The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-23
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES.

The Atlanta Georgian and The Char
lesion News and Courier, two leading
southern publications. are discussing
the missionary question and the form
err takes the latter seriously to task
in the following editorial:
On some points of the creed The
Charleston News and Courier is an
orthodox champion and defender of the
faith which was once committed to the
saints.
The Georgian lie therefore surprised
at the tenor of an editorial which
appeared in this conservative sheet
under date OF Oct. 10 last in which
the writer, commenting upon the
conventions which are soon to be held
by the Protestant laymen In seventy
American cities, strenuously opposes
the gospel propaganda In foreign fields.
1t is proposed by means Of this
magnificent crusade to raise $780,
100000 for the conquest OF heathendom
But the Charleston News and Cour-
Ter, in defiance OF the Great Commits
sion which was issued from Mount
Olivet, cries:
'Io!"
In other words. what the divine law
gfver enunciated in the last accents
Of his ministry, The Charleston News
and Courier propose to annul.
But the journalistic veto is impotent.
1t can no more malt the splendid
march of this twentieth century
movement on behalf of world wide
ava nc Ira Nr,ka a r.
wheels Of Jehovah's universe.
The Georgian lays no claim to the oil
OF prophetic anointment.
But the Christian religion is essen
TALLY evangelistic. Even the layman
is bound to recognize this fundamental
fact; and how either the individual
or the newspaper can accept the sys-
tenn without accepting the divine in
junction. which is riveted upon it by
the most solemn sanctions, is some
thing which can be easily reconciled.
Moreover IL this opposition to the
gospel propaganda be followed to the
logical conclusion, think of what It
involves.
For the conversion OF Europe to
christianity was directly and imme-
diately the fruit OF foreign missions.
The cradle Of the faith was in Asia
To question. therefore. the wisdom
of foreign missions is to impugn the
intelligence of the great apostle to the
Gentiles-the man whose colossal mind
has swayed the centuries.
IT is also equivalent to d confession
on our part that we prefer darkness
rather than light.
ar t.
the religion Of American because our
ancestors in the German forest en-
braced the faith which the first fore
ign missionary carried to Europe. But
suppose Paul had not crossed the
II ellespont-suppose he had not heed
ed the Macedonian cry--have You i'm
agined how different might have been
the history OF civilization?
America today might be immersed
in darkest heathendom
And the editor of The Charleston
News and Courier, from the skull of |
his slaughtered victim, might be
drinking to the health OF his savage
god.
Another point, 1t is amusing to note
the manner in which our contemporary
seeks to dodge the plain language of
scripture.
Like the blast Of q trumpet rings
the command, Go We into all the
world"
But listen to this strange prophet! |
Says The Charleston News and
Courier:
Christ taught that we should go
forth into adj the world, but going |
forth is quite different from sending |
forth"
The argument is specious. We live |
under a form of government which |
The Charleston News and Courier in
dorses. 1t recognizes the principle of |
representation. We can not all go to
Washington to enact laws for the gov
eminent. but we can choose delegates |
to represent us. And experience has |
shown this plan to be the most ex-
pedient.
Yet according to our contemporary. |
what is the height Of wisdom in poll
tics Ia the height of folly in religion !
Strange logic for this champion of |
democratic institutions.
With respect to the parallelism |
which the editor draws between Chris /
tianity and Mormonism 1t Is hardly |
worth While to speak
Some allegations laugh themselves
out Of court.
But what he says Of the cost per
capita for converting the heather |
world may be given q Thought in pass
ing.
He quotes The Washington Post as |
authority for the statement that Ii /
costs on an average Of $4,000 to con-
vert a heather.
Yet the founder of our faith in the
marvellous discourse which he deliver
ed besides the mystic sea valued soul
still higher.
He weighed 1t in the scales or a |
world and put it beyond the price OF
o planet
The Great Teacher said. 'Go We into |
all the world" The Charleston News