The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-21
CLOSING SESSIONS OF THE
MISSIONARY CONFERENCE.

The session of the Baptist ministerial
or midwinter missionary conference
| opened in the vestry Of the First Baptist
church, at . o'clock. yesterday after
noon, with very large attendance.
| The meeting was presided over by Rev.
| Thomas ID. Anderson, pastor of the Cen
| tral Baptist church OF this city and a
prayer service. led by Rev. w. r. Green,
| Of Natick. opened the session.
The first address of the afternoon. on
the general subject OF missions. was by
Rev. Frank Rector, ID. D., of Pawtucket.
This interesting address was entitled,
"Old Motives with New Emphasis aud
a brief abstract Of the same follows:
The Christian religion as the spiritual
dynamic for the race, the eonservator OF
al true civilization, has employed. now
uses and ever Will possess the strongest
possible motives.
Apostolic spreaehing was character
lied by marvellous power Those simple
ministers OF the first century We're novel
by divine energy.
Within one hundred years after the
birth OF Christ reaching swept thirty
two thousands gods from their pedestals
ia the Roman empire, turned the pagan
world upside down aud planted new life
in the basin or the Mediterranean. But
why did those early preachers fOrsake
their vocations. bid farewell TO home and
kindred aud go forth to the tolls aud
dangers of missionary life2 Were they
seeking TO perpetuate venerable rehg-
ious system? No. the success OF Chris
tianity meant the death OF Judaism.
Did they preach for gain or seek Ia
enrich themselves by mercenary min
Nfp nad he nf
money, and gave more than they receiV-
ed Was human applause, the approval of
men, the thing they sought? No, they
Went forth knowing that bonds and i'm
prisonment, shameful abuse and merci'
less torture, awaited them
why them dtd rtsy press their way
across deserts and seas, suner Insult ana
scourging In strange cities, sleep on IA
tique on prison floors and go at last to
felOns death? They endured these ills
because slrded by an unseen hand ava
guided by inspiration from on high.
Christianity was movement with mo-
tivss. They had heard the cry OF human
ity. aud hastsued to its relief
They had discovered the homogeneity
Of the race aud acknowledged their debt
to all mankind.
They were acquainted with the spf-
ferings OF men and volunteered 10 the
rescue.
Conscious that Christ had blessed
them they were prompt 10 share his
favor with others. They had heard the
voice OF authority and hastened 90 obey.
These were some OF the motives winch
led the apostles and later missionaries To
the task of evsngelizIng the world,
And, IL we mistake not, these are the
motives which will continue to work
until Christ is crowned king OF men.
Lord Of the world.
THE motives of former days must re-
ceive new emphasis as this work ad-
vances The task of evsngelization Is
great it's difficulties are many, one
thousand millions OF our race are I'm nom
Christian landc, ann OF that number
three-fourths have not even heard the
name OF Christ = They are hedged about
with prejudice, ignorance and supersti-
tlon. Multitudes of them have no ap-
probation OF the common virtues of We
racity, honesty and a pure life
AT this point I'm his discourse Mr..
Rector turned tn consider the new en-
phasis which our times place on old
motives for making disciples OF all ma
tions.
In closing he set forth the fact that
"sin stricken and suffering humanity Is
pressing It's claims as never before and
that priest and levite alike cannot ss>,
cape obligation by passing 10 the other
side of an obscure and lonely road
REV. MIR. HENsoN's ADDRESS,
The second address OF the afternoon
was ny Rev j. q. Henson.
he said: "rhe two great words OF our
gospel are come and go Come is the
universal invitation given 10 mankind.
Go is the command given TO all who
accept the first invitation In the sig
niHcance Of the word come is all our
authority for missionary activity In IL
Christ who gave the command. is our
sole authority.
"The last word go, was the COM
mand which the Lord gave to his fol-
lowers. that they should evangellze the
whole world
Continuing Dr. Henson said that Il
had been laid on us as a duty to evan
gelizc the whole world.
Let us do things" he said because
they are duties and because II l. right,
and 80 preach the Gospel To- the nations
~ the earth a. Christ has commanded
pr Henson closed by saying. so We
are one TN the great army OF the Lord.
Many of our workers are far away, 80
far away that they cannot now be seen.
But our purpose Is one, tho eyangeliza-
zion OF the world our nag Is one. the
banner Of the Lord. our captain r. enc.
the i.ord Jesus christ and some day We
shall come out into the oPen snd see
lie face and know ss We are known"
THE PASTORS HOUR.
A. the close u Dr llensons address
occurred the pastors hour" which was
in charge of Rev W o. Wltter secretary
| ~ the Baptist Missions, society. Bos-
ton. and Rev. y y lissgArd. assistant
| secretary, also 80 Boston aud formerly
| OF the Baptist missionary field in India
The pastors hour Was hied IN a most
| helpful and interesting way. since auss-
| tions relative 20 missl0pary work were
asked and answered by Rev. AIR. Witter.