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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 ? * . ?? ? ??" ?? swung 11 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 ili OF THE SOUTH. 7 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.