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dant means for its great work. Taking the Government estimate of $175 as the average yearly income of every person in the country, and estimating the membership of the different denominations engaged in mission work at 8,000,000, we have as the annual income of the American church $1,400,000,000. Of this amount the Lord's tithe would be $140,000,000! Now allowing $50,000,000 for home expenses, and $30,000,000 for work in foreign fields, we still have $60,000,000 left for evangelizing America. This would enable the church to plant a mission in every settlement large enough to support a saloon, to plant a colony of Christian families in every Mormon town, and to buttress all its missions with a suitable corps of trained workers from the home church. And this is not too much to undertake or expect. The fact is, our mission work is at present so feebly conducted that Christianity in many places is brought into contempt, and the great busy world moves forward in its quest for wealth and pleasure without giving it either attention or thought.

And it is because the church is witholding the Lord's tithe, and doing so feebly and parsimoniously the Lord's work, that He is allowing us to be disturbed by socialistic plots and labor agitations. If the church would but "bring all its tithes into the Lord's storehouse," and consecrate its talent to His service, it would have sufficient strength to cope with these evils, and then "its light would break forth as the morning, its health would spring forth speedily, and the glory of the Lord would be its reward.

Let us turn our attention for a moment to our own denomination. In 1836, when our Home Mission Society was organized, we had in the contributing States 175,000 Baptists, worth on an average $121.42 each, and they gave for Home Mission work $17,ooo, or an average of ten cents each. In 1885 we had 612,146 Baptists, worth each $2,356.60, or twenty times as much as in 1836. Twenty times ten cents would give us two dollars as the amount each Baptist

should give to make his contribution proportionate with that of 1836. But this would give our Home Mission Society the grand sum $1,224,292, instead of the mere pittance it now receives. Is it not a fact that ought to shame us that with our increased membership and wealth our liberality is only about one-quarter of what it was nearly fifty years ago? And with this million and a quarter of dollars how largely we could increase our force of laborers! How would "the hands" of the few labor ers now upon the field be "strengthened," how many feeble and drooping missions take on new life and activity!

Viewed as an economic measure, we should look to the evangelization of America. In doing Christian work we should have an eye to the influence our work will have upon the future. While all souls are valuable, there is a vast difference in the value of souls. An Ethiopian eunuch was converted, and a single soul was saved. A Saul of Tarsus was converted, and the throb of that new life has quickened the pulses of Christianity for eighteen centuries. And what Saul was to the early church the American convert, aflame with Gospel love, and untramelled either by priestly domination or musty superstition, will be to the church of the future. A Judson, intellectually quickened by contact with American life and thought, and mastered by the grand idea of universal conquest for Christ, going forth to the dark and enslaved races of the old world, and translating the Bible for untold millions, sets in motion forces that will operate for Christianity until it shall be proclaimed that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."

And the same is true in the planting of churches. What a wail the Revelator makes over the churches planted in Asia Minor! They were planted among old and decrepit races, whose blood had been tainted by fifty generations of sensual indulgence and enervating vices, and to-day, but for the sad lament of the seer of Patmos, we should hardly know of their existence. How dif

ferent with churches planted in a youthful nation, whose every heart-beat sends forth life and vigor, and whose example and influence will become a mighty factor in shaping the world's civilization. These lights, once kindled, will increase in brilliancy and power until " the gross darkness" that now covers the nations shall be dispersed and the whole world rejoice in the brightness of the coming dawn.

My brethren, I plead for America-for America, endeared to us by the memories of venerable sires and devout matrons, whose blood and treasure were poured forth that we might enjoy our "goodly heritage."

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lished in Worcester, I noticed the following expres. sion of the Roman Catholic hierarchy's hopes and purposes. It is of quite recent date.

signs in view in thus directing the emigration of our

"Without doubt Providence has had special de

countrymen towards the United States. Who knows but that they are destined to unite with the Irish to secure the domination of the Catholic faith and supersede the old Puritans who are rapidly dying out under the sway of heretical fanaticism even when it has not yet reached open infidelity."

It is to the honor of the American Baptist Home Mission Society that the better and real purpose of God towards this priest-ridden and despoiled people, even their evangelization, has been so well understood long before other denominations awoke to the obligations and importance of work among this people who are coming to occupy so important a position in our midst. The labors of our own Society in their fruits and success have, within a short period, enlisted other denominations, more especially the Congregationalists. These latter have taken hold of this French work with an immense advantage over us, in one particular especially. For several years past, in the city of Montreal, the Pædobaptist French Missions have had an excellent theological school or department connected with the well-known University of McGill, in which gifted young French Canad

For the sake of our children I plead for it. For the world's sake I plead for it. I behold the nations in their death struggle, and in their helplessness they turn their longing eyes to us for help. For Christ's sake I plead, and by the love we bear to Him who gave His life for us urge that we give nobly and do grandly for the saving of fatherland. Evangelize America, and the world is evangelized; let the light in Amer-ians have received a thorough classical and theologiica “become darkness," and the world sinks into the gloom of an eternal night.

"Sail on, O Ship of State!

Sail on, O UNION, strong and great!
Humanity, with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate."

NEED OF A FRENCH THEOLOGICAL DE-
PARTMENT AT NEWTON.

BY REV. J. N. WILLIAMS, R. I.

There are over 300,000 French Canadians in the New England States. Their presence among us is thus interpreted by the Roman Catholic priesthood: "French Canadians," said a distinguished priest from Montreal at the laying of the corner stone of a large French Catholic Church at Woonsocket, R. I., "Providence has sent you here to do in the land of the Puritans what you have so grandly done in Canada-to bring everything into subjection to our Holy Father the Pope."

cal training under the direction of an able French teacher, the Rev. Mr. Coussiart. Thanks to these educational advantages, our Congregational brethren have a good supply of well-trained missionaries to occupy any opening fields in our midst.

While rejoicing in this increasing interest and multiplication of agencies, we should not be unmindful of the danger that our own denomination, who richly deserves the best part of the harvest fruits, may possibly be left far in the rear unless we can have for this great work men of respectable training and scholarship as well as piety and Baptist sterling prin. ciple. The Grande Ligne Mission, the only French Baptist educational institution to which we can look, has no school of theology or of higher learning, and is not equal to the preparation of, and demand for, men for her own immediate wants and fields in Canada. To complete both the literary and theological education of her own missionaries, she is under the necessity of sending them to Pædobaptist institutions; either to McGill College or to schools in Switzerland, alternatives which, to say the least, are not especially con ducive to the development of denominational stamina and enthusiasm. Baptist laborers trained for their work in Pædobaptist schools amidst surroundings of feebleness and scantiness of Baptist agencies; of great weakness in numbers; of feeble growth and comparative inferiority with other denominations of Protestantism, as is the case in France and somewhat also in Canada, will not and cannot have the same

In the correspondence of a well known French Canadian priest, who relates his visits to various centres of Roman Catholic population in New England in the columns of an influential French paper pub. faith or courage or enthusiasm denominationally of

young men drilled amidst surroundings of numbers | French laborers will come out of the very best of the

and influence and success which characterizes the status of the denomination in the United States. Nothing would tend more to give to Frenchmen destined to the Baptist ministry, back-bone and confidence in Baptist principles and Baptist methods, in their adaptation to the spiritual wants of men, than to be brought into contact with, and drilled in the ranks, as it were, of the onward moving and mighty army of regular Baptists in the American Union.

From quite extensive acquaintance with French Baptist laborers I have become deeply impressed with the great need and importance for our French Baptist work, not only in New England, but in Canada and even in France, of a French Department in one of our vigorous theological institutions.

NEEDED FOR NEW ENGLAND.

We need a French Educational Department in one of our theological seminaries, such as Newton, for example, for the vigorous and successful prosecution of our work in our own country, especially in New England. Among the converts in over twenty or thirty French mission stations such as Worcester, Woonsocket, Fall River, Putnam, Danielsonville, Waterville, Lowell, etc., we find young men with excellent natural abilities and marked piety desirous of devoting themselves to missionary work as colporteurs, evangelists, or pastors among their Roman Catholic countrymen. They usually are somewhat familiar with the English language, but, with now and then an exception, are uneducated, or at least only trained in the simplest rudiments of learning. Their French is frequently as bad, if not worse, than their English, having, in addition to the defects of that language as spoken by the uneducated in Canada, anglicisms without number, making it almost incomprehensible and simply outrageous to a cultivated French ear. These defects, whenever they undertake to speak on religious subjects, are held up to ridicule, to the great disadvantage of evangelical truth, by the Roman Catholic press and the French Catholic pulpits. The very best advantages of purely English studies would leave them with this very serious disqualification for work among their countrymen, and the temptation to such would be to go into the English ministry. And this is what several Frenchmen have done. With their exclusively English training they are at home in our language and sadly deficient and inefficient in the use of their native tongue. But if, while storing their minds with general knowledge and theological lore, they could at the same time be in constant training in the use of the French language for the more effective use of this knowledge among their countrymen, our French work would reap the full great benefit of our American institutions of learning. Otherwise, that is without some arrangement to train them thoroughly both in the use and knowledge of their own beautiful language, these young

schools of the prophets with very little ability to influence those of their own nationality-their goodly learning, a sort of Saul's armor, and they themselves instruments well tempered, but, for the French work, not only not sharpened but duller than ever, and unable to do much else in the Master's French vineyard than club, hack, and bruise. Witth a little daily and constant drilling during their studies by a French professor competent to train them thoroughly in French grammar, homiletics, preparation of French sermons, etc., their ability to use efficiently their knowledge among their countrymen would grow apace with their other grand educational advantages. The young Frenchmen in the Presbyterian college of Montreal, though following a regular course in English in the University of McGill, graduate thorough French scholars with ability to write and to speak the French language with ease and correctness. professor, Professor Coussirat, I believe, is able to effect this result. And I think that in a French Department connected with a theological institution like Newton Seminary, one well qualified teacher would suffice, in addition to their English studies, to train young French men for effective service as ministers, our Frenchevangelists, and colporteurs among speaking population. We know of several among our French converts, persons of ardent piety and Christian zeal and good ability, who would become efficient

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workers in our French mission field could they enjoy the advantages which Newton with such a department could afford them. In addition to their French stu

dies, they could follow all the exercises of the English classes of the Seminary, except those which absolutely require familiarity with Greek and Hebrew. I know of some six or eight brethren to whom such advantages would bring a grand opportunity for useful

ness in our French mission work.

NEEDED FOR CANADA.

Such a department is needed for our Baptist work in Canada. The Grande Ligne Mission laborers would be greatly benefited by a few years' connection with one of our Baptist theological schools. That mission has been of late years growing in the direction of full sympathy with the regular Baptist denomination, and yet strong influences, both pædobaptist and open-communion, press upon the intellectual and spiritual life of those under its influence and in its schools. The training of its laborers in one of our institutions of theology, I think, is the only means which will bring that mission into anything like real and cordial connection with the regular Baptist denomination. I speak advisedly on this point, having myself been connected with that institution as pupil and missionary, and knowing by my own experience the real character of its influence in that direction. In that mission to-day, the man whose convictions and practice are most fully in accord with us is the Rev. A. Therrien, and he owes, I think, much of his regular Bap

tist proclivities and stamina to a sojourn in the United States as missionary of the Baptist Home Mission Society at Burlington. His influence, which is very considerable in that mission, has been pronounced and vigorous in the direction of our polity and methods since his return to Canada after several years' connection with a regular Baptist church in Burlington as member and as their missionary in coöperation with the Home Mission Society, to the French in that city. The influence of theological training in one of our seminaries would certainly be no less effective and desirable.

NEEDED FOR FRANCE.

ruin of France, that is guilty of no political relationships or connivance with tyranny and ambitious schemes of state control. Both French Romanism and French Protestantism in the history of France, and yet more in the popular mind of France, being mixed up alike with state calamities and state patronage, are regarded with more or less suspicion and feelings of resentment. Anything in the shape of religion, having the character of foreign origin, of being in some sort imported and not of home production, has a more cordial reception and more unprejudiced consideration. I think that this was one secret, perhaps the main secret, of the attention and welcome given to the efforts of Mr. McAll. The religion which he in his efforts represented and presented, bore the character of an

But such a department is needed for our work in imported article, and disarmed resentment, prejudice France.

If there is need of our professors going to Europe to study the higher branches, there is more need of Baptist laborers in France coming to the United States to learn our denominational methods, belief, and practice. It is my conviction from acquaintance with French missionaries, from long observation of influences which mold religious character in France, that we shall never have very marked success in our Baptist work in France till the laborers in that field are formed for their work outside of France, and in our own land. I wish I could communicate to those who are interested in our Baptist Mission in France my feelings and deep convictions on this matter.

I believe that the France-French are very accessible to the influences of Gospel truth as held by us as a denomination. At least this was my experience while | laboring a few years ago in a French colony in Ohio. Our distinctive principles, though violently opposed at first, have become dominant in a remarkable degree in that community. A prosperous church was formed, a good church edifice was built, and this French Church will compare well with the American Baptist churches in the State. I think that my work in Stryker enabled me to estimate the value and importance of advantages that American educated missionary laborers would have in France.

They would have the advantage of representing American institutions. And France, which does not believe in the Pope, and often hardly in God, believes in the great republic of these United States. And the sojourn and training of missionaries in the United States would be to the French republican somewhat as to Isaac "the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed" of Esau, winsome of favor and predilection. Nothing was clearer to me than that as an American, speaking the French language, I had all the more cordial welcome to the hearts and homes of the France-French in Ohio.

And then these young Frenchmen, trained in our schools, would have the advantage of being all the more judged as the disciples and representatives of the religious faith of the New World, a religion that has not persecuted, that has had nothing to do in the

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and hate. The average Frenchman's feeling is something like this: "unless there is something better in the way of religion than what we have in France I want none of it." This very feeling would give to the foreign and American trained missionary the advan. tage which Paul had in Athens, of being bearer of a new message, when the indifferent and sceptical. Athenians rushed to Mars Hill to consider "What will this babbler say? May we know what this new doctrine, which thou speakest, is?”

Furthermore, in matters pertaining to religious life, French Protestantism is deplorably behind the times. In the Lutheran, or national church, comprising the main part of the Protestant element, the atmosphere is that of cold, dead formality, not far removed from the prevailing scepticism of the nominally Roman Catholic population. Its church life is so void of goodly influence, so opposed to vital piety, to zeal, to aggressiveness, that those who come into the enjoyment of a real religious life not only separate from that church organization but are prejudiced against all church organizations or church life, and are inclined to ideas of disorganization and are easily won over to the Plymouth Brethren view of the church. Many, who in sentiment otherwise are Baptists, drift into some group or coterie of these famed disorganizers. This tendency is a trouble and a weakening influence in our Baptist churches in France. Now I think that nothing would better prepare and qualify those who are to inspire and direct religious sentiment in France than for them to spend a few years in our country where church life has so much of goodly influence, of efficiency, of success, of piety to commend it. They would be believers in it as they never can be in seeing church life or the workings of church organizations only in France. Baptist church life would be not only a theory, but in their minds and hearts something possible, practicable and grand, and they would be a thousand times stronger to stem the current of influences in their own land adverse to church organizations or to church life, from whatever source they might come.

Again, laborers in France need to accept our more advanced ideas on the subject of temperance,

and they will not imbibe these unless they come would engage the services of a French professor perunder the influence of our American advanced manently, qualified to teach the French language and Christian sentiment and public opinion. Not long all that pertains exclusively to work in French among since I had occasion to notice this deficiency in Roman Catholics, leaving the rest to the instruction Baptist religious training in France. One who had given in the regular course in theology of the seminary. labored as a Baptist missionary, a man of undoubted In the case of students who might enter without suffipiety, of remarkable religious experience, converted | cient knowledge of the English language to follow in connection with the work of a Baptist church in the English course, it would be practicable and inexFrance, was no further along in temperance principles | pensive to have primary instruction given to such by than to feel perfectly free to enter a saloon and take a a tutor, which could easily be provided for from stuglass of liquor. Visiting along with him a fellow-dents in the seminary, perhaps in return for French countryman of his, we were invited to drink, our lessons or for remuneration otherwise. host remarking that he had an excellent brand of cognac or brandy. I treated the kind offer of our host, as usual, by a decided refusal and remark that I never took anything of the kind. But my French friend, following the almost universal custom of his own country, from which he had so recently come, accepted the offer and seemed to see nothing at all out of the way to warm himself up with a glass of strong drink. I argued the question with him at the first opportunity. I found him ready to claim his right to use liquors in moderation. He said that he thought that here in America Christians were fanatical on the subject of temperance. Not many days after, however, I received a letter from him, stating that he had thought the matter over since our talk on that subject, and saw it in a new light, and had concluded that the total abstinence method was, after all, the only safe and Christian one, both in reference to example and the avoiding of temptation.

For such reasons and many others, I think that no plan would conduce so effectively to the right and successful prosecution of our Baptist mission work in France as to have our laborers there prepared in our seminaries, and enabled by a sojourn in our midst to catch the inspiration of Baptist sentiment in America.

Indeed, I think that we shall never have marked success as a denomination until we have in that most important field men trained for their work away from the religious atmosphere of France and away from the influences and customs which prevail there.

There is considerable Baptist sentiment among Protestants in France. It has formed what has rightly been called "dry Baptists." They accept the theory but keep aloof from the practice of Baptist principles. I think that the large number of such indicates that there is an impression, widespread, that our belief and practice are in accordance with Scripture-correct, but impracticable. The practicability and adaptation are what will be learned and grounded in the conviction of workers by their sojourning here and being brought into contact with us as a denomination.

A PROPOSED PLAN.

My plan would be substantially this: To endow or sustain a French professorship in connection with one of our theological institutions that

One of the benefits of such a department would be to enable our American theological students to perfect themselves in the knowledge and pronunciation of the French language simply by occasional attendance upon the lectures, etc., in the French department. This would be no small advantage, especially to pastors settling in New England, where frequently they are surrounded by a large French Canadian population.

The ability to speak the language of these foreigners would be of great value, as many of our New England pastors are free to acknowledge, were it no more than the ability to use the French formula in baptizing converts from that nationality, or to say a few words in giving the hand of fellowship to French converts who unite with our American churches. In New England this nationality is now, and is becoming more and more, a great field into which pastors who should have some knowledge of French could and would enter and gather sheaves. With a French department in close connection with one of our theological seminaries, nothing would be easier than for our American theological students to perfect them. selves in the use and pronunciation of the French. A little study of the language, and attendance upon some of the French exercises, would secure such a result in a good degree. I wish that France-French students could be offered the advantages of this French Department for another and very important reason. Not only would our theological and denominational training be of great advantage to them, but their French would be of immense advantage to FrenchCanadian students with whom they would be associated in study and converse.

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