Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-10-19
MISSIONS
A MANS
WORK


among the business element of the
country. the missionary proposition
as IL exists today is one that calls
for the best powers of the ripest
masculine judgment" This is the
conclusions of William T. Ellis, the
Philadelphia journalist, whose re-
Icent tour of the missionary world
lof the east was from time to time
reported in the Literary Digest.
Reviewing the impressions derived
from this investigation, Mr.. Ellis de-
clares Tin the Chicago Interior) that
he is more than ever believer In
foreign missions, although my un-
derstanding of the enterprise has
radically altered" without depre-
ciating the work hitherto contrib
uted by women, he AYERS that this
lis no work for the exclusive inter-
est of women and children; the
time has come for men to come to
their own" We read:
Here is a field for the exercise
of the largest abilities possessed by
1.-THE ablest men OF Christendom, and
the nature OF the situation at pres
ent is that II the men OF the churches
lido not enter into their proper inher-
itance, the biggest task to which they
could lay their hands will languish
and they themselves will miss the
opportunity OF ages.
up TO the present, foreign mis-
sion work has been a mere recon-
naissance in force. and not a war.
lone OF the hurtful deluslons OF the
home churches concerning foreign
missions "a delusion sometimes fos-
tered by Unbalanced reports from
1.-THE field) is that the whole heather
world Is on the verge OF conversion
Ito Christianity. One OF the COM
monest figures OF missionary oratory
represents the nations as crowding
Into the church. Now. the unwel-
come fact Is that heathendom as a
whole has scarcely been budged by
missions. Great as have been the
missionary triumphs in spots, the
whole mass has hardly been touched
by the Christian teachings. Even en-
Heightened Japan, which many per-
sons believe TO have become almost
ChristianiZed, is still rankly hea-
then, except for the small percentage
OF the population which only the
mind OF faith can invest with con-
quering power.
Now, this big task calls for large
measure. The brains which have
created the vast commercial enter
lprises of the twentieth century must
lattack this work with equal adequate
mess. This undertaking is too great
Ito be maintained on a basis OF pref
,ty, pathetic or heroic stories. adapt
led to arouse the interest and SYM
lpathy of women and children. Un-
less Il be established on a firm basis
OF principle and purpose. by men
lwho have the vision and courage and
lresourcefulness 20 plan tremendous
lly and persist that the conditions
imperatively demand can not be
successfully accomplished.
only men can give the missions
the supervision that they require.
AS there is a phenomenal drawing 10
gether OF denominational bodies on
the mission fields. with a breaking
down OF lines OF division that must
| gladden. the heart OF every one who
is distressed by any kind OF wasted
| force and hurtful friction, so there
is bound to come In the home lands
] coordination OF missionary agen-
cles that will far exceed the friendly
cooperation already existing.
AT present the real activity is too
far separated from authority ana
| responsibility; the hoards are TOO
remote from the fields Different
talents must be utilized for different
work; more discriminating EN-
| ployment of missionary workers
and a more diverse. IL suggested py
| an examination OF the work. MOST
missionaries are qualified for their
positions; some are not. A careful
winnowing process will be maintain
ed by closer, more businesslike over
sight.
The missionary body as a whole
Is too worthy 10 be made TO suner
for the short eOmings OF the few
The professions at home MAY have
the ordinary proportion OF effective
ana ineffective men; not 80 with the