New-York tribune., 1900-04-22
DR.. SMITHS WELCOME.

The Rev. DR.. Judson Smith, chairman of the
General Committee welcomed the delegates in
the following address,
In the of the committees that have invited
eign missionary societies of the United States and
Canada extend to you brethren of every name
and salutations in the Lord.
ored representatives of English speaking peoples.
foremost in the missionary service and glories Of
your spirit or nty measure your world famed
To these 5fat haV F5 hep g
and Inspiration from your life and history, we, of
as # none but English blood were in our veins, as
if our lips knew no other speeeh than y9Ir imperial
from the colonies still more more remote Of ancient and
too, we welcome with open heart and hand; no
words that tongue can frame exceed @ our love and
joices in your presence Is hon9red by yonr coming
deeds and heroic patience;
And you missionaries of every name, from every
and oceaniea part of THE far flung battle line" of
shf shin and dan Of great plans and Wsest
manship; some of whom bear bear in your persons the the
heroic aims and lift our life from common dust 70
pride we feel. the love and the welcome We give!
these assemblies you lend lustre above ali earthly
And so 70 YOU all from ali lands the wide world
round. vino honor by your presence and who
man race and of the Kingdom OF God on earth to
and all Grace. mercy ana peace from Goa
the Father. and from the Lord Jesus Christ
PLANNED TWELVE YEARS AGO.
Some Of us who sat IN the great Conference in
Exeter Han twelve years ago said TO ourselves,
This scene must be repeated. and its dimensions
enlarged on the other side of the sea" Accord
ngly. in January. 1895. the representatives OF the
American Foreign Missionary Societies appointed a
committee to consider the expediency of convening
an Ecumenical Conference Foreign Missions in
this country within the next four years. y year
later, on report of this committee, II was voted TO
convene such conference in the city of Newly ork
m n he
Protestant foreign missionary society in the world
to participate A year later the acceptance OF this
invitation by the great majority OF societies was
reported and the work OF preparation was laid out
country and In Great Britain. and has been pressed
with the utmost diligence. vast labor increasing
prayer. and at little cost OF time and resources,
until to-day witnesses the preparations complete,
your presence Joyous reality, and the Conference
which closes pregnant century of foreign mis-
sionary history and opens century destined TO far
greater glory is here convened.
We do not forget the Conference OF 1884. OF 1860,
1873 1883, i'm England, when speak OF this as the
greatest OF all We remember noble conferences In
Inua, China, Japan, when We claim for this a
missions to-day exceed those OF all preceding days
In breadth, efficiency, achieved results and glowing
promise: by much the Church throughout the
whole world exceeds the Church OF any single land.
by much does this auspcious assembly surpass
all missionary councils and conventions that the
world has May the blessing Of Almighty
God be upon II from frst to last and crown II with
unearthiy and unfatling power
What & century Is that lies behind us, How
fruitful discovery, In invention I'm social prog
and political changes! What record OF mis-
sionary growth Nearly four hundred societies
great and small in place OF half dozen when the
century began The few score OF missionaries then
have multiplied 10 sixteen thousand, work I'm
continent and nation and island OF the globe