fm) M o v
h K fir rr S P 0 vo
FIFTY-FOURTH YEAR.
ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.
RALEIGH, N. C, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1908.
NUMBER 12
THE LAYMEN'S MISSIONARY CONFERENCE
I.
The opening session of the Laymen's Missionary
Conference at Chattanooga, April 21st, was a
most inspiring occasion, and gave a high cast to
all that should follow in the two days of the
withering. All the plans and deliberations of the
leaders in the days preceding the Conference had
in view the one distinctive purpose of deepening
i lie spiritual life and convictions of the men of
the church, and unless this object is attained, the
meeting and all its labors have been absolutely
futile. But the men who came to attend the Con
ference, came with the one thought above all oth
ers that they should have a world-wide vision of
i lie work of God, and should rightly read their
opportunities and their responsibilities in this day
of power. The three words therefore that repre
sented the leading idea of the Conference were
V WOULD VISION. Our Opportunity, Our Re
sponsibility. When John R. Pepper called to or
der the vast assembly of three thousand people at
i lie opening session he uttered these fitting
words:
"If there ever was a time when we ought to
praise God, it is now. Let us stand and sing,
'Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.' "
Dr. J. A. Taylor led in prayer and read the second
Psalm for the Scripture Lesson.
The chairman used the gavel at this Conference
that was used in the great Missionary Conference
seven years ago at New Orleans. It was made of
wood taken from the house in which Charles Tay
lor lived before going to China as the first mis
sionary of our Church.
The songs sung at the Conference are taken
from our new Methodist Hymnal, and are in them
selves an inspiration when sung by more than one
thousand Methodist laymen. Especially thrilling
is Reginald Heber's magnificent battle hymnr "The
Son of God Goes Forth to War," which marked
lie opening of this Conference. The Wesley Hall
Quartette, composed of Culbreth, Luten, Mitchell,
iMid Stanford, rendered invaluable assistance
throughout the meeting. Not only was the ren
dering of their selections excellent, but the senti
ment was in almost every case exactly appropri
ii'e. Nowhere was this wisdom of choice more
evident than in their very first selection, "Come.
Spirit. Come. With Love Divine." Rev. John C.
it, Presiding Elder of the Knoxville District,
was Conference precentor, and, assisted by two
pianos, one cornet and a large chorus of trained
voices, he made the singing a means of grace at
every session.
Hon. W. 11. Crabtree, mayor of Chattanooga,
'"id a Methodist layman, welcomed the delegates
'"id members of the Conference in a few well
dinsen wo-ds. lie declared that the greatest re
sources of the South is the manhood of its citi
xms. and to develop the latent powers of youth
fll brains and hearts, the noblest work to which
we can put our hand. The response on behalf of
Mo Conference was delivered by General Julian
S- Carr. of Durham, N. C. He compared this
1 -Hymen's Conference to the meeting of Napoleon
'"id Alexander of Russia at Tilsit in 1807, who
attempted to settle the destines of mankind. This
Conference of Christian laymen is assembled un
Ir the banner of the Prince of Peace to delin
eate plans and methods of life that shall affect
unborn generations."
The guest of the evening and the principal
speaker was Hon. James Bryce, Ambassador from
reat Britain. His entrance into the Conference
"all was greeted with great enthusiasm. The au
dience stood to receive him and gave the Chau
"uiqua salute, and then sang, "God Save the
King" and "America." In his words introducing
Mr: Bryce to the audience, Bishop E. R. Hendrix
inferred to him as "this good grey head whom
U men know, the moat accomplished member of
the British Parliament, a great humanitarian who
stood for Home Rule in Ireland, who deemed the
Boer War unnecessary and who denounced the
Bulgarian outrages. A great student of men and
of institutions who wrote "The American Com
monwealth" and "The Holy Roman Empire," a
great statesman who has traveled everywhere, has
seen everything, and knows everybody."
Mr. Bryce declared that he was on this occasion
"the messenger of friendship, peace, and affec
tion." The leading thought in his address was
the obligation of Christian nations to evangelize
the world. He said: "If you take our Christ
from us, you take all that determines our national
greatness. The duty we owe to Christ Is greater
than that we owe to the particular denomination
al body to which we belong. We are learning that
there is another and greater task than to con
vert a soul, and that is, to elevate life, teach bet
ter principles of living to the whole mass of peo
ple. Missionary work is a great world movement,
having as its central motive the purpose of strong
er races to benefit the weaker. Pretty nearly all
the world has been brought under the control of
some civilized nation. This is a phenomenon new
to the world, and will never be repeated. Yet
progress in evangelizing the world seems to be
very slow, and we ask frequently "Why has not
more been done to save the whole world?" One
reason for the delay is that in the contact of the
strong with the weaker races, the weaker always
suffers. Certain evils are inevitable, but they are
likewise unduly intensified. In dealing with a
weak and pagan race we need constantly to bear
in mind our Christian duty to restrain from evil.
It is the private adventurer who is the greatest
enemy to the . Gospel missionary. The United
States and the British Government are doing
what they can to administer justice and govern
to the best advantage the weaker peoples under
their influence. The duty of governments is to
restrain the evil-minded and to protect the na
tive. Let us forever forbid the sale of liquor to
pagan peoples. The weaker nations are like chil
dren; it is our duty to give them the opportunity
to grow into noblest manhood."
II.
The first day of the great Chattanooga Confer
ence was remarkably well attended by laymen
and preachers, and to the last moment of the
evening service the interest was unflagging. The
program was full of important subjects and more
time was needed on many matters projected, but
the mind and heart of our. strong laymen were
mightily stirred over the great issues of church
life.
Ed. F. Cook declared that, the church is unpre
pared for the unprecedented opportunity now be
fore her. All the resources of the modern world
are at the command of the church. All the na
tions of the earth are in transition. The church
in America commands enough money and men to
evangelize the world in this generation, if Goa
could command the men and control the money.
A tithe is the kindergarten teaching of God's
teaching. Christian liberality means the absolute
Lordship of Jesus and the faithful stewardship of
man. Education is the solution of our problems.
The training of young people must begin now if
our church is ever to become generous, liberal
and alert.
Dr. D. A. Anderson, of Soochow, China, brought
a marvelous story of developments in that great
Empire. The question of the twentieth century
is to be settled in the East. The task now im
.poscl upon Western nations is to carry to the
East every good thing God has given us. We not
only give to China, but we also receive from her.
In the system of China is found a very great deal
of God's eternal truth and lasting purpose. China
exists because of the excellence of its system of
truth. She is nearer the ideal in some things
than we are. We think the Kingdom of God is
to be established by physical force. China abhors
physical force, and deals with man through moral
and intellectual methods, not through material
might. The Chinese nation is the greatest com
mentary on the promise, "Blessed are the meek."
She has not been built up by the sword, and will
not be destroyed by the sword. But she is weak.
The Chinese have not discovered their Head.
They have been holding to the past, realizing that
something is wrong, but not knowing what it is.
To-day it is possible to reach every Chinaman
and tell him the truth. In Soochow University
are 218 students of the better class, all coming to
pay for what they get and to study new truths.
We could easily double our number of students
if we had larger buildings and more instructors.
In ten years we could have one thousand students
of the best classes. That means that it is in our
hands to train the future leaders of China. Soo
chow University needs $75,000 to equip it for im
mediate demands. Then we need a permanent
endowment, without which we shall not be ablo to
meet the opportunities at our hand.
Rev. J. L. Gerdine, of Seoul, Korea, bronght a
soul-stirring message of life and movements in
that humiliated Kingdom. He said that in Korea
are 12,000 converts and 2,000 churches. Our
Southern Methodist Church has 5,000 members
and probationers and 5,000 are awaiting re
ligious instruction to join the church. A most
cordial welcome awaits Christian workers in
every part of the country. The character of the
native converts is a strong argument for Chris
tianity in the and. Our Christians there are loy
al to the church and to the teachings of the Bible,
liberal and concerned for the conversion of their
great revival now sweeping over the Kingdom, of
its effects upon native preachers and members.
He declared that Korean people are now facing a
crisis in political, educational, and religious af
fairs. He closed with an appeal for ten addition
al men and $50,000 to help meet the opportunity.
Bishop A. W. Wilson just returned from a pro
longed missionary tour of the East, preached a
masterful sermon on "The One Great Mission of
the Church.' He portrayed the character of the
Church of Christ and its mission to the whole
world, closing with an appeal for an onward
movement by a united church, in which both
preachers and laymen should recognize their
equal part.
Rev. E. A. Tilley discussed the educational, lit
erary and evangelistic work of our church in
Brazil. He said the time had come for us to en
terprise a broader work for Brazil. The Board of
Missions is not, able to do all that is necessary to
be done in this land, but the laymen of the
church can assist the Board by larger contribu
tions. It is in our power to capture the intelli
gent classes of Brazil, but men and money are
demanded.
The Christian Conquest, of Japan was outlined
by Dr. S. H. Wainright. lie emphasized the fact
that Japan presents to-day the finest opportunity
the Christian world has ever had. Tho Gospel,
he said, touches the Japanese heart and meets
with a readier response than does Buddhism and
Confucianism. Beyond any possible doubt Japan
is capable of a response to a higher Christian
service and devotion to the highest expression of
Christianity in evangelistic effort in and for the
church. To make the deepest impression upon
Japanese national character our schools and
churches must henceforth bear the stamp of
greater efficiency.
Rev. W. G. Fletcher nme up from Santa Clara
to sneak on behalf of Cuba, and right well did
he discharge his commission. His plea for men
and money was overwhelming in its earnestness.
He asked not for sympathy and old clothes, but
for an increase of men of grace, green-backs, grit,
gumption, get-up and get. The only way to .-. n
( Continued on PUKe 5.)