The Globe-republican., 1900-04-26
ChrIstIanity's onward March.

There has never been q time IN tn e
history of Christianity when a few of
! it's followers were not ready to pro-
claim that it had reached its culmina-
ton and begun to decline. Often
these signs of discourag cement are
matter of temperament and can be
dismissed as soon as the personal
equation is noted. Sometimes they
are due to minor differences about
the creed of a single sect or to an ex-
ceptional incident entirely transient
in its nature and bearing. But to an
observer who takes a station above
these passing mists and individual
that Christianity a whole is NOV
ing forward with a greater sweep
than at any previous time in the
history of civilization. The races
that are pressing on in every conti-
nent, that are virile, nasterful, never
resting, that direct the essential af
fairs of the world, are those that have
been nodded and are now guided by
Christian influences. The night of
Africa and the slumber of Asia are
broken on every side of those con-
tinents by agencies that owe their
training and their powe to the
elevating effects Of Christianity
Since this fact is true without excep-
ton in every part of the earth, it is
strange that it should ever be doubt
ed or denied.
Africa was almost sealed against the
enlightened nations. The first to
penetrate it were the missionarie
and now Christian host is follow
ing in their steps. The armies con-
tending there are men of practically
the same religion. The dying soldier,
no matter what his uniform, seeks
Christian consolation, and the same
Christian rites are pronounced at his
grave. Whether he knew it or not,
Christianity pervaded his whole life.
As Asia opens to the outside world
the spirit or Christianity enters, and
its nature and precepts are consider
ed with increasing earnestness. In
the Christian countries themselves
the churches grow steadily. IF
France is an exception it must be re-
membered that that country is suffer
ing from a material as we'll as a
moral decline. There is an nndoubt-
ed tie between the two forms of de-
cadence. France was more powerful
and prosperous in the days when
religion had a stronger hold upon it.
The causes that have arrested its
growth must be sought with this
truth kept in mind.
Saturday the third Ecumenical
Missionary Conference began in
New York. The first two were held
in London in 1873 and 1883. Let
those who fancy that Christianity is
falling away, or is less in the
thoughts of mankind than formerly,
follow the proceedings of this re-
markable congress with its eminent
preachers, missionaries and laymen
from every quarter of the globe.
One of the main subjects to be con-
sidered is concerted action in miss
ionary work. A missionary exhibit
will reflect the presence of Christian
workers among hundreds of tribes |
that were savages fifty years ago. |
Against a Christian world-develop- |
ment, unprecedented in the past. why |
should any one seek to balance a
local disagreement on seme tenet or /
the detection of an individual on an /
obscure doctrinal point? Or why /
should some temporary, or perhaps /
inaccurate, showing Of loss in the I
membership of a particular denomi- /
nation be taken as the sign that the |
zenith has been passed and that /
is losing its hold on the +
hearts of men and the future of the I
world? Let the comparison be be +
tween the years 1900 and 1900 as the T
index to the trend and the destiny of /
the Christian religion--Globe-De
ocrat.