El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-23

sacred literature, political science, ethics,
history of religion, philosophy and orr
entail religion.
The supreme value OF the work of the
Young Mems Christian association and
the Young WOman's Christian associa-
ton in the conduct of mission study
classes is highly emphasized
I'm America" says the report, ~an ex-
haustive Investigation was made among
128 theological training institutions.
The inquiries related to Mission Study
Courses in the Curriculum Mission Lee
ture Courses Cost of Missionary In
structiOn, Voluntary Mission Study
Missionary Literature
No Mission Study
Replies were received from lis in
stitutions, and the information afforded
is summarized as follows:
Thirty eight institutions, OF 80 per-
cent of the whole number, reported that
they did not include tne study of mis-
siOns in their curTicula, either in the
form of required or elective courses;
and furthermore, that they had no mis-
sion lecture course foundations, and pro-
vided no regular course OF mission lee
lures. Nine Of these reported no. pro-
vision of anv kind for missionary in
struction OF missionary study Nine re-
ported that the subject is treated Incl
dentally to the course in church history
or practical THEOLOGY. Eleven re0orted
occasional lectures or sermons. Two re-
ported reading courses under the su-
pervisiOn OF members of the faculty
Eleven reported voluntary mission study
courses, conducted by students or pro-
fessors.
While it may occasion regret OF sur
prise to learn that no provision for sys-
tematic mission study is made by one
third of the American theological seTnp-
naries, and while many OF the replies in
dicated indifference to the subject, yet,
on the other hand, IN many of these in
situations All ardent missionary enthu-
siasm is being maintained by the generm
spirit which pervades all the instruction,
BY the influence of occasional lectures,
and by the efforts of student organiza-
tions.
Mission Study.
''Fifty-eight institutions, or Just so
percent of the whole number, reported
that the study of missions forms an in
tegral part OF the required curriculum
In most cases, however, the required
courses are brief and often fragmen-
taTy."
The report declares that in all fields
the need of missionaries IS increasing.
when foreign missions were begun"
the commission says, the policy was at
once adopted. especially in the United
States, of bringing to that country peo-
pie from the lands to be evangelical for
the purpose Of training them TO return
as missionaries TO their own race In
practice this plan has proved 10 be a
failure 1t has been clearly demonstTat-
ed that this Is not an effective, wise and
economical wav to carry on missions.
There has been now and then a striking
exception to this general conclusion
standing out in isolated prominence
among multitude of failures
"The commission Is OF the opinion
that missionary societies should not APP
point natives of eastern countries as
missionaries to their own people, but
that they should use every means in
their power TO encourage all such, who
seem qualified, to return to their own
country as Christian leaders and work
ers in connection with the native church
and native institutions. This attitude
should be taken with the understanding
that salaries and support shall come
from the native church or community,
and not from the mission board, even
though for the immediate present some
financial aid may be given from mission
funds'