The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-24
IN FOREIGN FIELDS.
The Spanish War an Act Of God, Rev.
Mr.. Briggs Declares.


House last night was attended by an i'm
mense audience. Many people were turned
away for lack of seating room and great
many, rather than miss the exercises. stood
up on the lower floor and in the galleries.
While 1t was intensely hot in the theater,
the great crowd did not appear to mind it.
so thoroughly interested were men and
women in the topic Of the evening.
Rev. ]. II. Riddell, of Winnipeg. Manitoba.
was chairman of the meeting, and Prof. w.
A. Hemphill had charge of the song serv-
ice The two addresses on Foreign Mis-
sions" were delivered by Rev. J. II. Halle
wood. of Dundas. Ont. and Rev. G. w.
Briggs. of Greensboro, KY. One Of the fea-
lures of the song service was solo by Mrs.
Fugate, of this city. The large choir sang
the national welcome song at the opening
Of the meeting and this was followed by
I'll Go Where You Want Me to Co. and
Count Your Blessings"
Rev. j. III. Lakewood was introduced as
the first speaker of the evening. He en-
phasized the thought that members Of the
Epworth League should always remember
that people are watching them and they
should be exceedingly careful in their life
work. Day by day the Epworth League
member should be an example to the world.
This is what will convince the world. The
most convincing evidence the world can
have regarding the church Is the godly, de-
vout life of the professed follower of
Christ. The speaker went on to talk of the
opportunities for mission work. There are
many godly men and godly women. he
said. trained and educated for mission
work, who are thirsting and painting to go
into the field. but the men in authority are
confronted by depleted purse. They can't
send you. There Is money for everything
else, but when you ask men for mission
funds they shake their heads and say. i
beg you me excuse" The speaker recalled
scriptural passage which says that Christ
came not only to save the lost, but to seek
them out. Christian men and women should
follow this example and seek the lost
There will be plenty of opportunity before
you and leave this city tomorrow to show
our Christianity" said the speaker in con-
clusion.
Rev. G. w. Briggs, who is known as a
man of much eloquence in religious work,
declared in his opening remarks that inter-
est in foreign missions is waning in this
country and has been for some time. THE
amount we give" he asserted, rs a pit
lance OF the one hundred richest men in
the United States all but five are members
of Protestant churches. OF the Is, 0O0, Occ in
dependent business men, with a capital of
from S.. 900 to $4,000. IS per cent. are in the
Protestant church. These men could give a
billion a year to missions from their in
comes and never miss 1t. But the worst of
ii Is not the pittance, but the spirit with
which this is given. Not great while ago
wealthy Methodist said TO his pastor:
Here is a check for 800. 1 have no inter-
est in foreign missions. but our charge must
pay it's assessments. The man who has lost
his interest in foreign missions has suffered
a deeper loss-he has lost Christ. The man
who has never had an interest in foreign
missions has never known Christ. Hence it
is not so much a question of the salvation
Of the heather as of our own salvation"
The speaker declared that the Monroe
doctrine has never been friend to mission
airy fervor. America for Americans as a
political maxim may be all right, but trans
lated into its religious equivalent it is all
wrong. The whole American doctrine of
protection, using the word in it's widest
sense, while 1t may have been good thing
for industrially. has been anything else
but a good thing religiously. 1t has been
Chinese wall about the churches. and the
worst of il Is we who have been shut in
| have suffered more than those who have
been shut out. Shut in by Chinese wall
| our energy had to be busy with something,
| and we chose the work of reform. 1t pos
| sesses the church to-day, but alas. where
is the passion for missions? 1t is gone.
| SPANISH WAR AN ACT OF GOD.
| Mr.. Briggs declared that IT was not Will
| liam Mckinley who brought on the Spanish
| war. II was God almighty. he said. The
| fullness OF the time had come, new cen.
| fury had TO be provided for and the stars
and stripes have unfolded with billowy
| thrill over many an ancient river and
| many a palmy plain" The address CLOSED
| with an appeal 10 the church 10 redeem
| Cuba, TO send one hundred missionaries &c
the Philippines at once and make the cit,
| of Manila something grander than a coalinl
station for the government. II should b'
made an outpost Of the kingdom of Coo
| in the conquest of the world for Christ.
Rev. L. w. Munhall closed the exercise!
with conservation service Dr. Munhal
was suffering with sprained ankle ant
was unable TO stand while addressing thu
audience. In his remarks he spoke mor'
especially OF the work Of the Y. NJ. c. A.
which he admired greatly, although he re
GREETED that 1t had departed In measur
from the work God intended II to do. HI
made the same reference to the w. c. T. Z
He said he believed In social entertainment