The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-12
Ministers Make This Declare
ton at Missionary
Meeting.
SPEAKERS EXPLAIN
WORK IN THE ORIENT
John T. Stone Describes Opportun-
ity Afforded to Evangelize
the World.

Denouncing the lack Of unity among
the churches in America as the great
est drag on the wheels of progress
in the work of Outstanding the world,
leading missionaries this morning plead
ed with the assembled church men al
the Laymen's Missionary Meeting TO
get closer together and work as one
church in behalf of foreign missions.
The speakers were John 7. Stone.
OF Baltimore. DR.. r. H J.. Pott. presi-
dent of St. Johns College, Shanghai;
and Dr. A. p. Parker, president of the
Anglo-Chinese College, Shanghai.
No Interest In Divisions.
That the people Of China who are
accepting Christianity have no interest
In the divisions of the churches as found
in America, was the statement Of DR..
Pott, in his address on Foreign Mis-
sions and Christian Unity" They can
not understand at all the divisions Of
some of the leading churches North
and South" he said, and they refuse
TO stand for such divisions in their
caarches.
The missions are drawing the churches
closer together. he said. He spoke Of
the union of Presbyterians and COngre-
gatiOnalists in college work, OF the
and English Baptists at Shantung in
college and theological teaching, of the
union OF all denominations in Szechuen
In the development Of educational work
Missionaries representing all denom-
inations meet IN the provinces and dis
euss the work so that there may be no
overlapping OF endeavOrss he said.
There have been many conferences in
China with the purpose OF consulting
over means OF church unity at home as
well as abroad
Progress Retarded.
we have done all that we can for
unity declared DR.. Pott speaking for
the missionaries Of China. The di-
visions at home are holding US back.
II is ND TO the churches al home 10 get
together now~on this common platform
of evangelization Of the world and help
US along"
In answering the question rs the
chCrch's Interpretation Of the great
commission eorrect?'' John T. stone
stated that he believes the present mis-
sionary movement is the true and
proper Interpretation Of the command:
Go and preach the Gospel 10 every
creature" The command was simple
and never should have been misunder-
stood. he said
Mr.. Stone. reviewed the history OF the
churcns pointing out how this great
NDAiAlls1Aul ndu Deen misunderstood.
he Crusades, he said, occurred when
the church thought IL could carry this
commission 70 the heather at the point
81 the sword II resulted IN THE loss of
thousands OF lives and millions Of trea-s
sure and accomplished nothing. he said.
During the Dark Ages. when the church
vas rich and luxurious, only a few
earnest and devoted men Ike Augustine
seemed 10 understand this commission.
he said The church, for tie most mart
he said failed 10 initiate the missionary
zeal OF Paul and the early Christians.
The Great Opportunity.
The church had a great opportunity
10 eVangelize the world at the time of
the explorations Of America, declared
Mr.. Stone. It failed because it tried to
proselyte by the sword instead OF with
the weapons of peace. Spain threw
away the great advantage il had gained
in the discovery of the new world be-
cause Of the avariCe and cruelty Of it's
QlscOVereTss who went out ostensibly in
behalf OF the church. bat really in
search OF gold and adventure he said
Ihat the eVangeliZatiOn Of China is a
great task was proven 10 the audience
BY Dr. A. p Parker, of Shanghai With
its great population spread over vast
areas in which the means of transpOr-