The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-03
A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
The Ecumenical Missionary Council. held
in New York last April was a remarkable
assembly. Great in its conception. gather
ing together from all parts of the world
representative men and women of intelli-
gence and culture, of Christian thought,
sympathy and Development 10 consider
not only the progress which has been made
in redeeming and elevating ignorant and
degraded humanity, kept so by heather
superstition, but also what further and bet
ter facilities may be used in applying the
gospel as the sovereign panacea for bet
tering the world and raising mankind 10
the dignity of noble manhood. Ii was
great in its assemblies of 5000 people
crowded into Carnegie Hall three times
day for ten days, besides the overflow
meetings in churches; all held, not only
by the eoquence of our national President
and ex-President and other notable men.
but even more by the simple story OF the
progress of Christian missions and the
redeeming power of the love and blood of
the Saviour. Whatever obstacles may be
impeding the progress or the gospel I'm this
century, when Christianity has grown 2OO,-
000 900 or more-in numbers equal to its en-
tire growth during the preceding eighteen
centuries-this wonderful convention stands
out in bold relief as undeniable proof not
only of the continued interest in the great
work of Christian reform, but also of the
untiring determination TO plan and do
vastly greater things in the coming CEN
by greatly elevating the condition of man.
kind.
The assuring influence of the convention
will be felt throughout the world, and its
generous work might well be aided by the
great producing, manufacturing and COM
mercial interests of America and Europe.
1t is quite within the supposable that the
rapid increase in labor-saving machinery
will. in no distant day, oversuppy the
worlds demands, and production will have
to be reduced for a time and some labor
and machinery will be idle. To prevent this
new markets must be made and the two
thirds of the worlds heather, non-consum-
ing population must be raised to higher and
better life and become consumers. Chris
tianity will in time effect this civilization.
but its present abilities are insufficient. The
$19,000,0O now spent yearly for Christian
foreign missions are far too little. The in
dustrial interests of Christian countries
could afford to give hundreds of millions of
dollars for Christian missionaries TO edu-
cate and ChristianiZe heather people. and
thus make them consumers of our surplus
products. This, also somewhat applies to
our home population. By elevation i'm
Christian life and by suppression of vice
and degradation, our own population will
ers.
The enlarged thought and enterprise of
that Ecumenical Missionary Council must
not be allowed to stop with its sessions
The Christian spirit and force which
prompted IL must be continued. Churches
and people of all denominations through
out our Nation must catch the spirit of
that great council and carry forward the
mighty evangelistic work of the world. To
this end the standard and tone of your
Christian life must be raised in spirituality,
zeal and effective force.
For this a national religious revival is
proposed. which. If carried forward with
faith and energy, will inspire and elevate
not only our national religious life, but
will accordingly revive and energize the life
and zeal of every church and individual
who participates in the movement. The
exigencies of the times require this, and
the centennial occasion is opportune for
such grand work. 1t should be promptly
taken hold of and a committee of various
religious d. nominations should be organized
in every city, town and village to see that
the work Is prosecuted with energy.
Further information to this movement
can be had by writing to Abner l.. Frazer,
25l3 Nelson avenue, Cincinnati, o.
A. L. +.