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February 9, 1910. THE PRESBYTER
homes, hospitals, schools, and invalid homes. Over 100 Jewish
schools already exist in Jerusalem alone and synagogues are
going up everywhere.
"The value of land has risen fourfold. The ignorant and
poverty-stricken fellaheen are being ousted from their homes
and villages by the sharp European Jewish settler, whose modern
agrictultural implements and methods have made the land
produce harvests never before dreamed of by the natives. The
Anglo-Palestine ComDanv. a Zionist hnniHnir ana nnm.nn..ni?i
enterprise, is pushing the cause of Israel with great determination.
"The racial exclusiveness of the Jews and their clannish
proclivities are arousing the opposition of the Ottomans and the
Turkish constitutional regime has in this question one of the
greatest problems that a new and patriotic government ever
faced."
IMPROPER CREDITS.
Religious institutions and organizations, above all
others, ought to avoid the circulation of misleading
statements. Sometimes they are made by over enthusiastic
friends, without the warrant or approval of the
institution or organization themselves. The latter owe
it to themselves to repudiate these statements when
they do not agree with the facts or when they are circulated
to make unwarranted impressions.
Specially notable instances suggesting these remarks
are in connection with the Moody Institute in
Chicago and the recent Student Volunteer Convention
in Rochester. Figures concerning the former have
been published telling of the thousands of ministers and
missionaries whom the institution has given to Christian
work. The fact is that great numbers of those
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who nave entered its classes were seeking the ministry,
or were actually ministers and some of them missionaries,
long before they even thought of going to that
institute. Mere enrollment there and the prosecution
of some special studies, in lectures, books, or practical
field work, did not make them the product, as ministers,
of that institute. Figures coming from the Student Volunteer
Convention report that since the previous convention,
in Nashville, four years ago, 1,278 volunteers
have sailed for mission fields, and since the beginning
of the movement, in 1886, the total number of volunteers
who have sailed is 4,346, representing fifty different
communions. We regard this statement as mis
leading in the extreme. The Volunteer Convention has
doubtless determined some young men to volunteer,
and the Movement has doubtless stimulated the general
interest very greatly. The great body of its attendants,
however, have always been the young men who
had already determined upon the work and who are no
more "volunteers" brought out by the convention than
those are newly enlisted Christians who attend some
meetings of Christians. They are enrollments of in
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ivuuuig miaanjiicii ics, nut new volunteers," as so often
published. We attended one of these conventions and
we were in the company of ten or twelve young men
every one of whom was already an avowed candidate
for missionary work. When "volunteers" were called
for and asked to rise they arose at that convention,
every one of them, and scores of others like them with
whom we had personal acquaintance. They were in
the great number of men "volunteering," according
to the announcements. The convention did not make
them. They helped to make the convention.
Our interest in the Chicago Institute and in the Volunteer
Movement is not one whit less because we call
attention to these facts. It is because we desire their
IAN OF THE SOUTH 163
success and continuance, that we would see them
cleared of any improper popular impression concerning
them. Both are doing magnificent work, a work
which none others are doing, or can do. May God
prosper both of them and give them increased power
and success!
THE DAY OF PRAYER FOR YOUTH.
The General Assembly has set apart the second Sunday
in February as a day of special prayer for the
youth in the colleges and seminaries.
This is a time honored custom in our Church and
snouid not be permitted to fall into disuse.
The very first General Assembly in session at Augusta,
in 1861, adopted the following:
"That the General Assembly designates the first
Wednesday in December to be observed annually asa
day of special prayer for the youth of our country;
that the almighty grace of our God may sanctify them
in their homes, their schools, their colleges and their
seminaries to the great work of preaching the gospel
to every creature."
In 1862 the date was changed to the last Sunday in
February, and in 1907 to the second, and the resolution
was renewed from year to year in words substantially
the same.
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ministers be requested to preach on that day upon the
subject of Christian education, and to call upon all the
members of our churches, by prayers and supplication,,
and by a diligent use of all the means of grace, to dedicate
their sons to God for the work of the ministry."
The need for consecrated men in the ministry iseven
greater today than in the past. In the past six
years about the same number of men have been lost
from the ministry on account of death or old age or disease,
as- have been graduated from all of our Theological
Seminaries. We have now more than one thousand
vacant churches. Every missionary committee at
home is seeking for more workers and the Foreign
Mission committers are now loudly calling for more
ministers for the fields abroad.
We all realize with the Saviour "that the harvest
is plenteous dui tne xaDorers are lew." Let us not
forget His solemn injunction: "Pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers
into His harvest."
Do not forget this Special Day of Prayer, February
13th, 1910, for the many thousands of our young men
and young ladies who are in these institutions preparing
for the real work of life.
A Kansas paper tells of two farmers who met on
the highway and after exchanging greetings, engaged
in conversation. Their names are hot given, but we
will call them Mr. Gruff and Mr. Glow. Said Mr. Gruff,
"Did you ever stop to think that this is a one-man country?"
"It is a fact, and we are but little better off than
Russia, I can get along for the rest of my life, but I ~5?X
am alarmed for my children." Mr. Glow replied, "You <say
you are alarmed for the future. I should be, too, o |
if I talked and thought as you do. If you will read
your Bible oftener and subscribe for a Church paper,.
you will see things differently." Moral?
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