The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1900-04-20

The ecumenical missionary CON
ference, to be held in New York
during the last ten days Of April,
is likely to be one of the events of
the year. Three thousand dele
gates are expected to be present
from every part of the world.
Missionary societies of every de-
nomination and in all countries are
to be represented. It will be
more nearly an actual ecumenical
conference than was ever before
held.
The famous Worlds Parliament
of Religions, held in connection
with our Worlds Fair, was of its
own kind, and probably could not
be repeated. It certainly will not
be repeated at the Paris exposi-
ton. That prodigious convention
made it's impression and had it's
uses, but it was not parliament,
In the strict meaning of the term,
as much as a conference deliberat-
ing as to the doing of something.
1t doubtless had its importance in
preparing the way for other vast
undertakings which do aim at spe-
cifc results.
This world-inclusive missionary
conference is evidently meant to
be, first of all and last of all, prac-
teal. 1t has in mind perfectly
definite proposition. One Of the
things which will signalize, in
history, the nineteenth century
will be the origin and growth of
missionary societies, having in
view nothing less than the Chris
tianzation of all the world. At
the beginning it seemed to many
an absurd undertaking. Sydney
Smith, who was sometimes as OBJ
fuse as he seemed to be witty,
sneered at the originators of the
movement a hundred years ago.
There are now over three hundred
missionary societies connected
with the various churches in
America, Great Britain, Germany,
and other countries Of Europe.
The annual gifts from the churches
in support of the work of the
societies amount to not less than
$15,00O,0OO. The Bible has al
ready been translated by mission
aries into very nearly every spoken
language. Every mission is not
only social settlement, but an
educational institution, There is
no university in the world which
does so large an educational work
as several of the great missionary
societies.
At first these missionary socie-
ties originated quite independently
of each other, though prompted by
a common impulse and really
aiming at the same thing. It is
felt that the time has come to
establish closer sympathy and
fellowship between them. Each
of them has tried in some respects
its own peculiar experiments. It
is believed that all have something
to learn from each other; that at
any rate each will be the stronger
from knowing that so many others
are aiming to do the same things.
There have been two or three
previous INSTRUMENTATION and
international missionary confer
ences; two of them in London.
This one in New York, however, is
planned on a much larger scale
than those. The main sessions are
to be held in Carnegie hall. Ex-
President Harrison is to preside at
both the opening and closing ses-
sions. That the meeting may not
be swamped by long and tedious
speeches, the papers are limited to
twenty minutes, and the speeches
in debate to five minutes.
If not SO picturesque an affair as
that of the Parliament of Reli-
gions, there is likely to be no lack
of either popular enthusiasm or
dramatic incident. Especially as
the idea of movement of abso-
lutely worldwide expansion will
SO manifestly fall into line with
the broadening sense of human
sympathy characteristic of the
spirit of the time. Particular
prominence will be given to the
work of medical missions, which
are revolutionizing the medical
ideas and practice in all the So
called heather countries. Sc
lected.
Do the people of this state wish