and the standard of giving materially raised. Three classes stand out conspicuously in the organisation and direction of the affairs of the Church in relation to the matter of missionary support: (a) The clergyman or pastor; (b) the laymen; (c) the women. Of these, the clergyman or pastor is the recognised chief or head, and his leadership and co-operation must be secured. The women of the Church have rendered most conspicuous service in the past in contributing and collecting missionary funds, and in increasing missionary intelligence and interest. The children in the Sunday Schools and the young people may, by missionary instruction, be trained to do large things in the years to come; but for the work now pressing, the work that must be done immediately or the opportunities will be lost, the Societies must look much more largely to the mature men of the Church, who have at their disposal all the means necessary for adequate support.

The evidence before the Commission is clear and convincing that the great majority of the men of the Churches have not heretofore recognised their responsibility, or contributed in proportion to their ability to this supreme work of the Church. There is evidence that the men of the Churches are willing to do large things, that they are willing adequately to finance the missionary enterprise, if the matter can be presented to them in a way that will carry their judgment and command their confidence.

The Commission is therefore of opinion

(1) That all Missionary Societies should project an organised propaganda to enlist the men of their constituencies as contributors on a scale adequate to meet the present opportunity.

(2) That this result can be attained if the following principles are adopted :

(i) That, while the leadership of the clergy must be fully recognised, the advocacy of the cause of missions by laymen of capacity and standing is peculiarly effective with their fellow-laymen.

(ii) In such an appeal there should be a comprehensive presentation of the claims of the whole world on the whole Church, as well as of the particular work in which each Church or Society is engaged.

(iii) That the present resources of the whole Church are adequate for the task of planting Christian institutions throughout the whole of the non-Christian world, and that co-operation and not competition is the guiding principle of the work on the foreign field.

(iv) That Christian missions have such a broad and fundamental relation to the education, philanthropy, civilisation, commerce, diplomacy, and peace of the world, as well as to its evangelisation, that the missionary enterprise presents to every man his highest opportunity for Christian influence and service.

(3) Toapply these principles effectively, there should be:(i) A general supervising committee of strong laymen in each branch of the Church to act in co-operation with the Missionary Societies in supervising and carrying on this organised propaganda.

(ii) Systematic missionary education of a character to appeal to men.

(iii) A men's missionary committee in every congregation to assist the clergyman or pastor in the work of missionary education, and to enlist the co-operation of every member of the Church in mission work.

(iv) Habitual and definite prayer for missions.

(v) The adoption of an adequate financial objective by each congregation.

(vi) Regular systematic missionary offerings on a weekly basis wherever practicable.

(vii) An organised personal canvass of the entire membership of the Church by the men's missionary committee to secure a worthy systematic offering from every member.

(4) The Commission is convinced that larger financial results can be obtained in applying the above principles and methods, when all men of all branches of the Church in a community co-operate in a common appeal and a

united effort. This has been demonstrated in many cities of the United States and Canada, where the result has been an unprecedented spirit of Christian unity and fraternity, and an increase in missionary contributions of from 50 to 150 per cent. in a single year.

(5) The above principles and methods are essentially those which have been put into operation in the United States and Canada by the Laymen's Missionary Movement with the most remarkable success, as appears from the foregoing report.

(6) We believe that, in the providence of God, the Laymen's Missionary Movement has been called into being, that it has already changed the attitude of thousands of men in the United States and Canada from apathy and indifference towards the cause of missions to loyal and active support, that it has stimulated the spiritual life in the local Churches, that it has substantially increased the contributions towards the work of missions, and that it has been the means of uniting the men of many communions in the United States and Canada, as never before, in sympathetic and practical co-operation for world-wide evangelisation. We commend the Movement and its plans to the men of all nations as a practical basis for co-operation among Christian men everywhere in a comprehensive and adequate crusade for the winning of mankind to Jesus Christ.

2. Personal Service

Increased funds cannot give the necessary impulse to the growing work without increased offering of life. In response to the many calls for reinforcements from the front, the men and women so sorely needed are not forthcoming. In spite of the work of various student organisations and the large number of volunteers, many Societies are seeking in vain for the men and women they need, and with enlarged gifts an increase of the missionary force will be demanded by all Societies.

To change this situation it seems to the Commission that

(a) Endeavour must be made to carry the missionary call back into the devoted homes of the Church that, in an atmosphere of consecration, those who should be the associates and successors of the missionaries of this generation, may be in quiet preparation for the work that is awaiting them.

(b) The work now being done in colleges, universities, and theological institutions by the interdenominational recruiting agencies should be greatly developed and strengthened.

(c) Missionary Societies should prosecute with much greater vigour the cultivation of their respective constituencies in the higher institutions of learning in all Christian lands as well as in the Sunday Schools and young people's societies of the Church, and should inaugurate methods of training by which not only the numbers of candidates needed, but the quality required, may be obtained.

CONCLUSION

The Church is exerting a commanding influence over the life and activities of Christian lands. The resources at its disposal, material, mental, and spiritual, if properly consecrated and directed, are ample for the speedy completion of the evangelisation of the entire world. It is the task and privilege of the leaders in the Church, and the officers and supporters of the Missionary Societies, so to call out and direct these forces that this generation shall not pass until the most remote human soul shall have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ as his personal Redeemer and Lord. That this is the will of God there can be no doubt, that the opportunity and means are sufficient we are well aware; the work halts only because the entire Church is not yet in full submission to the Divine Will. When the Church is dominated by the Mind of God and becomes permeated with the Spirit of Jesus Christ, then will the unity of the entire world in Christ become a visible actuality.

APPENDIX

At the time of the Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, there was held a special Conference of medical delegates and others interested in the medical aspects of the work, in which questions relating to the medical side of the work were considered.

The following "Findings and Report" of that Conference bear directly upon the Home Base, and so belong to this Report. It should be stated that the members of Commission VI. as a whole have had no opportunity to examine this statement, hence it is printed in the Appendix as having had the consideration only of the Chairman of the Commission.

It should also be added that many of the larger Mission Boards, of North America at least, are thoroughly in accord with the statement of need as set forth in this paper, and have long applied these principles to the selection and appointment of candidates and to the care of the health of the missionaries in the field without the organisation of a Home Medical Department or the creation of an Honorary Medical Board.

These Boards will need to consider whether the increased cost of a salaried medical officer and the added machinery of a Medical Board would make their work in this direction more efficient.

These conclusions of medical experts, who are either missionaries or medical friends and supporters of the work, are herewith submitted for the careful consideration of all Missionary Societies.