EAST AND WEST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 848, 21 June 1910, Page 5

EAST AND WEST.

BRIDGING THE GULF. MISSIONARY METHODS CRITICISED. INTERESTING REPORT. By Telegraph—Presß Association-OopyTight. (Rec. June 20, 10.15 p.m.) London, Juno 20. At tho Missionary Conference, 'lie Bishop of Birmingham (Dr. Gore) presented tho report of tho third Commission, which stated that tho gulf between tho Eastern and Western world would never be bridged if Christianity was presented to the nativo imagination as an alien religion. A universal religion meant a common messago such as was embodied in tho Apostles' Creed and recorded in tlio Bible, but its real Catholicity could only bo realised as each people brought forward some different aspect, namely, a Christianity with an indigenous colour and character. It was shocking that native preachers and teachers were so. largely trained by the aid of names aud symbols found useful in America and England. The ThirtyNine Articles and tho Westminster Confession did not belong to the Universal substance of Christianity. Nativo literature and national movements ought to be studied in order to find tho aspects of religion likely to bo seized upon by iho native minds. First-rate educators were so few because routine .work swallowed up their energies and they had no time for proper spiritual work.

A DISTINGUISHED COMMISSION. The Bishop of Birmingham, who is the chairman of the Commission on Education at the W.orld Missionary Conference, is widely known not only as one of the ablest of the bishops of the Anglican Church, but as a scholar and theologian of distinction. Ho wns editor of "Lux Mundi," and has written a number of other well-known works. He has alwaysbeen much interested in all social questions, and lias taken a prominent part in many movements for the improvement of the condition of the masses. He has a deep interest in the missionary work of tho Church, and has been especially associated with the Oxford Mission to Calcutta. He visited India-in the years 1883-81 and again in 1889-90. Tho other members of the Commission are:—Dr. E. _ C. Moore (Professor of Theology in Harvard University), Professor M. E. Sadler (Professor of the History- and Administration of Education in the University of Manchester),. Dr. Parkin (secretary of the Rhodes Trust), .Professor E. de Witt-Burton (Professor of New Testament Interpretation in the University of Chicago), Principal R. -A. Falconer (University of Toronto), President John F. Goiicher (Women's College, Baltimore), Miss Latham (until recently Principal of St. Mary's College, Pnddington), Miss Richardson (Vice-Principal of Westfieia College, Hampstead), the Rev. W. Chamberlain (missionary in South India), the Rev. H. G. Grey (missionary in North India), tho Rev. J. 11. Morrison (who recently published a book entitled "New Ideas in India During tho Nineteenth Century"), Mr. R. Maconachio (lay secretary of the Church Missionary Society and formerly of tho Indian Civil Service), Sir Ernest M. Satow, tho Rev. Lord William Cecil (son of the lato Marquis of Salisbury), tho Rev. W. Bolton (London Missionary Society), the Rev. A. R. Buckland (Religious Tract Society), Miss Grace Dodge (daughter of a great New York philanthropist), Mr. G. W. Pepper (Laymen's Missionary movement), and tho Rev. M. W. Myers (secretary of tho Commission).