THE STUDENTS VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 31

THE STUDENTS VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

A lecture on " The Student*' Volunteer Movement " was delivered in the chemistry room of the Otago University oa Saturday evening <by Mr John B. Molt,- M. A., the general leeretary' of the World's Student Christian Federation and chairmaa of the Students' VolonfoerMovement. There was a good representative Audiencu of students and friends. Tbe chair was taken by Mr Bentrara, and tbe proceedings were opened' with prayer by tbe Rev. Dt Dunlop Tho lecturer (who commenced bj^ asserting that be had no intention of apologising for mission*, because to do so would be to Apologise for vital religion and for Christianity! itself) gave • vivid description of the origin, and progress of that department of mi-sionary enterprise known as the, Students' Volunteer Movement. Be quoted with approbation th(T definition ot miMions given a«" th« title" of a lecture by an experienced American mwaionary — " Missions, a war of conquest, not mere, wrecking 'expedition*.'' In graphic and forcible' language he detcribad how 10 year* ago the Siudtmt*' Volunteer Mitsion Movement origin* ated in America, and had spread until it had touched over 700 colleges in the United State*, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Scandinavia, and Holland. ' He also •bowed | how it had recently spread to colleges in the ; mission land* — India, Japan, and Africa. The purpose of the movement was defined as fourfold : First, to present the claimi of missions to all Christian itudenta ; secondly, to laad ; students to dedicate their lives to foreign missionary work ; thirdly, to foster a missionary decision and guide studeufcs in tbeir ! preparation for mission work ; fourthly, to lay | equal responsibility upon those who expect to stay at home to stand by missionary e&terpriee. I The lecturer then narrated some of the results , of the movement, showing that it hat already enr lied 5000 young men and women in the collets, who have signed ft declaration saying "it is our purpose, if God permit, to become foreign mistion&ries," and that, although this ' moveawnt ie so young, already over „ 1000 | of its members, have gone to the mission fields of different missionary societies and ohureb.es. He also showed how the students are giving money to the millions. The studento in the' United States and Canada alone last yec>r gave ' £6000, and many of the volunteers are getting cbnrohes and individuals to support them. Pairing on to the reasons for the existence of thi§ moTemcnt, the speaker first argued from Scriptural grounds, then adduced argumonta from the world's awful need, and dosed with an appeal for sympathy, support, and co-operation, announcing that the watoh cry of the movement was " The evangelisation of the world in this generation."

An after meeting was held by a number of students who are specially interested, and an opportunity was then given for asking Mr Motb question*, and the aubjeofe was dieoowed im • conversational manner.