patient study of the best books on the subject.1 If the Conference in Edinburgh should lead some resolutely and irrevocably to enter into the school of prayer, the spiritual power of the Church for the accomplishment of its great task would be immeasurably increased.

When the Church sets itself to pray with the same seriousness and strength of purpose that it has devoted to other forms of Christian effort, it will see the Kingdom of God come with power.

1 Special reference may be made to: Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer (Nisbet, IS.; F. H. Revell Co.). M'Clure, A Mighty Means of Usefulness (F. H. Revell Co., 50 cents); Austin Phelps, The Still Hour (Gardner, Paisley; Lothrop and Lee and Shepard Co., 60 cents); Moule, Secret Prayer. Two pamphlets also deserve attention: Warneck, Prayer for Missions; Speer, Prayer and Missions (both published by the Student Volunteer Missionary Union and the Student Volunteer Movement, 5 cents each).

CHAPTER II

THE PROMOTION OF MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE THROUGH REGULAR CHURCH SERVICES AND AGENCIES

THE Church itself as an organisation is fundamentally a Missionary Society. It prays " Thy Kingdom come," and its commission is to "preach the Gospel to every creature.' While the formation of organised societies is essential to the proper conduct of the business of missions, the Church itself in all its branches is by right and commission responsible for the dissemination of a true missionary spirit among its members. There is no society or organisation that can do the work of the Church in this respect. Outside organisations may aid the Church in the performance of her functions through her regular officers and leaders in the promotion of missionary knowledge and interest, but it is the Church itself, alert and aggressive, that is the legitimate and true director. In all this work the pastor is the proper and recognised leader.

I. THE WORK OF THE PASTOR

In the work of the home ministry is found the secret of the real condition existing in the Church. If the pastor is a missionary enthusiast, his people are sure to gain much of the same spirit and become a missionary force. If, on the other hand, he is indifferent and thoughtless, nothing by way of organisation can make up for the lack.

COM. VI.-2

And if his interest is simply the result of a perfunctory sense of duty to present the subject without the real inspiration. that comes from an intelligent understanding and knowledge of the world field, the result is superficial and forced. One of our ablest students of the subject writes: "The real lack with the pulpit is not in the intention or willingness of the pastor, but in the genuine enthusiasm which grows out of a thorough knowledge and heart touch with the fields and with the cause."

Where there is a wealth of information there is always force in the presentation of the subject, and the people become aroused and actively responsive. Many pastors preach regularly missionary sermons, and a still greater number preach missionary sermons on special occasions. Many others report that such sermons are preached about the time of the annual or special offerings. From some of our correspondents we learn that many pastors have found large results from giving missions a place in their public prayers.

A very general influence in awakening enthusiasm is found in the continued use of missionary illustrations in pulpit work. The pastors who keep in living touch with the present missionary literature and regularly read some of the new missionary books constantly use incidents in the mission field for purposes of illustration, and without relegating the presentation of missions to one or two sermons during the year are continually giving to their people the facts of missionary work without any professed treatment of the subject. The result is that the people are being reached and convinced without their recognising it, which is certainly one of the favourable conditions for securing results. Some pastors are giving missionary travel talks on week nights, as well as on Sunday evenings.

Some are trying to break down the unreasonable prejudice which has arisen from the fact that missionary addresses are usually connected with an appeal for an offering. The people should be accustomed to the idea. that it is a part of the Christian's daily thought and

responsibility, and that the gift of money-though of large importance-is but one part of the responsibility of the Christian steward. The influence of the missionary sermon printed and distributed by the pastor through the post to each member of the congregation is always very great.

The conclusion as to the influence of the pulpit is summed up in a sentence by a prominent American pastor: "I am becoming persuaded that the simpler the methods the better, and that no amount of machinery can take the place of an earnest and passionate determination that Jesus Christ may reign in the hearts of men."

As a suggestion of some of the methods employed by pastors to arouse the interest of their congregation in the cause of missions, we would add that frequently many pastors allude from the pulpit to particular articles which have appeared in periodicals, magazines, and books as of special interest. Many of the leaflets especially prepared by Missionary Societies are enclosed by pastors in personal letters to friends whom they wish to interest. Some pastors find means of approach to their congregation in the church and parish papers, as well as local denominational papers in some of the larger cities. Through these papers, letters received from missionaries supported by the local churches are printed and find a wide reading because of the local personal interest in the writer.

Church calendars and announcement sheets have been used calling attention to certain articles of general as well as personal interest in the wide field. Many pastors use printed personal letters addressed to every member of the congregation, frequently signed with their own hand, calling attention to articles, tracts, and books upon the subject of missions. Investigation shows that the alert pastor is able to discover a multitude of personal avenues of approach to his congregation through which he can turn their thought and attention to the great world missionary problem.

II. THE MISSIONARY AWAKENING OF

BOYS AND GIRLS

As the promotion of mission study among young men and young women by means of mission study classes is dealt with in a separate division of our Report (see pp. 64-78), that phase of the work will not be especially treated here.

It has seemed to the Commission that any attempt to combine the careful Reports which have been prepared in Great Britain and America on the question of promoting missionary knowledge among boys and girls would be beset with difficulties and would destroy the unity which each report possessed. It has been decided, therefore, to present separate Reports on this subject dealing with the two countries, although each will be found to contain matter that is of general interest and value.

(a) THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK AMONG CHILDREN

The leaders of the missionary enterprise are unanimous in their judgment as to the imperative importance of interesting the boyhood and girlhood of the Churches in the work of foreign missions, although the extent to which they have been able as yet to give expression to their convictions considerably varies. It is coming to be recognised as a scientific fact that the future depends upon the education of the childhood of the race, in missionary matters as in all others.

In recent years psychologists and religious educationists have introduced another factor which has reinforced their arguments as to the profound importance of missionary teaching in education. They have shown not only that a comprehensive policy of missionary education of the young is a necessity to missionary propaganda, but that the missionary ideal has a unique contribution to make to religious education, and is, in fact, a necessity for the building of true Christian character.