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May 12, 1909. THE PRESBYTERS
Missionary
TESTIMONIES TO MISSIONS.
Rev. F. T. Charlton.
In June, 1888, "The World's Missionary Conference"
met in London, England. It was my privilege to attend
the Conference as a visitor and in my opinion it was a very
extraordinary gathering. About fifteen hundred delegates
attended, representing one hundred and forty-one societies,
and the leading mission fields of the world. There were
also statesmen, soldiers and business men who took part
in the meetings, and bore testimony to the value and success
of Missions. Alexander McArthur. Esq., a member
of the British Parliament, presided at one of the meetines,
and in part said: "You are aware that some of the opponents
of missions who are opposed to all Christian work,
endeavor to disprove the reports given by the missionaries;
and the remark is frequently made, 'Oh, it is their business;
they are interested parties, and, of course, they will give
glowing reports.' Well, I hope you will not regard it as
egotistical on my part, if I say, as a layman, that I have
visited many parts of the world, that I have seen more of
Christian Missionaries, and of the work in which they are
engaged than most men, and, speaking as an independent
and impartial witnf??c T lii^p ? *
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as my honest conviction that Christian Missions is one
of the most powerful agencies for good now in existence.
1 believe that the advancement of civilization, the extension
of commerce, the increase of knowledge in art, science,
and literature, the promotion of civil and religious liberty,
the development of countries rich in undiscovered mineral
and vegetable wealth, are all intimately identified with, and,
to a much larger extent than most people are aware of,
Jk J ?
ucpcnuenc upon tne success of Christian Missions. I hold,
therefore, that, even apart from the higher and more strictly
religious advantages with which they benefit and bless
the heathen world, they deserve the sympathy and support,
not only of the Christian churches and the religious portion
of the community, but that they should have the support
of every true philanthropist who wishes to ameliorate
the moral and physical condition of his fellowmen. * * *
We are convinced that our Christian Miccmnc v.o,r?? ?
?? 11U V V* UU11C
(more to civilize, to benefit, and to bless the heathen world
than any, or, indeed, one might almost say than all the
other agencies that have been employed. * * We hold,
therefore, that Christian Missions deserve our sympathy,
our confidence, and our liberal support."
At another time Mr. j. Herbert presided at one
of the sessions of the conference. From his opening address
I give just a few sentences that show v;*??rc
? .. ...V * IV ft wJ KJM. a
Iman of the great and busy commercial world. "We have
before us, my friends, a subject of momentous importance
this evening, 'Commerce and Christian Missions,'?a subject
so vast that it is almost impossible to know on what
lines to aooroach it in tti*> ? iU-i ? ' *"
.. ? ? ? .? ? ?vn iiiiiiuics Litiii are at tne
disposal of each speaker tonight. There are many in this
hall who like myself are immersed * * * in business
and commerce, who in this London of ours, the center of
the commercial operations of the world, are day by day
as it were, with our hands upon the heart of the mighty
commerce of the counrty and of the world. We feel its
. pulsation. These pulsations, we know, are felt on the
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other side of the world as they are here. * * * What
does Commerce owe to Mission's? U^hy, it owes everything.
i hey have been most instrumental in oneninr*- nn
? ? ? -1 o -r
the highways and byways of this country to trade. * * *
niey (missionaries) have opened up and made possible
vast regions to commerce. Thank God the connection between
Commerce and Missions is not only theoretical; it
.is practical, and of every-day importance."
THE BOYS' SCHOOL FOR MEXICO.
I have been rejoicing ever since I learned that the Executive
Committee of Foreign Missions had decided to
appeal to the Sunday Schools of our church for $10,000
lor the purpose of aiding in the erection of a suitable
building for a Boys' School for our Mexico Missions. 1
devoutly thank the Great Head of the Church for this,
I offer my tribute of praise to the Committee, and most
heartily congratulate our brethren of the Mexico Mission.
I have often said that while my work was among the
Mexicans in Texas, my heart was in the work in Mexico.
I am intensely interested and concerned in the welfare and
progress of the work of evangelization in that wonderful
and promising country. I watch the development of the
work there very closely and constantly. No fitter monument
could be erected to the memory of the universally
beloved and lamented Dr. A. T. Grayhill, than this school,
ihe hand of God is very evident in this project. It is my
conviction that our Church could not have done a greater
service tn tlie MpYicn A/Ticc!n?i *! >!> ?! ?">
?- ? *>?vr??vw J U JL a L LlllJ till l'C L nail 11 It
establishment of this first-class school for boys. Muck
as they are needed in Mexico, not even the sending of two
more missionaries, aye, even five,?could accomplish the
lasting good, just at this momentous time, that will result
from the erection of this school, provided, of course, that
it is properly located and that an adequate backing is
given tne enterprise by the home Church.
The Presbytery of Tamaulipas has rounded out its first
quarter of a century, and is entering now upon a new era.
This' Presbytery had never had a meeting like the one
held last month at Jimenez. The splendid reports, the
glorious out-look for the immediate future, the harmony
among the workers, their spirituality and enthusiasm, and
the manifest presence of the Spirit of God, all this and
other evidences made it very clear at that memorable meet
mg that the Presbytery is entering a new period in its
history,?a period pregnant with glorious possibilities for
the advancement of the Kingdom of God in that country.
There is a tide in the affairs of Presbyteries which taken
at the flood leads on to victory. The flood time for the
Presbytery of Tamaulipas has come. Our brethren, American
and Mexican, have been working laboriously and faithfully
in that section of Mexico,?one of the most difficult
in the republic,?for a score of years or more, they have
A -J 1- ? * *
uunc a granu worK, duc rney are comparatively unknown
as a denomination among the great mass of the population.
Let us, therefore, come to the support of our brethren
who are laboring in that field, and give them this lever
by which they can further the interests of Christ's Cause.
Mexico and the United States are drawing together closer
and closer each year. Can we doubt that God has His
Kingdom in view, in thus drawing these nationstogether7
Our children will live to see a Protestant Mexico. Let
them help with their pennies.
San Antonio, Texas. WALTER S. SCOTT.