New-York tribune., 1900-04-28

The humble layman. he who tolls prosaicaIIy
at home to supply the sinews Of war with which
the missionaries carry on their glorious cam
paigns against heathenism in distant lands had
his little hour at the Ecumenical Conference
last night, when Carnegie Hall was packed
from the edge of the platform to the last row
of the topmost gallery to do him honor. Had
Madison Square Garden been the place of meet
ing 1t would hardly have proved too large, for
hundreds turned away from the doors
and thousands who would have liked TO attend
did not present themselves knowing that there
would be room for them.
President Low. OF Columbia, called the meet
ing to order. President Angel, Of the University
Of Michigan presided. and the long list OF vice
presidents contained the names of some Of New
York's most prominent citizens. John d. Rookie
feller and party occupied box, and appar-
emily joined heartily in the singing which was
led by Ira D. Sankey. and for volume and sweet
ness combined has seldom been exceeded in this
city
On the platform were many we'll known men,
Among others were Colonel John j. McCOok and
James Talcott Russell Sage and others we'll
known in Wall Street while the rear OF the
platform of the delegates Mrs. Rus
sell Sage and Miss Helen NJ. Gould were among
the women the platform.
Most of the speakers were Iaymen, the object
of the meeting being to afford them opportunity
to testify TO their interest in missionary work.
topic which the clergymen have had the
floor all week
ANGELL'S TRIBUTE TO Low.
President Seth Low of Columbia introduced
Professor James B. Angel. of the University OF
Michigan, who presided. and in his opening re-
marks made this reference TO Mr.. Low:
1 am sure that this Conference. If 1t had the
power of suffrage granted to it by the city OF New
responsibilities than the good work he is carrying
at the present time
This seemed to meet with the hearty approval
of the audience.
President Angel in speaking of the great
trials of the missionaries. said that OF the
greatest of all came TO the missionary after he
had begun plant his seed and there hope
of a harvest, and he was stunned by the an
nouncement from home that there must be
curtailment of his work and that all his prom
ises must be blasted because the Church at
home is not ready to support him.
There is trial TO the human soul like
that said the speaker. ''and that is one that
can tighten. 1t is for us Iaymen who have the.
purse TO furnish the comfort and cheer to
workmen who have gone to the front. There is
no lack of workmen ready. 1 venture to say.
the president of university-and I would ap-
peal to every college president in the land for
confirmation of my wOrds-that If the laymen OF
this country will furnish the means the colleges
of America will double the number OF mission
aries in the foreign field within five years. Great
appIause) Every of college presidents
knows noble young men and young women whose
hearts are burning with the intensest desire to
enlist in this blessed work. TO whom life seems
almost a disappointment already because no
door opens TO them. though they are knocking
on every hand"
MIR. CAPEN'S SPEECH.
After a solo, Throw Out the Life Line" by
Mr.. Sankey. President Capen of the American
Board was introduced. He said in part
1t $ too late in the century 10 ask whether not
foreign missions pay. but il is always in order
ask the question how much they pay.
Perhaps shall understand this little better II
go back in imagination TO the beginning of this
century, when the American Board. the oldest of
our foreign missionary societies was born The
United States had Just secured its independence.
France our ally, and everything that
French popular. and the worst of il
French nfdelity. We read that Yale University.
centre of religious life, hothed of inidelity.
and old Princeton only had Christian student.
dred years ago at very low ebb. and IL was
not much better in other nations. There but
foreign missionaries at the beginning OF the
century. employing only 10 male missionaries.
Now look about and see the change! Let
call your attention Hawaii Ii is only eighty
years ago last September since the FIRST mission
sionaries went there and the natives they al
most doubted whether rot they were human
beings They found them eating fish with the
dogs. and then eating the dogs
l want TO call your attention 20 the heroism ex-