
Christian world shall no longer be
affronted with our meanness.
Or, let us look at it from another
point of view. Surprising the par
ishes contributed not a dollar, sup
pose not laymen gave cent, and
yet the ministers believed in this en-
terprise. 1t would not be impossible
even for them alone single-handed to
carry on this mission from year to
year. What would it mean on our
present efficient basis of $1,000 a
year? 1t would mean an average
contribution of $40 from each minis
ter. That is all. | do not say that
this would in no case be burden.
In good many cases it would be
burden and vet it could be done.
And if it came to this we should be
infinitely ashamed of ourselves to al
low the mission to fail or to be seri.
ously crippled. There is indeed no
point of view from which to look at
the question which will possibly JUS
tify us in retreat. | answer as be-
gan emphatically: No retreat from
Japan!
BOSTON. Mass.
IT, r.. sAlsz