The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-20
THE FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Final Session of the Society Yesterday
Morning.


The final session of the Foreign Society
in the morning was largely taken up with
committee reoprts and the delivery of pa
pers by j. P. Pinkerton, of Springfield Mo-,
and w. p. Aylesworth, president of Cotner
University, of Lincoln, Neb. The meeting
began with a Bible study conducted by b.
C. Deweese, of the Bible College of Lex
ington, KY He spoke about the missions
in the apostolic church and said that "the
Bible solves all missionary problems and
by its guidance we should go out and con-
quer the whole world" The committee on
Turkey made report which in part was
as follows:
THE past year has been one of great
trial and affiiction to the missionaries and
to the churches to which they minister.
Persecution has changed tactics, but has
not ceased. We are deeply Inundated to be
compelled to record that there seems to be-
under the present order of things, no eff
fective remedy for the awful crimes against
humanity now being perpetrated by the un-
speakable Turk. We express the hope that
the time may come when the concert of
powers will cease to wink at these enor-
nous cruelties, and that they will take the
steps which justice and humanity demand
red-handed and diabolical practices"
The committee was profoundly thankful
that as much as $425 had been sent for the
relief of the church's people in Turkey
Calls are coming, said the committee,
Ito our missionaries to enter many new
fields. We ought to rejoice greatly that the
executive committee has at last been en-
aDled TO send good man-JOhn Johnson
to the old city of Smyrna, to gather the
people together in the chapel erected as q
memorial to the sainted Isaac Errett and
to preach to them the word of the Lord
The committee recommended that a wise
and competent missionary be sent to Con-
stantinople to assist in the work, and that
d woman be sent TO assist in the mission
airy work in the same city. The report was
submitted by j. H. Hardin, o. II. Phillips
and Francis M. Biddle.
THE WORK IN AFRICA.
The committee on the work in Africa,
which is a new field for the society, stated
that there were on the continent 1,20O mis-
sionaries and $500 native helpers supported
by various churches. The committee recon-
mended that an investigation be made Of
the offer of a number of stations on the
upper Congo by the Baptist Missionary
Union to the society. The report was pre-
scented by w. J. Shannon, J. G. Carter, r.
M. Giddins and Charles p. Kane
The committee European missions
composed of j. M. Van Horn, w. f. Rich
ardson, W. b. Taylor and C. G. Mcneil.
recommended that all the missions in Scan
dinavia be continued and that new fields
be entered fast as the funds at the dis
posal OF the society will permit The en-
trance of workers in Sweden was noted
with pleasure.
The reports of all the committees hav-
ing Deen heard, a hymn was sung and ]
L. Flnkerton begun the delivery OF his adj
dress, which was on the subject .0rha
Irlumphs of the Cross" He sand in part:
would that l could speak with the
tongues of men and angels for / am RI
tell the most thrilling the most wonderf,1I
the most important story known to his
tory; l am 10 tell of an ensign that has
hved through all the changes OF two thou
sand years, and not only mas it lived, but
has energized. vitalized guided all changes
that nave taken place for the betterment of
the world. am to tell how ii has been
established in the cities of ancient and de-
caylng civilizations; how it has met the
parparlans and made them Christians; how
1t stood triumphant above the wreck of the
Roman empire and gave to the conquerors
the only light that shOne in the darkness
of the middie ages; how it has followed the
star OF empire in its westward way; has
presided over the birth and growth of ma
lions and lives in the latest process of art.
science, philosophy and civil polity.
1T can be rightly claimed that the cross
has exalted woman, placed about childhood
halo OF protection and worth ennobled
manhood broken the shackies of the slave
awakened tender regard for the afflicted
and provided retreats for the blind and poor
and mentally benighted, established splen-
did institutions OF learning, changed the
human heart, and turned hatred into love
sefshness into altruism. taught man that
he is his brothers keeper. given all that is
best and brightest and hottest in civiIiza-
ton, taught the blessednesS of peace and
is Fastening the time when nations shall
learn war no more. We first see the splen-
did standard raised 4 the day of Pentecost
when three Thousand souls yielded to it's
sway. Opposition, r 3rsecution, the death Of
its devotees could not stop it's triumphant
From the PpnfRc0Sf n
Soon the number of men was five thou
sand. Throughout all Judea and Samaria
and Galilee Damascus, Cyrene, Phoenicia
and Antioch men and women fiocked to this
standard. Paul went forth from Antioch TO
plant it in Cyprus, throughout Asia Minor,
crosses the sea over whose waters had
swept the eagles of Rome, the ensign of
Greece the banner of Persia and raises 1t
at Philippi In the fourth century 1t be-
comes the standard of the conquering Con-
stantine. With wonderful segacty he rec
ognizes its power. claimed to have had a
vision gazing into heaven he had seen a
tremendous and shining cross. with this in
Quer' While this standard was securing
adherents everywhere. il was Transforming
human lives and human society. 1t over
came cruelty, lust. RIGHTEOUSNESS, greed.
The shackles of slavery began TO loosen
under its magic power. Happy homes were
built and the poor and suffering were cared
for. 1t reached the Teutonic nations and
nodded their Ideas and Institutions: II In
formed all their literature and ennobled
their architecture their painting and
sculpture; 1t covered Europe with monas-
teries cathedrals and schools. In word.
II has so covered the whole life and so IN