New-York tribune., 1902-05-22
JOHN WANAMAKER SPEAKS.
AT FOREIGN MISSIONS RALLY HE TELLS
OF HIS VISIT TO INDIA.

The foreign missions rally IN connection with
the meeting OF the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly, filed Carnegie Hall full last evening as
II was on the previous evening, when President
Roosevelt was there TO speak for the home
missions. John wanamaker presided, and on the
platform were many of the men who are promi-
nent In the General Assembly and In the Pres
byterian Church
It had been the intention to have the Rev DR..
John D. Wells, president of the Presbyterian
Board of Foreign Missions. make the opening
prayer at the meeting. but Mr. Wanamaker an
nounced that Dr. Wells was dangerously i'll The
large audience was asked 10 pray for the man
who had intended to pray for it. The Rev Dr.
Henry van Dyke moderator OF the General AS
semby. offered the prayer.
Mr.. wanamaker was the chief speaker of the
evening as well the presiding officer, and he
made his address early in the meeting. The au-
dience gave close attnetion to his address, and
applauded him literally when he closed. He
said. in part:
The memorable meeting of the Ecumenical Coun-
ell in Carnegie Hall two year, ago when c eX-
ernor Roosevelt speakers. made profound
impression throughout the world, and set up new
niaI meeting of the Home Missions Board last
night, in this hall. with the eloquent addresses OF
sembly, the chairman and the veteran home mis-
equal Significance certifying that the Church has
passed on from the lowlands of experiment and
hope TO the highways Of confident victory. IL VIII
now be impossible ever TO go back from this Mount
of TRANSPORTATION to old levels OF MISSIONARY SIS EN-
deavor. To-night's meeting must set US far ahead
the upward climb of nobler service for foreign
missions.
MISSIONARY TO UNITED STATES.
And while the great epoch OF the President was
made home missionary platform IT was dis-
tincgly and tremendously a foreign missionary
a foreign missionary; not to India, but from India
to the United States have not only gone through @
actually gone through me. bore no appointment
or or 6oardHno9t even an introductory letter went
out and about simply as an individual saying. y
foreign missions is. and whether 1t is worth while
But dare not permit myself to enlarge as fully
as | would desire to say say howeyeT eS,ir ,i1a that
abbreviate sufficiently to form telegram TO every
hardheaded business man-the non-professing
for education; the earnest praying Christian man
and woman. eager to do the most that can be done
with money, and to every thoughtful college STU
dent and Sunday school scholar: -. y,
dias tax funds assists Indias schools colleges and
hospitals l found the largest proportion OF hu-
to the Christian religion.
Second-of all the Christian missionaries sent
out from other lands. that | saw or by inquiry
learned anything about, l discovered only one per-
son Who nad gwen up ese dg c ravereS
native religions able to win headway with
me persona m ne Contact with the work and
workers. convinced myself that the work of mis-
tian helpers was healthy eminently practicable
and well administered.
Fourth-In its business administration II Is quite
as economically done any business firm could
establish and support business extensions perma-
nently and successfully in lands far distant from
home climate and custom requiring different modes
of living. No private business man, in my judg-.
rnent, administer from the United States
critics and finances In India more effectively for
less as a rule. than the board is administering
them at this time.
Fifth-It is unjust aspersion the Church
and it's heroic and women for any fair per-
son to say that because the customs OF the coun-
oblige missionaries If they are to maint tain
fuence with the people, to employ servants and
live in houses common TO hot climates, such as
"A used by other private families therefore they
live in luxury. idleness or extraVagance. While l
saw homes of Christian workers in large cities
bought, from thirty to fifty years ago, for small
sums now worth much more than they cost-which
is TO the credit OF the wisdom of the fathers and
brethren of the Missionary Board-I failed TO find
any extraVagant buildings in by missionaries
or others in the services of the board. / person
ally while there two spacious. one-hoored high
eeled large porched, rough cast bungalows similar
all that there. with ten acres of ground and
fine old trees in the heart of the city of Allahahad
sold for 1900 rupees-a little less than $4,000 This
fact is reliable information on the real estate
values: and, to the servants they board them
selves coming in the morning and going off in the
night, for the pay or 10 and II rupees a month,
wants II is impossible TO find anywhere i'm the
world simpler and more consistent home living than
at the homes and tables of the mission houses
In all my life l never saw such opportunity for
Investment of money that any sets apart 10
give TO the Christ who gave Himself for us AS
looked at little churches, schools and hospitals and
inquired the original cost of buildings and expense
OF administration, L felt lump OF regret In nv