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Strategic Points in the World's 
 Conquest 
 
Strategic Points 
 
 in 
 
 the 
 
 World's Conquest 
 
 The Universities and Colleges 
 
 as Related to the 
 
 Progress of Christianity 
 
 By 
 
 John R. Mott 
 
 Wtik Map of his Journey 
 
 New York Chicago Toronto 
 
 Fleming H. Re veil Company 
 
 Publishers of Evangelical Literature • 
 
^, [ o(o'552 
 
 Copyright, 1897, by 
 Fleming H. Revell Company 
 
 THE NEW YORK TYPE-SETTING COMPANY 
 THE CAXTON PRESS 
 
 D3 
 
Introduction 
 
 * 
 
 Opinions Concerning the Federation of 
 
 the Students of the World 
 
 General Benjamin Harrison 
 
 Formerly President of the United States of America 
 
 The World's Student Christian Federation 
 and the Intercollegiate Christian Association 
 are institutions that do not need to be but- 
 tressed by certificates or propped by argu- 
 ments. It is not essential that we should 
 have statistics of achievement. The great- 
 ness, the wisdom, and the usefulness of these 
 societies, and the appeal to the hearts of 
 Christian men and women, are all unfolded 
 when the names are spoken. We see the 
 stalwart youth of our country, or of the world, 
 beating out the armor they are to wear and 
 forging the swords they are to wield. The 
 armor will be tough and strong and the 
 5 
 
Opinions Concerning the Federation 
 
 swords bright and keen; and these eager 
 young soldiers will readjust boundaries. Re- 
 cruiting must be active. The first blow es- 
 tablishes a fealty that is not easily detached. 
 Give theni leaders chosen from their own 
 ranks, and their own corps badge ; and out of 
 this cadet corps will come the great captains 
 who will fight it out on the lines of truth until 
 the world's rebellion against God has been 
 put down and the vanquished are given an 
 unstinted share in the heritage of the victors. 
 The churches have long realized the impor- 
 tance of religious instruction in the schools, as 
 the many Christian colleges and academies 
 attest. But now in many, perhaps in most, 
 of the great universities and colleges the stu- 
 dents are dependent upon volunteer agencies 
 for such instruction in the Word of God as 
 they receive. There is no agency so efficient, 
 none so free in its action, as the College 
 Christian Association. It is within — it is not 
 an intruder; it unites all, of every name. 
 The work and observations of Mr. Mott are 
 full of interest and his book ought to be very 
 widely read. 
 
 (Signed) BENJAMIN HARRISON. 
 
 Indianapolis, May 27, 1897. 
 6 
 
Of the Students of the World 
 The Earl of Aberdeen 
 
 Governor-general of Canada 
 
 Accept my cordial good wishes for the suc- 
 cess in the best and fullest sense of the word 
 of Mr. Mott's forthcoming book, and the work 
 and cause which it describes and will promote. 
 (Signed) ABERDEEN. 
 Ottawa, May 27, 1897. 
 
 The Right Honorable 
 William Ewart Gladstone 
 
 When Mr. Gladstone was informed of the 
 organization of the World's Student Christian 
 Federation, and of its object and possibilities, 
 he evinced deep interest and sent the following 
 cablegram : 
 
 " I have received the intelligence with 
 lively satisfaction. 
 
 " (Signed) GLADSTONE. 
 
 " Edinburgh, May 27, 1897." 
 
Introduction 
 Prince Oscar Bernadotte 
 
 Of Sweden 
 
 I have watched with increasing interest 
 and gratitude to God the gradual unfolding 
 of His purposes in connection with this re- 
 markable tour among the students of all lands, 
 and am persuaded that in this Federation of 
 the students of the world we hear a call from 
 the Spirit of God summoning the universal 
 Church of Christ to larger sacrifices and 
 greater faithfulness in both prayer and ser- 
 vice. (Signed) BERNADOTTE. 
 Stockholm, May 25, 1897. 
 
 Count Andreas von BemstorfF 
 
 Of Germany 
 
 The recent Federation of Christian students 
 of the Occident and Orient for the evangeliza- 
 tion of the world marks the beginning of a 
 new epoch in the conquest of the world for 
 Christ. There seems to sound forth from it 
 the first note of victory. 
 
 (Signed) BernSTORFF. 
 
 Berlin, May 20, 1897. 
 
 8 
 
Preface 
 
 In the summer of 1894 I received invita- 
 tions to attend the national student confer- 
 ences of Great Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, 
 and Switzerland, to be held during the sum- 
 mer and fall of 1895. At the same time 
 invitations came from the leaders of Christian 
 work among students in India requesting me 
 to conduct a campaign in the interest of 
 Indian students in the winter of 1895-96, 
 and from workers among students in Japan 
 to visit the students of that country in 1896. 
 These six invitations were given indepen- 
 dently of each other, and were all received 
 within a period of eight weeks. After much 
 prayer, and after consultation with friends and 
 9 
 
Preface 
 
 prominent workers, it was decided to accept 
 the invitations, and to make a somewhat ex- 
 tended tour to promote Christian life and 
 organized Christian work among the students 
 of other lands. When the missionaries of 
 China and the Levant learned of the proposed 
 tour they sent urgent appeals for a visit to 
 their colleges. After my wife and I had be- 
 gun our tour we were induced to include the 
 student centers of Australasia. 
 
 We wrote back from the different countries 
 a record of the journey, together with obser- 
 vations upon the work of the church among 
 the various peoples visited, and, more particu- 
 larly, upon the relation of the student class 
 to the progress of Christianity. These letters 
 of report were sent to a few of the leaders and 
 friends of the three student organizations with 
 which I am officially connected, namely, the 
 World's Student Christian Federation, the 
 Student Volunteer Movement, and the Inter- 
 collegiate Young Men's Christian Association. 
 At the earnest solicitation of students, pro- 
 
 10 
 
Preface 
 
 fessors, clergymen, secretaries of mission 
 boards, and Christian laymen I have put the 
 story of the world tour in printed form, in 
 order that it may be accessible to all who are 
 interested in the extension of the kingdom of 
 Christ. The form of the story of the tour 
 has been essentially changed, and much new 
 material has been added. 
 
 It is hoped that this record will lead to a 
 wider recognition of the great strategic im- 
 portance of the universities and colleges in the 
 spiritual conquest of the world, and awaken 
 larger interest in the movement to make all 
 institutions of higher learning strongholds and 
 propagating centers of the Christian faith. 
 
 John R. Mott. 
 
 40 East Twenty-third Street, 
 New York City, 
 June I, 1897. 
 
 II 
 
Contents 
 
 I. The World's Student Christian Federa- 
 tion 
 
 II. Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 III. Students of Papal Europe 
 
 IV. Turkey, the Balkans, Greece . 
 v. Syria and Palestine . 
 
 VI. The Nile Valley 
 
 VII. Ceylon 
 
 VIII. Indian Student Conferences . 
 IX. Indian Student Movements 
 X. Impressions of India . 
 XI. The Australasian Tour . 
 XII. Australasian Student Movement 
 
 XIII. Conferences in China 
 
 XIV. Students of China United 
 XV. Impressions of China 
 
 XVI. The Japanese Tour . 
 
 XVII. Impressions of Japan 
 XVIII. The Hawaiian Islands 
 
 XIX. Summary of the Tour 
 
 Itinerary 
 
 15 
 24 
 
 37 
 
 44 
 
 49 
 
 57 
 
 65 
 
 75 
 
 83 
 
 96 
 
 109 
 
 131 
 
 133 
 
 141 
 
 152 
 
 170 
 
 181 
 
 202 
 
 208 
 
 214 
 
Strategic Points in the World's 
 Conquest 
 
 I 
 
 The World's Student Christian Federation 
 
 In the month of August, 1895, there was 
 held within the walls of the ancient Swedish 
 castle of Vadstena, on the shores of Lake 
 Wettern, a gathering of students which is 
 destined to occupy as important a place in 
 the history of the Christian church as the 
 famous haystack prayer-meeting at Williams 
 College. Never since the Wartburg sheltered 
 the great German reformer while he was 
 translating the Bible for the common people 
 15 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 has a medieval castle served a purpose fraught 
 with larger blessing to all mankind. This 
 conference in Scandinavia was composed of 
 representatives of the five great intercollegi- 
 ate movements then in existence, the Ameri- 
 can Intercollegiate Young Men's Christian 
 Association, the British College Christian 
 Union, the German Christian Students' Alli- 
 ance, the Scandinavian University Christian 
 Movement, and the Student Christian Move- 
 ment in Mission Lands. Before sending their 
 delegates to Sweden the different movements 
 represented had come to an affirmative de- 
 cision on the following question : If it be 
 profitable for the Christian students of any- 
 one university or college to associate for the 
 sake of influencing other students for Christ, 
 and sending them into the world to extend 
 His kingdom; if it be highly desirable to 
 band together the various Christian organi- 
 zations of any one country in order to make 
 them more helpful to each other in all their 
 activities, and to enable them to make a 
 i6 
 
The World's Student Christian Federation 
 
 deeper impression upon the national life; 
 would it not be most advantageous to unite in 
 a great federation the national intercollegiate 
 movements of the whole world? Days of 
 intense and prayerful discussion resulted in 
 the formation of the World's Student Chris- 
 tian Federation, and in the unanimous adop- 
 tion of its constitution. It was fitting that 
 this most important step should be taken at 
 the Scandinavian conference, for that was 
 the first student convention ever held in which 
 there were present delegates from all the 
 great Protestant powers. This fact was 
 vividly impressed on all by the grouping 
 over the platform of the flags of these nations. 
 The Federation is well named. It is al- 
 ready world-wide in its purpose and extent. 
 It is distinctively a student enterprise. It is 
 unqualifiedly Christian. And it is not a 
 merging or consolidation of old organizations, 
 but a union or federation of student move- 
 ments, each of which preserves its indepen- 
 dence and individuality. The object of the 
 17 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 Federation is most inspiring. It is nothing 
 less than the uniting of the Christian forces 
 of all universities and colleges in the great 
 work of winning the students of the world 
 for Christ, of building them up in Him, and 
 of sending them out into the world to work 
 for Him. 
 
 Since the five movements already named 
 united in the formation of the Federation 
 it has been entered by five others; namely, 
 the Intercollegiate Young Men's Christian 
 Association of India and Ceylon, the Austra- 
 lasian Student Christian Union, the Student 
 Christian Union of South Africa, the College 
 Young Men's Christian Association of China, 
 and the Student Young Men's Christian As- 
 sociation Union of Japan. To promote the 
 objects of the Federation there is a general 
 committee, composed of two men from each 
 movement. Corresponding members have 
 been appointed for countries which have not 
 yet been admitted to the Federation. Only 
 those movements can be federated which 
 i8 
 
The World's Student Christian Federation 
 
 combine a national or international group of 
 colleges, and which in their aims and work 
 are in full harmony with the objects of the 
 Federation. 
 
 This world-wide union of students is the 
 work of God. He planted the idea and the 
 hope of its realization at almost the same 
 time in the minds of different men in widely- 
 separated lands. Plans for some such union 
 had been proposed at different times in the 
 past, but the fullness of time for a world's 
 federation did not come until 1895. Then 
 for the first time had the student movements 
 of Europe, America, and Asia reached such 
 a stage of development, and come into such 
 a relation to each other, that it was possible 
 to form a comprehensive, practical, and har- 
 monious federation. 
 
 The Federation has made possible for the 
 first time a thorough investigation of the 
 moral and religious condition of students in 
 all lands ; and this investigation has revealed 
 some of the greatest opportunities presented 
 19 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 within our generation. It has facilitated the 
 introduction of organized Christian work into 
 some of the most difficult and important un- 
 occupied fields. Moreover, the conditions 
 have been made favorable for a comparative 
 study of the methods of promoting Christian 
 hfe and work among students. This must be 
 a decided help to the student organizations 
 in every country. As God has given to some 
 movements a larger and richer experience 
 than to others, the Federation aflfords them 
 an opportunity to make that experience a 
 blessing to the entire student world. It has 
 established means of communication through 
 which the different national movements will 
 act and react upon each other. Gladstone, 
 in speaking of the influence of the universi- 
 ties in the middle ages, said that " they es- 
 tablished, so to speak, a telegraph for the 
 mind ; and all the elements of intellectual 
 culture scattered throughout Europe were 
 brought by them into near communion. 
 They established a great brotherhood of the 
 20 
 
The World's Student Christian Federation 
 
 understanding." This Federation has estab- 
 Hshed a telegraph in things spiritual ; and the 
 methods of work wrought out by student 
 societies in different lands, the ideals set forth 
 by the students of different races, the great 
 works accomplished by the Spirit of God 
 among the students of the Occident and 
 Orient, have by the Federation been brought 
 into near communion. It has estabhshed a 
 great student brotherhood in Jesus Christ. 
 Who can measure the possibilities of such a 
 brotherhood ? 
 
 The chief significance of the Federation is 
 in its unifying power. It is doing much to 
 unify the plans and methods of Christian 
 work among students in different countries. 
 Moreover, it is uniting in effort and in spirit 
 as never before the students of the world. 
 It is helping to unite the nations by stronger 
 and more enduring bonds than arbitration 
 treaties, because it is fusing together by the 
 omnipotent Spirit of Christ the students who 
 are to be the leaders of the nations. In this 
 
 21 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 time of " wars and rumors of wars," this 
 Federation signifies that, so far as the student 
 class is concerned, there is no Britain and no 
 America, no France and no Germany, no 
 China and no Japan, but Christ is all and in 
 all. Furthermore, in these days when so 
 much is being said and written about Chris- 
 tian unity, this Federation, by uniting the 
 students of some seventy leading branches of 
 the all-embracing Church of Christ, is de- 
 monstrating in the most practical manner that 
 " There is one body, and one Spirit, even as 
 also ye were called in one hope of your calling ; 
 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God 
 and Father of all, who is over all, and through 
 all, and in all." 
 
 This unifying of the Christian organizations 
 of the student world is not an end in itself. 
 It is but a preparation for a larger work in 
 the world. May it not be that God Him- 
 self is planning far greater things than the 
 church has ever witnessed ? Has there ever 
 been such an alinement of the forces for a 
 
The World's Student Christian Federation 
 
 great forward movement among the races of 
 mankind? The Jesuits, in their supreme 
 efforts to conquer the world, stretched a 
 chain of hundreds of colleges and seminaries 
 from Ireland to Japan. They recognized the 
 strategic importance of institutions of higher 
 learning. The World's Student Christian 
 Federation is another organization which 
 takes the whole world into its vision and 
 plan. It hkewise recognizes the strategic 
 importance of the colleges and universities, 
 and steadfastly seeks in all of them to make 
 Christ King, in order that there may go forth 
 from them hosts of young men for the spiri- 
 tual conquest of the world. 
 
 23 
 
II 
 
 Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 In order to appreciate the meaning of the 
 World's Student Christian Federation it is 
 necessary to understand the achievements 
 and possibiHties of the great intercollegiate 
 movements of the Occident. The oldest 
 of these movements is the American In- 
 tercollegiate Young Men's Christian Asso- 
 ciation. When this movement was inaug- 
 urated in 1877 there were less than thirty 
 Christian associations in the colleges and 
 universities of the United States and Canada, 
 and, save in a few Christian colleges, there 
 was comparatively httle Christian activity. 
 This movement united most of these iso- 
 lated societies, and as a result of such 
 24 
 
Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 union the scope of their work was broad- 
 ened, their efficiency greatly increased, and 
 their spiritual life deepened. It made possi- 
 ble, also, the rapid extension of organized 
 Christian work to other institutions, so that 
 now, after a score of years. Christian associ- 
 ations are firmly established in nearly five 
 hundred and fifty institutions of higher learn- 
 ing in North America. This number includes 
 all but one of the forty or more State univer- 
 sities, all the other great universities, nearly 
 all of the Christian colleges, and a majority 
 of the leading professional and technical in- 
 stitutions. Over thirty-three thousand stu- 
 dents and professors are members of the 
 movement. More than thirty thousand stu- 
 dents have been led, through the work of the 
 associations, to become disciples of Jesus 
 Christ, and the number of students becoming 
 Christians is increasing year by year. 
 Twenty years ago the proportion of Chris- 
 tians among American students was less than 
 one in three ; now it is a Uttle more than one 
 25 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 in two. It cannot be questioned that this 
 movement has been the chief factor in effect- 
 ing this striking change. Thorough, pro- 
 gressive, devotional Bible study has been 
 very greatly promoted among students. 
 There are not less than ten thousand young 
 men in the voluntary Bible classes of the as- 
 sociations, or more than four times as many 
 as ten years ago. This movement has 
 afforded training in methods of Christian 
 work to over eighty thousand young men 
 who have held positions as office-bearers and 
 committeemen in the various associations. 
 In the various professions and in business life 
 they are now among the most useful lead- 
 ers of laymen in this age of laymen. More- 
 over, nearly five thousand young men, rep- 
 resenting some forty different branches of 
 the church, have been influenced to be- 
 come clergymen. An even larger number 
 of students have been led to dedicate their 
 lives to foreign missions through the influence 
 of the Student Volunteer Movement for 
 26 
 
Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 Foreign Missions, which, so far as college 
 men are concerned, is the missionary depart- 
 ment of the association movement. Already 
 fully eight hundred of these missionary 
 volunteers have gone to the foreign field 
 under the auspices of the various mission 
 boards. In view of facts like these the tes- 
 timony of Dr. Roswell Hitchcock, given 
 several years ago, is even more applicable 
 now : " The omnipresence, and I had almost 
 said the omnipotence, of the Intercollegiate 
 Young Men's Christian Association is the 
 great fact in the religious life of our colleges 
 to-day." 
 
 The British College Christian Union began 
 its organized and aggressive work between 
 three and four years ago. At its inception 
 it united Christian organizations of seventeen 
 universities and colleges. This number in- 
 cluded nearly all of the strongest student 
 religious societies of Great Britain. Within 
 the short period in which the movement has 
 been at work the number of affiliated unions 
 27 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 and associations, including tiiose newly 
 formed, has increased from seventeen to 
 about one hundred. Practically every great 
 institution in England, Scotland, Ireland, and 
 Wales is identified with the movement. 
 This is truly remarkable progress. Not only 
 has there been a great work of extension, 
 but the internal development of the move- 
 ment has been equally encouraging. In 
 many of the older unions the methods of 
 work have been improved, and there is greatly 
 increased activity. In nearly all the insti- 
 tutions there has been an increase in the 
 number of Bible circles, as well as in the 
 number of men carrying on private Bible 
 study. Another great advance has been on 
 the line of a special campaign to reach new 
 students at the very beginning of their col- 
 lege life. One of the British leaders states 
 that the number of societies carrying on such 
 work has increased sixfold within three years. 
 Under the influence of this national move- 
 ment there has been within the past few years 
 28 
 
Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 an increase in personal dealing with fellow 
 students and consequently in the number that 
 have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour. 
 The great missionary awakening in the Brit- 
 ish colleges within the last five or six years 
 is one of the most impressive facts of the 
 times. In its organized form it is known as 
 the Student Volunteer Missionary Union. 
 While it is a separate organization, it is so 
 closely connected with the Christian Union, 
 especially from the point of view of the Fed- 
 eration, that they should be mentioned to- 
 gether. When the Volunteer Union began 
 its work there were about three hundred 
 students in the British colleges expecting to 
 be missionaries. Its membership now in- 
 cludes over twelve hundred student volun- 
 teers, of whom more than one fourth have 
 already reached the foreign field. Possibly 
 the best indication of the solidity and vital- 
 ity of the whole British movement was the 
 wonderful student missionary convention 
 at Liverpool in January, 1896. It was one 
 29 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 of the most powerful missionary gatherings 
 ever held. When we reflect on the influ- 
 ence which the Christian students of either 
 Oxford or Cambridge have had upon the life 
 of Great Britain, who can measure the pos- 
 sible influence of the British College Chris- 
 tian Union, which unites in organization, in 
 effort, and in spirit the Christian students 
 not only of Oxford and Cambridge, but also 
 of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Aberdeen and 
 St. Andrew's, Dublin and Belfast, and scores 
 of other colleges, among whose students are 
 the future leaders in church and state. 
 Moreover, this union has an influence beyond 
 the British Isles. In the providence of God 
 it has become an inspiration to the bands of 
 Christian students throughout the Continent. 
 Because of her world-wide empire Great 
 Britain is able, also, to do more for missions 
 than any other land. Fully one third of the 
 non-Christian world is under her own flag, 
 and her political influence is probably greater 
 with another third than is that of any other 
 30 
 
Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 Protestant power. This fact attaches very- 
 great importance to the work of the Christian 
 movement in the British universities. 
 
 The third movement to be considered is 
 the German Christian Students' AUiance. 
 It has been in existence in its present form 
 less than three years. As a movement, how- 
 ever, it has existed for seven years. It had 
 its origin in the Bible circles of the gymnasia. 
 After these circles had been carried on suc- 
 cessfully for a time, some of their members 
 entered the universities, and while there were 
 led to form similar circles. These multiplied, 
 until now they may be found in a majority 
 of the German universities. Several very 
 helpful student conferences have been held, 
 and most of the time during the past few 
 years there has been a secretary at work 
 seeking to develop the movement. As a 
 result the scope of the Bible circles has re- 
 cently been broadened. In some universities 
 much good has been done in the promotion 
 of personal purity. Special efforts have been 
 31 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 put forth in a few places to surround men, 
 as they enter the university, with the best 
 influences. At several student centers effec- 
 tive work has been done, also, in leading 
 students to accept Christ as a personal Sa- 
 viour. A year ago at the University of Berlin 
 a small number of students were won for 
 Christ. In view of the great difficulties in 
 the way of such work, this fact means more 
 than would the decision for Christ of scores 
 of men in the great universities of America 
 and Britain. Steps were taken at the Liver- 
 pool convention to introduce the volunteer 
 missionary idea into the German universities. 
 As a result there are now thirty or more 
 student volunteers at different institutions in 
 Germany, and the outlook is favorable for a 
 genuine missionary revival. The beginnings 
 of the German Christian Students' Alliance 
 may not seem large; yet when we think of 
 the constitution of the German universities, 
 the constant and rapid shifting of the student 
 population, the peculiarly strong and subtle 
 32 
 
Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 temptations, and the prevailing conservatism, 
 the progress already made seems encourag- 
 ing. It would be difficult to exaggerate the 
 importance of this spiritual movement among 
 the German students. There are over thirty- 
 thousand students in the twenty-one univer- 
 sities of Germany. In no other country do 
 the universities occupy such an exalted posi- 
 tion. One prominent writer states that the 
 universities rank next to the army. Tech- 
 nically this may be true, but it cannot well 
 be questioned that as a force in the nation 
 and in the world the twenty-five hundred 
 professors and instructors, and the thirty 
 thousand university students, mean infinitely 
 more than the twenty-two thousand officers 
 and five hundred thousand soldiers in the 
 standing army. This movement is needed to 
 reach the great numbers of young men and 
 boys in the universities and gymnasia. It is 
 needed also for the sake of Germany. All 
 of the great spiritual movements in Germany 
 have had their springs in the universities. We 
 33 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 need only recall the Reformation, the Ger- 
 man foreign missionary awakening, and the 
 Pietist movement. Furthermore, a spiritual 
 work in these universities would be felt far 
 beyond Germany. The German universities 
 are the most influential in the world of 
 thought. It would be a great calamity to 
 have the weight of that mighty influence con- 
 tinue to be thrown on the side of rationalism. 
 The Scandinavian University Christian 
 Movement stands fourth in age among the 
 interuniversity Christian organizations of the 
 Occident. It unites the Christian associations 
 in the universities of Norway, Sweden, Den- 
 mark, and Finland. While members of these 
 student societies had come together in inter- 
 esting and profitable conferences on two 
 former occasions during the last six years, it 
 was not until the third conference, in August, 
 1895, that they perfected an interuniversity 
 organization. Although this movement has 
 been in existence but a short time, its work 
 has been attended with very satisfactory 
 34 
 
Student Movements of the Occident 
 
 results. The student homes, the Bible 
 classes, and the city mission work are 
 among the most successful features of the 
 organizations at the leading universities. 
 Not the least result of this new movement 
 has been the awakening of the intercollegiate 
 consciousness. The movement has helped 
 also to make possible a revival of missionary- 
 interest, and consequently an increasing 
 number of young men are offering them- 
 selves for foreign missions. The Scandina- 
 vian universities constitute a most important 
 field for Christian organization and effort. 
 They have unusually high educational stan- 
 dards; for example, their medical course is 
 from eight to ten years in length. The uni- 
 versities are regarded with great favor by 
 all classes of people. Even the poorest 
 young men have access to them. This gives 
 them a strong hold on the masses of the peo- 
 ple. The students of Scandinavia are an 
 uncommonly able body of young men. We 
 were impressed by their manliness, their 
 .35 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 force of character, and their honesty of pur- 
 pose and method. It inspires one to think 
 of the possibihties of this movement which 
 unites the students of these North lands, who 
 are among the strongest and sturdiest in the 
 whole world. 
 
 36 
 
Ill 
 
 Students of Papal Europe 
 
 There is very great need of a spiritual 
 movement on behalf of the students of Italy. 
 Of the entire population of thirty millions, 
 only sixty thousand, or but one in five hun- 
 dred, are Protestants. There are seventeen 
 state universities, four free universities, and 
 fifty- eight other institutions of higher learn- 
 ing — in all, seventy-nine institutions, with a 
 total of over twenty-five thousand students ; 
 and among all of them there is not a single 
 Christian organization. The large majority 
 of the students and professors are either 
 skeptics or infidels. Visits were made to the 
 only three Protestant colleges in the country. 
 They are located at Rome, Florence, and 
 37 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 Torre Pellice. All together they had less 
 than two hundred students. An earnest 
 body of students was addressed in the college 
 at Rome, and there seemed reason to believe 
 that the visit there will result eventually in 
 the formation of a Christian association. 
 Torre Pelhce is one of the most historic spots 
 in connection with the Waldensian church, 
 and is a place of absorbing interest to all 
 Protestants. Its beautiful valleys have been 
 swept during the last six hundred years by 
 thirty-three bitter and bloody persecutions. 
 The foundations were laid there for the first 
 Christian association of students in all Italy. 
 The college in Florence had not opened, but 
 a conference was held with the professor who 
 has most spiritual influence with the students, 
 and he was brought into touch with the most 
 helpful developments in Christian work among 
 the students of America and Europe. He 
 consented to become corresponding member 
 of the Federation for Italy, and assumed 
 special responsibility for the great body of 
 38 
 
Students of Papal Europe 
 
 tempted, drifting students in that land. It 
 is hoped that the small beginnings in these 
 three places will serve as an entering wedge 
 into the higher educational system of the 
 country. 
 
 At the time of our journey through France 
 the universities were still closed. However, 
 the secretary of the Protestant Students' 
 Association of Paris was met later at the 
 Swiss conference, in order that we might 
 confer about the students of France. His 
 work had made real progress during the 
 preceding year. It is believed that the com- 
 ing year will witness two important develop- 
 ments among the students of France : First, 
 the organization of Christian work in two, 
 and possibly three, institutions outside of 
 Paris ; for thus far the work has been limited 
 chiefly to the student quarter of that city. 
 Secondly, the inauguration of a French stu- 
 dent conference. Such a conference would 
 mark the beginning of a movement on be- 
 half of the students of France, as was the 
 39 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 case with the first gatherings of a similar 
 character in Britain, Germany, and Switzer- 
 land. The fact that there are not less than 
 thirty thousand young men in the universi- 
 ties and colleges of France, for whom com- 
 paratively little is being done, suggests the 
 urgent need of such a movement. A cor- 
 respondingmemberfor France wasappointed, 
 and instructed regarding his duties and re- 
 sponsibilities. 
 
 In Austria there are eight universities and 
 several other prominent institutions of learn- 
 ing, with not less than twenty thousand stu- 
 dents. Nothing whatever was being done 
 for their moral and spiritual welfare. Worse 
 than that, the law was such that it would 
 have been impossible to institute an evangeli- 
 cal interdenominational organization. The 
 best that could be done was to authorize an 
 able minister in Vienna, who had already 
 shown a deep interest in the students of the 
 city, to carry on a special investigation of the 
 religious status of the students of the coun- 
 40 
 
Students of Papal Europe 
 
 try on behalf of the Federation. Plans of 
 work for foreign students, of whom there are 
 so many in Vienna, were also discussed. It 
 may be that a successful effort for this class 
 will eventually open the way to the five 
 thousand students in the university of this 
 wicked city. 
 
 Hungary is a more hopeful field. Where- 
 as in Austria not more than one in fifty of 
 the people are Protestants, in Hungary the 
 proportion is at least one in five. Moreover, 
 the latter country enjoys much greater re- 
 ligious toleration. Nevertheless, among 
 seven thousand students, in three universi- 
 ties and twelve colleges, there was no evan- 
 gelical organization. In Budapest, however, 
 where the leading Hungarian university is 
 located, it was encouraging to find the city 
 Young Men's Christian Association doing a 
 good wdrk for students. About five sixths 
 of the members of that association are stu- 
 dents, so it is practically a student organiza- 
 tion. Considerable time was spent with the 
 41 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 leader of this work, who is a young professor, 
 not only discussing better methods for reach- 
 ing the four thousand students in that city, 
 but also laying before him the ideas of the 
 Federation. He consented to serve as cor- 
 responding member for Hungary. 
 
 The three other papal countries of Europe 
 — Spain, Portugal, and Belgium — were not 
 visited, but two persons were invited to make 
 a thorough study of the religious state of 
 the students. These three countries have 
 fifteen universities and several colleges, with 
 a total of thirty thousand students. They 
 constitute at present an almost hopeless field. 
 One fact will help to make this plain. There 
 are in these lands thirty million people, nearly 
 all of whom are Romanists, there being 
 among them less than twenty thousand Prot- 
 estants, or one in fifteen hundred. 
 
 By way of summary it may be stated that 
 
 there are in the universities and colleges of 
 
 the seven papal countries of Europe not less 
 
 than one hundred and thirteen thousand 
 
 42 
 
Students of Papal Europe 
 
 young men. Trustworthy testimony seems 
 to indicate that in all these countries the 
 Church of Rome has lost its hold on a strik- 
 ingly large proportion both of students and 
 professors. They have drifted into skepti- 
 cism and agnosticism. The materialistic bent 
 is becoming more and more pronounced. 
 Impurity is the chief evil, and is more preva- 
 lent than among the students of any other 
 countries of Europe. Spiritual fires have 
 been kindled among the students in France, 
 Italy, and Hungary. May they prove to be 
 foregleams of the coming day for the univer- 
 sities of all these lands, which have been so 
 long enshrouded in the double darkness of 
 superstition and skepticism. 
 
 43 
 
IV 
 
 Turkey, the Balkans, Greece 
 
 Six days were spent in Constantinople — 
 days which can never be forgotten. It was 
 during the reign of terror which characterized 
 the first week of October, 1895, when the 
 almost unbelievable atrocities were perpe- 
 trated upon the Armenians in that city. 
 
 The work in Constantinople was in con- 
 nection with Robert College, the only insti- 
 tution of higher learning worthy of the name 
 in European Turkey. It has a location more 
 beautiful and richer in historic associations 
 than that of any other institution in the 
 world. This college has probably exerted a 
 greater influence during the first twenty-five 
 years of its history than any other college, 
 44 
 
Turkey, the Balkans, Greece 
 
 unless it be the Doshisha in Japan, the Syrian 
 Protestant College in Beirut, or the DufI col- 
 lege in Calcutta. It has been the chief cause 
 leading to the foundation of many of the 
 other colleges and universities in southeastern 
 Europe, and has raised the standard of the 
 educational system of that entire section. It 
 has furnished many of the best teachers for 
 the Bulgarian and Armenian schools. Men 
 who are in a position to know state that the 
 Turks attribute the loss of Bulgaria to the 
 influence of this college. A study of the 
 names and careers of the three hundred and 
 twenty-five graduates is most suggestive. 
 The spiritual influence of the college has 
 greatly helped, also, to stem the rising tide 
 of infidelity. The college draws its students 
 from fourteen nationalities, but chiefly from 
 the Greeks, Armenians, and Bulgarians. The 
 Young Men's Christian Association in the 
 institution is unique among the college asso- 
 ciations of the world in that it is divided into 
 four departments, according to the languages 
 45 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 spoken, namely, English, Bulgarian, Arme- 
 nian, and Greek. On account of the disturb- 
 ances in the city it was deemed unwise to 
 hold many meetings. The Turks are very 
 suspicious of any assembling of Christians. 
 However, one meeting was held with the 
 professors, and three with the students. 
 Special religious interest was manifested. 
 At the last meeting twelve young men ex- 
 pressed their desire to receive Christ as their 
 personal Saviour. Three other young men 
 were led to form the purpose to give their 
 lives to teaching the Word of God to their 
 own people. 
 
 Before going to Constantinople a short 
 visit was made to Bulgaria, affording an op- 
 portunity to study the student field of the 
 Balkan States. There are in Bulgaria, Rou- 
 mania, Servia, and Montenegro four univer- 
 sities and a few other institutions of higher 
 learning, with a total of about five thousand 
 students. All of these states came into ex- 
 istence at a comparatively recent date and 
 46 
 
Turkey, the Balkans, Greece 
 
 are still in their formative period. It is of 
 great importance that the students be reached 
 as soon as possible with evangelical influences. 
 While they are nominally members of the 
 pro-Slav churches, it seems too true that 
 they are practically skeptics or infidels. It 
 was impossible to effect an evangehcal or- 
 ganization among them, because there are 
 not enough Protestants to form the necessary 
 nucleus. The time will come, however, 
 when this field can be entered. In the mean 
 time a very capable Bulgarian pastor was ap- 
 pointed as the representative of the Federa- 
 tion in these states. He will not only do 
 what he can to introduce the ideas of the 
 Western associations into the Protestant 
 school at Somokov, but will seek also to 
 influence from without the students in the 
 Bulgarian university situated at Sofia, the 
 capital city. 
 
 The moral and religious life of the students 
 of Greece is much the same as that of the 
 young men in the universities of the Balkan 
 47 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 States. The great student center of the 
 country is Athens, with its university of 
 nearly thirty-five hundred students. Two 
 unsuccessful efforts have been made within 
 the last few years to carry on an evangelical 
 work in the interest of these students. The 
 patriotic sentiment in favor of the national 
 church is a barrier in the way of any move- 
 ment which has the least appearance of 
 proselyting. A rare young man was found 
 to represent the Federation. He is a Greek, 
 a graduate of Harvard, a Ph.D. of Berlin, 
 and is at present a lecturer in the University 
 of Athens. There is reason to believe that 
 within five years a successful organization 
 will be established among the university men 
 of Athens. Surely it is God's will that a 
 genuine spiritual work be started among the 
 students of this city, who to-day worship not 
 so much " an unknown God " as no God. 
 
 48 
 
V 
 Syria and Palestine 
 
 A MONTH was spent in that part of the 
 Levant which lies between the Bosporus and 
 the Nile, visiting colleges and schools in 
 Scutari, Smyrna, Beirut, Zahleh, Suk ul 
 Ghurb, Sidon, and Jerusalem. Meetings 
 were held with three city Young Men's 
 Christian Associations in Nazareth and Jeru- 
 salem. In Damascus it seemed unwise to 
 call a meeting of the young men, because of 
 the impending uprising of the Mohammedans. 
 The turbulent and dangerous state of affairs 
 in Asia Minor, which has since resulted in 
 such terrible calamity to American missions, 
 would have prevented our working in the 
 interior, even had there been time. 
 49 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 Among the results of the month's work 
 the following are noted : The students of ten 
 institutions were brought into intelligent and 
 sympathetic touch with the Christian student 
 movements of the West. In two institutions 
 having no organized Christian work the 
 foundations were laid for a Christian associ- 
 ation. Over one hundred young men were 
 enlisted in systematic Bible study. Not less 
 than twenty young men were led to enter 
 the Christian life. Eight young men were 
 influenced to devote their lives to Christian 
 work among their own countrymen. The 
 professors bear witness also to a quickening 
 and deepening of the spiritual life of the 
 Christian students and native teachers, and 
 this they consider the most important result 
 of the visit. At nearly every institution 
 thorough conferences were held with mem- 
 bers of the faculty on how to promote Chris- 
 tian life and work among young men. 
 
 Special interest attaches to the work in 
 three places. At Nazareth a Young Men's 
 50 
 
Syria and Palestine 
 
 Christian Association had been formed six 
 months before we arrived. The hall which 
 they had secured for their work was crowded 
 to overflowing at the first meeting. Not 
 only were there Protestants present, but also 
 several Greek Christians and a few Moham- 
 medans. They gave most eager attention to 
 the address, and in the after-conference took 
 hold of new ideas most heartily. In order 
 to have more room the next meeting was 
 held in the English church, the native pastor 
 kindly acting as interpreter. He testified 
 that as a result of the visit some young men 
 had dedicated themselves to Christian work, 
 and many had resolved to walk even as 
 Christ walked when He lived among their 
 hills eighteen hundred years ago. 
 
 In the city of Jerusalem there are two 
 associations, one of Anglo- Hebrews, and the 
 other of the Arabic-speaking young men. 
 These are composed chiefly of students. 
 Our work was in connection with these or- 
 ganizations, as well as with the three Protes- 
 51 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 tant institutions for young men and boys, 
 viz. : the House of Industry among the Jews, 
 Bishop Gobat's School for Boys, and the 
 Preparandi of the Church Missionary Society. 
 The Church Missionary Society is the lead- 
 ing agency at work in Palestine. Its workers 
 had assembled in Jerusalem for their annual 
 conference, and attended three of the meet- 
 ings, evincing deep interest in the Volunteer 
 Movement. 
 
 By far the most important place visited in 
 Syria was the Protestant College at Beirut, 
 where a week was spent. Seven meetings 
 were held, six with the students and one with 
 the teachers. Most of the addresses related 
 to the practical promotion of the spiritual 
 life. Two evangelistic meetings were held, 
 after each of which men were given an op- 
 portunity to seek an interview about the 
 matter of personal religion. Two hours each 
 night were devoted to this absorbing work. 
 Though only a short time was given to each 
 inquirer, it was impossible to see all. Their 
 52 
 
Syria and Palestine 
 
 intellectual and spiritual difficulties and their 
 besetting sins are much the same as those 
 encountered in American colleges. The 
 Syrian Protestant College is one of the three 
 most important institutions in all Asia. In 
 fact, there is no college which has within one 
 generation accomplished a greater work and 
 which to-day has a larger opportunity. It 
 has practically created the medical profession 
 in the Levant. It has been the most influ- 
 ential factor in promoting popular education 
 in Syria and in other parts of the East. It 
 has been, and is, the center for genuine 
 Christian and scientific literature and learn- 
 ing in all that region. Fully one fourth of 
 the graduates of the collegiate department 
 have entered Christian work either as preach- 
 ers or as teachers in Christian schools. 
 Surely the men who by their foresight and 
 generosity laid the foundations of this college 
 and brought it to its present position have 
 been divinely guided. 
 
 The importance of aggressive Christian 
 53 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 work for young men in this and in all other 
 schools of the Levant may be seen from a 
 few other considerations : 
 
 At the lowest estimate there are one hun- 
 dred and twenty million people — some say 
 over one hundred and fifty million — who 
 speak the Arabic language more or less 
 purely, or over whom it has special influence 
 because it is the inspired language of the 
 Koran. If these people are ever reached 
 with the gospel it will be through this lan- 
 guage, and the men to reach them must be 
 not only trained but Christianized in these 
 schools and colleges. 
 
 The mission schools of the Levant, and 
 more especially the Syrian Protestant College 
 (and one other college in Egypt), are laying 
 a great mine underneath the system of Mo- 
 hammedanism. When that most formidable 
 structure is completely shattered it will be as 
 a direct result of Christ's truth and power 
 working through these educational institu- 
 tions. Already the educated young men are 
 54 
 
Syria and Palestine 
 
 beginning to break away from the traditions 
 and superstitions of Islam and of the corrupt 
 Eastern churches. It is very noticeable, 
 however, that education as it frees young 
 men from tradition unsettles them concerning 
 all religious truth. When traditional beliefs 
 are shattered the tendency of the human 
 mind is toward skepticism. This fact makes 
 it most important that the educational forces 
 be directed by positive yet sympathetic 
 evangelical Christian men, and that every 
 encouragement be given to such voluntary 
 spiritual agencies as the Young Men's Chris- 
 tian Association. 
 
 The commercial spirit is strong among the 
 young men of the Levant, especially among 
 the Syrians. Dr. Daniel Bliss says that 
 within the last generation sixty thousand 
 young Syrians have emigrated to America, 
 Africa, and Australia. They have been 
 moved by the same force which moved the 
 ancient Phenicians who once inhabited their 
 coast — the love of gain. If this spirit of 
 55 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 commercial enterprise and daring can, by the 
 power of vital Christianity, be transformed 
 into the true missionary spirit, the Syrians 
 will yet become most effective ambassadors 
 of Christ to the tens of millions of Arabic- 
 speaking peoples who throng the lands from 
 China to Central Africa. 
 
 A thought which never fails to move us is 
 that the Levant is the land of the Bible. Is 
 it not a striking fact that the land to which 
 America and western Europe are indebted for 
 the Bible and all its enlightening and civiliz- 
 ing influences is to-day looking to them for 
 the Bible and those same influences? What 
 more inspiring or important work can there 
 be than that of rekindling along the shores 
 of the Great Sea, and in the regions that lie 
 beyond, the fires first lighted by Christ and 
 His apostles! 
 
 56 
 
VI 
 
 The Nile Valley 
 
 Ten days were spent at the two Christian 
 student centers of Egypt — Cairo and Asyut. 
 At Cairo the meetings were attended not only 
 by students, but also by a large and increasing 
 number of the native young men of the city. 
 Most of these young men were members of 
 the Coptic Church, but there were always 
 present representatives of the Armenian, 
 Greek, and papal churches, and also a few 
 Mohammedans. It was out of the question 
 to effect a Christian organization in the Boys' 
 School of Cairo, because there were among 
 the boys no Protestant communicants. An 
 association might have been started among 
 the young men of the city, but it seemed 
 57 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 unwise to do so until an experienced secre- 
 tary could be set apart to guide and develop it. 
 What a field for an association is presented 
 by the eighty thousand young men of this 
 city, who have come from all the European, 
 Asiatic, and African countries which fringe 
 the Mediterranean, as well as from more dis- 
 tant inland peoples! It is one of the most 
 fiercely tempted bodies of men in the world. 
 Cairo has been well called the Paris of the East. 
 The most interesting group of young men 
 met in Cairo were the students of the theo- 
 logical college of the United Presbyterian 
 mission. This institution is the source of 
 supply for all the ordained native ministers 
 of Egypt, and is therefore a point of special 
 importance. It was a privilege to help unite 
 these students with the students of Western 
 lands in the movement for the world's evan- 
 gelization, and to lay on them the responsi- 
 bility for enlisting other young men to join 
 them in the work of proclaiming Christ to the 
 Egyptian masses. 
 
 58 
 
The Nile Valley 
 
 The United Presbyterian Church of 
 America is the only missionary agency at 
 work among the native population of Egypt. 
 It has about forty missionaries, thirty of 
 whom were met personally. Without doubt 
 their work should be classed with the most 
 solid and fruitful missions of the entire for- 
 eign field. 
 
 At Asyut is located the Training College, 
 with an attendance of over four hundred 
 young men. This college has exerted a re- 
 markable influence. It has done more, prob- 
 ably, to promote the intellectual, moral, and 
 spiritual progress of Egypt than any other 
 force or agency. It has educated fully two 
 thousand students ; has sent out one hundred 
 graduates, over two thirds of whom have 
 entered the service of the church either as 
 preachers or teachers ; has helped to train all 
 but three of the native ministers of the coun- 
 try ; and has been the means of developing 
 the effective system of village schools. Of 
 one hundred and fifty village school-teachers, 
 59 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 over one hundred were trained in this college. 
 Even the government is modeling its schools 
 after those started under the influence of the 
 college. The vi^ork of this institution has 
 infused new life into the corrupt Coptic 
 Church. It has done much to remove pre- 
 judice and bigotry from the minds of Mo- 
 hammedans. At present nine tenths of the 
 students of the three upper classes are com- 
 municants of the Protestant Church. Four 
 meetings were held. The initial steps were 
 taken toward the organization of a Young 
 Men's Christian Association. It has since 
 become one of the strongest on the foreign 
 field. Another result of the visit was the 
 decision of nineteen young men to devote 
 their lives to Christian work either as minis- 
 ters or teachers. The teacher in Egypt is a 
 great factor in promoting the work of the 
 church, owing to the prominence given to 
 religious instruction in the mission schools. 
 The decisions of these young men were 
 prayerfully and thoughtfully made. President 
 60 
 
The Nile Valley 
 
 Alexander said that the nineteen men who 
 had reached a decision included the ablest 
 students of the upper classes. They were 
 asked to give in writing the reasons why 
 they had decided to devote themselves to 
 Christian work. The following are a few of 
 the reasons which they gave : 
 
 " Christ commanded us to preach the 
 gospel. As I love Him, I must keep His 
 commandment." — Abadir Ibraheem. 
 
 " There are few preaching in my country, 
 while there are multitudes of men who know 
 not the truth." — Gabra Hanna. 
 
 " Our country is not small, and its progress 
 depends upon its Christian young men. 
 Therefore I intend to help train the boys in 
 Christianity, so that later they will work for 
 their fellow-men." 
 
 " The Lord's work is wide and the 
 workers few. Our young men prefer to 
 go to the government offices. Therefore 
 I choose to be a Christian teacher, to edu- 
 cate the small boys in their youth so as to 
 6i 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 be progressive in their old age." — Kheelaylah 
 Masrood. 
 
 " I feel that I am under responsibility be- 
 cause of the religious knowledge the Lord 
 hath given me. I must not hide the light I 
 have, lest my brothers die in the valley of 
 darkness." — Isshak Ibraheem. 
 
 " That I may follow the example of 
 Christ." — Kheel Geeha. 
 
 " He who knows something of God and 
 does not inform others is responsible before 
 God." — Hanna Gabroos. 
 
 Egypt has a population of seven millions, 
 largely confined to the Nile valley below the 
 first cataract. This valley is a fertile strip 
 over seven hundred miles long and from two 
 to ten miles wide. Four hundred thousand 
 of the Egyptian people belong to the Coptic 
 Church — a corrupt branch of the Christian 
 church; the rest are chiefly Mohammedans. 
 The most important step toward solving the 
 problem of reaching these two classes is that 
 of making the schools and the colleges strong 
 62 
 
The Nile Valley 
 
 centers for the propagation of Christianity. 
 These institutions are also the best points 
 from which to attack the larger problem of 
 reaching the masses of the Dark Continent, 
 particularly in the Soudan and the Barbary 
 States. 
 
 One day in Cairo a visit was made to the 
 famous Mohammedan university, EI-Azhar. 
 There were present over seven thousand stu- 
 dents, representing all parts of the Islam world, 
 from India to Morocco. The course of study 
 is nine years in length, and fully one third of 
 the students take the entire course. This uni- 
 versity constitutes the strongest support of 
 Mohammedanism, and has a far-reaching 
 influence. But educational missions and 
 Christian colleges throughout the East are 
 setting in motion forces which inevitably 
 will overthrow the traditions, superstitions, 
 and dark and cruel works of the followers of 
 the false prophet. Not least in promoting 
 this mighty movement will be the Christian 
 schools and colleges of Egypt. The land 
 63 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 whose universities gave the world Moses and 
 Apollos and Athanasius will yet furnish the 
 world other men whose consecrated learning 
 will make them pillars of strength in the 
 universal Church of Christ. 
 
 64 
 
VII 
 
 Ceylon 
 
 The larger part of December, 1895, was 
 spent in work among the students of Ceylon. 
 Mr. Robert P. Wilder joined us at Colombo, 
 not only to cooperate in the work in that 
 country, but also to help in perfecting 
 plans for the campaign in India. On the 
 Jaffna Peninsula, in the extreme northern 
 part of the island, was held the first of the 
 long series of conferences which it was pro- 
 posed to conduct throughout the East. A 
 few days were spent in the preliminary work 
 of visiting the various schools and colleges to 
 secure suitable delegations, as well as to be- 
 come acquainted with the workers and the 
 needs of the field. The gathering was held 
 65 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 at Jaffna College, Batticotta, December 1 1-13. 
 It is the center of the student field of North 
 Ceylon, and here the first college Young 
 Men's Christian Association in the mission 
 field was planted. Not only is this the old- 
 est of the foreign college associations, but also 
 one of the very best. Few, if any, associa- 
 tions in America or Britain are doing a 
 broader or a deeper work. It is a question 
 whether Dr. Frank K. Sanders, of Yale, ever 
 did a work exerting a more far-reaching 
 influence than he accomplished in laying so 
 securely the foundations of this association 
 while he was a teacher in Jaffna College. It 
 was also wise action on his part which united 
 the associations of this section in what is 
 known as the North Ceylon Union of Young 
 Men's Christian Associations. The confer- 
 ence was held under the auspices of this 
 Union. There were in attendance over four 
 hundred delegates. About three hundred 
 came from the eight Christian colleges and 
 schools of the peninsula, which suspended 
 66 
 
Ceylon 
 
 their exercises during the conference in order 
 that their students might attend. The prin- 
 cipals of all these institutions, and a large 
 number of the masters, came to the sessions. 
 The head-master of the Hindu college was 
 invited to come with his advanced students, 
 and he attended one day with nearly forty 
 young men. In addition to the student dele- 
 gates there were present the leaders of eleven 
 village associations. All but two or three of 
 the nearly thirty missionaries of the three 
 societies at work in North Ceylon attended 
 the conference ; also twenty or more of the 
 native pastors and catechists. Nearly all the 
 addresses were given in both English and 
 Tamil. The range of topics reminded one 
 of our own college conferences. There was 
 a deep and growing interest from the begin- 
 ning to the close. It was an inspiration to 
 look into the attentive faces of this body 
 of young men, and to hear their fervent 
 prayers and their hearty singing of the Tamil 
 lyrics. 
 
 67 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 That the Spirit of God was wonderfully 
 present in the meetings may be seen from 
 some of the results. At the gospel meeting 
 eighteen young men who had ceased to 
 follow Christ returned to Him. Eleven 
 others accepted Christ for the first time, sev- 
 eral of whom were Hindus. We shall never 
 forget the little after-meeting, when these 
 young men came out so clearly and firmly. 
 The day the missionary uprising among the 
 students of the world was presented, ten 
 young men dedicated their lives to work 
 among their own people. According to the 
 testimony of the missionaries, these were 
 some of the strongest men in the colleges. 
 When the opportunity was presented, one 
 hundred and forty-eight delegates gave their 
 names to keep the morning watch ; that 
 is, to spend at least the first half-hour of 
 every day in Bible study and secret prayer. 
 In the early hours of the two mornings fol- 
 lowing, many of the delegates might have 
 been seen walking up and down under the 
 68 
 
Ceylon 
 
 palm-trees with their open Bibles. As so 
 many of them are obliged to occupy the same 
 room, they adopted this plan in order to be 
 alone. At an executive session of the lead- 
 ers in the work important steps were taken 
 which may also be classed among the results 
 of the conference. It was decided to place 
 the most recent association literature in the 
 hands of all the workers throughout the dis- 
 trict, and to carry on a systematic visitation 
 of all the college associations later in the 
 year. A committee was appointed to pre- 
 pare a prayer cycle for the students and 
 Christian workers of Ceylon. Each college 
 promised to start, if possible, at least one 
 Bible training- class. Men were appointed to 
 supervise the devotional Bible study, espe- 
 cially among those who had decided to keep 
 the morning watch. These are some of the 
 results seen in the conference itself, but the 
 work did not stop there. At the college 
 where we were being entertained, the morn- 
 ing after the closing day we were awakened 
 69 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 before daybreak by the sound of singing and 
 speaking. It came from a meeting of the 
 delegates of that college, in which four of 
 their Hindu fellow-students were led to ac- 
 cept Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour. At 
 different times since letters from the mission- 
 aries have been received stating that the 
 influence of the gathering still continues in 
 power. It is a matter for special thanksgiv- 
 ing that the converts from Hinduism, al- 
 though subjected to bitter persecution, are 
 standing like a rock. 
 
 On returning to Colombo to catch the 
 boat for India, a conference was arranged 
 for the two days of our waiting there. The 
 government kindly placed at our disposal one 
 of its college buildings. Although it was 
 a most unfavorable time, — in the midst of 
 examinations, — it was possible to secure rep- 
 resentative delegations of students and mas- 
 ters from a few of the schools and colleges 
 of the city. Missionaries of the different 
 societies at work in southern Ceylon also 
 70 
 
Ceylon 
 
 attended. There are only two college as- 
 sociations in that part of the island. There 
 should be associations in at least eight 
 other institutions. The general association 
 of Colombo is comparatively undeveloped. 
 At this point there should be one of the 
 strongest associations on the foreign field. 
 Colombo is a city of great commercial im- 
 portance. It is the half-way station between 
 the West and the far East, and it is on the 
 pathway of the most important line of ap- 
 proach to the southern hemisphere. It is 
 more nearly at the cross-roads of the nations 
 than any other port in the world. Every 
 year tens of thousands of travelers from all 
 parts of the earth stream through this city. 
 Surely the association work here should be 
 carried on at its best. It was a pleasure to 
 announce to the workers throughout the 
 island that Mr. Louis Hieb had been appointed 
 association secretary for Ceylon, and that 
 within a few months he would be on the field. 
 Mr. Hieb has since entered upon his life-work 
 71 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 in Ceylon, and his labors have been attended 
 already with marked results. 
 
 Ceylon has a population of a little over 
 three millions. Christianity and education 
 have made greater progress here than in any 
 other country in the East. About one tenth 
 of the people, including Romanists, are 
 Christians. The same proportion would 
 give India thirty million instead of two mil- 
 lion two hundred and eighty-four thousand. 
 In Ceylon ten per cent of the children of 
 school-going age are being educated; in 
 India less than one per cent. This gives 
 Ceylon a position of leadership greater than 
 her size and population would cause one to 
 expect. In all parts of India there are Tamil 
 teachers who were born and educated in Cey- 
 lon. Sinhalese and Tamil lawyers are also 
 numerous in India. Ceylon is destined to 
 continue to exert a special influence on 
 India, owing to its geographical proximity, 
 its racial ties, its educational advancement, 
 and the fact that the two countries are under 
 72 
 
Ceylon 
 
 a common flag. A strong spiritual work in 
 Ceylon must necessarily prove a blessing to 
 India. 
 
 Ceylon is one of the sacred homes of 
 Buddhism. Therefore the work of Christ 
 here will exert a special influence on Siam, 
 the Straits, and even China. At difi'erent 
 times in the centuries that are past multitudes 
 of Buddhist missionaries have gone forth 
 from this little island to propagate their faith 
 throughout the vast continent of Asia. To- 
 day in Ceylon there are ten thousand Bud- 
 dhist priests. No effort should be spared to 
 enable the student Christian movement in 
 Ceylon, in the present and coming genera- 
 tions, to raise up and send forth multitudes of 
 volunteers to be witnesses for Christ unto the 
 uttermost parts of the far East. Since our 
 visit the Church of Rome has opened at Co- 
 lombo the best-equipped college in Ceylon. 
 In fact, it is their purpose to make it the first 
 real university in the island. They have 
 placed in charge of it a large staff of Jesuits, 
 73 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 educated in some of the leading universities 
 of Europe. While coming down the coast 
 of Ceylon, two priests, — one of whom had 
 been at work on the island for over forty 
 years, — speaking of this college soon to be 
 opened, said that the Church of Rome recog- 
 nizes Ceylon to be one of the key positions 
 in the entire mission field. Rather than re- 
 trench, their policy is to establish themselves 
 even more strongly. Should not we as Prot- 
 estants recognize the wisdom of this policy 
 and pour in our forces at such points in much 
 larger numbers? 
 
 74 
 
VIII 
 
 Indian Student Conferences 
 
 Only eleven weeks could be devoted to 
 work in India. Eleven months might have 
 been spent to the very best advantage. 
 About seven thousand miles were traversed, 
 at least thirty institutions were visited, and 
 over two hundred missionaries and other 
 leaders were interviewed regarding the pro- 
 motion of the student movement. Most time 
 and effort were given to conferences. The 
 question from the start was how to touch 
 helpfully the student work in so vast a field 
 in so short a time. India is as large as the 
 entire continent of Europe, save Russia. 
 British India without Burma is as large as 
 that part of the United States east of the 
 75 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 Mississippi River, and has a population nearly 
 five times as great. The best way to reach 
 the students in a field of such proportions 
 seemed to be by holding a series of student 
 gatherings at the following places and dates : 
 Bombay, January 9-12; Lahore, January 
 23-26; Lucknow, January 31-February 2; 
 Calcutta, February 13-16; Madras, February 
 2 7-March I . The preliminary arrangements 
 were well made by prominent members of 
 the American and British Volunteer Move- 
 ment who were then in the field. The ob- 
 jects of these gatherings were: to promote 
 spiritual life and activity among Christian 
 students; to consider the most approved 
 methods for reaching the non- Christian stu- 
 dents ; to discuss the important part which 
 students must take in the evangelization of 
 India; and to unitedly wait on God for power 
 from on high. 
 
 The personnel of the conferences consisted 
 of Indian Christian students and masters, 
 missionaries, — especially those engaged in 
 76 
 
Indian Student Conferences 
 
 educational work and those who at home 
 were connected with the Volunteer Move- 
 ment, — and leading Indian Christian workers. 
 The aim was to secure as speakers some of 
 the most successful and most spiritual mis- 
 sionanes and Indian Christians. The confer- 
 ences were conducted on much the same 
 plan as is followed in similar gatherings at 
 home. The proceedings were all in the 
 English language. Besides addresses there 
 were open discussions. Some of the best 
 fruits were gathered in the after-meetings, 
 five of which were held in connection with 
 each gathering. 
 
 At each place the spiritual tide rose per- 
 ceptibly and steadily to the end ; and, view- 
 ing these conferences as a whole, it may be 
 said truly that they went from strength to 
 strength. This increasing spiritual momen- 
 tum may be accounted for by the fact that 
 each gathering added greatly to the volume 
 of prayer for those that were to follow. We 
 may best understand the representative 
 77 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 character, fruitfulness, and significance of 
 these student meetings by a study of the fol- 
 lowing table: 
 
 >. 
 
 ^ 
 
 o a a a S ° 
 
 la ij J u a H 
 
 Number schools and 
 
 colleges 20 18 22 25 35 120 
 
 Number student dele- 
 gates 75 100 127 157 300 759 
 
 Number missionary so- 
 cieties 21 9 12 27 19 52* 
 
 Number missionaries. 50 60 58 78 65 311 
 
 Number of other 
 
 workers 25 50 5 5 35 120 
 
 Total number of dele- 
 gates 150 210 190 240 400 1 190 
 
 Number accepting 
 
 Christ 5 IS 20 4 32 76 
 
 Number volunteering. 4 21 29 31 42 127 
 
 Number deciding to 
 keep the morning 
 watch 35 157 114 loi 170 577 
 
 * Omitting societies counted more than once. 
 
 Several things in the foregoing table are 
 noteworthy : 
 
 There were one hundred and twenty 
 schools and colleges represented, a larger 
 number than were represented in the sum- 
 mer of 1895 ^t the student conventions of 
 78 
 
Indian Student Conferences 
 
 Great Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, and 
 Switzerland combined. This number in- 
 cludes all the leading Christian colleges in 
 the empire, and nearly all other institutions 
 which have in them any considerable num- 
 ber of Christians, even several of the great 
 presidency colleges. 
 
 The total number of students registering 
 was seven hundred and fifty-nine. If we 
 add to this the number attending the confer- 
 ence in Ceylon, it would make the total 
 number of student delegates considerably 
 over one thousand, more than the aggregate 
 number who in the previous year attended 
 the American summer schools at Northfield, 
 Lake Geneva, and Knoxville. 
 
 There were at least fifty-two different mis- 
 sionary agencies represented, or nearly all of 
 the more than sixty organizations at work in 
 India. 
 
 Three hundred and eleven missionaries 
 were in attendance. Among their number 
 were many of the foremost educational mis- 
 79 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 sionaries of the country. Nearly half of the 
 two hundred and thirty-five volunteers from 
 Britain and America were present. Among 
 these volunteers were eight of the former 
 secretaries and three members of the execu- 
 tive committee of the American Volunteer 
 Movement, or very nearly one half of the 
 number that up to that time had served in 
 either of these capacities. There were also 
 present three of the former secretaries and 
 members of the British executive. 
 
 Seventy-six students for the first time ac- 
 cepted Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour. 
 A much larger number of students that had 
 wandered far away from Him returned to 
 their allegiance. Among those who took 
 this stand were not only agnostics, but also 
 Hindus, Mohammedans, and Buddhists. In 
 no country have we seen students accept Christ 
 with greater intelHgence, or with more purpose 
 of heart, or in the face of greater difficulties. 
 
 One hundred and twenty-seven of the 
 student delegates volunteered, that is, decided 
 80 
 
Indian Student Conferences 
 
 to devote their whole lives to Christian work 
 in India. No pressure was brought to bear 
 upon them, save that of the Holy Spirit 
 speaking through the Word of God, and the 
 plain facts of the spiritual needs of India. 
 Emphatic testimony was repeatedly borne by 
 the missionaries to the superior ability and 
 character of these volunteers. In India there 
 is a strong pressure upon educated young 
 men to enter distinctively secular pursuits. 
 This splendid offering of students constitutes 
 the vanguard of the Student Volunteer Move- 
 ment in India. 
 
 Five hundred and seventy-seven delegates 
 entered into covenant to keep the morning 
 watch. The names of these persons were 
 placed in the hands of leading workers at 
 different centers, who will see that they are 
 guided and encouraged in carrying out their 
 resolution. This result is but the begin- 
 ning of yet greater things, because it is the 
 very opening of the channel of life and 
 power. 
 
 81 
 
IX 
 Indian Student Movements 
 
 I . The Intercollegiate Young Men's Chris- 
 tian Association of India. 
 
 At the beginning of this tour there were 
 twelve student Young Men's Christian Asso- 
 ciations in India. Other Christian organiza- 
 tions, no two of which were alike, existed in 
 four institutions. It was apparent, therefore, 
 that the association was the prevailing type 
 of organization. These twelve associations 
 were isolated and unacquainted with each 
 other. If union of Christian students has 
 been so helpful in other countries, it is still 
 more desirable in India, because the distances 
 between the student centers are great and the 
 number of Christian students is very small. 
 82 
 
Indian Student Movements 
 
 The way seemed to be prepared for a thor- 
 ough appreciation of the advantages of a 
 closer union among the different bands of 
 Christian students. In every province ath- 
 letic contests were carried on between stu- 
 dents of different schools and colleges. Such 
 contests have been encouraged by govern- 
 ment for several years. In one province 
 government paid the expenses of competing 
 teams to and from the place of contest. The 
 plan of organization of Indian universities is 
 also favorable to the cultivation of an inter- 
 collegiate spirit. There are five great uni- 
 versities, and each one has affiliated with it 
 twenty or more colleges scattered over vast 
 provinces. The wonderful way in which the 
 students rallied to the five Christian confer- 
 ences, as noted in the last chapter, is another 
 striking proof of their appreciation of the 
 intercollegiate idea. When the Christian 
 movements among the students of other lands 
 were described to the delegates at these 
 conferences, and the value of a similar move- 
 83 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 ment in India was suggested, there was 
 invariably an enthusiastic response. Mis- 
 sionaries, Indian students, and masters re- 
 peatedly expressed the hope that a closer 
 union might be established. 
 
 In view of all these facts a meeting of the 
 Indian National Council of the Young Men's 
 Christian Association was called. This 
 council has general supervision of all the 
 associations in India. The great need and 
 possibilities of the student work were pre- 
 sented to the council. The remarkable pro- 
 gress among the colleges of North America 
 since the International Committee created a 
 college department, and thus called into 
 being the Intercollegiate Movement of that 
 continent, encouraged the members of the 
 council to expect a similar development in 
 India. It was therefore decided to establish 
 a college department, to be known as the In- 
 tercollegiate Young Men's Christian Associ- 
 ation of India. A college sub-committee 
 was appointed to supervise this department. 
 
Indian Student Movements 
 
 It is one of the strongest committees for 
 such a purpose in any land. It includes 
 Messrs. Satthianadhan and Banurji, who are 
 among the most distinguished Indian Chris- 
 tians in the empire, and who are the most 
 intimately acquainted with the religious Hfe 
 of Indian students. The other members are 
 Mr. J. H. Maclean, who has had an influential 
 part in laying the foundations of three Chris- 
 tian movements in Europe, and Mr. J. Camp- 
 bell White, who has been giving his whole 
 time to work among the students of Calcutta. 
 Before leaving America Mr. White was for a 
 year a secretary of the American Intercol- 
 legiate Movement, and for another year a 
 secretary of the Volunteer Movement. To 
 promote this work the council decided to 
 employ the means which have been most 
 effective in other countries. They propose 
 to hold student conferences on the plan of 
 those already conducted, and to prepare and 
 issue pamphlets. They unanimously ap- 
 pealed to the home committee for the 
 85 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 appointment of a college secretary, to devote 
 his whole time to unifying and developing the 
 work throughout the country. The advan- 
 tages of this new movement in India are 
 obvious. The existing associations will be 
 developed by their closer contact with each 
 other and by the continuous supervision of 
 an experienced committee. Associations 
 will be formed where there are at present no 
 Christian organizations. We know of not 
 less than twenty most needy places where 
 associations could be planted within a year. 
 The union of these associations will encou- 
 rage the scattered bands of Christian students 
 by revealing to them the strength of their 
 numbers and thus enabling them to become 
 a more aggressive force for Christ among the 
 multitudes of their non-Christian fellow-stu- 
 dents. The uniting and training of the future 
 leaders of the Indian church in a common 
 movement will do much to promote the 
 cause of Christ throughout the empire. 
 The first act of the Indian National Coun- 
 86 
 
Indian Student Movements 
 
 cil after inaugurating the Intercollegiate 
 Young Men's Christian Association was to 
 request that this newly formed student move- 
 ment be admitted to the Federation. Care- 
 ful inspection of the associations in this 
 movement showed that all the conditions laid 
 down by the Federation for the admission 
 of a movement had been fully met. In 
 harmony with the wish of the Federation, 
 and also with the desire expressed by the 
 workers of Ceylon, the union of the twelve 
 associations in India and the ten in Ceylon 
 was proposed, in order that they might 
 strengthen each other and in order that the 
 latter might have the benefits arising from 
 connection with the Federation. Two dele- 
 gates were sent to Madras at the time of the 
 meeting of the National Council to represent 
 the Ceylon associations. The reasons why 
 they should be united in this student move- 
 ment are apparent. The Ceylon associations 
 are much nearer the great body of Indian 
 Christian students than several of the associ- 
 87 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 ations in India are to each other. The politi- 
 cal and racial ties which unite them are even 
 stronger than exist between the United States 
 and Canada, which nevertheless have a com- 
 mon student movement. And nearly all the 
 colleges of Ceylon are affiliated with the uni- 
 versities of India. 
 
 The associations of the two countries con- 
 stitute the sixth movement admitted to the 
 Federation. It is known as the Intercollegi- 
 ate Young Men's Christian Association of 
 India and Ceylon. Messrs. Satthianadhan 
 and Banurji were appointed to represent this 
 movement on the General Committee of the 
 Federation. Thus the Christian students of 
 India and Ceylon are placed on an equal foot- 
 ing in the Federation with those of Britain, 
 Germany, Scandinavia, and America. This 
 step will do much to dignify and establish 
 organized Christian work among the students 
 of the Indian empire. It also opens a chan- 
 nel of communication with the rest of the 
 student world. Through that channel will 
 
Indian Student Movements 
 
 come a constant stream of suggestion and 
 encouragement which will be of great value, 
 especially in the formative period of this new 
 movement. It must necessarily afford a new 
 and powerful inspiration to Indian Christian 
 students to be so vitally connected with the 
 great student movements of Christendom. 
 There are strong reasons why India should 
 have a place in the Federation. It has the 
 largest student population in the Orient, and 
 in this respect there are few countries in the 
 Occident which can compare with it. In 
 point of efificiency and requirements its higher 
 educational system will not suffer by com- 
 parison with that of any land. For many 
 centuries India has given unusual prominence 
 to the intellectual life. And what country 
 has been, or is to-day, essentially more re- 
 ligious? Therefore what body of students 
 in the East is in a position to do more for the 
 advancement of the kingdom of Christ? 
 Surely the addition of this link strengthens 
 the Federation chain. 
 
 89 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 2. The Student Volunteer Movement of 
 India and Ceylon. 
 
 For several years many have been praying 
 for the extension of the Student Volunteer 
 Movement to the students of mission lands. 
 The idea of having in these lands a Student 
 Volunteer Movement for Home Missions, as 
 it has been attractively called, has met with 
 wide-spread favor. As students in different 
 parts of the mission field have heard of the 
 missionary uprising in the colleges of Chris- 
 tian lands, many have been led to offer them- 
 selves to work among their own people. 
 Members of the American and British Volun- 
 teer Movement, as they have gone out to their 
 fields of labor, have in several cases been 
 instrumental in raising up a number of 
 students for similar work. Mr. Wishard's 
 book, " The New Program of Missions," has 
 done much to centralize upon this problem 
 the thought and prayer of the workers at 
 home. It remained, however, for India 
 and Ceylon to organize the first Student 
 90 
 
Indian Student Movements 
 
 Volunteer Movement on the foreign field. 
 At nearly every one of the conferences 
 held in India it was difficult to prevent an 
 organization of some kind being effected. 
 The terrible need and the impending crisis in 
 India suggested the desirability of such a 
 movement, as well as the conviction of the 
 leading missionaries that if India is to be 
 evangelized in this generation it must be 
 done largely by Indians. The willingness of 
 many of the best students to throw them- 
 selves into the work of reaching India for 
 Christ was another indication that the time 
 was ripe. What to do with the large number 
 of students who were offering themselves in 
 the very conferences where the question was 
 being discussed made it still more apparent 
 that some steps should be taken in this direc- 
 tion. It thus became clear that it would be 
 desirable to have a special meeting at the 
 close of the series of conferences, for the ex- 
 press purpose of grappling with this question 
 in the light of the experience and suggestions 
 91 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 of all the conferences. It was arranged that 
 the old volunteers of Britain and America 
 should at each conference appoint two of 
 their number to attend the special meeting, 
 with full power to act. After the conference 
 closed in Madras these representatives came 
 together and devoted two days to the re- 
 sponsible work assigned to them. There 
 were present Messrs. Wilder, Maclean, For- 
 man. White, Davis, Edmunds, Moorhead, 
 Ewing, Mansell, and Mott. These men 
 represented every section of India. Some 
 of them had to travel nearly two thousand 
 miles to be present. Every decision was 
 reached with perfect unanimity. The great 
 result of the conference was the formation 
 of the Student Volunteer Movement of India 
 and Ceylon. Its membership will be limited 
 to Indian students who decide to devote their 
 whole lives to Christian work. The super- 
 vision of the movement was intrusted to an 
 executive committee of three, one of whom 
 92 
 
Indian Student Movements 
 
 is to be appointed by the Intercollegiate 
 Young Men's Christian Association of India. 
 It was thought best that for the present at 
 least this committee should be composed of 
 men who had had special experience in the 
 development of the Volunteer Movement at 
 home. Messrs. Wilder and Edmunds were 
 appointed by the volunteers of India, and 
 Mr. White by the associations. The connec- 
 tion with the Intercollegiate Movement has 
 been further strengthened by the appoint- 
 ment as traveling secretary of Mr. Sherwood 
 Eddy, a secretary in India of the American 
 International Committee. At this special 
 meeting it was decided to publish a report of 
 this year's conferences ; to hold another series 
 of conferences the following winter under 
 the joint auspices of the Intercollegiate As- 
 sociation Movement and the Student Volun- 
 teer Movement ; to issue a prayer cycle for 
 students and Christian workers of India and 
 Ceylon ; and to prepare pamphlets to use in 
 93 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 developing missionary interest in the colleges. 
 A declaration for Indian student volunteers 
 was framed and adopted. It was decided 
 that in schools and colleges where there is a 
 sufficient number of volunteers they be 
 grouped into volunteer bands. In case there 
 is a Christian association at the college this 
 band will be made an organic department of 
 it. A committee was appointed to draft an 
 appeal to the volunteers of the home coun- 
 tries. This appeal has since been printed 
 and widely circulated among students of the 
 West. It is believed that the Student Vol- 
 unteer Movement of India and Ceylon will 
 have a great influence on the students of 
 Japan, China, and South Africa, not to men- 
 tion other lands. Since the wonderful Liver- 
 pool convention the indications are that the 
 Volunteer Movement will spread to all the 
 groups of Protestant colleges on the Conti- 
 nent. Let the church pray that the volunteer 
 idea may also take possession of the hearts of 
 Christian students throughout the continent 
 94 
 
Indian Student Movements 
 
 of Asia. If students of all lands become 
 united to carry out the central purpose of the 
 life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus 
 Christ, may we not expect the evangelization 
 of the whole world in this generation ? 
 
 95 
 
X 
 
 Impressions of India 
 
 I. The work of educational missions in 
 India is of transcendent importance. 
 
 Not a few are disposed to look upon 
 educational mission work as less important 
 than directly evangelistic work. We had 
 shared this feeling. A careful study of the 
 question in four or five mission countries, 
 however, has led us to attach the greatest 
 possible importance to educational missions. 
 No country has done more to deepen this 
 conviction than India. Educational missions 
 have opened a larger number of doors for the 
 preaching of the gospel than any other agency. 
 They have furnished the most distinguished 
 and influential converts, and have done more 
 96 
 
Impressions of India 
 
 than all else combined to undermine heathen 
 superstitions and false systems of belief. 
 They are to-day the chief, if not the only, 
 force to counteract the influence of the secu- 
 lar character and tendency of the government 
 institutions of learning. In the interest of 
 the ultimate success of the missionary enter- 
 prise we behave that educational missions 
 would be abundantly justified if they were 
 teaching only science, history, philosophy, 
 ethics, and political economy in their right 
 relation to Christ. Sir Charles Aitchison, in 
 urging the church to promote educational 
 missions, reveals the real significance of the 
 whole subject : " Now, if ever, is the church's 
 opportunity. If the breach that has been 
 made is filled up — if in place of Hinduism we 
 have agnosticism, or even a positive but un- 
 christian theistic belief, with which physical 
 science is not necessarily in antagonism — the 
 Christian church will have to do all the sap- 
 ping and mining over again ; while, instead 
 of the crumbling old fortresses of heathenism, 
 97 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 we shall have in front of us strong fortifica- 
 tions, held and defended with weapons of 
 precision forged in our own arsenals." If we 
 would not think of doing without Christian 
 colleges and universities in Christian lands, 
 what could be more short-sighted and sui- 
 cidal than to do without them in India? 
 Nothing impressed us more than the mighty 
 influence of such institutions as the Duff 
 college, the Forman Christian College, the 
 Lucknow Christian College for Women, and 
 the Madras Christian College. Institutions 
 like these should be multiplied and the 
 amount of money expended upon them 
 greatly increased. Occasionally we still hear 
 persons interested primarily in direct evange- 
 listic work speak disparagingly of educational 
 missions. As well might the life-saving ser- 
 vice disparage the lighthouses. 
 
 2. It is imperative that more be done to 
 reach the educated classes in India. 
 
 The number of students in India is surpris- 
 ingly large. In compiling statistics for all 
 98 
 
Impressions of India 
 
 India we found that there are not less than 
 thirty thousand students in colleges granting 
 the B.A. or some professional degree, and at 
 least seventy thousand students in the two 
 upper classes of the high schools. Besides 
 these students there are tens of thousands of 
 young men in India who have been students 
 in the universities and colleges for a period 
 of years. The number is not only large, but 
 is rapidly increasing. Statistics show that 
 the total number who passed the entrance 
 examinations in the ten years ending 1883 
 was 23,472. In the ten years ending 1891 
 it had increased to 41,467. The number 
 taking the B.A. degree alone in the ten years 
 ending 1883 was 2391. In the ten years 
 ending 1891 it had increased to 7159. 
 Moreover, the student class is steadily in- 
 creasing in influence. Nearly all of the 
 important positions in the civil service which 
 are open to Indians are filled by students. 
 A noticeable feature at the Indian National 
 Congress was the large number of delegates 
 99 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 having university degrees. More and more 
 India will be governed and its thought- 
 life molded by the student class. The 
 burning question is, Shall this leadership 
 be heathen, agnostic, or Christian? It cer- 
 tainly will not be Christian unless in the 
 present generation there is a great increase in 
 the number of Christian workers among stu- 
 dents. There is imperative need of more 
 educational missionaries, especially of those 
 who recognize and seize the unique op- 
 portunities afforded them for influencing their 
 students for Christ. Something must be 
 done also to increase the number of Indian 
 Christian masters in mission schools. It was 
 alarming to find in many representative mis- 
 sion colleges the heathen masters outnumber- 
 ing the Christian teachers more than two to 
 one. Another class of workers should be 
 greatly increased, namely, missionaries who 
 devote themselves entirely to work among 
 the educated classes. The more we studied 
 the work of men like Wilder and Moorhead 
 
Impressions of India 
 
 at Poona, Wright Hay at Dacca, Larson at 
 Madras, and the members of the Cambridge 
 Mission at Delhi, the more we were convinced 
 of its very great value and the more we 
 wished that their number might be increased 
 one hundredfold. Another vital need is that 
 of a few men of commanding ability, sup- 
 ported by ample means, to superintend the 
 preparation and distribution among educated 
 young men of the books embodying the best 
 Christian thought of all ages. After visiting 
 the book-stalls one is impressed with the fact 
 that the forces of infidelity, skepticism, and 
 Unitarianism are far more alert to the value 
 of this policy than is the Church of Christ. 
 Above all, there should be a great enlarge- 
 ment and development of the college Young 
 Men's Christian Associations, which place 
 upon the Indian Christian young men the re- 
 sponsibility of reaching their fellow-students. 
 It would be difficult to exaggerate the 
 importance of the work of McConaughy, 
 Campbell White, Wilbert White, Anderson, 
 
 101 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 and Eddy, who are guiding this movement. 
 They are striking at the very heart of the 
 need of India. Not less than six more young 
 men should be sent out to India under the 
 auspices of the same organization within the 
 next three years to man posts of great im- 
 portance. 
 
 3. The Indian religions are absolutely in- 
 adequate to meet the needs of India. 
 
 If we are to judge a tree by its fruits, the 
 religions of India are a colossal failure. The 
 Hinduism and the Mohammedanism which 
 we studied in books and heard presented in 
 the Parliament of Religions at Chicago are 
 essentially different from what we saw of the 
 practical working and influence of these re- 
 ligions in the present-day life of India. A 
 study of the social changes of India during 
 the past one hundred years will show that 
 every great reform is traceable to the influ- 
 ence of Christianity. The strongest testi- 
 monies to the civilizing and transforming 
 power of Christianity which we have ever 
 
Impressions of India 
 
 heard were certain references made by Hin- 
 dus at the Indian Social Conference. We 
 do not venture to write about the supersti- 
 tions, blasphemies, injustices, cruelties, suffer- 
 ing, and moral degradation which we saw at 
 the very shrines of these heathen religions 
 and within the sphere of their influence. 
 The modern substitutes for Hinduism are 
 powerless. They lack vitality and apparently 
 do not have the hold that they did even a 
 few years ago. Late one night the leader of 
 the Arya Somaj in a certain city, himself a 
 distinguished graduate of one of the Indian 
 universities, came to our room to confess in 
 despair that he could no more find power over 
 sin and peace of heart in his new faith than 
 he could in Hinduism, and to express his 
 desire to know Christ as his personal Saviour. 
 Day by day as we traveled through the vil- 
 lages and cities, visited the shrines and tem- 
 ples, studied the heathen life and customs, 
 talked with men of heathen religions, and 
 discussed the problem with hundreds of mis- 
 103 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 sionaries and civilians, the conviction became 
 clearer and deeper that without God and 
 without Christ India is without hope. 
 
 4. India presents to-day an unparalleled 
 opporttmity to the students of the Anglo-Saxon 
 race. 
 
 Dr. George Smith has well said "We 
 together, one hundred millions strong, in 
 Europe and America, with the same origin, 
 the same history, the same tongue, the same 
 hterature, the same faith, and therefore the 
 same Christ-commanded duty and assured 
 hope, are set over against the three hundred 
 millions of India in the providence of God." 
 Think of the magnitude of this opportunity. 
 India has one fifth of the human race; 
 nearly three hundred millions, or more than 
 double the number which Gibbon estimated 
 for the entire Roman empire at the climax 
 of its power. Of this number fifty-eight 
 millions are Mohammedans — probably twice 
 the number that are under the sway of the 
 Sultan. Over one hundred and fifty millions 
 104 
 
Impressions of India 
 
 are Hindus, closely bound by the fetters of 
 caste. Besides these there are tens of milHons 
 of Buddhists, devil-worshipers, Parsees, Jains, 
 and Sikhs. Truly India is the home of re- 
 ligions. It is the stronghold of the great 
 heathen religions. Joseph Cook called India 
 "the rudder of Asia." But a great move- 
 ment in India would affect more than Asia. 
 It would be felt throughout northern Africa 
 and the island world. India is the most ac- 
 cessible of the world's great mission fields. 
 It is under the British flag, and this means 
 protection, order, liberty, and peace. A 
 splendid railway system extends to every 
 corner of the empire. The Bible is already 
 translated into languages and dialects through 
 which nearly the entire population can be 
 reached. The field is not only vast and 
 open, but ripe. What we do for India must 
 be done quickly. Wherever we went in our 
 thousands of miles of travel up and down the 
 presidencies, agencies, and native states which 
 make up the Indian empire, we were con- 
 105 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 scious of great tension. The break is inevi- 
 table, provided the present force is maintained 
 and increased. This is the worst possible 
 time to think of contraction. On the con- 
 trary an advance should be made all along 
 the line. Think of only eighteen hundred 
 missionaries, or but one to one hundred and 
 sixty-seven thousand people. This is less 
 than one half the number of British ofificers 
 commanding the native troops in India. 
 Already about two hundred and fifty mem- 
 bers of the British and American Volunteer 
 Movement are at work in India. The num- 
 ber should be increased at least fourfold 
 within the next five years. The conse- 
 quences will be appalling if the students of 
 this generation fail to enter the open and 
 effectual door which India presents. 
 
 5 . The most thorough preparation is essen- 
 tial for a life-work in India. 
 
 The great intellectual strength and subtlety 
 of the Indian people demand that those who 
 intend to go as missionaries to them should 
 1 06 
 
Impressions of India 
 
 receive the best possible preparation. This 
 is also demanded by the social, intellectual, 
 and spiritual problems presented by the 
 Indian religions. But far more than intel- 
 lectual preparation is required, important as 
 that is and needing increasing emphasis as it 
 does ; India needs men whose lives and work 
 are a demonstration of the Spirit and of 
 power. In a land of so many religions 
 Christianity must be shown to be superior 
 by the life which it alone makes possible. If 
 we had come to India at all skeptical about 
 the truth of the doctrine of the baptism, or 
 filling, of the Holy Spirit for service, all doubt 
 would have been removed. There must 
 needs have been made such supernatural 
 provision as this for the man sent to work in 
 a field like India. The man who does not 
 know from actual experience what it is to be 
 filled — up to his present capacity — with the 
 Holy Spirit had far better not go to work in 
 India. Of all the missionaries we have met, 
 the men and women who are leaving the 
 107 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 largest and most lasting mark on their gen- 
 eration are those who are under the sway of 
 the Spirit of God. If the matter of the phy- 
 sical, intellectual, and, above all, the spiritual 
 equipment of the young men and women 
 who are to go to India within the next few 
 years could be rightly settled, there would be 
 little doubt about the evangelization in the 
 present generation of the multitudinous in- 
 habitants of the two thousand cities and the 
 seven hundred thousand villages of the Indian 
 empire. 
 
 108 
 
XI 
 
 The Australasian Tour 
 
 The original plan of this tour of the world 
 did not include a visit to the southern hemi- 
 sphere. In England, however, three men who 
 had been in Australia urged a visit to the uni- 
 versities of that country. The subject was 
 again suggested in Norway. In order to decide 
 the question, letters of inquiry were sent to 
 prominent men in Australia and New Zea- 
 land. Replies were received in India and 
 made plain our duty to go. The Student 
 Volunteer Missionary Union of Great Britain, 
 learning indirectly of this decision, cabled 
 that they would gladly bear the expenses 
 incident to this enlargement of the tour. 
 This act of Christian generosity, at the very 
 109 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 time when war-clouds hung threateningly 
 over the last two nations on earth which 
 should think of going to war, was a new evi- 
 dence of the power of the gospel of peace, 
 and created a profound impression wherever 
 the fact was known. 
 
 The detour to Australasia required four- 
 teen thousand miles of travel, and occupied 
 over four months. All the colonies which 
 have prominent institutions of higher learning 
 were visited, namely. South Australia, Vic- 
 toria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and New 
 Zealand. One is impressed with the impor- 
 tance of this field. The universities of 
 Australasia have very high standards of 
 scholarship. The degree granted by them 
 means as much as that given by many of 
 the best universities of the West. The 
 Australasian colonies have an Anglo-Saxon 
 population larger than that of Canada. Their 
 material resources are fully as great. Their 
 people are characterized by the same energy 
 and progressive spirit. Shall these colonies 
 no 
 
The Australasian Tour 
 
 become a mighty Christian state, or shall 
 they be given over to secularism? Shall 
 they be self-centered, or shall they be a 
 great missionary force ? The answer to these 
 questions hinges on the answer to yet an- 
 other: Shall the universities remain centers 
 of secularism and skepticism, or shall they be- 
 come strongholds of aggressive Christianity? 
 The need of some voluntary student Chris- 
 tian organization was imperative in order to 
 answer this question in the right way. 
 
 In the universities of no other Christian 
 land has the secular spirit been stronger. In 
 only five institutions were there student 
 Christian societies. All but one of these 
 five existing organizations were very weak. 
 No two of them had the same name. Only 
 one knew of the existence of any of the 
 others. Only one had meetings more often 
 than once a month. Only one was engaged 
 in any form of Christian work. They were 
 led to reorganize. They took the name 
 Christian Union, and adopted a constitution 
 III 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 which contains the best features of the stu- 
 dent Christian societies of other lands. In- 
 stead of being limited simply to a series of 
 meetings, the work of these unions will 
 henceforth include Bible study, work among 
 new students, personal dealing with fellow- 
 students, training in methods of organized 
 Christian work, missionary study and work, 
 and intercollegiate or interuniversity rela- 
 tions. 
 
 New unions were organized in twenty 
 institutions, thus making the total number 
 twenty-five. Instead of one university union 
 there are now seven, including one in Ade- 
 laide, one in Sydney, two in Melbourne, and 
 three in the university colleges of New Zea- 
 land. Unions were also formed in the leading 
 school of mines, located at Ballarat, and in 
 the two strongest agricultural colleges. Thus 
 in nearly all of the government institutions 
 unions have been organized. The only no- 
 table exception is Tasmania University, which 
 did not have enough Christian students to 
 
 112 
 
The Australasian Tour 
 
 warrant organization. In the government 
 institutions the chief obstacle to Christian 
 organization is the secular spirit. In one 
 university the chancellor was opposed even 
 to our speaking in the university buildings. 
 He finally consented on the following condi- 
 tions: "(i) That no matters of dogma or 
 religious controversy shall be touched upon. 
 (2) That the lecture shall not be given under 
 the auspices of any organization. (3) That 
 there shall be no prayers or singing of hymns 
 before, during, or after the lecture." He 
 added that he wished me " to do nothing 
 which would in any way interfere with the 
 secular character of the university." Despite 
 his restrictions one of the most powerful 
 organizations in the colonies has been effected 
 in this university. The Christian students 
 petitioned the authorities for the privilege 
 of holding religious meetings in university 
 buildings. The secularist and Romanist 
 parties combined to prevent the granting 
 of the request. After a struggle, prolonged 
 113 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 through three meetings of the board of 
 governors, the Christian forces won by a 
 vote of eleven to seven. 
 
 Unions were established in the three fore- 
 most theological colleges, including the his- 
 toric St. John's College (Anglican), founded 
 by Bishop Selwyn, the Ormond Theological 
 College (Presbyterian), which ranks with the 
 best theological colleges of the world, and the 
 Prince Albert Theological College (Wes- 
 leyan). The mutual advantages of linking 
 the theological colleges to the other institu- 
 tions at the beginning of this movement are 
 many and obvious. Twelve unions were 
 organized in leading preparatory colleges. 
 It is most important that these secondary 
 schools be organized wherever the conditions 
 insure a permanent and successful work. It 
 is more important in Australasia than in any 
 other country visited, because such a large 
 proportion of the students do not enter the 
 universities. Moreover, the university prob- 
 lem is so difficult that it is very desirable 
 114 
 
The Australasian Tour 
 
 that the small number who come from the 
 preparatory colleges should be reached for 
 Christ before they enter the university. 
 
 Everywhere the most cordial reception 
 was extended. Large and representative 
 meetings of students were held, presided 
 over in each case by the chancellor or some 
 other influential university official. The 
 bishops of all the colonies that were visited, 
 including both the Primate of Australia and 
 Tasmania and the Primate of New Zealand, 
 as well as leading men of the different de- 
 nominations, attended the meetings and 
 strongly indorsed the new movement. The 
 editors of the religious and secular press 
 made generous mention of the work. Men 
 high in government service, such as govern- 
 ors, chief justices, and members of Parliament, 
 showed very keen interest in the movement 
 and gave it the weight of their indorsement. 
 The weak point was the indifferent attitude 
 of professors. A comparatively small num- 
 ber of professors take a positive stand on 
 "5 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 religious matters. Nevertheless all of them 
 who are active Christians supported the 
 Union in the most helpful manner. In no 
 country has the idea of the Intercollegiate 
 Christian Movement taken more powerful 
 hold of the most influential elements of so- 
 ciety, or called forth stronger indorsements. 
 
 Besides the reorganization of existing so- 
 cieties and the planting of new ones, there 
 have been other results. In all the institu- 
 tions visited there was only one voluntary 
 Bible class. Eighteen classes have been 
 started. This is the most important unde- 
 veloped feature in the work of the Union. 
 Important as it is in any land, even greater 
 significance attaches to it here, because in 
 most of the colonies there is no religious 
 instruction or Bible reading in the public 
 schools. 
 
 In but three or four institutions was there 
 
 any real missionary interest. During the 
 
 tour about fifty students in universities and 
 
 theological colleges signed the volunteer de- 
 
 ii6 
 
The Australasian Tour 
 
 claration, thus offering themselves for foreign 
 mission work. Several of them had decided 
 before. Many others are still seriously con- 
 sidering the question of becoming volunteers. 
 Not a few who did not see their way to 
 become foreign missionaries did resolve to 
 devote their lives to Christian work on the 
 home field. In no institution was there a 
 missionary library, but in nearly every prom- 
 inent one steps were taken to secure at once 
 a valuable collection of missionary books. 
 So far as could be ascertained the Australa- 
 sian universities have hitherto sent less than 
 a dozen out of over three thousand graduates 
 into the mission field. The universities of 
 every other Christian land have senL ?. much 
 larger proportion. The splendid response of 
 these students to the missionary appeal is, 
 therefore, significant. The New Zealand 
 students were especially responsive. Though 
 less than one third of the students of Austra- 
 lasia are in that colony, it has furnished over 
 one half of the volunteers. We may expect 
 117 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 one of the strongest contingents of the Stu- 
 dent Volunteer Movement from these colo- 
 nies. It should be so. The home mission 
 field of Australasia is small compared with 
 that of most countries. These colonies are 
 much nearer the densely populated island 
 world than is any other Christian land. 
 Moreover, they look into the gates of the 
 three greatest mission fields of the world — 
 Africa, India, and China. 
 
 One or more evangelistic meetings for men 
 were held in each of the university cities. 
 These were usually held in a theater or in the 
 town hall, and were attended by from four to 
 twelve hundred young men. There was al- 
 ways a large attendance of students. In 
 these meetings some seventy-eight young 
 men publicly accepted Christ as their Saviour 
 and Lord. The need of such work among 
 students was apparent at every point. Ma- 
 terialism,skepticism,and agnosticism are more 
 prevalent than in any other Anglo-Saxon 
 country. At every university students 
 ii8 
 
The Australasian Tour 
 
 harassed with doubts and closely clinging 
 sins inquired the way into a living faith in 
 Christ. In one university certain science 
 students asked public answrer to questions 
 bearing on the Christian faith. All the stu- 
 dents of that science faculty were present. 
 It afforded one of the best opportunities for 
 setting forth informally the grounds and 
 claims of Christianity. The meeting resulted 
 in much earnest conversation and helped to 
 settle the convictions of some who were 
 drifting. It was a matter of regret that more 
 time could not be devoted to this work. In 
 fact there was enough which might have 
 been done in any one kind of work such as 
 organizing unions, promoting Bible study, 
 awakening missionary interest, or presenting 
 the claims of Christ as divine, to have taken 
 all the time given to Australasia. 
 
 When it did not conflict with work among 
 students, help was given to other Christian 
 organizations. Addresses were made on be- 
 half of Young Men's Christian Associations 
 119 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 in all the great cities and at their Colonial 
 Convention ; also to the Gleaners, the com- 
 mittee of the Church Missionary Society, the 
 Council of Churches in Melbourne, the 
 Church of England Synod in Tasmania, and 
 the Church Congress in Auckland. 
 
 1 20 
 
XII 
 
 Australasian Student Movement 
 
 The need not only of Christian organiza- 
 tions in the different universities and colleges 
 of Australasia, but also of a national union 
 to bind them together, was very apparent. 
 In Great Britain, America, Germany, Scan- 
 dinavia, and India the very great advantages 
 of national student movements are admitted 
 by all. In Australasia the need for such 
 union was greater than in any other country 
 save China. This was true, in the first place, 
 because the different institutions are so widely 
 separated. To illustrate : The journey from 
 Adelaide University to Melbourne University 
 is five hundred miles, and from Melbourne 
 University to Tasmania University is nearly 
 
 121 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 four hundred miles farther across a strait as 
 rough as the English Channel. From Tasmania 
 University to Otago University in New Zea- 
 land (a voyage once taken never to be for- 
 gotten, and only to be compared with the 
 North Sea at its worst) necessitated a journey 
 of twelve hundred miles. It is two hundred 
 miles farther to Canterbury College at Christ- 
 church; thence over five hundred miles to 
 the third university college of New Zealand 
 at Auckland. Across the sea from Auck- 
 land to Sydney University is a five days' 
 journey of thirteen hundred miles, and from 
 Sydney University down to Melbourne Uni- 
 versity is about seven hundred miles. All 
 the other institutions are located near those 
 named. These facts showing the isolation 
 of the different student centers suggest very 
 strongly the need of some national agency to 
 draw them together. 
 
 There was almost absolute ignorance in 
 each university concerning the moral and 
 religious condition of the other institutions. 
 
 122 
 
Australasian Student Movement 
 
 The Australasian colonies are still divided, 
 just as the provinces of Canada were before 
 the confederation. While the federation 
 movement is gaining ground, federation as 
 an accomplished fact seems a long way off. 
 This is especially true of New Zealand. The 
 lack of political union renders an intercolonial 
 student union all the more desirable. More- 
 over, there is no other country the universi- 
 ties of which are so far removed from the rest 
 of the university world. The facts concern- 
 ing the organized Christian work of the Eu- 
 ropean and American universities came as a 
 revelation to the students of Australasia. 
 This was an additional reason for a national 
 movement through which the important 
 educational centers of the colonies would re- 
 ceive the methods and experience of student 
 Christian societies in other lands by means 
 of organic connection with the World's Stu- 
 dent Christian Federation. Australasia was 
 the only part of Christendom without a stu- 
 dent Christian movement. To better realize 
 123 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 what this means, imagine the students of 
 Canada without the Intercollegiate Christian 
 Association Movement. Every reason which 
 has led the students of any other Christian 
 country to unite applied to Australasia, there- 
 fore, with even greater force. 
 
 Wherever we went the students responded 
 most heartily to the idea of uniting in a na- 
 tional movement of their own. It was early 
 suggested that a convention be held at Mel- 
 bourne to discuss the question and to take 
 definite action if the time seemed ripe. When 
 a student convention for the widely separated 
 colonies was proposed, even many interested 
 people were skeptical about the realization of 
 the plan. Most of them doubted whether 
 thirty students could be assembled for such 
 a purpose. It was a surprise to every one, 
 therefore, to learn that there was an attend- 
 ance of two hundred and fifty-eight regular 
 delegates from thirty-four institutions. New 
 Zealand set the pace by sending delegates 
 from three of her institutions. Each delegate 
 124 
 
Australasian Student Movement 
 
 made a journey of over three thousand miles, 
 involving an absence from university work of 
 over four weeks. Sydney University sent 
 the banner delegation of twenty-five students, 
 and would have sent more had not this limit 
 been placed on the size of its delegation. 
 All classes of institutions and all denomina- 
 tions were proportionately represented. It 
 is interesting to note, by way of comparison, 
 that this convention was more largely at- 
 tended than the similar initial gatherings in 
 America, Great Britain, Germany, Scandi- 
 navia, or Switzerland. 
 
 The convention was held at Melbourne, 
 June 5-7, 1896. It was conducted partly on 
 the plan of a presidential conference, and 
 partly as a regular deliberative convention. 
 Each topic was opened by setting forth in 
 outline the experience of Christian societies 
 of students in other lands. The delegates 
 participated freely in the discussions. Ad- 
 dresses of power were made by prominent 
 clergymen and professors. The business 
 125 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 sessions were remarkably interesting. Points 
 of most vital importance came up for settle- 
 ment. Never did young men discuss Chris- 
 tian topics with greater earnestness. The 
 convention was characterized by a spirit of 
 unity, by well-tempered enthusiasm, and by 
 the constant and recognized working and 
 leadership of the Spirit of God. The lives of 
 many delegates were transformed, and sub- 
 sequent reports show that every institution 
 represented received marked spiritual benefit. 
 One of the main causes of the spiritual power 
 of this convention, and, in fact, of the re- 
 markable development of the whole work in 
 Australasia, was the prayers of students and 
 workers in many lands. 
 
 By far the most important event of the 
 convention was the formation of the Austra- 
 lasian Student Christian Union, which links 
 together for the first time in a national Chris- 
 tian movement the students of all the colo- 
 nies. This action was taken on June 6th, 
 just nineteen years to a day after the inau- 
 126 
 
Australasian Student Movement 
 
 guration of the Intercollegiate Christian As- 
 sociation Movement of the United States and 
 Canada, and fifty-two years to a day after the 
 founding of the first Young Men's Christian 
 Association. This striking coincidence was 
 not discovered until after the convention. 
 The constitution of the Australasian Union 
 includes the best features of the constitutions 
 of several Christian movements. The Stu- 
 dent Volunteer Movement was organized and 
 made an organic department of the Union. 
 The general committee placed over the Union 
 includes some of the ablest men in the 
 colonies. The advisory committee is com- 
 posed of men eminent in church and in state 
 and in the professions ; for example, the 
 Primate of Australia and Tasmania, the Chief 
 Justice of South Australia, and Professor An- 
 drew Harper, of Melbourne. Sydney has 
 been chosen as the headquarters of the 
 Union. Three eminent professors stated in 
 the convention that the inauguration of this 
 national movement was, in their judgment, 
 127 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 the most helpful and significant event which 
 had taken place since they came to Australia. 
 To insure the permanence, development, 
 and extension of this promising movement 
 it was unanimously decided in the convention 
 that there should be a traveling secretary. 
 It was estimated that about seven thousand 
 dollars, or thirty-five hundred dollars each 
 year, would be required to meet all the vari- 
 ous expenses of the Union during the first 
 two years. The students subscribed at the 
 convention fifteen hundred dollars toward 
 the total amount required for the two years. 
 At the request of the students we devoted 
 two or three weeks after the convention to a 
 financial canvass. At Adelaide, on the kind 
 invitation of his Excellency, Sir Thomas 
 Fowell Buxton, a drawing-room meeting was 
 held at Government House. A few days 
 later a similar meeting was held at Govern- 
 ment House in Melbourne, through the kind- 
 ness of his Excellency, Lord Brassey. A 
 little later, by invitation of the Primate of 
 128 
 
Australasian Student Movement 
 
 Australia and Tasmania, a third meeting was 
 held at his beautiful home in Sydney. At 
 each of these meetings the importance and 
 needs of the newly formed Union were pre- 
 sented to a few influential men. These men 
 and a few others were then called upon per- 
 sonally. As a result most of the balance of 
 the seven thousand dollars required during 
 the first two years was subscribed. The two 
 largest subscriptions were seven hundred and 
 fifty dollars and five hundred dollars. It 
 may be questioned whether any student 
 movement has ever started under more favor- 
 able auspices. Mr. William H. Sallmon, the 
 successful general secretary of the Yale Uni- 
 versity Young Men's Christian Association, 
 and a leader in promoting Bible study among 
 students of North America, has accepted the 
 invitation to become general secretary of the 
 Australasian Union, and is about to enter 
 upon his new and important work. Our last 
 work in Australasia was that of assisting the 
 committee to prepare and to issue a prayer 
 129 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 cycle and other publications. The fact that 
 the Union began its work with five publica- 
 tions, and with others in prospect, is another 
 evidence of its enterprise and stability. 
 
 It was very difficult to leave the colonies. 
 The proverbial hospitality of this great 
 southern land has not been exaggerated. 
 From the time of landing at Adelaide until 
 the day of sailing from Sydney we were 
 overwhelmed with most considerate kindness. 
 Two days before we left Sydney the Chris- 
 tian Union of the university obtained a 
 steamer by courtesy of government, and took 
 us around their matchless harbor. The 
 minister of education accompanied the party, 
 and in recognition of the day — the Fourth of 
 July — graciously floated the Stars and 
 Stripes along with the Union Jack. When 
 we sailed, the members of the Union were at 
 the wharf in force, and cheered us off in a 
 manner which would have reflected credit at 
 a foot-ball match. The last sight which met 
 our gaze was the beautiful Cornell colors 
 130 
 
Australasian Student Movement 
 
 flung to the breeze by the chairman of the 
 Australasian Union, a graduate of Sydney 
 and subsequently a traveling fellow at Cornell. 
 What of the meaning and possibilities of 
 the Australasian Student Christian Union? 
 It means the opening of a channel of com- 
 munication between the students of the 
 southern and northern hemispheres. It 
 means the introduction of scholarly and de- 
 vout Bible study among the students of all 
 the universities. It means a heavy blow 
 struck at the chief menace of the Australasian 
 colonies — the spirit of secularism. It means 
 the awakening of interest in the study of 
 Christian sociology, and the sending forth of 
 an increasing number of young men and 
 young women into the great troubled heart 
 of the Australasian cities to work for their 
 redemption. It means the development of 
 an aggressive missionary force in the centers 
 of learning where hitherto there has been no 
 enthusiasm for the enterprise of world-wide 
 missions. It means the union in spirit and 
 131 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 practical effort of the coming leaders of the 
 different divisions of the Church of Christ — 
 a union which will be carried beyond college 
 walls. It means a generation of professors, 
 editors, lawyers, physicians, and statesmen 
 in larger sympathy with Christianity. It 
 means, therefore, nothing less than the lay- 
 ing of secure foundations for what is destined 
 to become a mighty Christian empire in the 
 southern seas. 
 
 132 
 
XIII 
 
 Conferences in China 
 
 Members of the Student Volunteer Move- 
 ment in China wrote, before our journey was 
 begun, recommending that some Christian 
 conferences be held in that field. This 
 demand became strong and general when 
 word was received about the great blessing 
 which attended the Indian conferences, and 
 missionaries at leading centers united in in- 
 viting us to conduct a similar series in China. 
 Mr. D. Willard Lyon, the secretary in China 
 of the American International Committee, 
 was requested to decide, after advising with 
 volunteers and other missionaries on the field, 
 what conferences should be held, and to per- 
 fect all arrangements. The success of these 
 gatherings was due largely to the painstaking 
 133 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 preparatory work of Mr. Lyon and to the local 
 committees working under his direction. 
 
 Four regular conferences were held, name- 
 ly, Chefoo, August 23-27; Peking, Septem- 
 ber 12-17; Shanghai, September 30-October 
 5 ; and Foochow, October 14-17. Brief spe- 
 cial conferences, called on short notice, were 
 held also at Tientsin, September 5-6, and 
 Hankow, October 25-26. The purpose of 
 these conferences was to deepen the spiritual 
 life, and to consider the part which students 
 must have in the evangelization of China. 
 
 The following table shows the personnel of 
 the conferences : 
 
 O Ah M fc. H 
 
 Number Chinese Students . . 49 190 190 570 999 
 
 Number Chinese teachers . . 33 22 30 150 235 
 
 Number Chinese pastors . . 18 43 35 51 147 
 Number other Chinese 
 
 Christians 107 220 245 429 looi 
 
 Number missionaries 79 96 193 57 411* 
 
 Number other foreigners . . 13 8 43 12 76 
 Total number delegates . . . 299 579 736 1269 2883* 
 Number colleges repre- 
 sented 5 6 13 16 40 
 
 Missionary societies repre- 
 sented 14 14 26 8 37t 
 
 * Omitting missionaries counted more than once. 
 t Omitting societies counted more than once. 
 
 134 
 
Conferences in China 
 
 A careful study of this table will show that 
 this series of conferences was remarkable in 
 numbers and representative character. There 
 were present over twelve hundred Chinese 
 students and teachers at these four confer- 
 ences, or fifty per cent more than attended 
 the five gatherings in India. The Foochow 
 conference alone was attended by a larger 
 number of students than any student confer- 
 ence ever held, save the Volunteer conven- 
 tions at Cleveland, Detroit, and Liverpool. 
 The attendance was not only large, but also 
 representative. All but two of the leading 
 institutions of higher learning in China 
 sent delegates — the difficulty of language 
 being the main obstacle in the case of these 
 two. 
 
 It is an impressive fact that four hundred 
 and eleven foreign missionaries were present. 
 If we should add those who attended either 
 of the special conferences the number would 
 exceed the total number of delegates at the 
 famous Shanghai missionary gathering of 
 1890. Thirty-seven missionary societies 
 135 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 were represented, or more than at the meet- 
 ing of 1890. In fact missionaries were 
 present from every important missionary so- 
 ciety in China. It is interesting to note 
 that about seventy-five, or nearly one half, of 
 the members of the Volunteer Movement of 
 America and Britain now in China were in 
 attendance. 
 
 Nearly three thousand regular delegates 
 attended the four conferences. They came 
 from as far north as Korea, Manchuria, and 
 the borders of Mongolia, from as far south 
 as Hainan, and from as far west as Shansi 
 and Szechuen. Nearly every province and 
 dependency of the empire in which there 
 were missionaries was represented. This fact 
 is all the more striking when we reflect on 
 the difficulties of travel in such a country as 
 China. One Chinese delegate traveled three 
 weeks to reach the Peking conference. 
 
 It will be noticed that, as in India, the 
 conferences went from strength to strength. 
 This was true not only in the numbers at- 
 136 
 
Conferences in China 
 
 tending, but also in spiritual power and 
 fruitfulness. It was due in part to the 
 union of prayer, which increased as we ad- 
 vanced — the delegates of each gathering 
 uniting in special prayer for those which were 
 to follow. Another most efficient cause was 
 the concert of prayer which included groups 
 of Christian friends in different parts of 
 Europe, Asia, America, and Australia. 
 There were certain marked manifestations of 
 the Spirit of God which could be accounted 
 for in no other way. 
 
 The following are a few fruits of the con- 
 ferences: Fully eight hundred delegates re- 
 corded their decision to keep the morning 
 watch. Of this number one hundred and 
 forty-seven were missionaries, and nearly all 
 of the rest were students, teachers, and pas- 
 tors. At each conference the names of the 
 Chinese delegates deciding to keep the morn- 
 ing watch were placed in the hands of mis- 
 sionaries, in order that they might be encour- 
 aged and guided in forming this habit which 
 137 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 has so much to do with promoting real spir- 
 itual growth. 
 
 At the gospel meetings held in connection 
 with the different conferences there were one 
 hundred and four serious inquirers, of whom 
 the very large majority professed to accept 
 Christ as their personal Saviour. Eight were 
 members of the foreign commercial commu- 
 nities ; all the rest were Chinese young men. 
 How we longed for more time at each gather- 
 ing to take advantage of the special interest 
 manifested ! The largest spiritual results 
 were at Foochow, in the Fukien Province, 
 near the place of the recent terrible massacre 
 of missionaries. 
 
 As a direct result of the conferences sev- 
 enty-seven young men volunteered, that is, 
 decided to devote their lives to Christian 
 work among their own people. A larger 
 number might have been secured, but only 
 the most conservative methods were em- 
 ployed. It was necessary to guard carefully 
 against unworthy motives entering into such 
 138 
 
Conferences in China 
 
 a decision. This number includes some of 
 the best Christian students in the colleges 
 represented. The seventy-seven who have 
 already volunteered, together with other 
 Christian students who had previously de- 
 cided the question, constitute the vanguard 
 of the Student Volunteer Movement of 
 China. 
 
 This series of conferences marks the be- 
 ginning not only of student conventions in 
 China, but also of conferences for the deep- 
 ening of the spiritual life. At each place there 
 was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and 
 the demand was general that similar gather- 
 ings be held at convenient intervals in the 
 future. For years the missionaries and other 
 workers of India have had special meetings for 
 the promotion of the spiritual life. If Christian 
 workers in England and America, where 
 there is such a favorable spiritual atmosphere, 
 find it desirable and necessary to hold such 
 meetings, does it not seem that the scattered 
 and overburdened workers of China, sur- 
 139 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 rounded as they are by the densest heathen- 
 ism, will find it most helpful to have regular 
 occasions when they can come together for 
 spiritual conference and for unitedly waiting 
 on God for power from on high ? 
 
 140 
 
XIV 
 Students of China United 
 
 I. The uniting of the students of China in 
 local organizations. 
 
 During the three months spent in China 
 practically all the institutions of higher learn- 
 ing were visited. In all these only five stu- 
 dent Young Men's Christian Associations 
 were in existence. At the close of this tour 
 there were twenty-seven. In some colleges 
 there were local societies of different names, 
 but in no case were they standing for the 
 important phases of work for the promotion 
 of which the association has been called into 
 being. An association is now planted in 
 every important institution in the empire. 
 They exist not only in Christian colleges, but 
 141 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 in all government institutions in which there 
 is a sufficient number of Christian students to 
 sustain an organization. They are found in 
 all the colleges and schools of the British and 
 American missionary societies. Each associ- 
 ation organized adopted the model constitu- 
 tion which includes the best features of similar 
 societies in different countries. Thus the 
 student movement of this country is placed 
 in possession of the best experience of the 
 movements of other lands. 
 
 From indications already apparent the 
 students at the various centers have taken 
 hold of the work in earnest, and it is said by 
 those who know the Chinese best that when 
 they once take hold thoroughly they never 
 let go. Nearly all the members of these 
 twenty-seven associations have been enlisted 
 in daily devotional Bible study. In a ma- 
 jority of these cases they have undertaken 
 to keep the morning watch. The responsi- 
 bility of leading and carrying on the work 
 has been placed upon the Chinese students 
 142 
 
Students of China United 
 
 themselves. It is believed by the mission- 
 aries that this will aid much in developing 
 leadership and willingness to take the ini- 
 tiative, qualities so greatly needed among 
 them. Not the least service rendered by 
 planting these societies has been the awaken- 
 ing of the interest of the students of each 
 college in students elsewhere. In no country 
 has the lack of intercollegiate relations been 
 so apparent. 
 
 2. The uniting of the sticdents of China in 
 a national organization. 
 
 Although there had been no intercollegiate 
 relations among the students of China, their 
 responsiveness to the intercollegiate idea was 
 cordial, and they were deeply impressed by 
 the messages of greeting conveyed to them 
 from the students of other lands. In not a 
 single institution did the students fail to favor 
 the proposed plan of a national organization 
 of their own. Accordingly it was early de- 
 cided to call a special conference to take steps 
 toward the formation of such a national union. 
 143 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 This conference was held in Shanghai, No- 
 vember 3-5, 1896, at the close of the tour in 
 China. Each association was invited to send 
 one voting delegate. Twenty-two out of the 
 twenty-seven associations did so. The con- 
 ditions in China made it very desirable that 
 the foundations of the national society should 
 be laid by the leaders of the different colleges. 
 It is an impressive fact that seventeen of the 
 leading college presidents of China left their 
 work at the busiest season of the year and 
 came to Shanghai, at a cost of from five days 
 to three weeks of their time, in order to par- 
 ticipate in launching this great work. 
 
 The new movement is called the College 
 Young Men's Christian Association of China 
 No movement has been inaugurated under 
 more favorable circumstances. In addition 
 to college presidents and other foreigners, 
 there were present several of the most in- 
 fluential Chinese Christian teachers. The 
 first day was devoted to discussing and 
 adopting a national constitution. The next 
 144 
 
Students of China United 
 
 day was occupied in deciding Chinese ter- 
 minology, in perfecting the permanent or- 
 ganization, and in determining several main 
 points of policy to be followed by the move- 
 ment. A strong national committee, com- 
 posed of fourteen men, one half of whom are 
 Chinese, was appointed. The executive of 
 this committee includes some of the leading 
 educators of China. On the third day a 
 special meeting was held with the newly 
 formed national committee, at which the 
 policy of the coming year was outlined and 
 discussed. It was decided to have a monthly 
 paper devoted to the interests of the move- 
 ment ; to issue five pamphlets in English and 
 three in Chinese ; and to hold a national con- 
 vention, and, from time to time, sectional 
 conferences. Mr. Lyon was chosen general 
 secretary of the national committee. Bishop 
 Moule of mid-China, Bishop Joyce of 
 America, the college presidents, and other 
 voting and visiting delegates made speeches 
 of warmest commendation and expressed 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 their convictions regarding the providential 
 character of this movement. The unity of 
 spirit which characterized a body representing 
 so many sections, so many different classes 
 of opinion on the conduct of educational 
 missions, and so many denominations, was 
 much commented upon. 
 
 This new movement will enable the Chris- 
 tian students of China for the first time to 
 realize their numbers and power. It will 
 make possible continuity and progression in 
 their organized Christian work. It will en- 
 able each association to profit by the experi- 
 ence of all the others. It will make possible 
 communication with the great student world 
 outside of China. The real significance of 
 the iriovement is seen in the fact that old 
 China is passing away ; new China is coming 
 on. The leaders of the new China are to- 
 day being trained in those institutions which 
 give the modern education. What shall that 
 leadership be? This voluntary organization 
 has been called into being to cooperate with 
 146 
 
Students of China United 
 
 the spiritual forces of educational missions in 
 making that leadership truly Christian. 
 
 3. Tlie uniting of the students of China 
 with the students of other lands. 
 
 The newly formed College Young Men's 
 Christian Association of China fully complied 
 with the conditions and was at once admitted 
 to the World's Student Christian Federation. 
 It has a supervisory committee of excep- 
 tional strength. It has made provision for a 
 valuable and increasing literature, including 
 a well-adapted monthly paper, and has ar- 
 ranged for holding other conferences. The 
 record which the Chinese students and 
 teachers have made in conferences this year 
 may well stimulate even the oldest student 
 movements. A secretary has been called 
 whose qualifications and providential training 
 have marked him out as preeminently the 
 man to guide the development of this move- 
 ment. It is a surprising fact that in the most 
 conservative country in the world the student 
 movement began its career with a larger 
 147 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 number of societies than had any other 
 movement organized up to that time. The 
 American movement began with twenty-two ; 
 the British with seventeen ; the German with 
 less than a score ; the Scandinavian with less 
 than a dozen ; the Indian with twenty-two ; 
 the Australasian with twenty- five; the South 
 African with less than ten ; the Chinese with 
 twenty-seven. 
 
 4. The uniting of the students of China for 
 the evangelization of tlieir own country. 
 
 One of the most important developments 
 of the tour in China was the extension of the 
 Volunteer Movement to the students of that 
 land. There are nearly two hundred mem- 
 bers of the British and American Volunteer 
 Movement in China, about five sixths of 
 whom came from the United States and 
 Canada. We met personally one half of the 
 whole number. Conversations with many of 
 them, as well as with other missionaries, led 
 to undertaking at once the definite organiza- 
 tion of the movement among the Chinese 
 148 
 
Students of China United 
 
 students. A committee of old volunteers 
 was appointed at two of the conferenqes to 
 take the initial steps. This committee ap- 
 peared before the convention held to form 
 the College Young Men's Christian Associa- 
 tion of China, and that body, by unanimous 
 vote, made the Student Volunteer Movement 
 an organic department of the association 
 work. It appointed a committee of nine 
 American and British volunteers to facilitate 
 the development of this department. Among 
 the members of this committee are such 
 former leaders of the home movements as 
 B. L. Livingstone Learmonth, D. Willard 
 Lyon, and Logan Herbert Roots. The 
 members of the committee are scattered 
 throughout the empire. 
 
 Two long sessions were held with the 
 committee. Among the important steps 
 taken were : the adoption of the form of de- 
 claration used by the Student Volunteer 
 Movement of India and Ceylon; the provi- 
 sion for the organization of volunteer bands 
 149 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 in the different colleges of China ; the deter- 
 mination of phases of work to be carried on 
 by Chinese volunteers ; the introduction of a 
 cycle of prayer; and the arranging for the 
 preparation of a strong printed appeal to 
 Chinese students to devote their lives to 
 Christian work. Plans were made also for 
 the appointment of a similar committee of 
 women volunteers to extend the movement 
 among the young women of China. 
 
 The present seems to be a most providen- 
 tial time for the inauguration of the Volunteer 
 Movement. The organization of the associa- 
 tion movement has done much to prepare the 
 way by affording larger access to the Chris- 
 tian students, by furnishing a firm anchorage 
 for the Volunteer Movement, by supplying 
 favorable conditions for fostering the spiritual 
 life of Chinese volunteers and for training 
 them in Christian work. The recent series 
 of conferences created strong sentiment in 
 favor of the Volunteer Movement. The fact 
 that the college presidents of China with one 
 150 
 
Students of China United 
 
 mind voted to incorporate the Volunteer 
 Movement into the association movement as 
 its missionary department is in itself one of 
 the strongest indorsements the Volunteer 
 Movement has ever received. The further 
 striking fact that at two of the conferences 
 recently held not less than seventy-seven 
 Chinese young men decided to dedicate their 
 lives to taking Christ to their own country- 
 men is another indication of the hand of God 
 in this development. When we recall the 
 awful spiritual crisis of China, involving the 
 destiny of one third of the human race, can 
 we question that the volunteer idea has been 
 divinely planted in the Chinese student field? 
 
 151 
 
XV 
 Impressions of China 
 
 I. China is the greatest mission field of the 
 world. 
 
 It is greatest in population. A consensus 
 of authoritative opinion estimates the popu- 
 lation of China at three hundred and fifty 
 millions. The eighteen provinces are, on 
 an average, about the size of Minnesota, 
 and have an average population of about 
 twenty millions. There are more people in 
 China than in all Europe ; more than in the 
 entire western hemisphere and Africa com- 
 bined. There are probably one hundred and 
 seventy-five million people on the great plain 
 of China. The cities of no other country 
 seem to contain such dense masses of people. 
 152 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 Our experience all through China verified 
 the testimony of a missionary who said that 
 he had never been out of sight of a living 
 Chinese or the grave of a dead one. 
 
 China is greatest also in combination of 
 difficulties. The language of Japan is doubt- 
 less more difficult than the Chinese. The 
 climate of India and other tropical regions 
 may be more trying. Africa may be dark 
 ened with denser ignorance and burdened 
 with worse superstition. South America 
 may be sunk in a lower depth of immorality. 
 The Turkish empire may be the abode of 
 greater cruelty and exhibit equal misrule. 
 Other parts of the world may present the 
 Mohammedan problem more extensively than 
 China. It may be an open question whether 
 caste in India is a greater obstacle than an- 
 cestor-worship in China; and whether the 
 Brahmans and other educated classes of India 
 are more difficult to reach with the gospel 
 than are the literati of China. There may 
 be difference of opinion as to whether the ex- 
 153 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 treme sensitiveness to foreign influence on the 
 part of the Japanese is agreater hindrance than 
 the strong anti-foreign feeling of the Chinese. 
 But there can be no doubt that China presents 
 the greatest combination of these difficulties. 
 When we remember the difficulty of ac- 
 quiring the Chinese language, which some 
 one has said requires lungs of brass, nerves 
 of steel, the memory of a Loisette, the pa- 
 tience of Job, and the age of Methuselah; 
 the dwarfing conservatism and overweening 
 pride of China, which looks only to her own 
 past for a model ; ancestral worship, with its 
 terrible grip on man, woman, and child ; 
 Chinese Buddhism, with its ignorant, im- 
 moral priesthood and gross forms of idolatry ; 
 the many millions of Mohammedans of the 
 western provinces, with the same fanaticism 
 which characterizes the followers of Islam 
 everywhere; the universal ignorance of 
 modern science, which enslaves the people 
 to a thousand superstitions ; the sordid ma- 
 terialism and avarice which possess all 
 154 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 classes ; the discouraging prevalence of de- 
 ception and falsehood entering into every 
 relation of life ; the wide-spread dishonesty 
 which is the logical result of the fact that 
 China is the greatest nation of gamblers in 
 the world; impurity in all its unnamable 
 forms ; the opium curse, which cost last year 
 two hundred and twenty million dollars — 
 enough, as one has said, to make ten million 
 opium slaves and bring want to one hundred 
 million human beings ; the amount of physi- 
 cal suffering, which is incredible and appal- 
 ling, and the utter absence of medical science 
 apart from one medical missionary to every 
 two million people ; the very insanitary con- 
 dition of the whole country and the utter 
 disregard of all hygienic laws ; judicial torture, 
 with all its horrors, still in full force ; the liter- 
 ati and official classes, which are the moSt 
 obstructive element to all progress and the 
 chief source of all social and political corrup- 
 tion; the one hundred and seventy- five mil- 
 lion women who are virtually in slavery — 
 155 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 when we remember all these things, and the 
 dreadful fact that this is a country regulated, 
 not by the living, but by the dead, there can 
 be no question whatever that China presents 
 by far the greatest combination of difficulties 
 of any mission field. We believe that Mor- 
 rison's prayer before he was appointed to 
 China was literally answered — the prayer 
 that God would station him where the diffi- 
 culties were greatest and to all human ap- 
 pearance the most insurmountable. 
 
 Furthermore, China is greatest in possi- 
 bilities. There are vast masses of people in 
 every one of her eighteen provinces who 
 have never heard the name of Christ. There 
 are fourteen hundred cities, with an estimated 
 population of over one hundred millions, still 
 without missionaries. It is estimated that 
 over one million villages have never been 
 evangelized. China has not only the great- 
 est, but the most vigorous, unreached masses 
 of people in the world. What people have 
 such remarkable staying power, such large 
 156 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 capacity for work, such patient endurance of 
 hardship and suffering? Surely God has 
 had a special purpose in preserving the in- 
 tegrity of this nation for four thousand years. 
 Notwithstanding all that has been said of the 
 evils of China, no people has impressed us 
 as possessing such strength. The qualities 
 which have made the Chinese such efficient 
 agents of evil will make them, under the 
 transforming, directing, and energizing power 
 of the Holy Spirit, one of the mightiest forces 
 for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God. 
 They are the greatest colonizers of the Orient, 
 and their influence, therefore, is destined to 
 be increasingly felt far beyond the limits of 
 the Middle Kingdom. You will find them 
 hard at work from Japan to the shores of 
 Africa. Prohibitive legislation alone keeps 
 them out of America and Australasia. The 
 more we reflect on the strong traits of this 
 people, the more we are impressed with what 
 Napoleon said : " When China is moved it 
 will change the face of the globe." 
 157 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 2. The students of the Chinese government 
 competitive examination system constitute the 
 Gibraltar of the student world. 
 
 For nearly two thousand years China has 
 had an educational system which is absolutely 
 unique. It consists of an elaborate series of 
 competitive examinations, requiring many 
 years of very hard study, not to mention the 
 thorough drill to which the boys are sub- 
 jected, nor the preliminary examinations held 
 before the district magistrate and also before 
 the prefect. There are three main competi- 
 tive examinations. The first is held before a 
 literary chancellor each year, and entitles all 
 who pass it to receive the first literary degree. 
 The next is held at each provincial capital 
 before imperial commissioners twice during 
 every three years. Those who are success- 
 ful secure the second degree. The third is 
 held at Peking once every three years for the 
 third degree. These three degrees are often 
 likened to the B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. of 
 Western institutions. The analogy holds 
 158 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 only in point of time spent to secure the de- 
 grees. Even this statement is not strictly 
 correct, for, as a rule, it takes much longer to 
 get a degree in China than in the West. 
 Only a very small proportion — from ten to 
 twenty- five per cent — of those who compete 
 are successful. The range of subjects for 
 study and examination is very limited, being 
 restricted almost entirely to the Chinese 
 classics. All the civil officials throughout 
 China are chosen from the graduates, and 
 the goal of every student in China is to be- 
 come an official. 
 
 The number of students is enormous. 
 Timothy Richards estimates that every year 
 five hundred thousand students present them- 
 selves for examination for the first degree; 
 and David Hill estimates that one hundred 
 and fifty thousand present themselves for the 
 second degree. For the third degree ten 
 thousand or more usually go up to Peking 
 from all parts of the empire. One hundred 
 and fifty thousand students presenting them- 
 159 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 selves for examination at one time in the 
 provincial capitals of China is one of the most 
 striking facts in the student life of the wrorld. 
 One of the most interesting things seen on 
 our tour was the examination hall at Nan- 
 king, with its thirty thousand little stalls, all 
 of which are filled during an examination 
 period for several days and nights by stu- 
 dents competing for the second degree. 
 These multitudes of students are the Gibral- 
 tar of the student world. 
 
 Why is it so important to lead these stu- 
 dents to Christ ? Because they are to become 
 the real rulers of the empire. China is what 
 she is because of her literary classes, and 
 until these are changed China herself will 
 not be changed. The Hterary classes should 
 be won for the sake of the masses. China's 
 milHons would turn to God in much larger 
 numbers were it not for the restraining hand 
 of the literati. It is important because in no 
 other country does learning secure such great 
 respect, and because the literati are the source 
 i6o 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 of the strongest opposition to Christianity. 
 Most of the riots are instigated by them. If 
 reached for Christ they will be among the 
 strongest defenders and propagators of Chris- 
 tianity. 
 
 What has been done to reach these stu- 
 dents? A few missionaries at certain ex- 
 amination centers have done most excellent 
 work in the distribution of Christian literature. 
 Many facts could be given showing the value 
 of such work. The Society for the Diffusion 
 of Christian and General Knowledge has done 
 much by placing considerable quantities of 
 Christian literature, and, in a few cases, by 
 offering prizes for essays on subjects neces- 
 sitating the study of Christianity. Nor should 
 the valuable influence of all who have had 
 any part in the preparation of scientific 
 and religious literature be overlooked. The 
 Rev. Gilbert Reid, who is devoting himself 
 to work among the graduates composing the 
 higher official classes, is doing a work not 
 only of the greatest difficulty, but also of the 
 i6i 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 farthest-reaching importance. When all this 
 is stated it must still be evident that com- 
 paratively little is being done for the educated 
 classes. There are over fifteen hundred mis- 
 sionaries at work among the masses, but not 
 more than two or three are devoting them- 
 selves directly to reaching the government 
 student class. Years ago Dr. Nevius said 
 that the literati had been too much neglected. 
 David Hill urged that the winning of these 
 students demands far deeper thought than 
 has yet been given to the subject. 
 
 What should be done in order to reach 
 more of these students? Effort should be 
 continued on existing lines, but the whole 
 field should be districted, and more unity and 
 continuity should be given to the work. The 
 range of examination questions is beginning 
 to broaden, and is destined to do so more 
 and more. Literature better adapted to the 
 student class should be provided in larger 
 quantities to meet the growing demand, which 
 is likely to increase to an enormous extent. 
 162 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 One or more strong men should be located 
 at each of the provincial capitals with special 
 reference to preparing and distributing suit- 
 able scientific and Christian literature. These 
 should come into personal contact with the 
 students, and should devote themselves to 
 the study and solution of this problem. 
 
 We believe that the College Young Men's 
 Christian Association of China, which is being 
 so ably led by Mr. Lyon, is also destined to 
 have a large part in helping to solve this co- 
 lossal problem. To this end three or four 
 well-qualified men should be sent as soon as 
 possible to occupy critical points. 
 
 Above all, there is need of far more inter- 
 cessory prayer for this specific work. These 
 students are the most difficult class to win, 
 and persistent effort will be necessary before 
 the citadel is taken. Humanly speaking, this 
 is impossible, but it is not too hard for God. 
 
 3. Educational missions in China are of 
 the greatest strategic importance. 
 
 The promotion of modern learning and the 
 163 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 employment of modern educational methods 
 are almost entirely in the hands of the mis- 
 sionaries. With the exception of about half 
 a dozen government institutions all the real 
 institutions of higher learning are under mis- 
 sion control. Missionaries, therefore, are 
 literally the instructors of the new China. 
 
 One who is in a position to know has said 
 that it is highly probable the government 
 will soon establish at all the provincial capi- 
 tals institutions of learning conducted accord- 
 ing to modern methods. If this be done, 
 they will at first have to look to mission in- 
 stitutions for Chinese teachers. If these 
 government institutions are started, nothing 
 should be allowed to prevent the missionary 
 institutions from holding the primacy which 
 they now have. This leadership should be 
 kept in the interests of the kingdom of God. 
 The impressive lesson taught by India and 
 Japan should be heeded in time. The mis- 
 sion institutions should be kept so strong, and 
 Christians should be brought into such close 
 164 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 relation to any institutions the government 
 may form, tiiat the forces of skepticism and 
 rationalism will be forestalled and prevented 
 from having any prominent part in directing 
 the new learning. Modern science is to-day 
 one of the strongest weapons in the hands of 
 the church in China, and Confucianism can- 
 not withstand it. This weapon should not 
 pass from the church. 
 
 After visiting nearly all the mission col- 
 leges of China and studying them with care, 
 we were convinced that no money is being ex- 
 pended on the mission field which is yielding 
 larger returns, when one views the mission 
 problem in its entirety. These institutions, 
 taken as a whole, are measuring up to the 
 central purpose of educational missions as 
 well as those of any other country. They 
 are being conducted by a body of men 
 remarkably strong, both intellectually and 
 spiritually. Not one of these institutions can 
 be spared. All of them should be greatly 
 strengthened. If money is wisely poured 
 165 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 into this work during the next few years it 
 will do much to hasten the evangelization of 
 the country and to give a truly Christian 
 civilization to the China of the coming cen- 
 tury. 
 
 4. The spiritual tide in China is rising. 
 
 A careful tour of the Chinese provinces 
 gives one abundant reason for encourage- 
 ment. The whole country stands wide open. 
 Exclusive Hunan has recently petitioned 
 the government for the telegraph and for 
 steam navigation. Even mission touring is 
 possible within its borders. The signs are 
 unmistakable that the immobility of a hun- 
 dred generations is coming to an end. For 
 the first time there is an awakened desire to 
 know something of the outside world. 
 
 The demand for all kinds of literature has 
 increased amazingly since the war. The 
 secretaries of the Bible societies testified to a 
 marvelous increase in the circulation of the 
 Scriptures. Last year alone each of the 
 three Bible societies distributed two hundred 
 i66 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 and fifty thousand copies of portions of the 
 Scriptures. The American Bible Society 
 circulated nearly as many copies in China 
 last year as in all other fields combined. In 
 all parts of China there are evidences of the 
 unexampled success of medical missions, not 
 only in relieving suffering, but also in remov- 
 ing prejudice and in conciliating all classes. 
 The network of laborers is spreading through 
 even the most remote inland provinces. On 
 every hand there was evident a vast amount 
 of wise, self-denying, prayerful seed-sowing. 
 The marked rising of the spiritual tide was 
 most deeply impressive. This was noticeable 
 among the more than five hundred mission- 
 aries who were met in different parts of the 
 empire. They place the emphasis on the 
 spiritual side of the work. Prayer has a large 
 place in their lives. There is great longing 
 for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and 
 many are living the Spirit-filled life. Among 
 the Chinese workers, also, there is a hunger- 
 ing and thirsting for a more abundant life and 
 167 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 for more of the power of God in their work. 
 In view of this attitude of the missionaries and 
 Chinese workers it is not surprising that in 
 several places there was a spiritual movement 
 among the people. In the province of Chihli, 
 both along the coast and about Peking, the 
 missionaries told of recent revivals. Away 
 up the Yangtse River whole villages inland 
 from Hankow were giving up their idols, and 
 through the work of the London mission in that 
 region the number of converts has doubled 
 each year for the last three years. Dr. Ross 
 reported one thousand baptisms last year in 
 connection with the Scotch work in Man- 
 churia. In the Fukien Province during the 
 last year, the year following the massacre, 
 there were over twenty thousand inquirers 
 and about five thousand baptisms, and not less 
 than one hundred villages are asking for 
 Christian teachers. There has been a greater 
 increase in the number of converts in China 
 during the last eight years than during the 
 preceding eighty years. The remarkable 
 i68 
 
Impressions of China 
 
 progress which has been made within a life- 
 time is seen from the statement of Bishop 
 Moule that when he reached China there 
 were less than fifty Christians; and of Dr. 
 Muirhead that when he came there were less 
 than twenty. Now there are eighty thou- 
 sand. 
 
 169 
 
XVI 
 
 The Japanese Tour 
 
 Nearly twelve weeks were spent in 
 Japan. Japan was known to be a difficult 
 field, but it proved to be by far the most 
 difficult field of the entire tour. Work of 
 organization required twice as much time as 
 was necessary in other countries. The keen- 
 ness of the Japanese students makes it 
 necessary for the successful worker among 
 them to be always at his best. In addition 
 to the tension thus maintained there is a 
 steady drain on the sympathy of the worker 
 whose mind and heart are open, because of 
 the fierceness of the temptations which beset 
 the young men. 
 
 All the preparatory work for this tour was 
 170 
 
The Japanese Tour 
 
 intrusted to Mr. John T. Swift, the secretary 
 in Japan of the American International Com- 
 mittee, and in no country was better prepara- 
 tion made. Mr. Swift also accompanied us 
 most of the time, and much of the success of 
 the tour was due to his eminently wise, thought- 
 ful, and sympathetic cooperation. Mr. Niwa, 
 the able secretary of the Tokyo Association, 
 rendered very valuable help in connection 
 with the campaign in that city. Indispen- 
 sable help was given by Mr. Yabuuchi, who 
 acted as interpreter throughout Japan. He 
 combines in a rare manner the essential 
 qualifications of a good interpreter — faithful- 
 ness, humility, tact, and spiritual sympathy. 
 A large portion of the time was spent in 
 organizing Christian associations among stu- 
 dents. At the beginning of the tour there 
 were in Japan eight student Young Men's 
 Christian Associations. There were three 
 others bearing the association name, but they 
 were not on the regular basis. The work in 
 the eight existing organizations was strength- 
 171 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 ened, and the other three were reorganized 
 and placed on the evangelical basis. Many 
 new associations were formed, so that at the 
 time we left Japan there were twenty- eight 
 regular student Young Men's Christian As- 
 sociations and two others in process of 
 organization. In this number are included 
 associations in all but three of the leading 
 government institutions and in practically all 
 of the Christian institutions of higher learning 
 under the auspices both of American and 
 British societies. 
 
 From the beginning of the work in Japan 
 careful thought was given to the organiza- 
 tion of a union of all the student Christian 
 associations in the country. The idea of 
 forming such a union, and thus bringing the 
 students of Japan into organic connection 
 with the World's Federation, everywhere met 
 with the earnest approval of students, teach- 
 ers, and missionaries. They were quick to 
 see that among the advantages resulting from 
 such a union would be increased courage and 
 172 
 
The Japanese Tour 
 
 inspiration, stimulus and profit, from each 
 other's experience and ideas, continuity and 
 progression in the work as a result of wise 
 central supervision, while the whole work 
 would be broadened and intensified by inti- 
 mate connection with student movements in 
 other lands. Thus a compact union of the 
 Christian students and teachers of Japan 
 would enable them to exert a far greater in- 
 fluence on the problem of Christianizing their 
 country. Accordingly a convention was held 
 in Tokyo, January 18-19, 1897, for the pur- 
 pose of efjecting an intercollegiate union. 
 Each association was invited to send one dele- 
 gate. Although the convention met during 
 the college session, about two thirds of the 
 associations were represented. A number of 
 influential men also attended as visiting dele- 
 gates. Afterexhaustive discussion (more than 
 twice the time was spent in discussion than in 
 India, Australasia, or China) every important 
 section of the constitution was adopted by 
 unanimous vote. The burning question was 
 173 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 the adoption of the evangelical basis. The 
 convention delivered itself on this most vital 
 matter with clearness, unanimity, and convic- 
 tion, and this part of the constitution was 
 more strongly worded than in the case of any 
 other movement in the Federation. Consti- 
 tutional provision was made for the promotion 
 of the Student Volunteer Movement as an 
 organic part of the associations. 
 
 The name of the new intercollegiate organi- 
 zation is the Student Young Men's Christian 
 Association Union of Japan. A central com- 
 mittee of fifteen was appointed to supervise 
 the work. Those who are in a position to know 
 say it is the strongest committee which could 
 have been constituted for the purpose. We 
 need mention only such names as those of 
 Presidents Ibuka, Honda, and Oshikawa, and 
 Dr. Davis. The committee held its first 
 meeting at the close of the convention. 
 President Ibuka of the Meiji Gakuin was 
 elected permanent chairman, and Mr. Swift 
 consented to serve as honorary general sec- 
 ^74 
 
The Japanese Tour 
 
 retary. Already five pamphlets, including a 
 prayer cycle, have been issued by the new 
 union. Sectional Bible conferences will 
 doubtless be held from time to time. It was 
 hoped that a monthly paper devoted to the 
 interests of the movement would be started. 
 A strong appeal was made for two or more 
 secretaries to give their entire time to devel- 
 oping and extending this work. 
 
 As the new movement had complied with 
 all the conditions, it was admitted to the 
 Federation. It began its life with a larger 
 number of associations than any other move- 
 ment. No other movement will derive 
 greater help from organic connection with 
 the Federation. The broadening influence 
 of this intimate relation must necessarily be 
 specially helpful in a country pervaded by an 
 ultra-nationalistic spirit ; and during the pres- 
 ent formative period of Japanese church life 
 the steadying influence coming from vital 
 union with the strong evangelical movements 
 of Christendom will be of incalculable value. 
 175 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 On the other hand, the Japanese movement 
 from the beginning will take a leading place in 
 the Federation. It is destined to be felt as a 
 strong factor. While the student body of 
 Japan is not so numerous as that of India, it 
 is without doubt more ambitious, aggressive, 
 and influential. It is likely to play a larger 
 part in our generation than the students of 
 any other country in the Orient. Notwith- 
 standing their zealous nationalistic spirit, no 
 students are so eclectic or cosmopolitan. 
 Hundreds of Japanese students may be found 
 every year scattered among the universities 
 of Europe and America. Now that Japan, 
 by the revision of her treaties, is taking her 
 rightful place among the nations, and with 
 remarkable enterprise is projecting her lines 
 of commerce throughout the whole earth, it 
 is indeed significant that her Christian stu- 
 dents take their place in this great world-wide 
 student brotherhood. 
 
 In a few places the Volunteer Movement 
 was presented with an appeal to Japanese 
 176 
 
The Japanese Tour 
 
 students to devote their lives to evangelizing 
 their own people, but the time did not seem 
 ripe to press for final decisions. There is 
 much preparatory work to be done before the 
 Volunteer Movement can do its best work. 
 Wherever the number of Christians warranted 
 it, addresses were given on Bible study, 
 prayer, the Holy Spirit, and kindred subjects. 
 Next to the careful organization of these 
 little bands of Japanese Christian students 
 the most urgent need was a special effort on 
 behalf of the non-Christian students. Dur- 
 ing the last two months, therefore, one or 
 more evangelistic meetings were held at each 
 place visited. The audiences were very 
 large, and were composed almost entirely of 
 non- Christian students. In some instances 
 no hall could be obtained large enough to 
 hold all who wished to come. In two places 
 the windows and doors were kept open and 
 crowds gathered outside. At another place 
 the building and inclosures were so packed 
 that the gates were locked half an hour be- 
 177 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 fore the time of meeting. The last meeting 
 of the series was held in Tokyo in the taber- 
 nacle near the university. Although the 
 attendance was limited to students of three 
 government institutions, twelve hundred 
 students, of whom less than one hundred 
 were Christians, filled the building to over- 
 flowing. More remarkable than the uni- 
 formly large attendance in all parts of Japan 
 was the closeness of attention given by 
 those who came. When it is remembered 
 that the main address, with interpretation, 
 occupied two hours, that nearly all would 
 stay a third hour to the first after-meeting, 
 that the audiences were composed almost 
 entirely of non- Christians, and that the 
 plainest truths were presented and the most 
 direct gospel appeals made, it shows the 
 presence and working of a power more than 
 human. There were, indeed, constant and 
 impressive evidences of the work of the Spirit 
 of God. In connection with these meetings 
 about two hundred and fifteen young men, 
 178 
 
The Japanese Tour 
 
 nearly all students, publicly accepted Christ 
 as their personal Saviour. The meetings in- 
 creased in power, and during the last week 
 of the campaign in Tokyo itself over sixty 
 students decided for Christ. The greatest 
 care was exercised to secure intelligent and 
 pronounced decisions. After each gospel 
 address a series of three after-meetings fol- 
 lowed in close succession. The aim in these 
 was to bring home with greater fullness and 
 with much reiteration and prayer the most 
 vital truths. The names of those who reached 
 a decision were left with Christian pastors or 
 teachers. It was a joy to hear, before we sailed 
 from Japan, that not a few of those who took 
 Christ as their Saviour had applied for bap- 
 tism, and that some had already been baptized. 
 Christians who have been praying for Japan 
 will be interested to know that within three 
 months in this most difficult field a larger 
 number of students have, with courage and 
 apparent conviction, declared themselves 
 publicly as believers on Christ than in the 
 179 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 similar meetings of the preceding nine months. 
 While this may be due in part to the fact 
 that more time was given to evangelistic work 
 in Japan than elsewhere, the chief cause has 
 been the greatly increased volume of prayer 
 on behalf of this work. The world-wide cir- 
 cle of intercession has had its inevitable result 
 in the preparation of the field and in such a 
 work of the Holy Spirit in this series of 
 meetings as constrained many who were 
 present to say, " Surely God is in this place." 
 
 i8o 
 
XVII 
 Impressions of Japan 
 
 I. The work of the missionary in Japan is 
 not finished. 
 
 In America, Europe, Australasia, and some 
 of the great mission fields of Asia there is 
 an impression that the work of missionaries 
 in Japan is nearly, if not entirely, accom- 
 plished. What was seen and heard in Japan 
 created the conviction that the present mis- 
 sionary force is not only needed, but that it 
 should be wisely increased. Missionaries are 
 needed to help reach the unevangelized 
 masses. Men who have been in the country 
 nearly a generation estimate that three fourths, 
 or thirty millions, of the people of Japan have 
 not yet heard of Christ. There are still 
 i8i 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 groups of islands, a great number of inland 
 towns and cities, and large sections of the 
 country without either missionaries or Japa- 
 nese workers. It is admitted that without 
 the help of more missionaries the Japanese 
 church will be unable to evangelize the coun- 
 try within the present generation. 
 
 Missionaries are needed to help solve the 
 problems which confront the church in Japan. 
 Buddhism still holds the vast mass of the 
 lower classes with its superstitious hand. It 
 will not relax its hold without a long, hard 
 struggle. The educated class is almost 
 entirely given over to skepticism or atheism. 
 An index of this fact is the recent statement 
 of Marquis Ito, the most distinguished states- 
 man of Japan : " I regard religion itself as 
 quite unnecessary for a nation's life. Science 
 is far above superstition ; and what is any 
 religion, Buddhism or Christianity, but super- 
 stition, and therefore a possible source of 
 weakness to a nation? I do not regret the 
 tendency to free thought and atheism which 
 182 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 is almost universal in Japan, because I do not 
 regard it as a source of danger to the com- 
 munity." 
 
 Japan is in the midst of the greatest na- 
 tional transition ever witnessed. She has 
 broken loose from the traditions and moral 
 standards of the past, and has substituted no 
 other. Impurity is a very great peril. 
 Nearly all with whom we conversed unite in 
 calling it the greatest peril to the young men 
 of the country. The government, by the 
 infamous Yoshiwara system, legalizes this 
 vice, and public sentiment does not condemn 
 it. Some leading men, including the ex- 
 president of the Imperial University, publicly 
 defend the iniquitous system. A great social 
 problem is revealed in the fact that, accord- 
 ing to the published reports of the govern- 
 ment, the ratio of divorces to marriages is as 
 one to three. Not the least menace to Japan 
 is the absolute absorption of the people, 
 notably since the war, in the material devel- 
 opment of the country. All history proves 
 183 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 that material civilization alone does not 
 afford a secure foundation for any nation. 
 
 Missionaries are still needed to promote the 
 development of the Japanese church ; to make 
 the Bible a greater power in the hfe of the 
 church by stimulating systematic, practical, 
 and devotional Bible study; to build up an 
 adequate Christian literature ; to suggest tried 
 and approved methods of organized Christian 
 work ; to give the lessons accumulated in the 
 ebb and flow of church life during the last 
 eighteen hundred years; to exert a steady- 
 ing influence and to counteract the tendency 
 to extreme liberalism ; to be centers of spiri- 
 tual hfe and energy; and to train workers. 
 In all these things they are needed not so 
 much to supervise as to labor together with 
 their Japanese brethren as teachers, evangel- 
 ists, and pastors. 
 
 While over six hundred missionaries seems 
 a large number for a country the size of 
 Japan, and while most of the work must ne- 
 cessarily be done by the Japanese, an addi- 
 184 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 tional number of well-qualified missionaries 
 is needed in order to enable the Japanese 
 church to meet the crisis of the present gen- 
 eration. In interviews with many leading 
 men, representing twenty of the principal 
 agencies at work in Japan, and including not 
 only prominent missionaries, but also the 
 foremost Japanese Christians of the empire, 
 affirmative answer was received from all 
 but four persons to the question : " Are 
 more missionaries needed in Japan?" Of 
 these four one was the bishop at the head of 
 the Greek Church, and another was the old- 
 est missionary of the Roman Catholic Church, 
 both of whom insisted that no more Protes- 
 tant missionaries are needed ; the other two 
 were Japanese workers who thought no more 
 missionaries should come to stay, but that 
 from time to time visitation by eminent 
 Christian workers and thinkers would be very 
 helpful. Even two men who have written to 
 the home papers that no more missionaries 
 are needed said that they had reversed 
 185 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 their judgment in the light of recent devel- 
 opments. 
 
 A few definite calls, brought to our atten- 
 tion by those on the field, clearly demonstrate 
 that more missionaries are needed. The 
 workers of one society ask for seven more 
 missionary families. One leader states that 
 his society needs five more families at once. 
 Another society makes a strong appeal for 
 twenty more foreign workers. Another asks 
 for twenty-eight, another for four, and still 
 another for fifteen. The Japanese workers 
 of one very influential body have voted unan- 
 imously that one foreign missionary is needed 
 in the capital of every prefecture. A man of 
 large experience says he could place to very 
 great advantage one hundred young men at 
 government school centers to teach English 
 and do Christian work. This united appeal 
 from those at the front should certainly have 
 greater weight than the opinion of those on 
 the home field who are not in touch with the 
 present crisis. 
 
 1 86 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 2. Japan calls for missionaries of unusual 
 strength. 
 
 All with whom we had interviews empha- 
 sized the fact that Japan needs not so much 
 a large number of new missionaries as a 
 limited number having exceptional ability. 
 This is apparent in view of the advanced 
 civilization of Japan, in view of the remark- 
 able educational progress of the last twenty 
 years, in view of the general attitude of the 
 Japanese toward foreigners, and the grave 
 problems already outlined. Careful study of 
 the conditions, and extended conversations 
 with the foremost Japanese and foreign 
 workers, emphasize the following quaUfica- 
 tions for the missionary to Japan : As much 
 as in any Asiatic field, he should have a good 
 physical constitution. He should be the 
 equal of a graduate of one of our best col- 
 leges. He should have ability to learn a 
 most difficult language, for the best work and 
 largest influence are impossible without it. 
 He should be especially well educated in 
 187 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 theology and apologetics, because all ques- 
 tions which come up in Europe or America 
 come up prominently in Japan, and because 
 the things which are taken for granted at 
 home are the very things which are often 
 most questioned in Japan. He should have 
 sympathy with the intellectual movements of 
 the time. He may differ, but must sympa- 
 thize. He should have the power of growth. 
 He should have strong and unwavering faith 
 in the essentials of Christianity, in order to 
 offset the powerful liberal tendency. He 
 should be especially well equipped with 
 knowledge of the Bible and have a habit of 
 personal Bible study. He should be a gentle- 
 man in manners and instincts. He should be 
 a man of tact and sound judgment. He 
 should have great patience and long-suffering, 
 for without this he will fail. He should have 
 humility — willingness to obliterate himself. 
 Above all, he should be a Spirit- filled man. 
 
 3. The greatest peril to Japan is the secular 
 character of her institutions of higher learning. 
 188 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 In the government school system of Japan 
 there are about two hundred and thirty in- 
 stitutions of higher learning, ranging from 
 academy grade up to the famous Imperial 
 University, which is the keystone to the 
 educational arch. These institutions have 
 thirty-five hundred teachers and about fifty 
 thousand students. Including all lower 
 schools there are over three million male 
 students in attendance upon the Japanese 
 government institutions, and the number is 
 increasing year by year. Long ago General 
 Grant said that the government school sys- 
 tem of Japan was the best in the world. In 
 no other country do government institutions 
 wield so large an influence. They constitute 
 the pathway to nearly all positions in the 
 political, educational, professional, and in- 
 dustrial life of the empire. It is not too 
 much to say that as go the government 
 schools of Japan so goes Japan. 
 
 The alarming fact is that these institutions 
 are purely secular in character, almost entirely 
 189 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 lacking in moral instruction, and even anti- 
 religious in their influence. Less than one 
 hundred of the thirty-five hundred professors 
 and teachers are Christians. The others, if 
 not indifferent, are either skeptics or atheists, 
 and some of the foreign teachers are godless 
 and immoral. It would be difficult to mea- 
 sure the extent of the bad influence of such 
 teachers upon the students of Japan. One 
 of the greatest teachers in the empire tells 
 students that only small men will beheve in 
 any religion. Another eminent Japanese 
 teacher says that the only rehgion for Japan 
 is science. The ex-president of the Imperial 
 University openly states that nothing can be 
 more fatal to the attainment of true know- 
 ledge than implicit faith in any religion. All 
 Protestants regard the skeptical influence of 
 the government schools as a great menace. 
 When Bishop Nicolai, the head of the Greek 
 Church, was asked what he considered the 
 gravest peril to Japan he replied, " The irre- 
 ligious character of the government schools, 
 190 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 which cover the land." The leader of the 
 Roman Catholic Church gave the same opin- 
 ion. Not a few of the teachers themselves 
 in these government schools have expressed 
 their conviction that moral instruction should 
 have a much larger place. Even Marquis Ito 
 admits that he has long felt great uneasiness 
 on account of the lack of moral restraints and 
 teaching in the schools. 
 
 The important question is how to counter- 
 act this powerful skeptical and irreligious 
 influence. Without doubt there should be 
 greatly increased emphasis placed on educa- 
 tional missions in Japan. Much good is 
 being done by the small group of Christian 
 colleges. It was surprising, however, to find 
 so comparatively little being done in a coun- 
 try where work for students counts even more, 
 if possible, than it does in India. In no 
 other country is there such a disproportion 
 between the number of Christian and of 
 government institutions; although, we re- 
 peat, this is the last country where such 
 191 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 should be the case. In America the church 
 would not think of handing over the higher 
 education exclusively to the state. It is still 
 more perilous to do so in Japan. There is 
 much to commend itself in the suggestion of 
 Dr. De Forest that a hundred young men 
 of ability and consecration be located, two 
 by two, in places of five thousand and up- 
 ward where there are government schools, 
 to teach English and to bring personal reli- 
 gious influence to bear upon the students. 
 
 One of the most important ways of solving 
 this grave problem is to promote the Student 
 Young Men's Christian Association Union of 
 Japan, in connection with which Christian 
 associations have already been established in 
 nearly twenty leading government institu- 
 tions. The splendid results which have 
 attended the work of some of these societies 
 should give great confidence in their possi- 
 bilities. The genius of their work is to place 
 upon the Christian students in each institu-r 
 tion a responsibility to jnfluencQ the moral 
 192 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 and religious life of their fellow-students. 
 The students have freedom to do far more 
 than is possible for Christian teachers in 
 government schools, and they are in a posi- 
 tion to exert a more direct influence than 
 pastors and missionaries. Nothing can be 
 more important than carefully to supervise 
 the development of these associations and 
 gradually to extend them to scores of other 
 institutions. To this end the hands of Mr. 
 Swift, who has shown such wisdom in all his 
 relations to this work, should be strengthened 
 by sending to cooperate with him at least two 
 or three men of great ability. 
 
 4. Buddhism as a religion is doomed in the 
 land where it has greatest vigor. 
 
 For many centuries Buddhism has been 
 the great religion of Japan, but during the 
 last nine or ten years it has manifested special 
 activity and vigor, largely as a result of the 
 spread of Christianity and the wide diffusion 
 of education. Among the evidences of this 
 awakening are a revival in the study of 
 193 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 Buddhism, the rebuilding of temples, the 
 education of priests in certain sects, and the 
 adoption of some of the methods of Chris- 
 tianity. The chief hold of Buddhism is on the 
 lowerclasses, who are almost completely under 
 the sway of its countless superstitions. It is 
 a striking fact that it has no hold whatever 
 on the educated classes. Among the large 
 number of students and teachers who were 
 met personally on this extended tour through 
 Japan, not one would call himself a Buddhist. 
 The signs of the weakness of Buddhism 
 are everywhere apparent. It is greatly rent 
 with internal dissensions. Its priesthood has 
 been so illiterate that the government about 
 two years ago issued an order requiring that 
 priests receive the equivalent of a common 
 school education before being licensed. All 
 bore testimony to the shockingly immoral 
 lives of the priests. As a class they seem to 
 be corrupt through and through. The con- 
 dition of things is so bad that the secu- 
 lar press has warned the priests to reform, 
 194 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 or Buddhism must go down before Christi- 
 anity. Even the government has issued 
 edicts reprimanding the priests for their bad 
 morals. The Buddhists show consciousness 
 of their weakness by adopting a number of 
 the methods of Christianity, e.g., Sunday- 
 schools, summer conferences, young men's 
 Buddhist associations, women's work, the 
 publication of magazines and tracts. Many 
 of the priests have lost faith in Buddhism, 
 and others freely recognize the superiority of 
 Christianity and would gladly unite with it. 
 It is said that there is a wide-spread feeling 
 among the priests that Christianity is the 
 coming religion of Japan. 
 
 We would not, however, convey a wrong 
 impression. Buddhism will die hard. Up to 
 the present time the church in Japan has been 
 so absorbed with the middle classes that it 
 has not yet contested the ground with Bud- 
 dhism among the lower classes. The power 
 of superstition is very great. Its root is deep. 
 For historical reasons the Japanese will long 
 195 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 have respect for Buddhism. If it adapts it- 
 self to the changed conditions and keeps pace 
 with modern education the fight may be 
 greatly prolonged. In all probability Bud- 
 dhism as a philosophy to be studied will sur- 
 vive, but as a religion it is doomed. It may 
 be changed in form, but it will still be a dead 
 body — cold, lifeless, corrupt. It does not 
 contain elements to make it a transforming 
 force in human society. It has no regenerat- 
 ing power. It has no God. It does not 
 nourish the soul. It cannot satisfy man. It 
 is without hope. 
 
 5. The signs indicate that the cause of 
 Christ in Japan is entering upon a new and 
 remarkable era. 
 
 The rationalistic wave, which has done so 
 much to chill the life and enthusiasm of the 
 Japanese church during the last few years, is 
 receding. The ultra-nationalistic feeling 
 which has handicapped aggressive mission- 
 ary effort is giving way. Since the war the 
 signs of encouragement have greatly multi- 
 196 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 plied. The war itself has demonstrated, as 
 nothing else could have done, that Christians 
 are not unpatriotic. The attitude of govern- 
 ment officials is therefore becoming increas- 
 ingly favorable to Christianity. Thoughtful 
 people are beginning to realize the need of 
 moral and rehgious culture and the insuffi- 
 ciency of Buddhism and Confucianism. 
 Christianity has acquired a prestige alto- 
 gether out of proportion to the length of its 
 history and the number of its adherents. 
 Although on the one hand there are but 
 forty thousand Christians, and on the other 
 millions of Buddhists, the two religions are 
 spoken of as equals, and where any distinction 
 is made among educated men it is more fre- 
 quently in favor of Christianity. In no non- 
 Christian country are students and thinking 
 men so accessible to the influence of Christian- 
 ity. Wherever the worker goes he finds the 
 people willing to hear the gospel, and some 
 who are drawn to it. The oldest workers say 
 that not for many years have the people 
 197 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 been so eager to hear earnest evangelical 
 preaching. 
 
 The Japanese church is better prepared 
 than ever before in its history for a large and 
 safe work. It is showing a great dissatisfac- 
 tion with ultra-liberal thought, and has 
 already become more practical and aggressive 
 and less speculative. The experiences of the 
 past few years have tried and sifted the 
 church. Its body has been purged not only 
 of members, but of leaders having unworthy 
 motives. The preaching is more biblical. 
 There has been marked and increasing em- 
 phasis on teaching about the ofifice and work 
 of the Holy Spirit, not only in the Japanese 
 pulpits, but also in the religious press. The 
 Japanese workers have recently been holding 
 special conferences for the deepening of the 
 spiritual life, and all over the country indi- 
 vidual members are giving themselves to 
 prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 
 The prayerfulness of the Japanese Christians 
 greatly impressed us. In no country have 
 198 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 we found the pastors and members of the 
 churches in so many different places giving 
 themselves to the ministry of intercession. 
 The spirit of revival is manifesting itself here 
 and there in different parts of the empire. 
 The field seems to be dead ripe. In our ovim 
 experience, no matter in what part of Japan 
 we were, and even if we had but one evan- 
 gelistic meeting, we found a ready response 
 to direct gospel appeal, and some who decided 
 to take Christ as a Saviour. 
 
 The impression seems to be general that 
 the tide has at last turned and that Japan is 
 about to witness another great spiritual move- 
 ment like the one'of the last decade, provided 
 the church seizes the opportunity and makes 
 aggressive effort. The revised treaties be- 
 tween Japan and other countries, which are 
 now being made and which will go into effect 
 within two years, open the largest opportunity 
 which has ever confronted the Church of 
 Christ in Japan. By these treaties the 
 whole country will be thrown open for the 
 199 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 first time to missionary residence and work, 
 thus affording a great highway for the gospel. 
 It would seem, from the experiences of the 
 last few years, that God is preparing the 
 Japanese church to improve this unexampled 
 opportunity. The following epitome of their 
 church history is given by an eminent Japa- 
 nese pastor: "The first ten years of Meiji 
 was a period of seed-sowing ; the second ten 
 years was a period of harvest; the next ten 
 years, soon to open, will witness a great de- 
 velopment and ingathering." This is not the 
 time in the history of the Christian enter- 
 prise in Japan for the church to withdraw or 
 hesitate. On the contrary, she should exer- 
 cise her powers to grasp and improve this 
 opportunity. Of Japan it is preeminently 
 true that what is done by the church in the 
 West must be done quickly. If Japan can 
 be made a Christian nation it will not only 
 be a mighty fact in itself, but will have a vast 
 influence throughout the entire East and the 
 Pacific island world. We should be deeply 
 
 200 
 
Impressions of Japan 
 
 impressed by God's dealings with tiiis people. 
 The providences which have opened Japan 
 have been simply marvelous. What other 
 nation has in one generation been so widely 
 permeated with the spirit of Christianity? 
 Dr. Verbeck told us that when he came to 
 Japan there was not a single Christian and 
 that edicts against Christianity were nailed up 
 all over the empire. About thirty years ago 
 he baptized the first two Christians, and now 
 there are over forty thousand. God has al- 
 ways been in the life of this wonderful nation, 
 but never so manifestly as to-day. 
 
 201 
 
XVIII 
 
 The Hawaiian Islands 
 
 The visit to the Hawaiian Islands consti- 
 tuted one of the most interesting and profit- 
 able experiences of the entire tour. These 
 islands are a striking object lesson of the 
 power of the religion of Christ. It is only 
 necessary to recall some of the results of 
 Christian missions and civilization. Under 
 the influence of Christianity there has been a 
 gradual decline of the heathen orgies and a 
 giving way of the grosser forms of supersti- 
 tion. Christianity has rescued the people 
 from the arbitrary oppression of the savage 
 chiefs and given them true liberty. Their 
 country has been transformed from a despo- 
 tism into one of the most enlightened repub- 
 
 202 
 
The Hawaiian Islands 
 
 lies. When Christianity was introduced the 
 Hawaiians had not even a written language. 
 Now a network of schools spreads over the 
 whole country. The educational system, from 
 the kindergartens up to the institutions of 
 higher learning, compares favorably with that 
 of any other country. It is a well-known fact 
 that the missionaries have given the Hawaiians 
 a written language and literature, and have 
 brought them into touch with the great body 
 of English literature. In the material com- 
 fort and prosperity of the people, also, there 
 has been an immense advancement. It was 
 the Christian motive which called into being 
 the splendid philanthropic institutions of Hon- 
 olulu. Every practical and fruitful effort 
 being put forth to-day for the promotion of 
 temperance, purity, and other virtues which 
 have so much to do with the well-being of 
 communities, is traceable to the religion of 
 Jesus Christ. Much has been written about 
 the dying out of the Hawaiian race since the 
 representatives of Christian lands went among 
 203 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 them. Statistics prove that this is sadly true ; 
 but an impartial view of facts will convince 
 any one that the decadence of this people is 
 a direct result of the evil forces of civilization 
 and has been in no sense whatever caused by 
 Christianity. On the contrary, there is abun- 
 dant evidence that Christian missions have 
 prolonged the life of the Pacific island races. 
 In the presence of the most virulent and 
 deadly evils which anywhere afflict the human 
 race we see a demonstration of the fact that 
 Christ alone came that men might have life. 
 The Hawaiian Islands illustrate the power of 
 the gospel not only among the island races, 
 but in an equally striking manner among the 
 stronger races of Asia, the Japanese and 
 Chinese, and also among the Portuguese and 
 Anglo-Saxons. 
 
 Over two weeks was spent at the most 
 important center of the islands, Honolulu. 
 During that time Christian associations were 
 organized in the Kamehameha School for 
 Young Men, the North Pacific Missionary 
 804 
 
The Hawaiian Islands 
 
 Institute, and the Oahu College. The Kame- 
 hameha School has exerted a large influence 
 in the islands. It is said that nine tenths of 
 its graduates occupy positions of influence 
 and usefulness. The North Pacific Mission- 
 ary Institute has trained most of the native 
 pastors and Christian workers. Nearly all of 
 its students have expressed a willingness to 
 go as missionaries to other groups of islands. 
 The Oahu College prepares American and 
 European young men and women for entering 
 leading universities. It is helping to furnish 
 the real leadership of the Hawaiian republic. 
 A promising Christian society in the Chinese 
 institution of Honolulu was also visited. 
 Meetings were held in connection with the 
 Young Men's Christian Association of the 
 city, as well as in the churches. Mr. Arthur 
 B. Wood, the efficient president of the city 
 association, who has had a successful experi- 
 ence in the college associations of America, 
 consented to serve as the representative of the 
 Federation, 
 
 ?o5 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 This country is not great in area or in 
 population ; but it is destined nevertheless to 
 wield an unusually large influence. The cos- 
 mopolitan character of the population sug- 
 gests relationships which will inevitably make 
 the influence of this country more than 
 national. Fully fifty- five per cent of the 
 inhabitants are foreigners, of whom twenty 
 thousand are Chinese, twenty-five thousand 
 Japanese, and over five thousand Portuguese. 
 There is no other community in which so 
 m^ny young men of mission lands are brought 
 day by day under the direct influence of Chris- 
 tian government and other Christian institu- 
 tions as in Honolulu. The pivotal situation 
 of the islands greatly enhances their strategic 
 importance, a fact seen not only from the cos- 
 mopolitan character of their population, but 
 also from their geographical position. Like 
 Ceylon, they constitute a veritable cross-roads 
 of the nations. This fact has added meaning 
 in our generation in which the Pacific is be- 
 coming increasingly the theater of some of the 
 206 
 
The Hawaiian Islands 
 
 largest activities of the world. The high 
 stage of the civilization of this country gives 
 promise of a large and useful future. No 
 community on this world tour has impressed 
 us more with the quality and solidity of its 
 institutions. Every Pacific traveler bears en- 
 thusiastic testimony to the enterprise, public 
 spirit, and world-wide sympathy of the citi- 
 zens of this youngest republic. God has not 
 worked here in vain. He has built up a strong 
 Christian community. He recognized before 
 man did the great importance of this cluster 
 of islands in the central Pacific, and caused to 
 be planted there a Christian nation which is 
 at the same time a great lighthouse and a 
 base of operations for the enterprise of uni- 
 versal evangelization. 
 
 207 
 
XIX 
 
 Summary of the Tour 
 
 It has required twenty months to complete 
 the tour of the world. During that time sixty- 
 thousand miles were traversed, or considera- 
 bly more than twice the distance around the 
 globe. Work has been carried on in twenty- 
 two different countries, and in one hundred 
 and forty-four universities, colleges, and 
 schools. Service has been rendered in 
 twenty-one conventions and conferences. 
 These were attended by over fifty-five hun- 
 dred delegates, of whom fully thirty-three 
 hundred were students and teachers repre- 
 senting three hundred and eight institutions 
 of higher learning. About thirteen hundred 
 missionaries, representing over eighty differ- 
 208 
 
Summary of the Tour 
 
 ent missionary agencies, have been met per- 
 sonally. Extended interviews have been 
 held with hundreds of these, as well as with 
 government officials, merchants, and many 
 native pastors, teachers, and students. 
 
 Seventy student Christian associations or 
 unions have been organized, not counting the 
 reorganization of a number of societies already 
 existing. Encouraging reports have been re- 
 ceived with reference to the work of nearly all 
 these new organizations. We have also been 
 privileged to help in the organization of five 
 national student Christian movements. Three 
 of these movements have since secured secre- 
 taries, and steps are being taken to obtain 
 additional helpers for the other two. A 
 prayer cycle has been prepared for each of 
 the movements, together with eleven other 
 publications. These national organizations 
 are now making gratifying progress. Much 
 time and attention at the outset of the tour 
 were devoted to helping in the formation of 
 the World's Student Christian Federation, 
 209 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 which in turn has done much to make possi- 
 ble other developments along the journey. 
 The new national movements have been 
 affiliated one by one with the Federation, and 
 corresponding members have been appointed 
 in twelve countries which do not have a 
 national organization. A great deal of time 
 has been spent, chiefly while on the sea, in 
 extended correspondence securing informa- 
 tion concerning the moral and religious con- 
 dition of students in all parts of the world. 
 Our greatest privilege in all the student work 
 has been that of helping to establish and make 
 real this world-wide federation of students. 
 
 As a result of evangelistic meetings and 
 personal work in the different countries, five 
 hundred and five young men, nearly all 
 students, have been led to accept Jesus Christ 
 as their personal Saviour. This includes 
 those who had been Buddhists, Hindus, 
 Mohammedans, Confucianists, skeptics, and 
 agnostics. At least twenty-two hundred stu- 
 dents and Christian workers have entered into 
 
 2IO 
 
Summary of the Tour 
 
 covenant to keep the morning watch, not to 
 mention what has been done to promote as- 
 sociated Bible study. About three hundred 
 students have volunteered, that is, dedicated 
 their lives to Christian work. More than five 
 sixths of this number are students in mission 
 lands. Wherever possible the Student Vol- 
 unteer Movement has been organized as a 
 department of the national student work. 
 The peculiar significance of this uprising of 
 volunteers in mission fields is seen when 
 viewed as the inauguration of a Student 
 Volunteer Movement for Home Missions, 
 which places on the students of each mission 
 land a special burden of responsibility for the 
 evangelization of their own people. 
 
 What have been the factors which have 
 combined to secure these results? In the 
 first place we would mention the foresight. 
 Christian spirit, and generosity of the men and 
 women whose financial cooperation made the 
 tour possible. Another factor has been the 
 willingness of our colleagues at home, who 
 
 211 
 
Strategic Points in the World's Conquest 
 
 were already heavily burdened, to assume, 
 with great unselfishness, additional responsi- 
 bility for the work in America. Record 
 should be made also of the long years of 
 patient and self-denying seed-sowing by the 
 missionaries in all the fields visited, without 
 which there could have been no such large 
 ingathering. Emphatic reference is due to 
 the remarkably thorough preparation made 
 and to the strong cooperation rendered by 
 leading workers among students and by the 
 local committees in the different countries. 
 The most efficient cause, however, has been 
 the work of the Spirit of God as a result of 
 the prayers of friends and workers all over 
 the world. This volume of prayer has in- 
 creased as the journey has been continued 
 from land to land, so that before the close of 
 the tour letters were received indicating that 
 our work had a place in the prayer life of men 
 and women in nearly thirty countries. 
 
 Time after time have we stood before walls 
 of difficulty, opposition, and peril which were, 
 
 212 
 
Summary of the Tour 
 
 so far as men could judge, insurmountable, 
 and have seen them fall to the ground in such 
 a marvelous manner as would be totally in- 
 explicable apart from the almighty unseen 
 forces of the prayer kingdom which were 
 being wielded on our behalf. The work of this 
 tour, then, has not been in any sense the work 
 of one or two during twenty short months, 
 but rather that of a world-wide circle of 
 " laborers together with God " reaching 
 through the long years. Some men have 
 planted; others have watered; God Himself 
 has given all the increase. 
 
 213 
 
Appendix 
 
 Itinerary 
 
 July 20-28, 1895. Voyage from New York to Liverpool, 
 
 S. S. Etruria. 
 July 29-August 4. British Student Conference at Keswick, 
 
 England. 
 August 8-1 1. German Student Conference at Gross Al- 
 
 merode. 
 August 14-19. Scandinavian Student Conference at Vad- 
 
 stena, Sweden. 
 August 17-19. Convention for the formation of the World's 
 
 Student Christian Federation, Vadstena, Sweden. 
 August 19-September 15. Through Sweden, Norway, 
 
 England, and France. 
 September 16-22. Visitation of Protestant student centers 
 
 of Italy. 
 September 23-25. Swiss Student Conference at Ste. Croix. 
 September 27-October 2. Visitation of leading student 
 
 centers of Austria-Hungary. 
 October 2-7. Visitation of leading student centers of Tur- 
 key, the Balkans, and Greece. 
 October 8-November II. Visitation of colleges and schools 
 
 in Asia Minor, Syria, and Palestine. 
 November 12-20. Visitation of student centers of Egypt. 
 215 
 
Appendix 
 
 November 2i-Deceniber 3. Voyage from Ismailia to Co- 
 lombo, S. S. Paramatta. 
 
 December 1 1-13. Student Conference of North Ceylon at 
 Jaffna College. 
 
 December 17-18. Student Conference of South Ceylon at 
 Colombo. 
 
 December 21-January 8, 1896. Visitation among the stu- 
 dents of Madras, Poona, and Ahmednuggar ; attending 
 Indian National Congress, and Indian Social Confer- 
 ence at Poona ; and preparation for Indian student con- 
 ferences. 
 
 January 9-12. Student Conference of western India at 
 Bombay. 
 
 January 15-21. Visitation of colleges in Agra and Delhi. 
 
 January 23-26. Student Conference of the Punjab at La- 
 hore. 
 
 January 28-30. Visitation of colleges in Saharanpur and 
 BareiUy. 
 
 January 31-February 2. Student Conference of the North- 
 west Provinces at Lucknow. 
 
 February 4-5. Visitation of colleges in Benares. 
 
 February 13-16. Student Conference of Bengal at Calcutta, 
 
 February 27-March I. Student Conference of the Madias 
 Presidency at Madras. 
 
 March 2-3. Convention at Madras for the organization of 
 the Student Volunteer Movement of India and Ceylon. 
 
 March 8-21. Voyage from Colombo to Adelaide, South 
 Australia, S. S. Himalaya, 
 
 March 23-April 3. Visitation of the colleges and the Uni- 
 versity of South Australia. 
 
 April 4-13. Visitation of the University of Melbourne. 
 
 April 15-16. Visitation of the colleges and the University 
 of Tasmania. 
 
 April 20-May 12. Visitation of the colleges and the Univer- 
 sity of New Zealand. 
 
 216 
 
Appendix 
 
 May 18-25. Visitation of the University of Sydney and 
 
 Hawkesbury College. 
 May 26-June 4. Visitation of the colleges of Victoria and 
 
 the University of Melbourne. 
 June 5-7. Student Convention of Australasia for the or- 
 ganization of the Australasian Student Christian Union, 
 Melbourne. 
 June 8-July 6. Revisitation of Adelaide, Melbourne, and 
 
 Sydney in the interest of the new Union. 
 July 6-29. Voyage from Sydney to Hong Kong through 
 
 the East Indies, S. S. Taiyuan. 
 July 29-August 4. Visitation of Hong Kong and Canton. 
 August 1 1-22. Preparation for Chinese conferences, Chefoo. 
 August 23-27. Student Conference of Shantung Province, 
 
 Chefoo. 
 August 28-31. Visitation of college at Tung Chow. 
 September 5-6. Student Conference at Tientsin. 
 September 12-17. Student Conference of Chihli Province, 
 
 Peking. 
 September 27-28. Visitation of colleges at Ningpo. 
 September 30-October 5. Student Conference of central 
 
 China at Shanghai. 
 October 6-7. Visitation of colleges at Soochow. 
 October 14-17. Student Conference of Fukien Province at 
 
 Foochow. 
 October 19-31. Trip up and down the Yangtse, including 
 visitation of colleges in Kiukiang, Wuchang, and Nan- 
 king, and conference of students and missionaries at 
 Hankow. 
 November 3-5. Convention for the organization of the 
 College Young Men's Christian Association of China, 
 Shanghai. 
 November 7-8. Voyage from Shanghai to Nagasaki, S. S. 
 
 Kobe Mam. 
 November 9-16. Visitation of colleges in Nagasaki. 
 217 
 
Appendix 
 
 November 18-20. Visitation of colleges in Yamagnchi. 
 November 21-30. Visitation of colleges in Fnkuoka and 
 
 Kumomoto. 
 December 2-8. Visitation of colleges in Kyoto. 
 December 9-1 1. Visitation of colleges in Kobe. 
 December 11-16. Visitation of colleges in Osaka. 
 December 17-18. Visitation of colleges in Okayama. 
 December 19-20. Visitation of colleges in Nagoya. 
 January 4-7, 1897. Visitation of colleges in Tokyo. 
 January 8-1 1. Visitation of colleges in Sendai. 
 January 12-17. Visitation of colleges in Tokyo. 
 January 18-19. Convention for the organization of the 
 
 Student Young Men's . Christian Association Union of 
 
 Japan, Tokyo. 
 January 20-26. Visitation of colleges in Tokyo. 
 January 27. Visitation of college in Yokohama. 
 January 28-February 6. Voyage from Yokohama to 
 
 Honolulu, .S". S. Doric. 
 February 7-25. Visitation of colleges and schools in Hon- 
 olulu. 
 February 25-March 5. Voyage from Honolulu to Tacoma 
 
 via Victoria, British Columbia, S. S. Micrwera. 
 March 5-April 2. Trip across American continent, inclnd- 
 
 ing meetings along the way. 
 April 2. Arrived in New York. 
 
 218