The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-24
DEFENDS FOREIGN MISSIONS Rev. A. R. Moore Answers Wat
 sons Attack 0BEYING GODS COMMAND Thinks MT. Watson May Be an Able Politician But That He Is Not Capable Judge In Religious
 Matters.
0BEYING GODS COMMAND

The Rev A. R. Moore, pastor of the Flrst Christian church, yesterday made reply to the recent attack on foreign mis- sion work by Thomas E. Watson. in his Jenersonian magazine. His reply took the place of the regular Sunday morning sermon. He said in part:
 MT. T. B. Watson is great politician. having had great deal Of experience in that field, and doubtless knows more about politics than religion. He said in his attack, The man of Macedonia is having the time of his life.' My brethren, he Is mistaken, for the man of Mace donfa' referred to was a woman. In PauPs vision was man calling to come over to Macedonia and preach the gospel but this was in vision and the first one to hear and receive his message was a woman. MT. Watson drew part of his conclusions from the November Mission ary Tidings,' claiming that in foreign missionary schools secular Nlessons are taught. Friends. this is true only in part for in all their schools the Bible and re- lig1on are taught His speech should be modified, for had he taken better views of the subject he would have said that the cry is being needed, in small meas ure only.
 MT. Watson further attacks the board on the ground that 1t is not evangelizinr enough. He claims that too much is being spent for hospitals for the treat ment of the sick and the care of orphans and widows. My friends, if this is not evangelistic it is Christian and obeyins the commandment of the scriptures. If the missionaries are doing this they are doing that of which the Bible approves. Seeing this. his criticisms fall to the ground Tn his attack MT. Watson for gets that the Lord took 1900 years to raise the people to the worship of one true and only God He scattered the Jews abroad over all the world to prepare the way for gospel missionaries after Him. For 1Ooo years the Lord was raising the Creeks to prepare universal language, so that when Paul went out preaching Gods word his sermons would be understood For 75o years he was raising the Romans to bring universal law to the civilized world. In these periods of time prepara- tions were being made for the mission aries. In India and Japan the people had no such preparation, and they knew nothing concerning the one God. In China all parts look to the Emperor, but they have no universal language. It took the first missionary 30 years to learn the language and get ready to preach. The women, in their various departments of work. are doing evangelistic work in its broadest sense. He errs, knowing neither the Bible nor the missionary neids. The commission was a command to teach. The great work of the church Is teaching in Bible school, in the field. in the pulpit precept upon precept. Evan gelism is by teaching
 Tn India 1t Is impossible to get the people in audience. The missionaries 20 from door to door and then the doors are often closed. How then. are we to get to Indiaf By teaching the orphans There is our hope; among the widows, the sick the afflicted and unfortunate classes of India. There are castes in India com posed of certain religious beliefs and it is impossible to get from one caste to another. It is the outcast of these or the neglected whom we can reach and by so doing by two generations we will have a Christian and not a Hindu In- dia.
 MT. Watson also fails to see that modern missions require specialization Life insurance In the United States Is a profession and speciality. The degrees of or1rc o$ missions a speciality. It has been studied for 100 years and these students are spe- cialiy trained missionaries. He also at- tackled the salaries of missionaries. My friends, if the money don't go to mis- sionaries, to whom should 1t go? Do we not raise money for these people. To be sure we do and 1t should be spent for them and by them Statistics show that 9S 1-4 per cent of our money gosu to the missionary field. while l-s per cent is spent in paying for offices and like expenses of the missionary society. Can any business be carried on at Ia per cent? All this is proof that the church is doing what 1t was eop' >a- <d. thank God for the attenio- lhe world to this glorious work of the women If there arc errors let's correct them; if mistakes. overlook them. I1st tho good work go on Let us not arrive ct MT. watson's conciusicn that all thu bosh should be abolished.' but let tho church on on. Let the command of Christ be obeyed- Let the kingdom of Christ spread in the world and ell people will do the will of God on earth as it is in Heaven"
 
 Nouro kllls Son.