Norwich bulletin., 1912-01-22
DIR. JOSEPH SELDOM
TALKS ON MISSIONS
First of Meetings in Forward MeVe-
ment Under Auspices Of Missisns
Committee.

CommtItee.
Under the auspices Of the commit
tee on missions in the Men and Relig-
ion Forward movement, a congregation
Of over ZOE men at Trinity Methodist
Episcopal church on Sunday afternoon
heard Rev. DR.. Joseph H. Selden of
Greenwich in a practical and convin-
cling address upon the topic, Why l
Believe in Missions
Rev. G. Fl. Ewing of the First Con-
greg2 tional church, chairman of the
committee on missions, presided. Rev.
F. Q. Cunningham Of the First Bap-
fist church with his cornet assisted
the organ in the music for the hymns,
Rev. Dorsld B. MacLane of Taftville
Congregational church rendering two
excellent violin solos during the serv-
ice. The Scripture lesson was read
by Rev. ]. F. Cobb Of the Universal
list church and the prayer at the be-
ginning OF the service was by Rev H.
]. WyckOff of the Second Congrega-
tional church,
Rev. Nj. Ewing announced another
meeting for February /, when Rev
James NOreross. New England secre-
tary Of the Baptist Home Missionary
society would be the speaker, and
there would also be a meeting under
the auspices of this committee on
March 81.
Rev. Dr. SeIden was introduced by
Arehdeacon J. Etdred Brown, a mem
Der Of the committee on missions. In
taking " his subject, Rev. DR.. Sell
den mentioned that the weakest thing
about the church today seems to be
that it does not command the loyal
and enthusiastic support Of some good
men, for in every community there
are a large number allied to the church
but not Identified with it, giving their
money, but unwilling to give them
selves. There seems to be a shrewd
opinion in the mind of many that
to be in the church is to make bow
a duer, and the speaker felt that it
was one of the prime purposes of this
| movement to prove that that was not
so.
If any have the impression that any
amiable, well intentioned young per-
son can walk up and secure an ap-
pointIRent as a foreign missionary, he
is wide Of the mark The missionary
| service calls for men Of commanding
ability, strong, saga Cieus and men Of
affairs, rot Of the type who are mis-
| si0narieS because they cannot be any
| thing else. The missionary is an ad-
vance agent Of Christian civilization.
It's large job and we'll fulfilled
He took up the objection that it
costs So much to administer foreign
! missions which finds expression in
| the phrase. 1t costs dollar to send
| a dollar. A pretty phrase, he said,
| and easy to remember, but it isn't
| truR Il neither costs a dollar to send
| q dallac nor to raise a dollar, but it
| does cost more to raise the money
| than it ought to or will when men
| have an intelligent conception Of what
missions are. In comparison with 20
| per cent. administration cost shown by
| department stores, and 13 per cent.
| by corporations, the administrative
expenses of feEefgn missions are from
to s per cent.
| Rev pr. Selden declared emphati-
| eaIly tina: the converts in foreign
! lands were not ''rice" Christians. a
| fact that was amply attested by their
contributions, which put to shame the
most generous giVers in American
! Churches. These people in India are
| hungry, poor, but they give till it
hurts, supporting their own werk, and
| the ironey that we contribute goes for
| piatauea- IN saaax4AR th&t@Se &&Us the