Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-17
Decisive Hour for Missions
Has Come, Says John R.
Mott in Report to Congress

EDINBURG, Scotland. June 15.-All
Protestant Christendom are repre-
scented at the Worlds Missionary con-
gress. which began its sessions IN
this city yesterday and continue until
June "a. Delegates to the number Of
1900 hailing from every section of the
globe where the Protestant religion
fiourishes are present, including the most
prominent religious. workers in the weld.
CARRYING THE GOSPEL.
A warning TO the Christian churches
OF the world that a decisive hour for
missions had come was given in the
report OF the commission on carrying
the Gospel to all the non-Christian
world, presented today. The commits
sion says that opportunities which
have been neglected in the past are the
reproach of the church. The church
in Christian lands, says the report,
needs energizing that it may carry on
the work. The commission urged that
an international committee be formed
and that a great movement to carry
Christianity into every region with In
creased force be undertaken.
The report was presented by John Il.
Mott, OF New York. chairman OF the
commission. 1t expresses the convic-
ton that the present is the time OF all
times for the church to undertake
with quickened loyalty and sufficient
forces to make Christ known to all the
non-Christian world"
1T is an opportune time" says the
commission. Never before has the whole
world-feld been so open and so access
ible Never before has the Christian
church faced such combination of OPP
portunities among both primitive and
cultured peoples.
1T is a testing time for the church.
II IL neglects to meet successfully the
present world crisis by failing to dis
charge its responsibility TO the whole
world, il will weaken it's power both on
the home and foreign fields and serious
" handicap its mission to the coming
generation. ~ Nothing less than the ade-
quacy OF Christianity as a world religion
is on trial.
'sThe utter inadequacy Of the present
missionary force to discharge effectively
IN. duty OF worldwide evangeliZation is
eti6ent. There should be nothing less
than a vast enlargement in the number
Of qualified workers, thorough ana
courageous adaptation of means ana
methods to meet the situation a wise
unifioatiou in plans and forces, ana
vhole-hearted fulfilling of the conditions
of spiritual power"
OFFICERS OF CONFERENCE.
The officers Of the present conference
are:
President-The Right Hon. Lord
BaIfour, of Burleigh. X. T.
Vice Presidents-The Right Hon. Lord
Reay, G. c. S. l.; the Right Hon SIR
John Kennaway. Bart, c. B., Nj. r; SIT
Andrew II. L. Fraser, X c. s. l., LID
The United States has over 1000 rep
rasentatives present, and more than half
~ the number are official delegateS
Tbeodore Roosevelt was expected to be
present. but he was compelled to cancel
the engagement and is now on his way
70 America Among the prominent
Americans who are in the city and VIII
attend the convention are:
William Jennings Bryan, John r.
Mott. secretary OF the World Christian
federation; Samuel B. Capen, president
Of the American board of commissioners
for foreign missions; Rev. I. S. Bar
bour, foreign secretary OF the Baptist
missions of America; and the Rev. DR..
James NJ. Buckley, president OF the
Methodist foreign board.
"A
planned a trip TO Oberammergau to wit
ness the Passion Play at the close Of the
convention.
The main work Of the convention will
consist in the discussion of reports to
be submitted by eight commissions, con-
sisting Of 20 persons each, who have
been investigating the various phases
of missionary work. Their reports have
been compiled in book form and will be
circulated among the delegates.
The work OF the eight missions may
be briefly outlined as follows:
l. On carrying the gospel to all the
world The number and distribution Of
missionary forces, both foreign and ma
tive; the number of churches, stations,
Sunday schools and other agencies; the
circulation Of the Bible and other liter
allure. including a knowledge of the I'M
occupied fields.
2 On the Native Church and Its
Workers. The line OF inquiry in this
case will bring out the present situation
in reference to self-support. the various
hindrances 10 the development Of the
native church and how these may be
removed.
3. On education in reference to the
Contamination Of national life. The
urgent educational demands of China
and many other countries constitute in
themselves sufficient occasion for calling
world conference.
4. On the missionary message in rela-
I ton TO non-Christian religions. The aim
here has been to translate the gospel
into forms Of thought familiar to the va