Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-17
ROOSEVELT SENDS LETTER TO
WORLD MISSIONARY CONFERENCE
He Expresses Regret at His Inability to Be Present and
Declares the Conference Represents the Practical Effort
to Apply the Teachings of the Gospel to Common Sal
yation'-Hs Communication Aroused Much Enthusiasm

to prevent us from laying too muc1
stress on these differences of doctrine. II
is written IN the Scriptures that He
that doeth My will shall know OF the
doctrine;' but the reverse of this propo-
sition can be found in holy writ. Empha-
sis is to be put upon doing the will
If only we make up our minds to work
together with earnest sincerity for the
common good. we shall find that doc
trinal difference in no way chief with
our doing this work.
Wishing you all success I am,
Very sincerely yours
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
CHURCH IN MISSION FIELD.
The Rev. DR.. ]. Campbell Gibson, Of the
English Presbyterian church, the chair
man, presented the report of the commits
sion on The Church in the Mission
Field"
TT is perhaps one of the most encour-
aging signs" says the report, both OF
the progress of mission work itself and
of the advance which has been made in
the thought of the church at home in re-
gard to IL that The Church In the Mis-
sion Field now occupies so prominent a
position in the discussion of mission
questions and methods. 1t is easy to re-
call the time when the work of foreign
missions was commonly regarded by
Christian people as the sending OF a
small, forlorn hope into the midst of
great masses of darkness and supersti-
ton, from which very little could be
looked for in return. The missionaries
work was conceived TO be continual
struggle with heathenism, and at the best
the converts gained were thought of as
little groups OF unimportant people,
whose conversion was gratifying for the
sake OF the individuals gained. but who
had no important share in the missionary
enterprise as a whole.
Now, happily, the church at home sees
further into the true state of the matter,
and the most important general conclu-
sion which we can draw from the replies
made to our inquiries in all parts of the
world is that thenceforth this view must
be entirely abandoned. We have now To
think OF the church in the mission field
not as a by-product of MISSION work, but
as itself far the most efficient element
in the Christian propaganda. The words
Of Christian people, spoken to their own
countrymen in all lands, are the most
efficient as we'll as the most extensive
preaching of the gospel and their lives
are everywhere the most conspicuous
and conclusive evidence Of it's truth.
I'm many of the greater mission fields
the Christian people are now recognized
as a Definite community whose social
life and ideals. as we'll as their personal
faith and character, are already becom-
ing a powerful element in the reshapins
of national life. They are everywhere
subjected to a watchful scrutiny on the
part of the non-Christian communities
and there seems to be general acknowl-
edgement that the life thus jealousy
watched affords real vindication of the
spiritual power OF the religion which
they profess.
I'm short, the church on which we re-
port presents itself no longer as an In
spring but distant ideal. nor even as a
tender plant or a young child, appeal
ing to our compassion and nurturing care
We see it now an actual church in being
strongly rooted, and fruitful in many
lands. The child has, in many places
reached, and in others II is fast reaching
maturity; and is now both fitted and will
ing, perhaps in a few cases too eager,
to take upon itself it's full burden of re-
sponsibility and service"