The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1910-07-28

m1SSloH WOTk III CnaC country, In
which he discussed very fully the
educational question, in it's relation
to the propagation of the Gospel If
I remember correctly, he showed con-
clusively that the idea of education,
with view of more fully preaching
the pure Gospel in Italy, was being
overdone; especially by some evan
gelical denominations, doing mission
work there. One has only to study
modern mission literature and give
due consideration to such incidents
as above related, to be convinced that
there is serious danger of mission
boards, among us, and among other
denominations, of giving too much
time and money to the plan of edu-
cation, or mental development, among
the heather, pagan Or papal portion
of the world, as preparation for the
Gospel of Christ. This, I am sure, is
not written with any intention of df-
rect or indirect criticism of our For
eign Mission Board. There is quite
a level-headed man at the head of
it, and [ am glad to know that our
Board and people are quite conserva-
tive, and even cautious on the ques-
ton of educating the heather; but
still, there can be no harm in our
looking at this matter very closely,
and studying it, in the light of actual
experience.
Ii poor ignorant woman from the
interior of China can grasp the CEN
trial saving truths of the Gospel of
Christ, so that she felt it met the pa
thetic longing of her life for years,
why may not this be true among 9TH
er nations or people? If even the
unlettered African finds that Gospel
meets felt want i'm his spiritual or
ganization, why can it not meet the
same among any people, in comfort
ing and saving power? It can, and
it will.
After all, our Boards find consid-
cradle difficulty in raising the funds
necessary to do Foreign Mission
work. 1t might be we'll for us all to
ask this question, Would not contri-
buttons be more liberal and come
more cheerfully, if it were known
that they were used almost exclusive
ly in the distinct work of preaching
the Gospel (glad news) to those who
need it, without any preliminary or
expensive work of preparation. No
uOuuC our ndfQ-WOrK0Q secretaries,
at times, sigh for relief from the bur-
dens that the educational plan i'm
press upon them. There is much
toll, trial, expense, and WEAKNESS Of
the flesh and spirit connected with it,
After all, as now held and practiced
by some, is the educational plan
worth while? This scribe, though a
strong friend of education, must con-
fess that he has grave doubts about
the wisdom of stressing the plan,
as applied to mission work I have
an idea that Satan is we'll pleased to
see the advocates of the Cross ar
resting those who are in heather
darkness, in their downward march
to perdition, i'm attempts to devolp
the mind. The average Greek or Ro-
man had a well7developed mind, but
was often paragon Of wickedness
And then by not stressing the edu-
cational idea too much, our mission
aries avoid the worry they often
have with those who wish to "work
them for all that is i'm them,' with a
view of material advantage. How
often have they, and our people gen.
orally, been deceived by Oriental or
Occidental cunning on the part of
those who seemed to follow Christ.
The Gospel, the Gospel, is what the
heather and pagan world needs Tt