The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-05-22
Christian Empire Builders.

TeEss comments upon the Christian E25earo-
topic for Nay 80 Here's Of home Missions d"
Matt I-I-l6
The man who Is worse than heather
according TO the Apostle Paul, is ne who
fails 20 provide for his own That applies
to religious affairs as wei as TO material
things. The divine injunction 70 the
apostles was that they should begin At
Jerusalem. Home comes first. The per
son whose interest in China IS so great
that he neglects Christian work in his
Own neighbOrhOOd is not TO be called a
missionary enthusiast; he is merely an
Unbalanced fanatic. In this day OF in
creastng missionary interest We may not
lose sight OF our primary responsibility 10
the opportunity which Is nearest Work
abroad should be preceded and accompa-
MED by work al home Usually, fairness
compels me TO add. it Is the person whose
sense OF responsibility for the uttermost
parts IS keenest who is most fndefatigabIe
IN labOrs for his immediate neighborhood.
Among the heroes OF missions must ever
shine the names Of the men who helped
give and save this homeland to a Chris
tan civilization.
There are 10 geographical lines in Gods
thought Of missions He so loved the
world"
The home missionary helps TO make a
Christian land and TO create a Christian
force which may serve the whole world.
The tine has come TO ask. What is
home misslonsZ' II in that term is IN
Guided the needless duplication OF
churches in small communities. merely
for the sake OF perpetuating sectaran
names or glorifying denominatonaI agen-
cies. then the great Christian public win
turn its back in disapprovaL But il Dy
home missions a practical. organized ef-
fort TO give the stimulating. conserving.
and Transforming power OF the Gospel to
every last man and woman under our
country's flag, then the judgment OF
Christendom gives hearty favor and as
sent There are lonely rsnchmen and
miners who are beyond the touch OF
Christian influences There are multitudes
Of children growing up outside OF the
pale Of religions formative touch. A vast
multitude Of aliens. as foreign in tenn
permanent to the spirit OF this new land
a. N--C- dAE III lSu1Ast 10 tongue.
need to be leavened by the teachings OF
the Gospel, which is. after all has been
said, our national genius. Intricate and
difficult social problems there are await
ing solution by applied Christianity.
Truly the proper scope Of applied Chris
tianity is great enough without any
wasteful and unseemly rivalry and rrlc-
ton.
The man who invests his life in helping
10 TX and ennoble the ideals Of a com
mUnity in its formative period has
the mission Of patriot.
The modern pastor OF downtown city
church is nowadays as truly home mis-
sionary as is the clrcuit-riding frontiers
man
We nay rot speak Of the great work Of +
pioneer missions as in the past tense
Ralph ConnOr's books show how truly this
sort OF service is being done in the Cana /
dian Northwest to-day. At the present
time the official representative Of one Of (
the Canadian denominations is going TO /
Great Britain, there 10 seek recruits for
the mission field Of the Northwest He
viii offer to young British ministers. the
TO duplicate the work OF the
men whose names the churches cherish I
as home mission heroes and pioneers
Gods roll OF honor viii never be closed /
Until the last Of all his wandering chill 4
dTen has been brought home
Bright are the triumphs Of the mis- I
sionary- The famous Indian warrior. ]
Geronimo. who died a short time ago. +
became a Christian convert Of a home 4
The character Of Alaska and the Cana /
dian Northwest is yet to be fixed and il 1
s for the church 10 say who shall fix it
Magazine readers have shown an in \
satiable interest in the character and
mission Of DR.. Wilfred F. Grenfeu. Of 4
Labrador. who is hailed everywhere as 4 /
SniShtly hero CT Jesus Christ In order
10 serve the people Of the bleak coast Of
he has undergone the rigo-s Of I
an arctic explorer. and has employed
al the versatility Of one Of the great 4
pioneers. There is no man 50 high in 1
public Office or so richly laden with the
I'm )iuments Of business that he IS above
Z feeling Of envy as he behOlds the noble.
-ull-oTDed life OF this Chivairo1s exponent
# the twentieth century's best spirit.
The General Assembly Of the Presbyte-
-ian Church in The Urited States Of
America in Denver is commemorative the
golden jubilee Of home mission work II
Colorado Among the commissioners are
several members of that company Of
nen who, aloag With DR., Sheldon Jack