The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1910. MISSIONARIES IN COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15334, 17 June 1910, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1910. MISSIONARIES IN COUNCIL.

Tut; mooting of the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh is a stirring event in tho history of the Christian Church. Tho Conference is a great deliberative assembly, represent■ mg the Protestant Churches of Great Britain, Europe and America, and its purpose is to hold a “council of war” with regard to the future development of missionary enterprise in the dark places of the world. Never before lias so distinguished and representative a body of men and women concerned in missionary endeavour been gathered together. Tho preliminary step was the appointment of eight commissions, which for the past two years have been engaged in a thorough inquiry into various important aspects of the missionary problem. Tho commission;; have included some of the mast prominent churchmen of the day, and they have been in communication with more than 1500 missionaries and native workers in various parts of the world, with a view to forming an authoritative opinion on the problems presented for their consideration. The reports that are now being considered by the Conference contain the findings of the commissions, as. well as the evidence upon which tho findings are based. They represent the consensus of expert opinion, and will bo tho basis for a comprehensive scheme of missionary work such as has not been possible at any period in. the past. The delegates who have met in Edinburgh, will, in the words of an eminent Scotch minister, “ review the situation and tho disposition of the Church’s forces.” Missions arc not a failure, but the men most deeply concerned in them recognise that the present rate of progress is not satisfactory. It has become apparent that tho awakening of the East is a call for unprecedented effort on the part of the/ Christian Church. The yellow races are developing a spirit of national aspiration without having assimilated the faith that has produced the Western conception of morality as applied to individuals and to nations, and the leaders of missionary endeavour as well as the statesmen of the Christian countries have realised that a crucial period is approaching. The men and women who have met to devise a scheme of concerted action that will find a place for every willing worker and provide for ’the needs of every field have undertaken a task of almost appalling magnitude. They all realise, however, tho supremo need for action and organisation in tho mission campaign, and they , may find inspiration in a vision of that day when “many shall come from tho east and from the west, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.” Nothing but good can arise from a full understanding of the facts and an earnest attempt to give guidance to missionary policy and administration.