The Elbert County tribune., 1907-02-14

The greatest force in the world to
day is being gradually, but definitely
and steadily, organized for world con
quest.
Because there is no beating of drums
or waving of banners or booming o.
cannons, many do not realize the pow
of the Christian hosts that are being
gathered in every land under Heaven
determined to make Christ King.
hundred years ago the religion Of
Jesus Christ was practically confined
to the white race. There were, indeed
few dark-skinned believers and a few
pioneers in the church at home, who
began to claim that the Gospel was in
tended for every race, and should be
energetically propogated through the
then novel experiment of foreign mis-
sions. But the church at large laughed
at the idea.
To-day there are $4,000 missionaries
scattered throughout nearly every
heather tribe, directing the energies
of 100000 native Christians in a
faithful, determined effort to bring on
the universal reign of Christ.
They were backed up last year by
the Christians at home, with over $40,
100000 to prosecute this herculean
task.
But most astounding of all is the
rapidly increasing faith and courage
and determination of the Christians
both at home and abroad, to hasten
and complete the work.
For so years or more the women OF
the church have been so thoroughly
organized and aggressive in this work
that many had come to think of it as
a women's movement only.
But about 20 years ago there started
among the students in our higher in,
stitutions of learning, what has proved
to be one of the most aggressive and
powerful propagandas ever known
This Student Volunteer Movement for
Foreign Missions is made up of ad.
vanced students who have dedicated
their lives to foreign mission endeav.
or, each one having signed a card stat
Ing: 1T is my purpose, If God permit
to become foreign missionary" Dur
Ing the last 20 years nearly 5000 of
them have actually gone into the for
eign service, and thousands more are
Fastening their education with the
same purpose in view. Last year they
enrolled over $4,000 students in their
special mission study classes, and are
constantly at work to win new recruits
among the 100000 students in our
higher institutions of learning.
The present aim is to furnish a
thousand graduates a year ready to
enter foreign service.
Another important step in this mis-
sionary propaganda was taken four
years ago when the Young Peoples
Missionary Movement was formally
organized with headquarters in New
York. This movement is working
through all the Protestant churches of
the land in systematic, educational
campaign among the 100000 young
people in the Sunday schools.
Special literature is prepared, adapt
ed to the particular age and class in
tended to be reached, and this is care
fully and extensively distributed
throughout the land.
And now that the women and the
students, and the young people are
being so deeply interested and so care
fully educated in this rapid conquest
of the world for Christ, a really great
movement is appearing among the
business men of the church.
For a long time here and there
among individuals deepening inter
est has been seen, but now it appears
to be rapidly spreading.
Mr.. John II. Converse, of the Bald.
win Locomotive works. of Philadel-
phia; Hon. John Wanamaker, Mr.. E.
H. Pitkin, of Chicago; Mr.. H. j. Heinz,
of Pittsburg; Mr.. L. H. Severance, OF
Cleveland; Mr.. o. H. Ingram, of Eau
Claire; Mr.. Alfred E. Marling, of New
York; Mr.. s. w. Packard, of Chicago
and Mr.. E. A. K. Hackett, of Fort
Wayne, Ind, are among the leading
business men who have been showing
a deep and increasing interest in the
work for some years.
DR.. D. X. Pearsons. of Chicago, has
recently given $4,000 to a mission
college in Syria.
A farmer in the northwest who has
long been supporting two foreign mis-.
sionaries at his own individual ex.
pense, has recently divided his entire
property and given half-$70, 900
for the immediate spread of the Gospel
in foreign lands.
The men of Yale university are sup