LANDS WITHOUT A MISSIONARY.
THE last closed country of South America has recently allowed missionaries to begin work there, says the Missionary Review, and it is ardently hoped that erelong the other closed doors will be opened and that the strongholds of Satan will be captured in the name of the Lord. Tibet is still besieged by missionary armies and progress is being made among Tibetan peoples and footing has even been gained in Tibetan territory. The 2,000,000 miles of unoccupied territory in Africa is gradually growing less as the picket stations of the advance guard of Christendom are penetrating the Soudan and other inviting territory—inviting because of the difficulties to be encountered and the victories to be won. Afghanistan and Beluchistan still shut out the light of life, but an occasional ray from the Sun of Righteousness penetrates even there in spite of governmental edicts. The Philippine Islands and some other papal possessions are still hostile to the truth, but one by one these countries are following the example of the Central and South American republics by shaking off the yoke of Rome and declaring for freedom of belief and worship. In Northern India and Western China some doors are still either closed or there is no one to enter. Russia prohibits active missionary work except in the way of Bible distribution; the Stundists, however, thrive through persecution. Turkey is trying to stamp out Christianity in spite of treaties, and thereby endangers her own existence. On the whole, notwithstanding the disastrous retrenchments and curtailing of established work, due to lack of support from Christians at home, the missionary host is steadily advancing, and is surely, if slowly, fulfilling the Lord's command and prediction by the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom among all nations.