The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-03

lm6nt is against the placing of one or
two persons in lonely interior stations.
It is better to establish a considerable
force in the missionary compound, and
to work out from this base. have
seen an important hospital in Pekln
closed CiuOiy because the mission board
of one of the great American denoml-
nations had inadequately manned it,
and when one doctor fell i'll the work
/ stopped. The new interest in missions
will call boards more Tigidly to &C
count for their methods of administra-
| ton. 1t is better not to try to occupy
SO many places than to occupy each in
adequately. Paul did his missionary
work in association with a variety OF
comrades, even as the present-day mis-
sionary propaganda presents many
fronts to the world
It is worth noting that this was a
Sririt-g1ided company of men. They
took counsel together, of course, and
yet ultimate decision in all their &C
tons rested upon the illumination OF
the Divine Spirit. When the Spirit babe
them hasten through Asia without
preaching they cid so. Their power to
win resided wholly in their willingness
| tc. obey. They knew themselves to be
men under authority. and it was in
| loyalty to that Voice that they found
success.
The Men Who Hear Calls.
This was a band of idealsts and
Greamers, who, regardless of the hard
ships by she way, pressed on toward
new fields of service. They belonged to
the endless tram of Missionaries into
whose hearts God has put the pioneer
spirit. The Sc men who hear calls TO
the new aud undiscovered regions have
ev er been the champions of history
charging sphere. To them all new dis
coveries are owed. They are like Col
worlds dOminiOEs. Some types or men
work best in well worn grooves. They
like the accustomed ways and the voice
OF human direction over them Others
nj
doing the old service. They are the
inventors, The explorers, and the cap
tains of civilization. 1t would be sad
day for mankind if ever this divine
fire departed from the hearts Of men.
Paul standing on the edge of Asia,
saw in a vision a man in Europe, and
he ard his voice calling Come over and
help us" 1t was the sensitive souls
perception of the spiritual needs of an
unevangelized region. The Macedonian
call has become a shop-worn mission
airy phrase. Most persons, more Ia
n,iliar with this incident than with the
actual facts Of today's missionary con-
Gitions, believe that the heather today
are calling even as did the Macedonian
ran of old. There are one or two nom
Christian lands which are like unto |
Macedonia in that their call for the
better things OF the Gospel is articula- |
ted. In the main. though, 1T is a 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 to |
hear his message. Perhaps he expert
epced something Of the shock OF lind |
irg himself not wanted and not con-
sidered which has come to hundreds Of |
missionaries since, as they reached the |
land of their desire Ordinarily the mis-
is not desired, but he is needed |
none the less. 1t takes a deeper vision I
and a higher courage to do service in |
these conditions than to go where one
is welcomed with open arms.
The Christian church is not engaged |
i'll the business OF giving men what they |
want, but of giving them what they |
re ed. The twentieth century is vocal
things. In their social unrest men say |
they want a new order of politics, a /
new kind of economics, a new kind OF
social relationship. This is their ex-
pressed decire but their real need is
for more of she brotnerly and unset
fish spi-1t of Jesus in their hearts.
The New Patriotism.
Down by the river bank of Philippi
Paul found woman merchant, de-
vout proselyte. 1t may have seemed
a bit of irony to him that his first
convert in Europe should not be a
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 faith are usually
I
man was baptized with her whole
household, and with the hospitality
which characterizes simple Christian
faith she welcomed the band of evan
gelists to her home with an urgency
that would not be gainsaid.
So began the career of Christianity
in Europe. With that bit of out
reaching endeavor on the part of
Paul we see prefigured the history of
Christendom. For the Christian ma
lions are the pioneer nations. Stag
nation besets pagan peoples. The
ships that sail all seas mostly fly
Christian flags. and the commerce of
the world is done almost exclusively
by Christian sentiment Now because
the gospel was so early borne to Eu-
rope, Europe and her child, America,
are bearing the gospel back to Asia.
The new patriotism is milder than
the older jingoism. It is Saner, but
it is stronger No longer do we hear
the cry my country, right or wrong"
but, from all quarters. the conception
of our nations welfare for the world
sake is echoing. 1t is literally true
today that over the flags of Christian
nations, at the mast heads of their
ships, as we'll as in the realm of met
aphor, there flies the flag OF. the Cross.
The best patriotism is that which
gives its best possession for the well
fare Of all nations.
Life for the Land.
Terse Comments Upon the Christian i
triotism That Counts" Neh. As,