The Washington times., 1913-03-29

In these days of great missionary zeal
and activity and Accomplishment. when
the church at large and all her various
organizations seem so thoroughly alive
to the need for Christian missions botil
at home and abroad, We are interested
in analysing the reasons underlying
this great Interest in missions ana III
tracing the development of missionary
thought in our own land in particular
We. may. recall the difficulties Of the
mission boards and of the clergy IN
awakening the people Of the churches
a decade ago to the call from MACE
donia," or indeed to the need or the
un-churched and un-Christianized al
home for knowledge Of the way and
the truth. And then our minds turn
upon the present-day interest in mis-
sion fields and missionary enterprises
and we seek for an explanation OF this
welcome change in the thought of God 6
favored ones of our churches. Nor, we
may reflect, is this awakened sentiment
to be found only in women's missionary
societies (all honor to those splendid
pioneers at home) or in children's or
ganizations. but the cause Of home and
foreign missions has come very close
to the hearts Of the men in these latter
days, and we see the great laymen's 8
missionary movement, and later the
men and religion forward movement,
with its certain missionary results.
sweeping across the continent, and en-
bracing thousands upon thousands of
the men of the church In their enthusi-
asm and practical achievements. What
can be the underlying reason for this
tremendous and welcome change in the
sentiment of not only the women, whom
we have always expected to be interest
ed In everything that is good. but even
Of the men? Has there been a series or
succession Of causess or a single rea-
son? VIII the cause or causes continue
into the future, and II so. for how long?
Or shall we expect an, early reversion
to the old-time torpor and lethargy OF
the people of the church with respect
to missions and their furthcrance?
In the first place, as a possible rea-
son, We might suggest the weIl-known
tendency Of people to favor and become
actively interested in q going concern, 4"
or. in other words, the habit most
people have Of climbing onto the band
wagon" once they see in which direc-
ton the band wagon is, going. Perhaps
that has been true in measure with
respect to the growth Of missionary SEN
timsn1 First the Mrs. AS and the
Little BIS, and a few Mr.. C's were in
terested in the cause of missions,
whereupon the DIS found the subject
worthy Of consideration, and they were
followed by the Els and Frs, and SO on
far down the alphabet. or course We
must acknowledge that this interest has
not yet touched the entire alphabet,
representing all the people, but the
missionary band wagon is moving on
at rapid pace and organizations and
individuals are deciding to ride In the
popular and commodfous carry all.
Doubtless the more thorough organ
ization Of the great central church mis-
sionary boards. and of the local church
missionary boards. has also been fac
tor In the spread Of missionary interest
among the people The ~ stenatizing of
missionary activity, the reduction of the
entire matter in our central boards to a
business-like basis, not forgetting, Of
course, the underlying religious aspect
Of the work. has had its strong effect
upon missionary thought and upon
monetary contributions.
Still another reason for advanced in
terest in missions may be found in the
interdenominational efforts at world
evangelization. The oncoming genera
ton has not a great deal of patience