Evening star., 1941-06-14

words because he proclaimed, in
season and out of season, to high
and to low, the Saviourhood of
Christ.
A Present Crisis in Missions.
Unknown to the average Christian,
a missionary crisis of major magni-
tude is under way at the present
moment. Not in the whole hundred
years of modern missions has there
been such a widespread hindrance
of the work of the foreign represen-
tatives of all churches Protestant
and Roman Catholic, alike.
Under Japan's new restrictive and
repressive measures, hundreds Of
missionaries in recent months, have
had to leave that country, and Korea
and Manchukuo. Persia has taken
over or closed all Christian schools.
Turkey permits no religious inStruc-
tion In missionary schools, and has
closed the country's doors to foreign
physicians, so that only two or three
missionary doctors with old licenses,
are now permitted to practice-but
not to teach or preach Christianity
in all Turkey. Egypt is just now
considering similar measures that
would exclude Christian teaching
from missionary schools. In Africa,
the fighting has seriously interfered
with normal activities.
Because of the war, European
missions in Asia and Africa have
been orphaned: since no support
could come from the warning home
lands. Often the missionaries have
been interned. Large sums have
been raised by American churches
in support of these missions-a
proof of the universally and one
ness of the Christian Church.
Good News From China.
In China, the story is quite other
wise. War conditions have caused
the women and children and old
men of some mission stations to re-
turn to the homeland; but the
majority OF the missionaries have
braved danger and hardship, to
carry on an intensified work. They
and their Gospel are more in favor
in China than ever before. The
number of converts, and the devo-
ton of the native Christians, is
growing rapidly. The President of
China and his wife are devout
Christians; so are an amazing pro-
portion of the other higher officials
Tho ay1t nn-nnprQtnC urft n
the missionaries to an extraordinary
degree. The April % issue of
Time" contains a long and en-
thusiastic review of Christianity in
China.
All of this news from mission
fields, both good and bad, totals up
to a most serious emergency for the
churches. Pauline craftsmanship
and courage will be needed to meet
it. The man who was lauded and
then mobbed in the cities of Asia
Minor had the spirit that turned
every emergency into an oppor-
| tunity.
1t may seem forced reasoning to
link the story of Christian foreign
missions with the present interna-
tional situation. Actually, the rela-
tionship is close. Out of that first
emprise of the Antioch Church de-
veloped the transformation of the
ancient world. And our present
crisis calls primarily for an under
girding of democracy's war and
purposes by the ideals which are
distinctively Christian. The Cross,
which represents Gods highest pur-
pose in the redemption of man from
smallness. selfishness and sin, is the
symbol of all those highest objec-
tives in human personality which
we group within the world saliva
ton" Nothing less than this mighty
cross motive can give mankind the
new world of which we dream and
for which we pray.
The Sunday School Lesson for
June Is is, Progress in World
Missions.".Acts, xiii.13; xiv.2S;
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