CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 33

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR CONFERENCE.

MISSIONARY MEETING.

The business of the thirteenth Christian Endeavour Convention was begun in First Church en Monday, and rook the form of a missionaiy meeting. There was a large attendance, including- several Chinese. The proceedings were opened by singing a hymn and prayer by the Rev. W. A. Sinclair. The Rev. R. Mackie (president-elect) said he was glad to see so many present, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather. He urged them to remember the work done by their forefathers, and urged all to labour earnestly on the foundations laid long ago

The Chinese cKoir, under the direction of the Key. Mr Don, sang a hymn very creditably. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair announced the programme of the week's convention business, and welcomed delegates from other unions. Ho urged that a special effort should be made to secure a large gathering afc the Christian Endeavour Parliament or Wednesday next.

Mr Charles Wilson, who has been labouring as a missionary in Bolivia, South America, was then called upon to addres-s the meeting-. He said when he first went to labour in South America the natives ran away, but soon gained confidence, arid made many inquiries as to his teaching, and expressed a strong desire that many other , teachers should com© and make the Gospel known to them. They cried, "Come over and help us." He gave instances of the readiness with which the natives received the Gospel message, and acknowledged that conversion had made now men of them. There were 40,000,000 of people in South America ; but how were they to hear the Gospel unless missionaries were sent them? 'Amongst the South Americans were 10,000,000 Indians who never heard of God. They have no idols, no religious belief, thoueh they believed in some sort of a future life and in an evil spirit. Ho concluded by urging upon those who were able to -devote themselves to mission work.

Mr Gordon Sutherland sang a solo.

The Rev. Mr Don, in an interesting address, referred to famous names in mis- } sionary labour whose anniversary fell in | April, including Francis Xavier, William Bums. Henry Martvn. Alexander 'Duff, j David Brainerd, Bishop Heber, and others. M.<? trusted thas the devotion and strong lhing faith of that noble array of martyrs would move their Ivsirts and spirits, but, above all, the spirit o? their Master Josus Christ would move them to oonsider their duty | towards missionary labours. The problem before them was the heathen world, and the solution of that problem was the evangelisation of the heathen world. There were 350,000.000 in India and 425,000,000 in China. Tho various denominations had missionaries labouring in the South Seas, but the greatest; question before them was the Chinese question. Everybody was looking at Japan, though all were pretty sure a3 to the result of the present struggle ; but people were wondering where China will come in. Japan had only 40,000,000 of people, and the Japanese question Avas j a mere phase of the Chinese question. It was not a political question, but how to bring China into iine with the Christian nations. What were they doing for those heathen nafcions? In India there was one missionary for every 90,000, in China on© I for every 150,000. There were 1000 million heathen in the world. What had they done in the direction of evangelising the world? He was afraid their forefathers had j not done their duty in that direction ; somehow they were ignorant of the duty they owed to Christ Jesus with regard to the J heathen. More had been done in later I days, but yet how little ! There were 1000 million heathen, and only 17,200 missionaries, or one for every 60,000 heat-hen. They ought to send oiit 10 missionaries for every one at present labouring in mission fields. Tho last century had been called the missionary century, but he felt sure the present eantury would much more deserve that title, and that the younger members of the Christian Endeavour Union would live to see a ftreat, period of evangelisation, because the work was being taken up in a way that pointed to that conclusion. Christian Endeavourers could help largely by holding more missionary meetings and fewer socials, for there were plenty of the latter gatherings connected with other organisations to which they belonged. They could increase their interest in^niissionary work by listening to missionaries thom6glvcc3, o^. by reading the books on missionary labours which were <"ctremely interesting, and could be pu»cha«cd at a j small cost. Self-denial would al^o go a | groat way in providing funds for missionary j labours They all know that many <ppnt more in a sino-io day's holiday than they gave to mission funds all the year. Lot them make it their special aim to induce tho individual chinch to which {hey be- ]_

longed io support one missionary to the heathen. That was the way in which Canada had achieved such good results, and helped to solve the great problem. Why were they there that night? Were they willing to go where God would have them go? Their motto was a good one — "For Christ and the Church," — and he urged them to be ever ready to assist in missionary work.

A quartet was sung — " South America is Calling" — by the Misses Mackenzie and Williams and Messrs Lomas and Shaw.

Mr Pevon "Valpy, who has been connected with missionary work in India, read a letter recently received showing that a Christian Endeavour Society recently established at Nasrapur, in the Bhor State, near Poona, was making rapid progress. He also gave interesting reminiscences of -Indian missionary labours.

The meeting was closed- with the singing of a hymn and the benediction. This evening there is to be a juvenile rally in Knox Church Sunday School Hall. " Tho Building of tho Bridge " will be an interesting and attractive event. When complete the bridge is 18ft long, about 7ft high, and it takes about 100 children to build it. It is hoped that there will be a large attendance on the occasion. On Wednesday afternoon there is to be a Christian Endeavour Parliament, presided over by tho Rev. C. Boy all, followed by a tea. The convention will close with a consecration service in First Church afc 7.30, when addresses will be given by the Revs. Sinclair and Mackie, and the new officers will he inducted. Representatives conveying greetings from other unions will be present. There will also be the usual roll-call, to which all the societies are expected to res-pond.