979 /ST *7 Clje 2,anbs Btj?onii 77ie missionary crisis of today is to be found in China and Japan . It is worth while pondering the words of a man {not a priest but a layman) who has ‘visited both these old coun¬ tries and studied the conditions there . Dr* Hamilton W. Mabie, Associate Editor of “The Outlook” in an address before the last General Convention made the following statement: HEN we think of China and Japan, bringing into view the scene of the most significant history of the time, its most pressing problem, its most glori¬ ous chance of pushing on the fortunes of hu¬ manity, of bringing in the kingdom of God. Yesterday the Mediterranean was the highway of civilization; today the Atlantic is a channel for the swift intercourse of the world; last Friday its waters met the waters of the Pacific, and the fulfillment of Goethe’s striking prophecy was begun on the Isthmus; tomorrow the Pacific will be the scene of the world-wide rivalry and fellowship of the nations. *#****##* Missionary work has ceased to be a deoartment of church work and has become the Church in action, the Church meditating, the Church worshipping—become the Church moved by a faith which sends it forth to be the fellow of all sorrow, the sharer of all burdens, the preacher of all truth, the giver of all power. And the mis¬ sionary is no longer simply a preacher to individ¬ uals; he is a statesman in the largest meaning of The only way to keep your Christianity is to give it away. that great and often misused word—a man, that is, who stands not for an interest nor for a class nor for a period of time, but for the supreme. in¬ terests, for all people, and for the future. He foresees what is coming and makes ready for the new age; for he brings the faith that organizes and builds, the inward law that steadies in a time of transition, and the hope that sets a great light aflame on a path full of perplexities and dangers. C Money given to “Foreign Missions” aids the work under 9 bishops in 10 missionary dis¬ tricts. The missionary forces abroad number 305 clergy and 1,000 lay workers, both men and women, American and foreign. €. The Cathedral of St. James’ in Anking, China, was recently consecrated. The series of services held in connection with the consecration attracted great crowds of non-Christians, it being neces¬ sary to keep policemen at the door to prevent overcrowding. At the same time the great heathen temple in a neighboring square was being transformed into a market, and the images of its gods—quite useless under present condi¬ tions—were unceremoniously dumped into the river. Such is the opportunity which the Chris¬ tian Church has to supply a better faith to China in place of that which she is losing. Christ is either Lord of all, or He fs not Lord at all . The Rev. F. A. Russell, who was a delegate to the General Convention from the district of Liberia, was the first African priest to visit the United States. Mr. Russell’s father and mother were among the first Christian converts of this Church in Africa, and he himself is a product of our educational work, wherein lies the only hope of permanent success in Africa. «L Count Okuma, a Japanese statesman, not him¬ self a Christian, in an article published in the October International Review of Missions, says: “Although Christianity has enrolled less than 200,000 believers, yet the indirect influence of Christianity has poured into every realm of Japanese life. It has been borne to us on all the currents of European civilization; most of all, the English language and literature, so sur¬ charged with Christian ideas, has exerted a wide and deep influence over Japanese thought.” «L Mr. John Henry Mears circled the world in a little less than thirty-six days. While in itself it serves no great purpose, it does emphasize the fact that the ends of the world are being brought very close together, and that its nations and races are rapidly coming to have common in¬ terests. As the roads built by the Roman Em¬ pire meant speedy progress for the Gospel in the first century, sc the growing means of inter¬ communication mean larger and more wonder¬ ful opportunity for the missionary message. J The first work of the •whole Church is to preach the •whole Gospel to the whole world. The “Missionary Review of the World,” in its January number, gives statistics with regard to foreign missions, showing that 24,000 foreign¬ ers are engaged in missionary work, of whom 6,700 are ordained clergy. Nearly five times as many natives in the different fields are engaged in carrying the Gospel to their own people. Hospitals and dispensaries number 1,700 and there are 2,400 colleges and other institutions of higher learning, with 129,000 students. Of primary and other schools there are 33,000 with a million and a half of pupils. Last year $30,- 500,000 was contributed, half of it from the United States. In addition to this the foreign mission field itself gave $8,000,000.