The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-27
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS.
Fourth Annual Convention Addressed
by Bishop Thoburn.

Toronto. Feb. 27.-At the fourth in
ternatfonal convention of the Student
Volunteer movement for Foreign Mis-
sions, in session here, Bishop ]. M. Tho
burn spoke as follows: In a broad
sense all Christian work is spiritual
work, and yet a distinction can be
drawn between certain kinds of work
in most mission fields, which are alike
needful, and yet seem to differ rad
ically. For instance, in many fields it
is found desirable to have industrial
work of various kinds; boys are taught
usefuI trades and girls are employed In
such kinds of work as will enable them
to earn a livelihood in after life. The
art of printing must be mastered
schools established in which the teach
ing does not differ practically from that
found in schools in the home field. AS
the missionaries increase in number
and the work enlargeS, the claims or
business often become both heavy and
urgent, and the man who is reSpon-
sible for the financial mana cement need
not differ materially from the Chris
tan banker at his desk in a Christian
land. In this way it soon happens in
every large mission that a distinction is
drawn between spiritual and secular.
of the different phases which spirit
ual work assumes in the mission field,
I can only mention four. First, only
spiritual persons can lead an inquirer
to Christ AS in Christian lands, large
numbers are often gathered into Chris
tan communities before they are con-
VerleQ, IN the spiritual sense OF the
term, and this makes it necessary that
leaders, with special gifts for direct
ing inQuirers to Christ, should be
within easy reach. The real task which
ms set before all missionaries is that OF
bringing disciples to the feet of the
great Teacher. No man can do this
successfully unless he himself has
found the living Christ, and lives in
daily communion with Him.
Next, only spiritual persons can teach
those who are babes in Christ. and
without practical teaching new con-
verts, who. in the truest sense of the
word, are spiritual babes, can make
little or no progress Indeed, the whole
Christian church has not yet fully mas
tered this simple. practical truth. No
gift is more needed than that of New
Testament teaching 1t is needed in
Christian lands. but absolutely neces-
sary in every mission field
In the third place, only spiritual mis-
sionaries can develop those New Tesla
ment gifts which, as truly in our day as
in New Testament times, are needful TO
the development of every Christian
church. Those gifts are needed here,
but they are ten-fold more urgently
called for in mission fields. Only spirit
ual men who possess these can direct
young disciples in seeking the equip
ment without which they can never be
useful in ChriStS service
Lastly, I would venture to say that
only spiritual men can raise up spirit
ual churches. Every experienced Chris
tan worker understands this fact so
well that it may seem unnecessary to
call attention to it, and yet in the mis-
sion field many are prone to overlook it.
I venture to affirm that in every mis-
sion field in the great outlying nom
Christian world it will be found that
one of the most urgent questions before
the missionaries is that of devising
means of raising the spiritual tone of
their people This task can only be per-
formed by those who, in the best sense
of the word, are deeply spiritual"