Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-09
FOREIGN MISSIONS
WHY SOME PROMINENT PEOPLE
BELIEVE IN THEM.


Il believe in foreign missions because
Christianity is adapted to the most urgent
needs of man, SO uplifting in it's influence
on individual and nation as to carry evil
dences that it is of divine origin. and that
it was designed not for one race age only,
but for all time and for all men. 1t is
Gods thought for man, and an unequaled
blessing. The true Christian is the highest
type of character The most thoroughly
Christian nation is the most civilized. Chris
tianity is walking hand in hand with civil
lization through the ages. Because it so
besses and upiifts individuals and nations
it is the duty, as well as the privilege. of
those enjoying its benedictions to pass it on
to those WHO as yet know it not. 1t can
reach them only as it is carried to them.
1t does not flow to the places of need, like
water, through the power of gravitation to
the lower level. 1t is not like the sunlight,
which. without mans assistance, circles the
world. 1t must be borne 10y human hands
and hearts. This is the work of foreign
missions.
II believe in them because the work not
only besses those to whom the missions go,
but those by whom they are established and
supported The reflex influence on the latter
is small item, and it is universally true
that they who are most devoted to the
cause of missions. most interested in the
work and give to it the most earnest sup
port are the finest types of Christian char
acter- He that lCseth his life for my sake,
shall find it
Reflex Influence Of Missions.
Il believe in them not merely because of
the reflex influence on individual character
but because of the standing they will give
TO this republic in the sight of the world.
AS citizen, / love my country, and long
10 see her the recognized leader among the
nations. That is possible only as she
touches them in the most helpful and up
lifting way. Mere display of strength is
not sufficient. We may stand in whole
some awe of the prize fighter. but we do
not love him. So it is that foreign missions
are more significant than battieships. The
Gospel is better than the big stick for the
influence and glory of the republic.
And finally believe in them because the
Master commanded. Go ye into all the
world and preach the Gospel to every crea-
ture,' was command not alone to the
immediate auditors. His then disciples, but
one going with His religion to every one
IN all ages of the world Obedience to that
command is duty done, and will surely bring
a blessing. Like mercy,
- 1T Is twice blessed:
II blesseth him that gives and him that takes ~
Secretary Patton has asked the same
question of John W. Foster, who replies as
fellows: ~
Il answer the question. Why / believe in
foreign MISSIONS by giving four reasons,
two of them very briefly.
First, the great purpose for which the
Christian church was founded is to carry
the Gospel to all mankind. / cannot COM
Christ as his Savior can fail to desire that
all his felow-men shall enjoy the same
blessing. Certainly every sincere and con-
sistent Christian must heed the last great
command: Go We into all the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature
Second, the Christian missionaries sent
out from Rome found our forefathers in
Britain and northern Europe in the most
degraded state of barbarsm, superstition
and idolatry. But for their self-sacrifice
and devotion We might now be in the same
state of degradation and savagery. To me
it never ceases to be marvel that people
of Christian missions can refuse to support
the foreign missionary societies of their
churches.
A Noble Band Of Workers.
Third, 1 believe in foreign missions be-
cause 1t has been my good fortune to visit
the most important mission lands, and have
informed myself from personal observation
of the work of the American missionaries in
those countries. 1 am pleased to say that
found them earnest, faithful and as a
whole well fitted for their work-a noble
band of devoted men and women, the men,
as rule, fully equals intellectually of their
ministerial brethren at home. I found also
that the results of their labors were as sue
cessful as could be reasonably expected un-
der the circumstances
THE work of the missionaries in the
Turkish empire and other Mohammedan
countries has been marked by many trials
and prosecutions, the fierce spirit Of in
tolerance and slow growth. But no one
who travels through those lands today can
fail to see the progress made and the bless
ings which the missionaries are bringing
to them. Some of the incidental results
are seen in the elevation of the ancient
native Christian churches; in forcing the
governments to establish more schools; in
bringing a ray of hope to Moslem women,
and in awakening a spirit of inquiry and
intelligence which cannot be extinguished.
The growth of missions among the Moslems
has not been great but it has been SUBJ
stantial, and cannot go backward.
"A great Improvement has been witnessed
in the social life of India since Protestant
missions began their work. The prohibi-
ton of human sacrifice and torture in the
religious rites; of the burning of widows
and the killing of female children; and the
efforts at reform in the practice of child
marriage, are all the direct result of the
exposure and condemnation of the mission
aries. The establishment of schools and
colleges. naugurated by them, has created
a widespread zeal for education hitherto
unknown in the land The awakened in
terest of the Brahmans in the publication
OF their religion is plainly the outgrowth
of the preaching of the Gospel If there
had not been a single conversion to Chris
tianity. these reforms and blessings alone
would be an abundant reward for all the
labors of the missionaries. But the pres
ent number of the Protestant adherents in
India is fully equal to the total number of
Christians at the end of the first century
of the Christian era. and if the Catholics
are added the number would be much
greater.
Buddhism Has Failed.
The professors of Buddhism are more
numerous than those of all other religions
in Asia. and we hear much in these latter
days of its excellence and of the folly of
mice arIa IN