THE BAPTIST CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 281, 20 August 1908, Page 7

THE BAPTIST CHURCH

A NOTABLE GATHERING. ALL-EUROPE CONCRESS IN BERLIN. : BRITISH DELEGATES.: (at telegraph—press association—coptwoht.) London, August 18. Tho Rev. Dr. Clifford-presides over the European Baptist Congress at Berlin commencing on August 31. Britain will send 500 delegates. THE CONTINENTAL BAPTISTS. EARLY CHURCH EXPERIENCES BEING REPEATED. ' Tho European Baptist-Congress is to be held from August 29 to September 1. An interesting report on this notable fathering-, was recentlypresented by Dr. Newton H. Marshall, who Saul tliqy would go to Berlin; not upon .tf.Hioro pious picnic, nor desirous of holding a Baptist Union Assembly _ in Germany, but. intent on bearing their testimony in the midst of modern Europe, so largely apostate, set upon gatherinp iu one united baud all their fellow Baptists of tho Continent', and looking for the guidance of God in inaugurating a plan for the ovangelisation of Europe. The programme might not present much that was novel to themselves, but to the bulk of those who would Attend the Congress-—to the persecuted Czech's, tho unlettered Slowacks,' tho-backwoods Roumanians, and tho Swedish and Russian peasants—it would be the experience of a lifetime,, as the opening of the windows of, heaven. Tho English members of ,tlie Congress would understand ovorything that was said, even if tliea- did, not know the languages, for there would be interpretation mther -'by' word of month or a printed translation' would' 'be 'put into their hands as the preacher began. ■ —-■ i

WORKING IN POVERTY. Many of their Continental' Baptist "brethren' were too poor to attend the Congress at their own expense. Many in outlying areas had to. live on J220 to .£SO per annum. An appeal made by Mr. Shakespeare had been so well responded, to that a very , considerable number of poor ministers from the farthest corners of. Europe would be enabled to attend, the Congress by the fund being rnised;by the Baptist World Alliance. Tliey wanted the' British pew as well as the pulpit to be wejl,represented at .the Congress. Tile Congress would be oF great Value in revealing to them-' their /Oitil'ißaptUt' principles and history.'' If people ■realised tho conditions of persecution and ostracism in which Baptists in other lands carried on their work—conditions similar to thoso in which their own forefathers worked— they would not hold their principles lightly, and too easily exchange their Baptist birthr right for somo mess of respectability arid pot*-' tage. -V'U'vi.'w i-iif.J 't'prtU. i MISSIONARY WORK :?£A! EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN. The Congress would Felp'their foreign niissionary work. Why should .they not call to' their aid_ the young, vigorous and growing communities of Sweden, Germany, and Russia? At the Congress, and after it, they Would draw up a plan of campaign for their work in Europe. They-hoped'to lay the plan before tho World Alliance in America- in 1910. Humanly the progress of simple, spiritual Christianity in Europe in the next generation depended very largely on this Congress. '...... A few words were CjifforiLl tfo jioped overy English Baptist who'conld-manage it would contrive to go to Berlin. They would 'find the experiences of thi early Christian Church, being repeated on ffie Continent, and !he believed they would have _ an era of great iprogress following on their visit to Berlin.