The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-27

Prayer Meeting Topic For the Wes
Beginning Aug. 28, 1910.

Topic.-The progress OF Christ's king
dom this year In Asia.-Matt. xiii. 3l-33.
Edited oy Pew. Sherman II. Doyle. u. y.
The two PARALLELS Of Christ before
us are most appropriate to the subject
Of the advancement Of the gospel in
Asia In rhe past year. In these para
bles the kingdom of heaven is likened
to the smallest Of seeds. the mustard
seed, which gradually grew until 1t
became a great and useful tree. In the
second paraAle the kingdom is likened
unto IL lump of Ieaven. which. put into
three measures Of meal IA little more
than pint. leavened the entire lump.
This has been the history of the gospel
in Asia from the earliest times. 1t be-
gan In the day Of small things and has
spread abroad throughout the entire
great continent.
The earliest ages Of Christianity were
spent il Asia. Christ was born there,
and from Antioch. in Syria. His king
dom spread to the gcntiles beyond Asia.
Christ himself was never outside the
continent Of Asia. He was born In
Bethlehem of Judea. lived the most Of
His life Of thirty-three years in Pales-
tine. a part Of Asia. and only once, &C.
cording to the record. was He beyond
the borders Of Palestine. This was
the occasion Of His visit to Tyre and
Sidon. Asiatic strips of land bordering
on the Great, or Mediterranean. sea.
The apostles work was also in the
same land. John was at Ephesus.
Philip carried the gospel to Arabia and
is also supposed to have gone as far
east as India.
In the modern great efforts to evan
gelize the world Asia has been the
scene Of great efforts. From earliest
times many Christians remained. some
attached to the Greek church and thou
sands Of Armenians. who are now con.
stantly attacked and slaughtered by
the Mohammedans. especially the
Kurds, a very low and fanatical class
Of Turks. Where once pure and unde-
filed Christian religion prevailed at the
present time there Is much opposition
by the Turks. who feel bitter hatred
against Christianity. although tic prin-
ciples Of the Turks are based upon
and largely received from the Old Tes-
lament teachings.
To attempt even n brief review OF
one years work in Asia is impossible.
The only thing that can possibly be
done is to report progress" In China
Japan. India and even in Korea. witt
its political troubles. and especially in
Persia and Turkey. great progress is
being made. Direct Christian work is
successfully being prosecuted The
principles of Christian nations are be-
ing introduced. Persia has constitu-
tional government as well as Turkey.
where victory has been won by the
Young Turks. China has introduced
the English language into the publ.
schools. and the young Chinese under
the name Of ''Nationalists' are de-
handing constitutional government.
Russia. darker than Africa in many
senses. has its duma. which is con-
stantly gaining in power. Christian
colleges are advancing. Revivals are
leading to thousands Of conversions.
Medical missions are performing a
great work everywhere. Native work
erx are increasing in large numbers.
which is Of tremendous Importance.
Literature is being scattered every
where and deeply studied. The day
dawns; the darkness disappears. Soon
the land in which the Christ Child was
born and the angels heralded His COM
ing will once more be flooded with the
Eight Of the day" Let US give. labor
and pray that these results may soon
be accomplished.
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa. XIV: Iii. II: Nah. 1. Is: Acts
xvi. 9-14, 1924; xvii. 1912. 22-32: xix.
II; TX, 1875; Rom x, II. Is; Cor. Ii.
Is.