The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-24
INTEREST IN MISSIONS
Great Crowds Drawn TO Tie Ecu
.menical Conference.
The Spread of the Gospel In Heather
Lands Told of by Many Speakers.
Missionaries From Every Quarter
OF the GIObe-The Meeting Likely
to Lead to Larger Contributions.

NEW YORK. April along before the
doors of Carnegie Han. where the main
meetings of the Ecumenical Conference on
Foreign Missions are being held this week,
were opened this morning there was a
crowd outside waiting TO gain admission.
Most OF those in the crowd were delegates
who had come from a distance, but many
Of them were residents of the city. who.
profting by experiences gained yesterday
had decided to be on hand early and get a
seat if possible. Seats were not TO be had
yesterday before the meeting was called
to order at 10 o'clock. and this morning at
record would be broken
No one who attended the meeting in
Carnegie Hall or one of the overflow meet
ings today could help being impressed by
the great interest displayed in foreign
missions. There were delegates in evil
dence whose dress showed that they had
come from distant countries, and there
were hundreds of others whose badges as
we'll as dress indicated that their journey
to this city had not been long one, but
one and all showed that they had one aim
in view, the spread CT the Gospel in
| heather lands.
The speakers tell OF their experiences in
many lands. ard OF the work they are
| helping 10 carry on, but their talks are all
alike in one particular. They tell OF prog
ress all over. Every one of the speak
ers displays enthusiasm. and IL is little
wonder that the audiences are at tines
carried away and moved to interrupt with
applause Clergymen as well as laymen,
who are in the city to attend the Confer-
ence meetings. today expressed themselves
as being very much pleased with the in
| terest which residents OF this city are
| taking in the Conference, and said that
I they expected a lot OF good to be done
I here. Local church congregations have al
| ways been liberal in contributing money
/ to be expended for foreign missions. but
/ il is expected that hereafter purses will be
/ opened wider for this work, and that the
/ increased contributions will admit OF mis-
sionary work in many quarters heretofore
/ somewhat neglected
The devotional service. which was held
/ this morning before the regular meeting.
| began at $3.50 O'Clock. The service was led
| by Bishop Ridley. of New Caledonia. b.
| c.. missionary OF worldwide reputation.
| and was even better attended than vas
yesterdays meeting
Bishop E. j. Andrews, Of this city pre-
| sided al the regular morning meeting in
/ Carnegie Hall which began at 10 o'clock.
! When he took his place the hail MAS
/ crowded to the doors 0It had been OK oect-
ed that there would be less eroWding on
account of the holding OF the three sec
| tlonal meetings in nearby churches. but as
It was there was not a vacant seat in the
! hail. either on the main floor or In any one
of the FIVE balconies when the opening
/ hymn was announced.
Bishop J. NJ Thoburn. ID. D.. OF India
and Malaysia. the first speaker had for his
| subject. The Character and Importance
/ OF Evangelistio Work and the Conditions
| for Success" He declared that in India
( there were millions who had advanced out
| Of the lowest depths OF Paganism and that
! in Japan the Gospel truths were spreading
| rapidly Women. he asserted, we're in
| many sections Of foreign lands prevented
] from attending services and, therefore
while the men advanced they stood still
\ Ii was necessary, he continued. 10 reach
| the women IL the heather were 10 be saved.
l and 10 reach them. women have 10 be sent
/ 10 them as missionaries
! The evangelists.'' he declared. who are
/ to reach the women OF the East will have
/ TO be taken from the ranks OF the women
/ themselves. Men cannot do the work and
angels do not, come back to earth. The
/ task Will rest on Christian women who
must go among their sisters and reclaim
/ them / am convinced that four-6fths Of
all who turn to Christians some sections Of
heather countries are first reached by
I humble men and women who go TO them
with Bible and a hymn book and ! think
the work these persons, especially The Ia
tives. do. is OF the greatest worth"