The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-07-24
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.

Topic For the Week Beginning July
&6-COmmenf by Rev. S. HI. Doyle.
Top4c.--A mission study Of South Amer
ica--Luke ii, 1882.
South America, the less important Of
the two continents of the western
hemisphere, Is triangular in shape and
is over 4,7O0 miles long and 1900 miles
wide. Its area is 100000 square
miles, and it has coast line of $1,000
miles. 1t is nearly twice as large as
Europe and contains one-eighth Of the
land surface of the globe, 1t Is divided
into fourteen countries, Uruguay, the
smallest being twice the size of Ire
land. The population is composed Of
a mixed people Of Spanish. Portuguese,
Indian and negro blood. 1t is remark
able for its lofty mountains and noble
rivers. The Amazon is the greatest
of rivers, and the Andes mountains,
with peaks of extraordinary height,
extend for 4,500 miles along the entire
western coast. The continent possesses
every variety of climate, varied and
luxuriant vegetation and great mineral
wealth.
Mission work is greatly needed in
| South America The natives in the
southern part form fruitful field for
missionary labors, and in the northern
countries, such as Brazil and Chile,
/ where the blight of Romanism has
1 been felt for centuries, there is great
need that the true Christ be preached.
"a light to tighten the gentiles." Ig-
/ norance and superstition exist. the
! character of the people is tickle, and
/ great opposition is manifested on the
/ part of the Roman Catholic church to
/ he propagation of evangelical Christian
| truth. Persecution at times has been
very bitter, and as a result of 1t mis-
| sionarteS have even lost their lives.
But South America is advancing Its
climate and industrial richness are
more and more becoming recognized,
and as the continent is populated with
different classes of people the govern
ments will become more stable and the
opportunities for increased successful
missionary work will be enlarged.
And until such times prayer and pa
tent toll must be exercised by all who
are interested in winning this splendid
continent for Christ.
The South American Missionary So
ciety of London first established Prot
testant missions in South America.
Captain Allen Gardner, the founder of
the society, first visited the continent
for the purpose of establishing a Chris
tan mission in 1888. He desired to
work among the mountaineers of the
north. but because of the opposition of
the Roman Catholic priests he was
compelled to go to the south. But his
work was not very successful, and in
| 1850 he lost his life In fruitless at
temptS to establish a mission in TERRA
! del Fuego. Afterward the work was
more successful, and missions were es-
! tablished ON this island and among
most of the countries of South Amer
lea. In the last half century the Prot
estant churches of America have been
engaged IN mission work In the various
parts of this vast continent. The work
has been blessed of God, and in spite
of the manifold difficulties in the way
evangelical Christianity is making
Roadway and will continue to do so
under the blessing of God.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps II, s; cxxxv, 1921; lisa. tx, I, 2;
xxxv, 1t; xiii, 6, 7; TX, 1. 2. 3; Zech. TX.
TO-. Matt. xviii. 10, 20; Acts |, 6; Rev.
xxi. IT.