Description: |
THE NORMAL ADVANCE87This attitude bids fair to bring about a full real¬
ization of the spiritual possibilities of each col¬
lege and turn it into a world missionary force.
Such progress is not an impossibility if each dele¬
gate obeys the truth that was given him and ful¬
fills the vows he made to God. Personal interest
and united action in behalf of the movement will
cause nothing less than such a revival of the
Christian religion as will influence students to
give Christ His rightful central place in their
lives, and as will make his Gospel seem to them
indispensable to all men and therefore something
to be propagated by themselves among all nations.Two of the inspiring leaders of the Convention
were Dr. John R. Mott, the master mind of the
student volunteers, and Mr. George Sherwood
Eddy, who has been a worker for many years in
the mission fields, and who delivered what many
considered the greatest address of the Convention.
Other prominent speakers were Secretary of
State William Jennings Bryan, Rev. Dr. Bobert F.
Horton of London, Dr. Johannes Warneck of
Berlin, Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer of Cairo, Egypt,
and Dr. Harlan P. Beach, professor of missions
at Yale University.Delegates and missionaries from foreign lands
made appeals in behalf of the people they were
representing. Bishop Kinsolving, from LatinAmerica, declared that religious absolutism is far
worse than pure paganism , and used the country of Brazil as proof of this statement. The startling fact was brought out that only 2 per cent, of the students in Brazil alone have any religious affiliations. However, many of them are eager for pure Christianity. Who will be held responsible for the religious welfare of these foreign brothers ?The eall also came from China, Japan, India, and other lands. It was made clear that the need of these peoples is more spiritual than material. China needs a demonstration of the dynamic power of Christianity. India needs sympathy, prayer and help toward the evangelization of her natives. Hers is the problem of sixty-five million Mohammedans, fifteen million Brahmans, and sixty-five million depressed, depraved and utterly hopeless outcasts. Japan demands missionaries and all-round Christians who will preach, educate, perform social service and cure its unbelief and social evils.Are we going to answer this despairing cry? Are we intending to carry to them the large things God has given us? Shall we let them die the spiritual death, or shall we place life eternal within their grasp? It is Gods will that the entire field be occupied. Let us be his willing laborers.It is only by labor that thought can be made healthy, and only by thought that labor can be made happy, and the two cannot be separat¬ ed with impunity.—Ruskin. |
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Source: |
http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/32535 |
Collection: |
Indiana State University Archives |
Further information on this record can be found at its source.