The Washington herald., 1909-06-26

| fields Of service. They belonged TO the
endless train of Missionaries into whose
hearts God has put the pioneer spirit.
These men who hear calls 10 the new
and undiscovered regions have ever been
the champions of history's enlarging
sphere To them all new discoveries are
owed. They are ike Columbus. adding
new continents 10 the worlds dominions.
Some types OF men work best IN we'll
worn grooves. They like the accustomed
ways and the voice OF human direction
over them. Others are forever dreaming
OF new ways Of doing the old service.
! They are the inventors, the explorers.
and the captains Of civilization. II would
be sad day for mankind II ever this
divine fire departed from the hearts OF
men.
Paul. standing on the edge Of Asia, saw
in a vision man in Europe, and heard
his voice calling Come over and help
us" II was the sensitive souls percep-
tion OF the spiritual needs Of an unevan-
gelized region. The Macedonian call has
become a shopworn missionary phrase.
Most persons. more familiar with this
Incident than with the actual facts OF
to-day's missionary conditions. believe
that the heather to-day are calling even
as did the Macedonian man Of old. There
are one or two non-Christian lands which
are like unto Macedonia in that their call
for the better things OF the Gospel is
articulated. In the main. though. Il Is
call OF need rather than Of desire that
is heard from the mission field
When Paul finally got to Philippi. in
stead OF eager. waiting multitudes he
found only a praying woman ready 20
hear his message. Perhaps he expert
raNnA COZ II 4frs~~
himself not wanted and not considered
which has come TO hundreds of mission
aries since, as they reached the land OF
their desire. Ordinarily the missionary
is not desired, but he is needed noQe the
less II takes a deeper vision and a high
er courage to do service In these condi-
tons than 10 go where one is welcomed
with open arms.
The Christian Church IS not engaged In
the business of giving men what they
want, but Of giving them what they need.
The twentieth century IS vocal with clam
orous appeals for many things In their
social unrest men say they w8nt a new
order OF politics. a new kind OF econOm-
les, new kind OF social relationship.
This IS their expressed desire, but their
real need Is for more Of the brotherly
and unselish spirit OF Jesus in their
hearts.
TIE NEW PATRIOTISM
Down by the river bank OF PhIlippi
Paul found a woman merchant. a devout
proselyts. It may have seemed a bit OF
irony to him that his first convert IN
Europe should not be an European but
an Asiatic. Lydia was a seller OF purple
from Thyatira. Then, as ever. women
were the best friends Of God. The first
converts and final defenders OF a faith
are usually women. This prosperous
business woman was baptized with her
whole household. and with the hospitality
which characterizes simple Christian
faith she welcomed the band OF evangel-
lists to her home with an urgency that
would not be gainsaid
SO began the career OF Christianity IN
Europe. With that bit of outreaching
endeavor on the part OF Paul we see pre-
figured the history OF Christendom. For
the Christian nations are the pioneer
nations StagnatiOn besets pagan peo-
pies. The ships that sail all seas mostly
ny Christian flags. and the commerce OF
the world Is done almost exclusively By
Christian nations. or by nations that have
lately come under the impulse Of Chris
tan sentiment Now because the GOSPEL
was so early borne to Europe. Europe
and her child, America, are bearing the
Gospel back 10 Asia
The new patriotism is milder than the
older jlngoism. II IS saner. but II "a
stronger. No longer DO we hear the cry
My country, right or wrong" but from
all quarters. the conception Of our na-
tons welfare for the worlds sake is
echoing. II IS literally true to-day that
over the flags OF Christian nations. at
the mast heads OF their ships. as well as
IN the realm OF metaphor. there flies the
flag OF the Cross. The best patriotism
is that which gives its best possession
for the welfare Of all nations.