Evening journal., 1909-01-27
CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVOR NEWS
Topic. Jan. 81. Topic, Heroes of
Missions in India. Ps. e6;1-13.
NOTES ON THE TOPIC.
BY Howard Johnson.

Centuries before Columbus set foot on
American soil, India held an important
place IN the world. 1t has been said that
one fact concerning India is entitled to
rank as an historical law. That fact is
this: That whatever city or nation has.
in The lapse Of past ages held in its hands
the keys Of Indian commerce and Indian
influence, that city or nation has. for
the time being, stood forth in the van of
the civilized world as the richest and
most flourshing.
Tyre. the former glorious, powerful COM
mercial city Of the East. about which the
Bible speaks, was made powerful largely
by the products OF India. Alexander the
Great cast his "eagle-eye" upon India
and resolved 10 open communication be-
tween Egypt and India. we should not
think OF this land as an obscure. unim-
portant country not worth the attention
Of the best Christian efforts.
Three epochs stand out prominently in
its history.
The first epoch is the era Of romantic
imaginative interest. This can be traced
10 the times of the Crusades. The spirit Of
the Crusades-of chivalry, OF romance
was still alive and IL became passion to
find a new inlet to the fair region Of the
East. The enthusiasm Of the Crusaders
might have colored even dull objects but
what must they have felt when their ideal
pictures really stood before them in pal
aces. temples. towers and the hounties
OF beautiful nature 10 be found in Indial
The era Of romantic literary interest fol-
lowed the imaginative age. Educated
Englishmen raved over Sanskrit lltera-
ture. Men began to imagine that a flood
Of light was 70 be shed from the marshes
Of Bengal; that the sansSrit reservoir
was to water all the world. sweeping away
the Scriptures and the Church Of Christ
and putting back the origin Of time by
millions Of years This deluson passed
away. Brahmanism was divested Of its
nnery and its filth exposed
The religious epoch next appeared. India
had been brought to the knowledge Of the
modern world. the imaginative age had
passed. the literature and religion had
been estimated at their face value and
now God was ready to present the true.
au-powerful Saviour 70 the people Of
India.
Il is related Of the once powerful petty
Moguel Chieftain Sultan Baber. that when
fred by an ambition TO attempt the con-
quest OF Hindustan. he first resolved TO
acquaint himself with the number Of in
habitants, their character. spirit, govern
ments. laws and means Of resistance. lie
/ assumed the guise of a religious beggar,
I found ont the strength and weakness OF
I the country and eventually became its
/ ruler.
Have we not been commanded to make
! a conquest OF all nationsg True, our war
/ fare Is TO be spiritual but should we not
/ try TO learn the conditions Of India and
other lands i'm presenting Christianity to
themg To this end missionaries 90 10
India and for this end native preachers
are desired The ideal mission is the one
which is able TO support itself after a
missionary has given the truth Thousands
may be converted but unless the evan
gelical. Chrlst-like spirit takes hold upon
the converts. Christianity is apt TO center
in the one spot. We should make mission.
ary conquests and then after the seed has
been sown native converts should become
native preachers and scatter the seed.
Now. let us see how we can help the
Hindus. and increase their personal, do.
nestle and national happiness.
Some have advocated political reform
Give them a representative government
free institutions and freedom OF thought
\ These are merely results. II the heart o
the Hindu remains the same the tendency
for evil would only be increased by Civ
ing him more liberty. As an individual an.
part OF society he would be worse than
before.
Some say. poverty is the cause of theii
wretchedness. Increase their wealth. theii
means Of personal comfort and you shal
render them happy and hourishing. Again
we start at the ending. A man who hai
corrupt religious and moral ideas only IN
creases the evil in this world when HI
has more money to spend.
some say. "Give them knowledge-use
ful, scientific lgnowledge-and you will en-
|, tighten, reclaim and elevate them to 4
new platform Of earthly bliss" But ex
perience and actual conditions prove tina
oft-times educated people disregardinl
Jehovah rely upon themselves and thei
learning. They exult in detecting the faii
ures Of others and glory I'm their owl
achievements. Our knowledge needs TO b
tempered with the guidance OF the flol!
Spirit the saving power OF Christ and IN
forgiveness and the love of God. Hu
mility, purity and brotherly love viii thei
. blend with our politics. our economics. on
knowledge and our life. This is India
solution.
Just word as 70 the manner or pre-
senting Christ to the people. The preach
. ing of Christ TO adults is a good method
God approves OF men preaching the gos
pei. Teaching the children Is anothe
method. Christ said. Suffer little chill
dren TO come unto me and forbid then
not for OF such is the kingdom Of Hea
ven." Another method is the distribution
Of Bibles. God has said that His Wor
shall not return unto Him void
We can profit by studying the heroi
/ lives Of the missionaries OF India an
, may we be inspired by the words Of tn
great missionary Paul who said, "Bu
none OF these things move me- neithe
count my life dear unto myself. so tina
r I might finish my course with Joy. an
the ministry, which have received O
t the Lord Jesus. to testify the gospel o
r the grace OF God"
Christian EndeaVor Notes.
The regular monthly meeting Of IN
Wilmington Christian Endeavor Unioi