The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-06-18
United Free Church College at Aber-

United Free Church College at ADer
deen.
Dr. Cairns, VINO is one of the young
er men of Scotland who have devoted
much of their lives to the study of
missionary questions, laid special
stress upon the need for thorough
and sympathetic knowledge of tie
non-Christian religions by those who
labor among their adherents. In tho
course OF his report he said:
THE thing which is necessary Is
that before man goes OFT to the field
hs can and he should learn a stand
POINT and a method and such a knowl-
edge Of the inner nature of the relig-
ion as will keep him at the outset from
cama!itous mist axes. Adequate train
ing in tie home colleges will greatly
facilitate the acquisition of that deep
er knowledge which may form the ba-
sis on which the other kind of kEowl-
edge may he reared.
The conclusion is surely inevitabie
that provision should be made fo'
thorough teaching in Comparative
l;eliPion IN all our colleges and train
ing institutes. new instrument OF
spiritual culture and propagS d has;
l.een put into the hands of the Churc \
by the progress of this science. and IL
is. surely a plain duty to use it. Gen
cfal training then in Comparative
Religion should be provided in all col
legos. Lectrreships on special relig-
ions shcIld also be instituted bv en-
dowTment and by Cooperation and
missionary specialists slould be en-
.rfe 20, rhsa
tiOn has been made. and it seems we'll
worthy OF consideration by the Con
ference, that provision should b.
nade. and it seems well worthy OF
consideration by the Conference. that
provision should be made in our col
leges for the training of missionaries
iE the art of teaching. The ordinary
training in homifetics seems hardly
sufficient for the peculiar conditions
under which the missionary must la
Dor. The teaching function is differ
ent from that of moving an audience
which mas already been instructed ia
tie elements of Christian truth.
"A further Incidental result MAJ
well be that a larger number of onr
students may be expected to volun
tcer for foreign work wneE the sub
Ject. is thus brought before them thru
the medium of Comparative Religion.
"The absolute religion can ouly be
tully understood in :he hght of the
imperfect religions, IL religion is a
practical matter at all. and taeologv
other than a mere abstract science.
we submit further that there is ur-
sent need for special work in the for
eicn field on the lires which have
! ,.en Indicated i'm our inquiry. The
living forces of the non-Christian re
iision in each field ought TO be meas
ured and set in clear relation to tn,
living forces OF the Christian Gospel
and the points of contact and contrast
brought out in clear relief. When 4
missionary shows special aptitude fo-
this kind of work, ne should be set
apart TO do it.
I'VE ;Irtaer suggest that mission
Cry conferences sucl as that with
which have here beer opened up. AMI
should thereby call into service the
great majority of missionaries wh1
Lave no time for the specialist wort
which we have indicated above. bui
wlo are qualified for it. alike by an
titude and the education of c,rcusp
stances. Ry snch recurring surveys
of the fed, results of great value mar
lie. reached by the accumulation ofIim
IoTtant facts and the checking and
testing of results. Such periodic and
systematic inquiry would, we believe
in time yield abounding fruit for ever
department of theological study as
well as most valuable instruction an!
suggestion for those who contemplate
work in the foreign. We should sIg-
gest in particular that in the interests
of Christian theology and apologetics
the inquiryswhich we have endeavored
to make in these pages should be fur
tier prosecuted. Comparative Relig
ion is being used by many today IN 4
negative interest with the view OF
proving that Christianity is only one
among other religions. We are per
suadcd that its results lead to precise
ly opposite conclusions, and that
rightly used they viii fling abound
ing light on the undeveloped elements
in the Christian religion.
IF the correspondence which VIC
have received from the FIVE greal
fields could be made accessible to stu
Dents in the fulIness of its detail. it,
color, and vitality. we believe that its
value would be universally recogniz
ed"