Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-29

quers for himself The matter of gravest
importance is to be directed right in
the beginning.
1.-THE business Of education" said Locke,
sis not to perfect learner in all or any
of the sciences, but to give his mind that
freedom, that disposition and those hab-
it's that may enable him to obtain any
part Of knowledge he shall apply himself
to. or stand in need Of. in the future
course of his life"
The great aim of secular education in
all the mission fields at home and abroad
should be to open the way for religious
instruction.
Ignorance must first be overcome Before
superstition and heathenism can be sup
planted: but spiritual ignorance must be
taken into account as well as the lack
OF secular knowledge The supreme OBJ
ject in the education Of the mind should
be to open the way for divine truth to
enter.
Eastern lands are all opening to west
ern education. Will this learning be car
ried by infidel or Christian teachers?
The Christian world should awake to
the tremendous responsibility involved in
this question. Education in China, Japan,
India. Africa and all the mission fields
is In the near future to be developed by
their educated natives. 1t is OF infinite
should receive their education through
Christian teachers instead OF through
those unfavorable or Indifferent to
Christianity.
is now one of the imperative calls to the
church. If it is not promptly answered
the great opportunity will be lost
The inestimable value of mission schools
Is not debatable question. There is
overwhelming evidence that such schools
have already produced g. profound effect
upon the mind of the oriental countries.
Even among the lowest classes in India,
the pariahs or outcasts, these schools
have developed marked moral improve
ment: and In China they have broadened
the minds and enlarged the lives of thou
sands of people.
In the remarkable achievements of Duff
and Mrs. Caldwell in their labors in India
and OF Verbeck in Japan, there is abun-
dant attestation of the value of mission
schools.
We are told that when Mrs. Caldwell
began her girls school in south India the
people exclaimed, From the beginning of
the world it has never been known that
a woman could read"
The mission schools in heather lands
have accomplished more for the elevation
Of women than any other agency. In this
alone they merit the highest commenda-
ton and generous support of mankind.
Women Of the church should give their
best efforts to this work at home and
abroad.
There is wide field for service in the
school for the little children
of the immigrant. The church kinder
garten has a great opportunity with the
little ones of our land born Of foreign
born, foreign-speaking parents. These
little brothers and sisters are not only
helped. but through them the parents and
older children are reached These schools
are very important factor in character
building for the duties and privileges of
good citizenship.
Mission schools are important at home
as well as abroad.
The stranger is in our midst and we
in the fourth commandment we are
taught that the stranger within our
gates is to be under our caro- and inhu-
ence.
The obligations of host as we'll as those
Of brotherhood rest upon US. We cannot be
ignorant of the fact that the stranger in
our midst needs help. In his ignorance
Of our language, laws and customs he
is not only helpless, but often hopeless.
In his distress our help is sacred duty.
We dare not leave him in ignorance and
have him become a menace to our inst-
tutions.
Our failure to succor and instruct him
is not only injurious to him, but insures
the lowering Of the standard Of our citi-
zenship.
But our highest motive for helping
the immigrant should not be for fear
of our nations welfare. Love should be
the motive The Christian teacher does
his work because the love Of Christ con-
straineth him.
The great. Teacher did not show disgust
or condescending pity. but generous SYM
pathy and love for those to whom He