The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-30
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

i May 81 Alaska and the North
west lisa, so: 11-22.
/ BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
It is only within the past genera
ton that North America has
awakened to a realization of the vast
| possibilities of the northwestern cor
ner of the continent. The gold and
grain and lumber and furs that first
turned mems thoughts thither are
| now seen to be only a part of the
riches of this imperial region. Here
new cities will rise; here. it may even
be. the destinies of the United States
| and Canada will be determined; for
this once despised territory is nearest
! to the orient and to Russia. and it is
rapidly being peopled by strong men.
| No greater duty confrOntS Christian
America than the patriotic duty Of
| early and adequately putting the i'm
press of the gospel upon this new
| country.
1t is impossible for all men to be
reached by a few men unaided. There
are millions of souls who will never
hear the gospel unless they hear it
through the rank and file of Christ
followers. The truth that every
Christian must become a missionary
is thus altogether rational 1t is
only through the medium of all his
parts of this great. shining world.
The utter unwisdom of trying to
divide missions into two parts
home and foreign is illustrated
in the common attitude toward the
northwest of our own continent.
which is foreign" land to most of
us, and yet which is also a vital part
of our home responsibility. The
person who is not moved by a sense
of the religious needs of this strategic
region has a narrower mind than Is
normal in any twentieth century
Christian.
When the great bulk of average
Christians become enthused with zeal
for missions, then we may expect a
mighty quickening and revival of pure
religion in all the home churches.
For the spirit of missions Is the very
spirit of God.
No small man can be a missionary.
He must have a great heart of love,
broad sympathies and a wide wisdom
of heavens harvest field.
The narrowness of our lives is re-
buked by the multiform activities of
the missionary. One of the mission
airy martyrs wrote: Every mission
airy ought to be a carpenter, mason,
something of a butcher and a good
deal of a cook not to speak of his
requirements as a preacher. pastor.
linguist and student.
God was a provincial God to the
world into which Christ came. The
Jew had no idea that Gods love could
extend beyond Jewry. To him
Jehovah was only a national deity.
But Jesus brought to earth the truth
hy.o oil III C
children everywhere. The mission of
our Master was to bear the gospel to
all the world, near as well as far To
him was manifested the largeness Of
the love of God.
All the diversified skill of the most
modern Christianity is needed to min
lister to the complicated needs Of the
northwestern section Of the continent.
DR.. Sheldon Jackson probably never
did more noble missionary deed than
when he introduced reindeer into that
territory. The story is told by the
New York Tribune as follows: A
most difficult problem has been solved
in Alaska, where there were fifteen
years ago only sixteen reindeer. To-
day, in consequence mainly of DR..
Sheldon Jackson's perseverance, there
are in the territory 5000 of these
animals. This able pioneer some years
since realized that starvation must be
the fate of the Esquimaux unless some
means of subsistence other than the
chase could be devised for them. He
noted that with the advent of white
settlers, seals, caribou and walruses
were disappearing. He knew that the
Siberians, living in climatic conditions
closely resembling those Of the vast
peninsula, were self supporting, sim
ply because they possessed immense
herds of reindeer. Not only is the
animal wonderfully prolific. but it's
flesh is excellent for food, it's hid fur
nishes good clothing, and its strength,
valuable either for carrying or draw
ing loads. DR.. Jackson is a philo-
sophical ethnologist. He carefully
studied the Alaskan temperament. and
became convinced that the Esquimaux
of the territory, nomadic by hereditary
custom, were untitled for any OF the
white mans vocations except that of
herding. He believed that reindeer
herding would be pursuit of fascinar-
ing interest to these natives. The
initial success of the experiment in
duced the United States authorities to
take up the scheme in earnest, ana
reindeer stations are now scattered
widely over Alaska, while new ones
are constantly being established. The
industry in a general way is under the
supervision of the bureau OF educa-
ton, which is attached to the depart
ment of the interior. DIR. Jackson is
the bureau agent of education In the
territory.
Most Of US set high value on our
selves. We make all life, so far as it
affects us, to center about our life.
Grant the same worth to every other
human soul, and we get a new sense
OF the Importance of missionary work,
which is altogether a work for souls.
AS the whatsoever" embraces the
whole world, so the ''go We" embraces