The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-14

After announcing a meeting or the committee appointed at the last conven-' tion to consider the admission or women into the corporate body, pr. Storrs in- troduced Rev. Judson Smith, D. D., of Boston, who read an interesting paper on The Success of Foreign Missions" Dr. Smith spoke of the two causes which tend at the present time to di- minish missionary zeal and to discour- age missionary effort, viz, a hostile criticism which disparages the necessi- ty of foreign missionary work and the wisdom and success with which it is conducted, and the serious and protract- ed business depression, which has seem- ed to throw an embargo upon all Chris tian enterprises, as well as upon active business movements. Dr.. Smith said in part:
 The argument for foreign missions and their claims upon the generous support of Christian people remain un- changed, notwithstanding hostile crit icism that seeks to prove them need less, and disturbances upon the foreign field that seem to render them useless. and hard times which may be thought 'o ASiluSi tiSi uue SuppOlL llIpoosl- ble
 The times are rife with a hostile crit lclsm of Christian missions and with 9 subtle skepticlsm in regard to them which is it's natural consequences. No one can have failed to mark a some what sudden and vigorous revival within these past few years of those at tacks upon Christianity itself and upon its aggressive mission in the earth which in one form or other have at tended it's history from the earliest days.
 "The first criticism assails the nature of foreign missionary work and it's ne- cessity
 ITO this objection the fundamental answer is obvious. It is a distinct and open denial of the truth of our Lords statements and of the authority of His command. He has said to His church, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and these objectors declare the command absurd.
 But it is as contrary to facts as it is to our Savior's word. The sin and ruin and despair that were in the world when our Savior came, which gave way to celestial peace and righteousness wherever His gospel was preached, still remain and brood over the nations and call for divine Redeemer. Hindooism, Buddhism and Confucianism have been on trial for centuries and have all been found wanting. The superstition and stagnation that prevail, where they alone are found, are at once their nat ural fruit and their swift condemnation. India needs the gospel as much as Egypt ever did, China is as hopeless without is as was the empire of the Caesars; Japans future depends on the grace of Christ as absolutely as did England's when Augustine first visited her shores
 'The second criticism touches the character and capacity of the mission aries. They are an inferior class, mar row-minded, unequal to their task, se- riously deficient in foresight, in sympa- thy and in power. Now, to most of us such criticism is of no weight, because we know them personally. They are our brothers. our sisters; they went out from our homes and from our churches; they sat beside us in the classroom our peers, ard they have gone on from that day of promise to this with enlarging faculties and widening influence.
 'But there is another proof. not so personal, which amply clears them from the faults which are laid to their charge. The deeds which they have wrought are the proofs Of their sub- stantial wisdom and power.
 '"The last objection accuses the for eign missionary oTement of failure. Men visit India and come back to us and tell us that the missionary effort there has yielded fi6 perceptibie results. The same story comes to us from those who have visited China; they find no Christians to speak of and no percepti- ble influence of Christianity upon the national life.
 In conclusion, Dr. Smith said:
 The question is, not whether this cause is so triumph, but what part we are to have in it's victory. It needs no superior insight, but the single eye of candor to discern that the power which once transfgured the pagan empire of the Caesars and laid the spell of the gospel on the rising nations of Europe, the power which for eighteen centuries has trod one uniform path of progress and increasing sway over the forces of the human mind and of human life, is 1 to-day making resistless inroads upon all the great nations and peoples of the East, and is advancing with every 1 wheeling year to universal supremacy on the earth Dangers, seeming defeats, 1 temporary disasters do not daunt it or | stay it's course. Life the tide, which l obeys a heavenly impulse and stead lily advances on the shore until it over- whems beneath it's waters every rock and headland that lies within it's path, i this onward movement of the kingdom of Christ pauses not, rests not, knows no impossibilities, and feels no check. They who resist it must yield or be overthrown They who move with it march on to the conquest of the earth and to the ceaseless joys of heavenv'
 After the reading of Dr. Smiths pa- per, President Storrs announced that a missionary meeting would be held this afternoon at 4:30 in Center church chapel.
 Rev Ray Palmer, D. D.. of this city offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to report at this meeting concerning the observance of the ap- preaching fiftieth anniversary, Noveln- Der 29, of the massacre of Marcus Whit man, M. D., recommending such meth ods as seem appropriate thereto, in re- cognition of his relation to this board,