World's Christian Citizenship Conference
By Rev. J. S. Martin
By the Rev. J. S. Martin of the National Reform Association PLANS are rapidly maturing for the World's Christian Citizenship Conference to be held in Philadelphia November 16-20, 1910. Hundreds of delegates from our own and other lands have already been appointed, with every mail bringing notices of additional appointments. These delegates are being appointed by mission boards and societies, church courts higher and lower, congregations, young people's societies, state and national peace societies, W. C. T. U., and various other reform organizations, and specially the National Reform Association, which has undertaken the work of arranging for the conference. Sixty popular speakers from this and other countries have been secured, among whom are prominent statesmen, missionaries, philanthropists, and leaders in Christian work, to discuss problems that are problems in all countries. Authentic reports from all lands on the attitude of the governments of these lands toward Christianity are being prepared and will be in evidence at the conference. The following practical aims are announced by those in charge. This conference has not been called merely for discussion but for action. We must not undervalue discussion; the world has been revolutionized by it. No combined or simultaneous action can ever be taken by men unless they confer together. But this conference looks beyond itself to important practical action: 1. The conference is expected to adopt a Declaration of Principles — the Christian principles of civil government. Every movement that has vitality and endures, springs out of certain principles of truth which command the assent of men and determine their action. All Christian governments in history have arisen through the operation of these Christian principles on the minds of men, and to the combined working of these principles in human society all future progress in the development of these institutions will be due. One of the tasks of this conference will be to state these principles clearly, and to lift them up to the attention of men. 2. The conference will be expected to adopt and recommend to Christian citizens of all countries a program of action which may be helpful in their efforts to realize in their several countries a Christian state of civil society. This program will refer to such matters as Public Education, laws affecting the Family, the Day for Rest and Worship, Righteous Men for Civil Office, the removal of the curse of Intemperance, the Reformation of Criminals, the abolition of War, the salvation of the cities, and, as fundamental to and including all these, a genuine revival of national religion. It is believed that help and strength will come to Christian workers in all countries from this comparison of views, and through the cooperation which will be in this way secured. 3. This Declaration of Principles and this Program of Action will come before the conference with the concurrence and the endorsement, not only of the large and representative committee which shall prepare it, but of a far larger number of leaders in the religious world before whom it will be laid for their suggestions and their concurrence. 4. This Declaration and this Program will be used as instruments in a world-wide work which will follow the conference. They will be translated into various languages, will be sent to missionaries in all the non-Christian lands, and will be widely distributed through the nominally Christian nations, and will, it is hoped, serve as a standard around which Christian men will gather, and will indicate the goal toward which their united labors may be directed. Especially in the United States, where this conference is to be held, it is hoped that it may prove to be a valuable and timely demonstration in support of the Christian elements of our national life. [See elsewhere, "What Does It Mean?"—EDITOR S. OF T.]