Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-19

LII. y. WAS The
first speaker on the theme Winning
America for Christ" In his address
DR.. Aitchison delt with the problems
rising from the influx Of foreign peo-
pie by migration, pointing out the
great duty that is before the church of
making Christian Americans Of these
new citizens, who are coming by the
million to our shores every year. The
church and the public schools, &C
cording to DR.. Aitchison, are the
points OF contact wherein these ele-
ments are to be fused and melted in
the great fabric OF American citizen
ship. And the church has a RESPONSE
bility not only for the salvation Of
men across the seas. but for the very
safety Of the republic, and must see
to the Outstanding of these multi
tudes who are being attracted to our
land.
ADDRESS BY HALFORD.
After DR.. Aitchison had spoken, the
Dominee quartet made up of four of
the school teachers Of the city, render
ed. a very acceptable number. Col.
=. W. Halford was the next speaker.
lie presented the theme, Americas
Unique Opportunity in the Orient" AS
military man, Col Halford naturally
referred 70 the opening of the east
ern lands as II has been effected by
our navy IN years past. The opening
OF Japan through the visit OF Commo-
dore Farragut and the victory Of Ad-
rhiral Dewey In Manila bay were point
ed out as means leading to the OPEN
ing OF the way for western civilization
in the eastern lands. However. Col.
Halford dated the present awakening
in China, which has resulted in an es-
Enlistment of a republic, not from
any military achievement, but from
the beginning of missionary work in
that land by Robert Morrison more
than 100 years ago. At the present
. time Christian America is facing the
greatest opportunity in history for es-
tablishing Christian civilization with
all of its advantages in the lands of
the far east. This opportunity will
not be long open and must be seized
quickly, or it will be lost. Col. Hal
ford believes that America has been
brought to its wonderful wealth and
development as a providential means
Tor meeting this great opportunity.
FINE TALK BY MIR. WHITE.
J. Campbell White gave the closing
address of the evening, and notwith-
standing the lateness of the hour, held
the attention of his audience to the
close The high standard indicated in
the subject The World for Christ in
This Generation" was shown by Mr..
White TO be reasonable and attain
able. The responsibility Of the Chris
tlan world today. is not for past gen.
erations, nor for the ages to come, so
much as for the men and women who
live today. In order to meet the need
that is now pressing upon missionary
agencies and for America to do her
Approximate share in this work. Of
eVangelization, it is necessary that
gifts OF money and of men for mis-
slonary work shall be practically
quadrupled, and that within a yerv
Few years the whole work of the Lay
mems Missionary Movement is to
spread information and to educate the
men Of the churches so that being fuI-
ly informed they may be ready to re-
spond with their money and with their
lives that this great object NAV be
achieved, and that the church NAV
thus prove true to her trust.
DISCUSSION IS HELD.
Following the formal address Mr..
White conducted an open discussion
calling upon the men present for ex-
pressions Of opinion and of resolutions
with regard TO what he had presented
ana many men responded with state
ments OF their conviction that the goal
Is set none too high, and that the work
can be done, and that they themselves
VIII go back to their individual
churches to help inaugurate CAM
paigns TO this end. In the course of
Mr.. Whites remarks reference was
made 70 the work OF DR.. Graham Lee
ana Robert McMurtrie Of Pyeng Pyang.
Korea. Great enthusiasm was eyok-
ed by reference to the work being
done by these missionaries sent ont
from Rock Island Rev. w. Marouis
pronounced the benediction and the
great assemblage separated at a late
hour.
BIG CROWDS YESTERDAY.
Yesterdays sessions Of the conven-
ton were held according to schedule
The morning session was devoted to
conference of pastors with address
es by DIR. Aitchison and Mr.. White
concerning methods Of work in the
line Of increasing interest and SUD-
port for missions. In the afternoon a