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12 THE PRESBYTERIA Prayer Meeting TOPIC?HOME AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. weeK Beginning October 3. In Foreign Missions the field selected for our consideration this month is Korea. This is now known as the most abundantly hopeful and fruitful of foreign lands in the results of missionary enterprise. A few years ago Korea was closed to all foreign intercourse and the death penalty was 'inflicted for the confession of the Christian faith. This is now totally reversed. The change is most gratifying and impressive. There are now more than 200,000 professing Christians in Korea, and there are tens of thousands interested and ready to embrace Christianity. A writer says that "an adequate and concerted effort by the missions now at work would result in setting up a Cnristian Church there or one million members in the next twenty years, and would p-nnrnntoo tho cnooHv on/1 nnrmononf 0mw?mm?w tuv w|/vvu,? uuu pvi muacut cvaugcii^niiun ui iiiu entire nation." Rev. H. G. Underwood, of the Northern Presbyterian Mission, in "The Call of Korea," written some time ago, says: "A salient feature in missions has been the co-operation between the various bodies engaged. Almost immediately on the arrival ol each new Presbyterian mission, advances were made so that never could it be claimed that two Presbyterian churches were working separately in Korea, and today, while there are four Presbyterian boards, ecclesiastically they are one, and have just taken the first real steps toward a self-governing, native church in the organization of a presbytery for the Church of Jesus in Korea. "The two Methodist churches are also working in harmony and in theological instruction in one institution. A further cton tnworH hon Vwam J : ? .?? v??v? uw j? vv/noiu uuiuii nan uccu auttrsaiuiiy 111 <1(1 (J Ill some stations where the Presbyterians and Methodists have united in medical and educational work, and in the religious press. "Steps are also under way looking toward the establishment of a union publishing house. Some of us look forward to even more extended and perfect union than this, and we nope that the forms and methods of mission work here described. will result in our seeing, even during this generation, the Hermit Nation Christianized, a self-supporting and selfgoverning Church in Korea. "I have a vision of Christian homes, ChHstian villages, Christian rulers, and a Christian government; and guiding and influencing it all, I see an organized church, with a competent, well-trained, thoroughly consecrated native ministry? a united, non-sectarian Church of Christ." In the department of Home Missions, our attention is this month directed to "The Great West." One of the mightiest problems that confront the American people today is the problem of immigration. Millions of foreigners are flocking to our shores, and ofTer unparalleled opportunity for evangelization. This is particularly true of The Great West. That the solution of the probfem is appreciated and is being prosecuted, appears from the work of a single organization in the Western metropolis. Says "The Missionary Review": "Missionaries speaking in the aggregate twenty-three languages have been in the employ of the Chicago Tract Society during the past year. New departments of work have been organized for the Finlanders, the Greeks, the Ruthonians, and the Bulgarians, and the society has been doing pioneer work tor many years amone the Slavic immlemnta Missionaries of all denominations have been aided with donations, and over 2,100,000 pages of Christian literature have been used for this purpose through several hundred Christian workers. The regularly employed missionaries of the society visited over 81,000 homes during 1907, and circulated Bibles. Testaments, and Christian literature in thirty-three languages to the extent of over 40,500 volumes. All the principal Slavic settlements in the Central Western States have been visited frequently, and in several of them the work has taken permanent form." ,N OF THE SOUTH. September 29, 1909Young People's Societies HELPING THE PASTOR. Topic for SundaV, October 10: "How Can We Help Our Pastor?" Exodus 17: 8-13. DAILY READING. Monday?Praying for the pastor. Romans 15: 30-32. Tuesday?Willing helpers. Acts 6: 1-7; 1 Cor. 12: 28. Wednesday?Standing by in danger. 2 Timothy 4: 6-12. Thursday?By generous support. 1 Corinthians 9: 1-14. Friday?By following wisely. Hebrews 13: 7, 17, 18. Saturday?By regular attendance. Hebrews 10: 19-25. Today's lesson is an intensely practical one. It appeals to every one, and there is not one who can not respond to the duties involved. How can we help our pastor? It is a personal question. It comes right home to us. There he stands. Here are we. What shall we do for him? He needs our help. The work that he has would fill an angel's hands. It once filled the Saviour's. Its importance and its arduousness are as great as the value of a soul. Many a pastor is bowed down beneath the load of responsibility laid upon him. If to this be added a sense of loneliness in his work, how much heavier his burden? Has our pastor this? First of all, let us give him, to prevent this sense of loneliness, assurance of our sympathy in 'his work, showing him and telling him in every possible way, that ne and we are one in all our feelings, aspirations and desires. Let us next give faithlul attendance upon his ministry. Let us regard every public service as God's roll-call where we shall answer "here" as faithfully as our pastor. There's not a word in the Bible to warrant a difference in duty between him and us. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." This is a dav of sad Hpfpptinn 9B tr? phnrph TW- * ? vw v??. V?. wvvv (luaucc. 1UC pttsiur s heart nearly breaks over it. Let us help him! Next let us pray for him and for his work. If, as he walks up tlu? aisle or steps into the pulpit, he knows that there are a score of hearts, or many scores, sending up a prayer to God to bless him, he will feel a mighty impulse from that very fact, and he will preach with a power from on high. Hear how Paul asked the Ephesians for such help! "Praying always . . . for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which 1 am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Listen to his appeal to the Romans also: "I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love oj me spirit, tnat ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me." Next, let us do our part and encourage others to suppqrt him generously. They that preach the gospel should live 01 the gospel. He ought to be free from all cares, that he may devote himself wholly to work for souls. Let us defend him. He is one of us, just like onp of our own household. We should as little tolerate a word of unkindness or disparagement concerning him as concerning a member of our own family. Let us give him helpful service. There are many practical iMiiuma upuu mm, ui ?nn;u ne cuuiu oe renevea. tie ought never to have to hunt up anybody, nor to secure an organist, or singers, or visitors. We should give him a roll of ourselves and say, "Here are we; send us!" I^et us convince him by our conduct, that we are follow- . ing him, that' we regard him as God's messenger to us, that we receive the message loyally at his hands, that ?ihpnnv?p it has the stamp of "thus saith the Lord" upon it, we may be counted upon to yield a ready obedience, the obedience not of a servant, but of a subject of the great King, his King and our King! *