The Washington times., 1913-07-26

The Christian world stands amazed
these days at the tremendous growth OF
missions In the various foreign mission
fields. and at the wonderful spread OF
Christian missions In our own country.
Students Of world events have made the
progress shown matter for careful
study. The question has been asked.
What is the most potent factor. the
underlying reason. for the Increased In
zrest IN missions. and for the actual
spread Of missionary work. and the un-
usually large results Of recent months
Various reasons may be assigned a. In
part contributing to this saiufary con-
dition of affairs: The changed political
conditions In some foreign lands (espe-
cially In China): an unrest. born Of dis
satisfaction with existing political con-
ditions Especially In China and Korea);
an awakened sense OF the insufficiency
and general fallibiiity Of pagan religions
and cults: national despair. the result
OF centufies of nlisrHie and heather
superstition. etc. etc. Without doubt All
OF these may be properly considered a.
potent factors In the increased mfs-
sfonary results of the past decade. and
especially the last few months. But the
underlying and fundamental reason un-
In mission helds may be given a. ex-
pressed In our topic for this week.
namely, education along missionary
lines.
The church has realized that Il must
educate the Christian people, first. 70
know the needs Of mission 1eids, ana
the, opportunities for Christian service;
secondly, to realize q personal respon-
sibility for the salvation Of souls at
home and abroad; and. third. TO come
to q determination TO render . continu-
ous service to missions. Looking to-
ward these results. the church mission
boards have waged an unceasing cam
paign. Tons Of literature have been
Distributed broadcast among Christian
people: missionary representatives have
gone over the country. occupying lecture
platforms and pulpits IN an endeayor to
spread the missionary propaganda; spe-
ctal mission days have been set aside
for general church observance by the
mission boards; and in every possible
way, the church has striyen during ~
cent years TO interest and educate its
members along the lines above suegest-
ed, that these members may know the
needs that exist. may feel O response
btlity for saving the unsaved In every
cline, and may consecrate their time
elements. to the f,irtherance Of the sos-
pei throughout the world.
All this. missionary campaigning has
had its effect. As o result Of Il. the
church Of today ID keenly alive 10 f0
sibility In the mission fields at home and
abroad as never before.
Perhaps one OF the most powerful
ways Of arousing Missionary interest
in q church or Christian Epdeavor so-1
ciety. is through the mission study class.
tanned throughout the country last VIM
ter, and their Organization VIII con-
tinue. As supplementary reading in
these mission courses, the members OF
the classes read the lives OF the great
and learn to know at irst
hand the wonderful results achieved by
such men as Livingstone, OF Africa;
Mackay, Of Uganda; Patton. of the New
Hebrides; -Judson, Martyr. Morrison,
and all the rest Of the old heroes OF the
cross.
But this education along missionary
lines has not been confined 70 the Chris
tian forces IT has formed large part
OF the actual missionary work In heath
en- lands. The natives eagerly read the
tracts and the gospels given them by
to attend classes taught by the ennis
saries Of Christ. Through teaching and
and the distribution OF liter
ature the missionary educates the
heathen heart and fills Il with knowi-
Of salvation. Once the learner has the
facts in his possession concerning the
religion Of the white man. his conyer-
sion and future Christian service are
weli-nigh assured.
Irdeed. the beginning Of the saliva
ion Of many of the strongest converts
N our mission fields may often be at !
.ributed to q course in one Of the mis- ]
sion schools This course consists IN I
part of education along secular. educa-
.ional and manual lines, but the wise |
arin o. Av,A n1
oortunity to SOW in the hearts Of the |
seekers after knowledge the seeds that, |
;pringing up in fertile and responsive |
,oil. lead to glorious harvests for the
Master.
1t has been matter of comment and