The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-20
Possible Resources.

that in attempting to meet them we
may be led to practice an extreme
and unreasonable economy The fur
Their expansion of the enterprise, and
indeed its maintenance upon present
basis. depend upon the full-hearted
loyalty of our people. and this. in
turn. depends upon a certain steadi-
ness and definiteness in our mis-
sionary policies and organizations.
The following extract from the re-
port emphacizing the uniqueness of
the foreign mission enterprise de-
serves a thoughtful reading:
The denomination can greatly
strengthen its foreign mission work
by frankly recognizing that the APP
peal for foreign missions is unique.
No little spirit of rivalry or seif-in-
terest should cause Southern Baptists
to overlook or fail to face candidly
the fact that this work has claims
which no single Christian enterprise
can have. It's magnitude requires that
it shall be set in a large place. The
| foreign mission task is gigantic and
its needs are not those of a single en-
| terprise, but of all the Christian en-
terprises presented in one appeal.
1t should be remembered that in the
case of foreign missions unif1cation
and consolidation were put into eff
feet long ago. This great ENTERPRISE
| represents the vast and varied re-
ligious needs of thousand million
souls, and yet all departme nts OF the
work on the field are combined under
the one name Of foreign missions.
This means that all that is repre-
scented at home by state missions.
| home missions associational mis-
sions, city missions. church building,
! N "a = Ar ,Iar tetI t.
teral education, secondary schools.
Sunday schools, religious literature.
hospitals. etc, are included in this
single appeal If Southern Baptists
fail to recognize the exceptional
claims Of this sll-eem pretending ap~
peal and attempt to force a parity
between 1t and any one of the de-
partments into which we have d.
vided the home work. they will court
inevitable defeat at certain strategic
points in our foreign mission work.
We have not had the last great debt
II this course should be pursued. Any
coordination of the objects of Chris
tian benevolence which places foreign
missions on par with education, for
instance. or other Of the home ap-
peals, Is making a part equal to the
whole. All departments OF this great
work on the vast field OF foreign
mission endeavor cannot be provided
| for on the basis Of the needs OF one
/ Of a dozen departments OF the home
work. II we lead our people to see
this. and do it without delay. we shall
have taken a great step toward a
more adequate support for foreign
missions.
The report rightly says that for
eign missions should be allowed to
stand on its own merit and receive the
full benefit of all gifts designated
for It.
Emphasis is laid on annuities and
requests as an order of stewardship
among Southern Baptists which needs
to he intelligently and steadily pro-
NOTED.
This part of the report closes with
/ the following stirring appeal;
The Urgency OF the Hour.
The convention to which this re-
port Is submitted conyenes at a mo-
mentous hour In human history.
There Is not contingent or an island
| Of the seas which is not expectant
OF imminent charges and OF new
| world order. Amidst the shadows
and sorrows of the great war the
heart of humanity beats fast with
high and exultant hopes The world $
most appalling carnage Is contem-
plated with marvellous optimism
Men confidently expect good to come
Of the awful catastrophe, All realize
that We are in the presence Of world
crisis. which will not leave society as
il found it. Things venerable and
mighty are crumbling and men are
gathering purpose to build upon the
ruins a universal altruisnr. Democ-
racy Is having new birth. This
above everything else is the signifl-
canoe OF present events.
What does the hour signify for Bap-
lists? Manifestly IL is no ordinary
hour for people OF their faith. Men
of the faith which holds this conven-
ton together have been uniformly
and universally the friends and
champions OF equality and common
rights. Can we follow and nurture
democracy IN the Republic of China
and secure to that nation it's highest
benefits" Shall we embrace the
sublime opportunity to which doors
are thrown wide open in Russia? Aye,
shall we now reinforce our heroic
brothers there who have lifted the
doors on their rusty hinges? Shall
We, when the cruel war Is over and
the iron yoke Of Prussianism shall
have been torn from the neck OF the
Teuton and the spirit of Hus is re-
NlNeu IN the austrian states. seek TO
enchant the weary heart of Europe
with the sweet melody OF a pure
toned evangelicalism and set up an
international brotherhood in the
bonds of Christ?
Southern Baptists, your day is ut
hand. The historic principles of no
other people will find so command
ing a place in the new world border as
will our own. Can we prove to the
world that in deeds of human service
and the daring OF faith we are con-
sistent with principle and profess
sion? The hour has come for our
testing before the eyes of all nations
now expectant and soon ready to give
a Just appraisement of Christian per-
formances Such an urgency as has
never before obtained is now given to
the foreign mission work of Southern
Baptists. To the importantly of need
is added the allurement and RESPONSE
bility Of opportunity.
American Baptists bought up the
new opportunity which the American