Dawn in the Dark Continent, Or, Africa and Its Missions (Volume 57; V. 276); The Duff Missionary Lectures for 1902 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... WHAT THE CHURCH EXISTS FOR THIS chapter contains no argument, appeal, or peroration on the benefits of missions, such as is frequently used at the close of a missionary address. It contains only the simple statement of the question--What does the Church exist for? Its own conservation, or a self-regarding religious culture, can hardly be the complete answer, or the chief object of its existence. Jesus Christ, the Founder of Christianity and of the Church, when He was on earth, said little about such conservation. Yet His public life was hardly begun when He sent out twelve men, and later on seventy, with a certain message; and His last act consisted of directions to His Church to carry that message all over the world, and 'make Christians of all nations.' Twenty centuries have passed away, and the work is still undone--in reality is now being begun. This question is not in the first instance for Church courts or missionary boards. It can only be fully and rightly answered by each individual Christian and each body of Christians formed into a church or congregation--the minister being the leader in the inquiry. When that is done, and the answer is rightly given, there will be an expansion of missionary effort, unknown before, in influence, extent, and power. APPENDIX STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF PROTESTANT MISSIONS IN AFRICA The following summary gives in a condensed or tabular form the names of nearly all the different missionary societies at work now in the African continent. The number of the force employed, of membership, schools, and hospitals, and other details are also given. The information is from two recently published and exceedingly valuable works, The Geography and Atlas of Protestant Missions, by the Rev. Harlan P. Beach, and Dr. Dennis' Centennial Survey...