The Republican journal., 1908-07-16
THE MISSION MAIL BAG.
THROUGH THE E1E-GATE

For several summers the English
people have been holding great outdoor
pageants in different cities to illustrate
various periods of their national his
tory. They have been immensely
popular, not only as shows but for
their educational value. Thus far Bos-
ton is the only American city to try the
scheme. 4 few weeks ago its new
normal school building was dedicated,
not with the conventional exercises
but with series of brilliant scenes,
modelled after the English idea to
illustrate the progress of education
from the earliest times. Another
mammoth exhibition of this sort will
be held in Boston next year for the
purpose of demonstrating the success
of foreign missions. Such an exhibit,
lasting FIVE weeks has just been held in
London and attracted nearly million
visitors. Winston Churchill, NJ. P,
made a notable address at the opening
and one of England's most famous
composers, Hamlsh MacCunn, wrote
the music for the Pageant itself, which
is only a single feature of the show.
The main purpose is to represent the
actual life of the people of the Orient
and Africa; how they eat, drink, dress
and worship the kind of houses thea
occupy, what tools, weapons and
domestic utensils they use. how they
treat women and children, and then to
show how the people have been lifted
to higher level by Christian institu-
tions. China holds a prominent place
in the exhibition, a viceroy said at a
recent gathering in Shanghai, where
Chinese officials met to discuss educa-
tional policies, that the mission schools
are the best in the empire, because
they have a religion which is absolute
ly necessary to make men. Our new
learning" he continued, doesn't make
men," This presentation of conditions
in the Far East through the eye-gate is
conclusive evidence that missions are
not fanaticism but craftsmanship of
the highest order.
TINE TO WAKE Up
Secretary Taft, speaking to great
mass meeting of men in Carnegie Hall,
New York, not long ago said: Until
| went to the Orient | did not realize
the immense Importance OF foreign
missions. We have got to wake up.
We are not all there is in the world.
He added that it would shake us out OF
our 'smug provinCialism' If we could
see for ourselves what missionaries are
doing in the Far East. Even more
vigorous is the testimony OF W. L. Ellis
of the Philadelphia Press, who made a
tour of the world for the express pur
pose of making observations along this
line. He declared that more than once
he was tempted to write to the laymen
of America: Either do the job or
chuck it; don't play at it." Another
American tourist, a business man from
Georgia who gives literally of his
money and has two daughters in mis-
sion service in China, writes from
there: 80, if only our business men
would come over and see the oppor-
tunity! | really believe that in the
next few years China will be great
Christian nation" Winston Churchill,
M. P, F. A. Mckenzie, the eminent
war correspondent and Oriental travel
er, and Ambassador Bryce have all
spoken in similar vein on public oc-
casions within few weeks. When
men of this caliber ON two continents
voice such sentiments it is token that
the "time to wake up" has come. The
American Board, the oldest foreign
missionary society in the United States,
and kindred organizations, are showing
to the world that missions do not mean
sermon apiece all round for the heath
ell, but that Christian homes, schools,
hospitals and workshops are the most
efficient tools of civilization. Mr.. Ellis
says that "the modern man prides him
self on his broad views and far sighted
ness. He loves politics, big politics. y
If this is true he cannot afford to be
ignorant of foreign missions, or what
Secretary Taft calls "the effect of re-
ligion on government" And he added,
Il am talking practical facts and l
know what l am talking about