The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-08


a. any thoughtful traveller win. that
whether or not the Church OF Christ In
chritendom goes into the foreign mis-
sion enterprise. All the rest Of the
world Ia its representative features. has
made up It's mind to 90 into foreign ae-
tivitiea Go into ports like Yokohama,
Kobo, Shanghai Hong Kong Singh
pore, Rangoon. Calcutta, Bombay. and
every form Of human activity except
Christian missions Is represented. Conn
merce Is there; diplomacy IS there;
natural science and exploration are
there; navies are there; brokers, bank
ers, drummers and ADVENTURES are
there. Every form Of European and
American vice. corruption and dlsso-
Iuteness Is there. brazen and rampant
Fashion Is there. Hyde Park. Paris.
Berlin, Vienna and New York have
their representation there in a life Of
gaiety. II all this be 50, tell me why
has not the Christian church q charter
also TO be there? Nay, with more
right than these an. Nineteen hundred
years ago her Lord commissioned His
church to make this the frst business
OF her existence to go disciple all ma
ions" and even yet with all the en-
cuuraging signs to be seen Of progress
Of this work in the far east, as compar-
ed with the vigur and intensity with
which worldly interests are pushed In
these regions. the Christian missionar-
ies are at the rear end Of the proces-
sion. And yet, there IS another point
Of view. In very important sense
Christian missions are the antecedent.
and condition Of all these remarkable
changes which are producing a new
Orient.
Gods purposes In Christ conditioned
all that Is best in the east Those ma
lions which, like England. Germany,
Holland. and the United States. are
most potent as colonizins commercial
and civilizing factors have been Chris
tian nations. The great treaties be-
tween western and oriental nations
have been facilitated, II not negotiated.
and made stable through Christian men
and missionaries who have served as
interpreters, translators. and friendly
media to secure good Understandings;
men like Carey, Morrison, Wells. Will
Jams, Martin. Ashmore. Cushing. etc.
Among the direct results OF Christian
missions is the translation OF the Bible
into over three hundred languages and
dialects. The actual converts gathered
into native churches within century
have exceeded 100000.
Splendid Results.
BY far the largest results are those
which cannot be tabulated. The great
er part of heathendom has become so
honey-combed. penetrated, and leaven-
ed with the direct or indirect influence
Of Christianity that 1t may be fairly
said that no heather child now comes
into the same world into which his
father was born.
Mighty communications are now
made possible In a day almost. which
for long epochs were preparing. This
may be seen in Japan. in parts of In
dia, and of China, and in the islands Of
the sea without number.
Respecting the society represented by
DR.. Mabie, the American Baptist Mis-
slonary Union, It was stated that in
eIghty-hve years over 100000 souls
have been baptized, 10000 in ten
years. This society has missions in
Japan, China. india and Africa, be-
sides working In Sweden. Norway. Ger
many, France. Denmark. Russia and
Finland. About 1900 converts unnu-
ally are received; 100000 is raised In
this country for the work and the
countries raise for themselves about
100000 more.
Many interesting particulars concern
ing the work in Asia particularly, were
recited. and the Baptist people were
appealed to to support the work gener-
ously.
1t was stated as notable fact. that
with the participation OF American
Baptlsts in this great foreign work,
that part of the denomination in this
country. so cooperating, began to
grow and within century has risen
from 10000 to over 100000, whereas
that portion of the denomination which
declined to do this work has steadily
lost power and position at home. and In
some parts where once strong, has be-
corne nearly extinct.