" 2r> nor Associations.— There are several minor mission- ary associations, both in Europe and America, concerning which our limited space prevents a separate description."
In order to make the above list complete, it would be necessary to add the numerous Bible societies [see Bi- ble Societies], and also Tract and Book publication societies, which are in constant and intimate co-opera- tion with the regular missionary societies, together witli a constantly-increasing number of smaller organizations contemplating missionary results. Some of the above will be inclutled in the subjoined tabular exhibit on pages 368 and oOD.
Notwithstanding the numerous points of interest shown in our tabular exhibit, it is utterly impossible to reduce to statistics anything like a full showing of the work accomplished and in progress by modern missions. Indeed, as human language cannot fully set forth the horrors of heathenism, so no form of description can ade- quately portray the actual and possible results of mis- sionary efforts earnestly and perseveringly put forth in harmony with the divine plan for evangelizing the world.
YI. General Viezvs suggested by the Present Period of Missiiinarii Ilistorg as compared with Preceding Periods. — 1. Thijidd of missionary operations is tiow more com' prehensire than ever before, and more nearly illustrative of the Gospel design of evangelizing the v:hole world. In the apostolic period the Roman empire comprised the then known world. Up to the end of the medieval period, the world formerly known to the Romans was chiefly enlarged by the addition of the northern coun- tries of Europe. Now, every continent and island of the globe is not only known by discovery, but accessible to Christian influence. In fact, all the important and many of the unimportant nations of the earth have been actually made the subjects of missionary instruc- tion, in accordance with the fullest literal meaning of the Saviour's precepts, " Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature ;" " Go teach all nations."
2. The Church of modern times has returned to the apostolic idea of Christian missions. Hence missionary- operations now throughout the world are peaceful. No more crusades, no more inquisitions and autos dafe are employed for the pretended advancement of Christian- ity, but rather preaching and teaching generally of the pure Word of God as a means of persuading men to be- come followers of Christ.
3. The number of worlcers for this object is greater than ever before, and is rapidly increasing by the enlist- ment of native converts in almost every land.
4. The appliances and advantages of Christian civil- ization, such as the press and general education, are ev- erywhere brought to the aid of missionary effort.
MISSIONS
368
MISSIONS
mer period could either of our missionary societies have attempted to ' number Israel' — to reduce to figures either the geographical extent or the practical results of its influence, without having soon received, in the cheering events wliich followed, a distinct but gracious rebuke. How erroneous the calculation which should have set down the first fifteen years of fruitless missionary labor in Greenland, or the sixteen in Tahiti, or the twenty in
5. The sympathies of the Christian Church at large are extensively, though as yet far from fully, enlisted in the grand enterprise of Christianizing the human race. In this enterprise unity of idea is to a large extent neu- traUzing diversity of action, and making even the rival- ries of different Christian organizations conducive to a common advantage.
6. The progress and results, especially of Protestant missions within the current centun/, not only justify all New Zealand, as years of entire failure! when, in truth, the efforts of the past, but gice 7?iost hopeful signs of prom- the glorious scene wliicli then ensued was simply lliat isefor the future. These results comprise not only the I which God was pleased to make the result of all that conversion and salvation of individuals of every race '■ had preceded— the explosion, by the divine hand, of a and condition of humanity, but the actual Christianiza- | train which had been lengthening and enlarging during tion of whole nations, and the initial steps by which | every moment of all those years. Therefore were the whole races of men mav be expected at no distant pe- ; whole field of missions to be suddenly vacated, and all riod to receive the Gospel. Of necessity, a large share I its moral machinery at once withdrawn, we confidently of the work of modern evangelical missions has thus ' believe that the amount of temporal good arising from far been preparatory ; such as the acquisition of Ian- what has been done will be much greater twenty years guages, the translation and printing of tlic Scriptures, ■ hence than it is at present" (Harris's Greal Commission, andlhe education of native ministers in heathen lands, p. 185, 180).
If, therefore, what has been done shall by the blessing of the Head of the Cliurch be made to act as leaven, ac- cording to our Saviour's promise, we may in due time expect the whole mass of human population;; to be leavened with the influence of Christian truth.
"The social and moral advantages which the mis- sionary enterprise has conferred on the heathen are be- fore the world. AN'hat vast tracts has it rescued from
But happily there is no prospect that the field of mis- sionary effort will soon be vacated. The tliirty years that have elapsed since the above paragraph was writ- ten have proved to be the most productive of mission- ary results of any similar period since the days of the apostles. During their lapse the "moral machinery" of the Protestant Church in particular has become vast- ly augmented in volume and in power, and has been set