The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-17
MISSIONARY RALLY.
GREAT CAMPAIGN OF AMERI-
 CAN BOARD.

Pastors and Laymen Who Have Con-
 sented to SpeaIx-Fifty-Ave Cities to
 Have Meetings.
 The great campaign of the American Board in the fifty leading cities of the country in the interest of foreign mis- sions was inaugurated January 2S. The effort will be, primarily, to reach business men, although the afternoon meetings will be for the general public.
 The cause is to be presented in the light of the extraordinarily promising conditions in missionary work, espe- cially in China and Japan. The cam paign is oecas1oned not only by the past history and current needs of the board, but by the centennial of the modern movement, which Is to be cele- brated in Williamstown, Mass, next October. This year, 1906, is the centen- ary of a prayer meeting which the five young men who had a share in it never could have dreamed would be celebra- ted by a monument and by world wide observance But the marble mon ument has been standing at Williams town for nearly half a century and the present year will be known in mission- ary circles, and especially in the coun- cils of the American board as the Hay stack centennial, Little is known about prayer meeting held under the haystack to which the five young men resorted for shelter from the thunder storm that overlook them. Even the date has not been given, save that it was on a summer afternoon in 1906. But the place is known, and the conse- cration which they there made of themselves to engage personally in the mission to the heather has resulted, it is said, In the grandest movement which Christian America has seen within century.
 So many citizens have desired these meetings that the number could not be restricted to fifty. Arrangements have been entered into with fifty-five cities, including three sectional meetings in Chicago, and a few more may yet be added.
 The plan followed in most places is to hold a morning meeting for pastors, church officers, corporate and honorary members of the board, an afternoon meeting for the general church public, and an evening meeting for men ex- clusively, In connection with supper. The campaign will proceed simultane- ously, east and west, by means of two bands of speakers. There will be four missionaries in each band, in addition to a prominent pastor and a secretary of the board. The missionary bands will be headed by Dr. Arthur H. Smith of China and Rev. Henry G. Bissen of India, the others being Rev. J. K. Browne of Turkey, Rev. Francis NJ Price of Guam, Rev. Irving M. Chan non of Micronesia, Rev Frederick B. Bridgman of Africa, 0and President Zumbro of Pastmalai college, India, and Rev. Enoch F. Bell of Japan pr. Smith will continue in the east until March g, when he will go west and his place will be taken by Rev. G. Bissell. Secretary Patton, Assistant Secretary Hicks and District Secretary Creegan will participate in the eastern, and Sec retary Barton, District Secretary Hitchcock, with Treasurer Wiggin, in the western campaign. Already lists of men to be invited to the suppers are pouring into the Boston office. Port land, Me-, sends over one thousand names The immediate purpose of this campaign is to obtain ten thousand men who will stand behind the Ameri- can board with an extra gift this year. When this special series of meetings is over 1t is hoped that the same gen. eral method will be followed in the smaller cities and towns, under the management of our local committees.