Mission Notes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 26, 1906

It has been estimated that in Palestine there is one missionary for every thousand Jews.

“Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared.” Neh. 8:10.

THERE are three hundred million Buddhist women, with no hope of immortality unless in some future transmigration they may be born again as men.

THE tendency toward insufficiency of income to do the work of missionary societies is not yet overcome. The Church Missionary Society, with an income (1904-05) of $1,643,582, reports a deficit of $220,029. The London Missionary Society reports an income of $864,835, and a deficit of $129,843. The Berlin Missionary Society is nearly $125,000 in debt. The Presbyterian Board (North) spent about $4,000 more than it received. The Paris Missionary Society is about $30,000 in arrears. These deficits arise not so much from falling off in interest in the missionary enterprise as from the tremendous pressure upon missionary societies caused by their success in getting a hearing. It is easy to say, as to a man who lives beyond his income, Cut down your expense. But pagan peoples are demanding teachers. What shall we say to them? As the secretary of the Paris Missionary Society says: “Mission means a sending. What becomes of the missionary society which ceases to send?” The fact is that we have occasion to meditate upon the truth that Christians belong to a growing body. The kingdom is being established, and Christians can not escape responsibility to God for meeting the expense of it. This is the Christian’s burden. To bear this burden is a duty springing from profession to follow Jesus Christ. There is grandeur, then, in the attitude of the Paris Society under this stress. One expects to see in its Journal of Missions frantic appeals for funds, arguments from the success of the missions, pleas to those who have put their hand to the plow, not to look back. The emphasis in the February number, however, is not laid on the question of finance, but on an appeal to the people, first, to extend their sphere of vision beyond their own mission fields to take in the majestic advance of the kingdom in all the world, and second, to pray, with hearts thus kindled, for a new baptism in the Holy Spirit. The basis of the stability of missions is touched in this appeal. The true need of missions is not satisfied with money. The need everywhere is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. There is great significance in the unanimity with which missionary societies in England and America also are now urging continual and systematic prayer for missions.