Report of Committee on Ecumenical 
 
 Conference, 1900. 
 
 By Rev. Judson Smith, D.D., Chairman . 
 
J. 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2019 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 I 
 
 https ://arch i ve. o rg/detai Is/reportofco m m itteOOs m it_0 
 
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ECUMENICAL CONFER¬ 
 ENCE, 1900. 
 
 BY KEY. JUDSON SMITH, D.D., CHAIRMAN. 
 
 At the Fifth Conference of Foreign Missionary Boards of the United 
 States and Canada, held in New York, January 12-14, 1897, it was 
 unanimously voted ‘‘to go forward and make definite preparations for 
 the convening of an Ecumenical Conference on Foreign Missions in the 
 City of New York, at such time during the year 1900 as may seem 
 most advisable after further consultation and correspondence, and the 
 committee having this matter in charge is authorized to fill vacancies 
 in its own number, to add to its number as may seem desirable, and to 
 do whatever else may be necessary to carry this plan into execution.” 
 In these terms a far-reaching decision was made, and the several Boards 
 and Societies represented in the Conference were formally pledged to 
 take a most important step in the furtherance of the great cause of 
 Foreign Missions at this time. 
 
 Following the very important Conference of 1878 at Mildmay Hall, 
 London, and that still more representative gathering of 1888, in Exeter 
 Hall, London, the proposed Conference is intended to sum up the prog¬ 
 ress of foreign missionary work during this century, and to set in clear 
 order the present state of this work in the varied fields of missionary 
 work occupied by the churches of Protestant Christendom. Every 
 evangelical Protestant Foreign Missionary organization in the world, 
 so far as known, is invited to be represented in the Conference and to 
 share in its deliberations. The substantial unity of Protestant Christen¬ 
 dom will thus be expressed and confirmed in a most striking way. 
 
 The Conference is to be devoted primarily to a review of the work 
 of Protestant missions throughout the world for the century just clos¬ 
 ing, with a summing up of results, a study of methods and principles 
 approved by long experience on many fields and a comprehensive out¬ 
 look upon the future. What, within this century, have Christian mis¬ 
 sions in the foreign field attempted ? Where have they been planted ? 
 How have they been prosecuted? What have they accomplished? 
 How can they be made more effective ? What remains yet to be done ? 
 Home Missions, important as all must regard them, do not come into 
 consideration in this gathering. The subject of Foreign Missions is 
 large enough, varied enough, includes questions specifically appropriate 
 to it, sufficient in number and importance to demand the exclusive at¬ 
 tention of the body of men and women who are to gather in 1900; and 
 the effectiveness of the occasion is dependent on confining time and 
 discussion to this one vast field of Christian service. It is not a meet¬ 
 ing designed especially for laborers from the foreign field, where each 
 
 8 
 
is to recite his story, or tell his experience, or point his lesson. Mis¬ 
 sionaries are to be invited; they will he asked to discuss themes appro¬ 
 priate to the great objects of the Conference; their weighty testimony 
 will be given on many points; but they will form only a part of the 
 body. Neither is it a mass meeting on foreign missionary themes, 
 where each man gives direction to what is said and done, according to 
 his personal wish or power of utterance, and where a free platform is 
 offered to any one who desires to be heard. The foreign missionary 
 societies of Protestant Christendom, by their appointed delegates, are 
 the constituent elements of the Conference; and the comprehensive 
 study of the great agencies by which the unevangelized world is to be 
 made the Kingdom of God is its one great theme. 
 
 It would seem like a grave omission were this century, so marked 
 by the development of the foreign missionary enterprise, to close 
 without an occasion of this sort, in which those most actively engaged 
 in this work may come together to survey the whole field, communicate 
 their varied experience, and sum up results and set themselves in close 
 array and deeper harmony of spirit and aim for the great work 
 remaining ere the world be won to our Lord. Probably in no equal 
 period of time has such marked advance been made in the evangeliza¬ 
 tion of the world as we have witnessed since the close of the great 
 Conference in London of 1888, whether we consider the number of 
 communicants added to mission churches, or the circulation of the 
 Scriptures in the vernacular, or the development of Christian schools, 
 or the growth of self support in native communities, or the quality and 
 extent of the influence exerted by the gospel in mission lands. The 
 rate of progress denoted by statistics is most striking; the indications 
 of this progress in facts of many kinds not capable of expression in 
 statistical tables, are even more marked and inspiring. For the sake 
 of the truth, for the encouragement of all Christian people, and in 
 order to a right impression on the world at large, the evidence of this 
 happy growth and animating outlook, this assurance of the unfailing 
 strength and certain victory of the gospel should be carefully gathered, 
 set in clear order, and put on permanent record. Nothing in Christian 
 Apologetics could well have greater power. 
 
 The committee to which such important duties were assigned, has 
 striven to the best of its ability to discharge the duties resting upon 
 it. Two meetings, fully attended, have been held in the course of the 
 year, and a wide correspondence carried on. The first meeting of the 
 committee was held at Clifton Springs, N. Y., on Friday, July 9th, 
 and at this meeting Rev. A. B. Leonard, D.D., and Rev. H. N. Cobb, 
 D.D., were added to the committee. It was voted that the Conference 
 should be devoted exclusively to the work of Foreign Missions. It was 
 decided to call the Conference for the last ten days of April, 1900, in 
 the City of New York. The hospitality to be offered, and the means 
 of providing for the necessary expenses of the Conference were con- 
 
 4 
 
sidered, but no final action was taken. It was agreed that a day should 
 be given on the programme of the Conference to the consideration of 
 woman’s work, and that the London Committee on Woman’s Work 
 should be invited to aid in the preparation of the details of the pro¬ 
 gramme for that day. It was also agreed that ample time should be 
 given to the consideration of the young people’s part in the foreign 
 missionary work, especially of the Student Volunteer Movement and 
 the several societies of young people in our churches. 
 
 A second meeting of the committee, more fully attended, was held 
 in New York City, November 5th, and Rev. H. N. Cobb, D.D., was 
 chosen secretary, pro tem. At this meeting the membership of the 
 committee was still further enlarged, to make it more widely repre¬ 
 sentative, by the appointment of the following gentlemen: Rev. Alex¬ 
 ander Sutherland, D.D., HamiltonCassels, Esq., Rev. W. W. Barr, D.D., 
 Rev. W. R. Lambuth, D.D., and Rev. R. M. Sommerville, D.D. It was 
 also voted to appoint six laymen, to be selected by the representatives 
 of the societies at that time in the committee. 
 
 In view of the great need of some person more at leisure than any 
 member of the committee to conduct the correspondence of the com¬ 
 mittee, which is sure to grow from this time onward, it was voted to 
 secure such a secretary, with pledge of necessary expenses. It was 
 voted that the chairman and secretary, in the name of the committee, 
 send a letter to the Protestant Foreign Missionary Societies in Great 
 Britain, on the Continent of Europe and in Australia, as well as to 
 those in the United States and Canada, announcing the decision to 
 convene an Ecumenical Conference on Foreign Missions in the City of 
 New York on the 20th day of April, 1900, asking these Societies to 
 appoint two or more delegates to represent them in this Conference, 
 and inviting them to aid in the preparation of a programme and to 
 make suggestions on other points in regard to the Conference. 
 
 It was also voted that in order to popularize the Conference and at¬ 
 tract attention to it, there should be published in the press notice of 
 the time and place for holding the Conference and of the objects of the 
 gathering. Very soon after the adjournment of this meeting, the 
 chairman and secretary prepared a letter of invitation subscribing it in 
 behalf of the American committee, and have sent a copy of it to the 
 Protestant missionary organizations of America and Europe and 
 Australia. A copy of this invitation is appended herewith. To this 
 invitation responses have already begun to arrive in large numbers 
 from America and from Great Britain, all of them welcoming the an¬ 
 nouncement of the Conference and expressing the purpose of being duly 
 represented and of readiness to aid in any way possible to make the oc¬ 
 casion one of the greatest interest and value. 
 
 As yet your committee have done nothing definite in regard to a 
 programme for the meeting. This is one of the most important mat¬ 
 ters which must now engross their attention, since upon the judicious 
 
 5 
 
arrangement of the programme and the wise selection of those who are 
 to bear part in it will depend in no small degree the value and success 
 of the occasion. Three grand groups of subjects must naturally occupy 
 the larger part of the sessions of the Conference. The first would 
 include the discussion of all questions bearing upon the principles and 
 methods of foreign missionary operations, such as the development of 
 native churches, training of native converts for Christian work, mis¬ 
 sion schools, medical work, the training of missionaries at home, mis¬ 
 sionary comity, and the attitude of missionaries toward particular 
 problems on the foreign field. The second group of subjects would 
 deal with the present state of missionary work under the different 
 Boards in all the varied fields of the world, with a review of progress 
 made, embarrassments, experiences and special opportunities now pre¬ 
 sented. The third group would touch the wider aspects of the missionary 
 enterprise and would afford opportunity for meetings of a more general 
 character, designed mainly to increase intelligence in regard to mis¬ 
 sionary affairs and to awaken a popular interest in them. Of course 
 these points must be worked out in detail with great care, and the work 
 will require much attention. Suggestions in regard to points that need 
 to be particularly considered are solicited from the members of this 
 Conference as they have been from all the Boards invited to the Con¬ 
 ference. Your committee is sensible of the very grave responsibility 
 which devolves upon it in making arrangements for this great gather¬ 
 ing setting in operation the forces which must co-operate if it is to 
 be made successful in the high degree which we all desire; and it 
 will welcome any and every suggestion which may be offered with 
 reference to any part of the arrangements necessary for the right con¬ 
 duct and happy outcome of the Conference. They express the earnest 
 hope that throughout these coming months Christian people, pastors 
 and members of the churches sustaining this missionary work, officers 
 of Missionary Boards, and the laborers on all mission fields, will bear 
 this Conference on their hearts in prayer to God, that the preparations 
 for it may be wisely made, that its proceedings may be guided by 
 Heavenly wisdom, that its sessions may be enriched by the pres¬ 
 ence and benediction of the Holy Spirit, and that its results may be 
 made powerful in wakening a deeper missionary spirit and purpose in 
 all Christian hearts throughout the world. 
 
 Recalling the widely representative character of the Conference in 
 London in 1888, the importance of the discussions, the variety of the 
 facts presented, the deep impression made by the survey in succession 
 of the wide fields within which missionary operations have been 
 carried on, and the total outcome in the two noble volumes embracing 
 a report of the Conference, your committee looks forward with great 
 hope and expectation to the gathering which we are now planning. 
 Rightly organized, well directed and brought to a happy conclusion, 
 it cannot fail to produce a profound impression upon Protestant 
 
 6 
 
Christendom as a whole, greatly to increase knowledge of missionary 
 affairs and to deepen interest in the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, and 
 to constitute itself one of the most powerful demonstrations of the 
 truth and universality of the Christian faith which the world has 
 ever seen. 
 
 In behalf, of the Committee, Judson Smith, Chairman . 
 
 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
 
 1 Somerset St., Boston, Mass., December 1, 1897. 
 
 Dear Brethren: 
 
 Last year a committee representing the Foreign Missionary Societies 
 of America addressed a letter to the Secretaries of the Protestant 
 Foreign Missionary Societies of Great Britain and the Continent of 
 Europe, soliciting an expression of their views as to the desirability of 
 convening an Ecumenical Foreign Missionary Conference (similar in 
 aim and character to the World’s Missionary Conference of London, 
 1888), in the City of New York, in the month of April, 1900, and as to 
 their readiness to co-operate in such a Conference. The Societies 
 addressed very generally responded, and heartily welcomed the Con¬ 
 ference proposed, and favored the place suggested, and, with only two 
 or three exceptions, the time named. 
 
 In view of this cordial feeling and unanimity, the American 
 Societies authorized the convening of such a Conference, and instructed 
 their committee to make all necessary arrangements therefor. 
 
 In accordance with these instructions and in the name of the 
 American Societies which have appointed us, we cordially invite your 
 Society to be represented by two or more delegates in an Ecumenical 
 Conference on Foreign Missions, to be convened in the City of New 
 York, U. S. A., the twentieth day of April, 1900, and to continue for 
 ten days from that date. We are sending the same invitation to all 
 the Protestant Foreign Missionary Societies of the world, so far as 
 they are known to us. We shall be pleased at an early date to learn 
 that you have accepted this invitation and will bear your part in the 
 varied deliberations of that occasion. 
 
 The important matter of arranging a programme for the Conference 
 will at once be taken up, and we shall be pleased to receive suggestions 
 from you in regard to the subjects which should be discussed, and 
 upon any other points bearing on the right conduct of the Conference. 
 
 Anticipating an occasion full of profit and of the greatest interest 
 to all Christian people, and depending upon your hearty co-operation 
 and aid to this end we are. in behalf of the American Committee, 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 Judson Smith, Chairman , 
 
 1 Somerset St., Boston, Mass. 
 Henry N. Cobb, Secretary, 
 
 25 East 22d St., New York, N.Y. 
 
 7 
 
COMMITTEE. 
 
 Rev. Judson Smith, D.D., Chairman, 
 
 Secretary, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
 
 Rev. F. F. Ellinwood, D.D., 
 
 Secretary, Board of Foreign Missions, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. 
 
 Rev. Samuel W. Duncan, D.D., 
 
 Secretary, American Baptist Missionary Union. 
 
 Rev. A. B. Leonard, D.D., Rev. A. J. Palmer, D.D., 
 Secretaries, Missionary Society, Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Rev. Henry N. Cobb, D.D., 
 
 Board of Foreign Missions, Reformed Church in America. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Sutherland, D.D., 
 
 Methodist Church in Canada, Department of Missions. 
 
 Hamilton Cassels, Esq., 
 
 Convener Committee, Presbyterian Church of Canada. 
 
 Rev. Walter R. Lambuth, M.D., D.D., 
 
 Secretary, Board of Missions, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 
 
 Rev. W. W. Barr, D.D., 
 
 Secretary, Board of Foreign Missions, United Presbyterian Church of 
 
 North America. 
 
 Rev. R. M. Sommerville, D.D., 
 
 Secretary, Board Foreign Missions, Reformed Presbyterian Church. 
 
 8