confronted crises as great as those before it now on certain fields; but never before has there been such a synchronizing of crises in all parts of the world. This is a testing time for the church, and if it neglects to meet successfully the present world crises by failing to discharge its responsibility to the whole world, it will weaken its power both on the home and foreign fields, and seriously handicap its mission to the coming generations. Nothing less than the inadequacy of Christianity as a world religion is on trial.

This is a decisive hour for Christian missions. The call of Providence to our Lord's disciples, of whatever ecclesiastical connection, is direct and urgent to undertake without delay the task of carrying the Gospel to all the world.

It is high time to face this duty and with serious purpose discharge it. The opportunity is inspiring; the responsibility is undeniable. The Gospel is all-inclusive in its scope, and we are convinced that there never was a time more favourable for uniting our forces, and by prayerful action make the universality of the idea a practical reality in the history of the church.

Dr. Charles L. Thompson said in an address before the General Assembly at Denver in 1909, " The day of small things between nations is past. The battles around the Mediterranean were trifles compared to the marshalling of final forces on the Medi

terranean of the west. And the flag those forces shall fly -white in friendship, or bloody in battle will be determined most of all by the moral character of our country, and especially of the Pacific Empire. Wake up, O Church of God: before opportunity stiffens into destiny."

It seems that we have machinery enough. What is needed is power, that will put this machinery into active service in the great conquest going on between the powers of light and darkness.

It is related that when Ole Bull was in the zenith of his triumph, he played before the students of Princeton university. As he played they heard the birds warbling among the trees of the forest; they heard the storms as they thundered back and forth among the crags of the mountains, and then the tones became so soft and so sweet they could almost believe a mother was singing her babe asleep. When he finished, they crowded around him with congratulations and expressions of praise for his wonderful gift. He said to them, "It is not in the instrument or bow, though I use the best that money can buy; it is not in the fingers that press the strings or in the hand that draws the bow. If there is anything to tell, it is this, I never play until my soul is full, and the music is the overflow of the soul."

If we have been trying to play the melodies of Jesus, without this soul-fulness; if we have been wondering why men did not stop and listen and

bow in homage before our Lord, may it not be that the secret of our disappointment has been in our lack of soul earnestness?

Unless our education, our doctrines, and all our equipments are animated with the Divine Spirit, the Gospel we preach will fail to manifest the power of God. The greatness of our task and the weakness of our earthen vessel, both emphasize the need, yea, the necessity of keeping close against the heart of the Infinite One, for the fellowship that will put the touch of power into our ministry, and enable us to accomplish that which pleases our Master.

I cannot more fittingly close this chapter than by quoting the language of Bishop Charles H. Fowler on the missionary idea. "Behind Calvary, beneath the Cross, older than the Book, the sacrament, the sacrifice, the ceremonial- all the panorama of redemption is the eternal love of God, who purposes to save man by the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, and the ministry of the church. This love which stoops to the guilt and need of man, is an infinite shoreless ocean beyond our thought or description. Here is the missionary idea. To apologize for it, is to apologize for Calvary, which is its expression."

W

CHAPTER IV

HEROISM IN HOME MISSIONS

E both hear and read a great deal about heroism in foreign missions, but much less has been said or written about the heroic element in home missionary work. The story of self-sacrifice and the courage required in pioneer work in our own country has not been written and perhaps never will be, for much of it is that kind of service, generally unnoticed and unrecorded by the publicity bureau.

The demoniac out of whom Christ cast the devils, besought Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to thine own house and show how great things Jesus hath done unto thee." He went his way and published through the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. It would have been much easier to have followed Jesus and joined the disciples, than to have returned to his own city and there testify for Christ. With Jesus and His disciples, he would have had the personal and present inspiration and sympathy of their direct fellowship, but

to go back to his own town and home, required more courage and fortitude.

There is a certain glamour thrown around the foreign missionary, that is not manifest in the case of a home missionary. Let me give a single illustration as proof of this statement. It is an instance that came under my personal observation. In the city of B- there was a meeting of the Synod. An esteemed and eminently successful foreign missionary lady was to be present to address the Synod. Also an equally eminent and successful home missionary lady, who had devoted her life to the Christianizing of a certain tribe of Indians in our own country. The story of her sacrifice and devotion was known to only a few who were intimately acquainted with her work. She was a graduate of college and had prepared herself for this special work. When announcement was made the previous Sabbath to the convening of Synod, the pastor had ten applications to entertain the foreign missionary lady, but not one for the home missionary, and in fact solicitation for her entertainment was necessary. After she had made her address and the people heard the story of her work, and what great things had been accomplished through her devotion, invitations to dinner were not wanting, for then there was no little competition in efforts of the entertainers to show her hospitality. They did not expect such gifts, refine