The Detroit times., 1909-12-06


} eIgB country means an expenditure
OF about $1,000 "a year.
Give missionary work the same loyal
support that you give baseball and the
eyangelization OF the world within the
present generation Win be an accom-;
plished fact
This was the substance of a forceful
declaration made by the Rev. j. G..
Robbins, of the Philippines, in speak
ing on the topic The evangelization
of the world in this generation" at
what was really'the opening business
session OF the Laymen's Missionary
convention. in the Woodward-ave Bap-
tist church, Monday morning. Mr..
Robbins pat references 10 the nation
al game in this connection caught the
audience. and his remarks were re-
ceived with warm approval.
The reference was prompted by a
remark OF one of the laymen, in an in
formal discussion preceding the regu-
Ia addresses, to the effect that the
churches had only been playing with
the missionary problem, and that,
when they get down 10 serious work
Il wish to challenge that state
ment." said Mr.. Robbins, at the very
outset of his talk 1T is SANDER on
the word playing | am informed
that upwards Of 100000 was spent in
this city and in Pittsburg in seeing
the world series between the cham
pion teams of the big leagues. and
the amount contributed by this city
during the season would reach a con-
siderably higher figure. To the cause
of foreign missions the church people
of this city contributed last year the
magnificent sum of a trife over $685.
600 Talk about playing. Why, you
are not in the game at all. And We
can not succeed in this great work we
have set out 10 do in the span OF a
single generation unless you do s-t
into the game and back us up as you
back up your baseball team
Mr.. Robbins is himself a baseball
enthusiast and a loyal supporter Of
the game as it is played in the Philip
pines, and the cleanness of the sport
evidently appeals TO him.
Spirit of Union Powerful Factor
One great reason, in his opinion, for
the success of missionary work in
foreign lands is the spirit OF union
that obtains among the foreign mis-
sionary bodies, and the sooner a
closer union of the denominations in
the United States is effected the SOON
er will come the evangelization Of the
world, he said lie spoke of the open
ing up of new territory to civilization,
such as the Philippines, as the work
of Providence.
The session. Monday morning was
remarkable for the number OF excel
lent addresses and the interest dis
PLAYED in them by the churchful Of
ministers and laymen present This
was manifested when the chairman.
General Secretary j. Campbell White,
called on those in the audience to give,
off hand reasons why, in their opin-
ion. the present movement wouli
succeed. Among the more potent were
the following:
The breaking down OF denominations
al lines.
Meetings like those now being held.
The solidarity of the world today.
Gods willingness to fulfill his prom
ise, as exemplifed in the fact, as
many believe. that the present move
ment was divinely inspired.
The beraking IN OF non-Christian
nations
A feature Of the present gathering
Is the presence of an unusual number
of missionaries, who, fresh from their
Il bors i'm practically every quarter OF
the un-Christianized world, in most
instances. are able to present TO the
assembled laymen vivid pictures OF
conditions as they actually exist in
these countries today. They bring
with them facts and figures which
show exactly just what the conversion
of the world TO Christianity means and
what sacrifices must be made 10 nc.
COmplish that end
$40 Years Of Missionary Service.
when Chairman White asked all
those i'm the audience who had seen
more than one years service in the
field to stand up. % men and three
v omen rose To their feet. One by one
they gave their names and stations
together with the length OF service.
and The total number of years repre-
scnted in that service was upwards
Of $40.
The women missionaries present
were Miss Esther t. Patton, India,
20 wears: Miss Emma Barnes. Japan.
Il years. and Miss V. c. Beals China,
u years.
The Rev. j. 7 McNaughton. of
SMYRNA. Turkey. delivered powerful
address ON What an adequate mis-
sionary policy would mean" In which