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Conference and $1,200 for Mission
Court, these two items to be appor
tioned among the Presbyterials.
Some Presbytorial Recommenda
tions: 1. That the following budget
of expenditures be adopted for the
year ending March al, 1923:
Synodical pro rata $ 367
President's expense fund .... 100
Expenses of annual meeting . . 80
Presbyterial Officers' expense
fund 50
Minutes, stationery, postage,
etc loo
Presbyterial Home Missions . 1,000
Montreat scholarship 125
Delegate i to JChristiansburg
Conference 30
Delegates to Synodical meet
ing 75
Miscellaneous 173
Total $2,100
2. That the Finance Committee
apportion the budget among the
auxiliaries, using the Presbytery's
basis of percentage.
3. That each auxiliary shall pre
pare a minimum budget of expendi
tures for the year ending March 31,
1923; the budget to include the Pres
byterial Auxiliary's quota.
4. That the quota of each aux
iliary be sent to the Presbyterial
treasurer in quarterly installments.
5. That each auxiliary include in
its budget an item for attendance upon
Presbyterial and Conferences.
6. That each auxiliary defray the
expenses of its invited speakers.
7. That each District defray all
expenses incurred at its annual meet
ing.
District Meetings: The committee
on the place of meeting reported that
the Elizaheth River District, of which
Mrs. M. N. King is chairman, would
meet in Park Avenue church, Norfolk,
sometime in the fall, the date to be
announced.
Annual Meeting: The annual spring
meeting in Newport News First church
sometime in April, 1923.
The Young People: If any one
should ask me what impressed me
most at the meetings last week, I am
sure I should say without hesitation,
the young people. That work is so
vastly important. To see that band
of young people, over one hundred of
them, varying in age from seven years
to perhaps seventeen, was very im
pressive. It is so essential that the
youth of the Church be trained so they
will be prepared to bear the burden
of the work as the ranks among the
older members weaken.
Dr. Venable made this point so ieai
after Dr. Hudson had finished his won
derful talk to them about the youth
of China, that when Dr. Hudson was
ready to lay down his work, many of
them would be just finishing their
education and he hoped some of them
would be willing to volunteer for ser
vice in that country.
These young delegates gave their
reports with so much sincerity. They
showed a variety of activities and as
Mrs. Obst, the new secretary of young
people's work in this Auxiliary, was
present, I am sure that through her
this very important branch of the
work of the Church will benefit by
the exchange of ideas which were pre
sented.
Valedictory: And, now, if I have
aroused the interest of even one per
son, to the extent that she will re
solve to go to Newport News when
the Presbyterial Auxiliary meets next
Spring, I shall feel that I have not
failed in this twentieth annual report
as delegate from Norfolk First church
to the Presbyterial Auxiliary.
(Signed) Mary McNeill.
(Note. ? Reader, you may be the
representative next year who has to
give this kind of a report. This re
port we consider worthy to be fol
lowed in every particular. Therefore,
it is given in full. Keep this as a pat
tern. ? Editor.)
"HE MARVELLED."
"Yes, we're praying for a revival,
but we don't expect it," said a god
ly woman recently to a companion in
a small town. "And others are pray
ing for it, but I don.'t know of any
one that expects it." Do you expect
It?
Ah, perchance that explains it ? the
Church's unbelief! How far does *a
"godly" man's prayer, or any prayer,
of unbelief get with God? Is not
an unbelieving prayer a mockery to
Him? Does it not make Him a liar?
"And He could do there no mighty
work" (although He was as ready
there as elsewhere). "And he mar
velled because of their unbelief"
(Mark 6:5, 6). The healing of the
souls of men is a mightier work than
the healing of their bodies. And mil
lions of souls are waiting to-day for
His healing touch.
When the church, when you and I
(Matt. 18:19) pray in agreeing, God
given faith, and continue thus until
the answer comes, pleading before the
Father the sacrifice of Calvary. "The
power of the cross is alone irresisti
ble." Will you not spread this ap
peal before God? It may be His com
mand to you to pray for revival in
the Church.
COOK'S CKKKK CHURCH, MT.
CLINTON, VA.
When our Auxiliary decided, about
the middle of June, to hold our Home
Mission Study Class during the next
two weeks, some felt very dubious as
to the results, as ours is a very
widely scattered country congrega
tion, and it was quite a busy season,
but in spite of harvesting, berry
picking, hot weather and other ob
stacles, the ladies responded quite
loyally. Nineteen different ones at
tended the meeting and there was an
average of fifteen each afternoon.
The book used was "Unfinished
Tasks," by Dr. Homer McMillan, and
we found it most Interesting and in
structive. Our pastor, Rev. S. B.
Hanna, conducted the class and proved
a very efficient leader. Topics w?*re
assigned different members of the
class for each lesson and the ques
tions at the end of each chapter wure
taken up and discusscd in general.
We met this time in the homes of
the members instead of at the Church
and enjoyed the little visit with the
different hostesses and felt better
acquainted.
The lessons lasted from an hour
to an hour and a half, as we took two
chapters for each meeting, after tha
first, thus finishing the book in four
lessons.
It is probable that another class
will be held in another section of the
congregation soon.
L. Bennett Harman,
Secretary.
FAMOUS IN SIXTY DAYS.
The following was clipped from the
editorial columns of the Oreensbovo
Daily News:
"By way of the Louisville Courier
Journal we get this item from the
Tampa Times: "A little church in
North Carolina owns a cow which it
rents out to its poorer members who
have large families but cannot own
a cow, for $1 per week. It is grad
ually gaining a sum that will enable
it to purchase more cows for the
same worthy purpose. Meanwhile
some of the kiddies are gaining in
health and happiness. It is the finest
(Continued on page 13)
Laymen and Their Work
CHINA'S NEW THOUGHT AND
CHRISTIANITY'S NEW CHANCE.
Dr. John R. Mott, who recently re
turned from his fifth journey to the
Fur East ? not counting the one which
during the war took him twice across
Liberia ? regards this last mission as
probably the most timely and fruit
ful in results of all. One needs to re
interpret American to every nation, be
says, for no country that he visited
understands us. And we need to re
interpret the Far East to other na
tions. The changes that have taken
place there even in the last two or
three years are stupendous not only
economically but socially and politic
ally as well.
Intellectually it is certainly a new
world. This takes on a very large
content to those who have formerly
been thrown much with the youth.
The New Thought Movement is surg
ing In the brains of the professors and
students of China. There is a welter
of conflicting ideas and ideals oc
cupying the'.r minds and hearts, a
spirit of inquiry the like of which he
has never found in any one country.
Along with it is the purposo to re
value everything ? a purpose stimulat
ing and hopeful but with its alarm
ing aspects. There is no tradition or
social sanction or practice past or
present which is too sacred or bind
ing for them to question and discard
if they cannot prove its personal and
social efficiency. There has been noth
ing like it intensively or extensively
since the Renaissance in Europe; and
this transcends that in the number of
people involved and in the greater
variety of mental interests touched
and exhibited. He says it ?s the most
interesting, quickening and inspiring
spectacle he has ever witnessed in the
way of mental awakening, hunger,
courage and seriousness. It makes
possible almost anything from the
point of view of a propaganda which
knows where it wants to go and is
sure of its message. It presents a
colossal problem to the missionaries
and to the Chinese Church, but also
presents the greatest opportunity we
are likely to have in our day. On his
visit in 1896 the so-called scholars of
China were like a stone wall. In no
place could we find a rift. We could
give out pamphlets to the students as
they streamed along the streets from
their examinations, but to get inside
the schools to present the claims of
Jesus Christ was impossible. Now
there Is an openness, and active spirit
of inquiry, and a determination to use
any method to get at reality. Would
that the missionary forces far and
near might recognize this opportunity.
It is passing. It sweeps on like a
river. These conditions will not con
tinue for many years.
This gives the missionary movement
a chance t^ present a new apologetic.
It is the chance of our lives to satisfy
this intellectual hunger and thirst, to
have thousands of forums and study
centers all over Chins. It is a way to
Christ, because these people arc after
reality and they are not going to tind
it In New Thought. If we can intro
duce Christ to them on that path He
will have the chance to satisfy them.
There is a social passion and concern
characterizing this movement which
gives Christianity a marvelous onpor
tunlty, because It is the only religion
which furnishes a social as well as a
religious dynamic.
In the late eighties the missionaries
and the home 'churches had a great
chance in Japan, though not as great
as the New Thought Movement today
in China. Then we missed our oppor
tunity in, Japan. It is here now in
China. The government gave us great
halls, and sometimes special pavilions
were <*rected. lie had hitherto known
nothing like the present opportuni
ties to meet the people collectively
and individually. The president sent
for him not to pay a compliment but
to ask questions. Within three min
utes they were in the heart of the
gospel. The ex-president was equally
responsive on the religious question.
He had opportunities also to meet the
military governors and members of
their cabinets, and every time he
turned the conversation to Jesus
Christ and was never repulsed. lie
found the same open mindedness In
Japan. He was asked to give an ad
dress on Christianography all over
Japan. He was invited to an audience
with the empress ? the first Christian
layman thus honored ? and also saw
the prince regent; and both were in
terested in the Christian message. In
conversations with many leading
men the same desire was manifested
to know of the Christian principles
and program. The contrast between
the present and his first experiences
in these countries was startling but
elso illuminating as to the inviting
opportunities today.
Referring to the World's Christian
Student Federation Conference at
Peking, Dr. Mott says that in his
judgment no gathering held anywhere
in the world has done more to knit
together the leaders of tomorrow in
the East and West than this. The
F.50- delegates came from all parte of
the world, representing thirty-two
countries, but it was pre-eminently an
Asiatic gathering. The Indian dele
gation of eleven was moat in evi
dence, but it was an interesting fact
that a Negro, who came from our
theological school in Atlanta, was
more in demand for addresses than
any other man. Unity was the great
note of the Conference, and nothing
less than the Spirit of God could have
brought the different peoples* together
in such understanding, agreement and
fellowship ? British and Indians,
Americans and Filipinos, Chinese and
Japanese, Japanese and Koreans. In
Christ all found a wondrous oneness.
As for the anti-Christian movement,
concerning which exaggerated reports
were spread abroad, Dr. Mott believes
it only accentuated the timeliness of
the world union of Christian students
coming to China to proclaim the mes
sage of Christ and the implication of
his message in national as well as in
dividual life.
Speaking of the Shanghai Christian
Conference, which had about 1,200
delegates, nearly half of them Chi
nese, he said the impressive thing was
the character of the Chines^ leader
ship in the discussions and the con
duct of the Conference. It was plain
that the Chinese have come into their
own in the churches and In the or
ganized religious life. Men with surrh
ideals and ability can be trusted with
the responsibilities of the work, and
he came away highly reassured.
The Japan Christian Conference had
much shorter time for presentation,
and the delegates were limited to 220,
three-fifths of whom were Japanese
and two-fifths missionaries. The main
question was how to convert the
Federation of Missions and the Fed
eration of Churches, both of many
years' standing, into an organization
than could speaft ^ith united voice.
(Continued on page 13)