Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-18

fects in a greater or less degree the
whole earth.
"The hope and desire work of the
Laymen's Missionary movement is to
bring Christian men face to face with
the facts relating to the missionary en-
terprise in its broadest as well as in
its mos essential aspect, confident
that when they are confronted with
the truth they will respond with the
Ike intelligence and sympathy evinced
in their response to o-her changed
phases of business and social rela-
tionship.
While the temper of the church is
changing toward the missionary enter
prise, an equal if not greater change
is coming over public opinion general
ly. This is evinced through the men,
through public meetings, through so
cial and economic expressions, and
through political channels. The church
must take its leading place at the head
of the marching column for the Chris
tian conquest of the world
MEANING OF MOVEMENT.
The Significance of the Present
Missionary Awakening" was the topic
Of the forceful address delivered Sum-
day afternoon at the First Methodist
church by J. Campbell White. 1.-TWO
things stand out conspicuously on the
surface of world currents" said the
speaker, and they are the awakening
Of dormant and backward races and
nations to a self-consciousness and
spirit of inquiry and independence, and
the quickening Of the church of Christ
TO new sense Of its world-relation-
ship and responsibilities.
The impact of western nations upon
the orient has broken its exclusiveness.
The victory Of Japan over Russia has
helped to arouse China to a new sense
of its national weakness and the neces-
sity of modern methods of education
as well as defense and of war.
Throughout the non-Christian world
both commerce and missions have been
exercising their influence. Means of
REORGANIZATION have been multi
piled and improved. Christian truth
has penetrated all sections of the
world. inspiring leaders everywhere
with new ideas of liberty and democ-
racy, as well as setting up entirely new
moral standards and filing the hearts
OF people with new spiritual hopes.
While this process has been going on
among the nations, the Christian
church itself has been undergoing a
marked change.
THE idea has steadily gained ground
that the church of our day should I'M
/ dertake to propagate Christianity in
every part of the world. Men in large
numbers have come to see that Chris
1 tan missions are the chief factor in
creating a better and more sanitary
world. Missions are seen also TO have
powerful influence on international
political relations and on the promo
ton of world peace.
''As the churches have been grow
ing more missionary in their spirit anG
outlook, they have been greatly quick
ened in their own life and activity
The church is now emerging into the
conviction that Christianity is essen
TALLY missionary and the most strik
ing result Of this quickening in the
church has been the effect upon lay
men.
RESULTS ARE APPARENT.
six years ago the Laymen's Mis-
sionary movement was organized as ;
concrete expression of this growing in
terest. About 100 laymen have gon'
at their own expense to visit differen
mission fields during the past ST,
years. Tens of thousands of men hav,
been appointed as members Of mis-
sionary committees in individual
churches. Hundreds of thousands o
men have attended conventions hell
by the Laymen's Missionary move
d. ment. AS a result of this considers
ton of the missionary questions, Their
has naturally been a marked increas
in the amount of missionary contribu
, tons. This increase has been some
thing over so per cent for the Unite
States and Canada during the past ST
, years.