THE KING’S BUSINESS
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merchants in Newfoundland had only just begun; there were no sympathetic fellow- workers in whom he could confide; the Christians in Labrador were few and far between, and those in England and the States seemed to have forgotten the mis sionary’s -existence. Efforts were being made by evil-doers to drive him out of the country. Was it any wonder that the thought came: “After all, is it worth while ?: Why not leave these people to themselves, and go home to England, where friends and comforts are waiting? What is this sick boy to me—one whom I never saw till yesterday? Is it worth while fight ing out the battle in this great lone land of ice' and snow?” Just then there was a stir in the cot, a little cough, and the sick boy’s large eyes turned toward the Doctor and a smile lighted up the pale face. A still small voice seemed to say: “It is worth while. ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these least, my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.’ ” J apan in the early years of western contact forbade aliens from living outside treaty cities. That and other causes have congested the cities with missionary in fluences. Tokyo probably has more resident missionaries today than any other city— over 300 all told. Now that missionaries may reside anywhere in the empire, a study is being made of the distribution of Chris tian forces in order to produce the greatest efficiency. It was ascertained that there are twenty prefectures in which each evangelis tic missionary had from 200,000 to 911,000 in his parish, so to speak; also that in twenty-two prefectures each Japanese evan gelistic worker had a constituency of from 51,000 to 142,000. This means, the Con tinuation Committee Conference of last April states, that the present Japanese force of 1366 evangelistic workers should be in creased foul-fold in order that there may be one to every 10,000 people. The foreign evangelistic, force -should be increased by
about 474, that there may be one foreign worker in this department to every 60,000, of the population. With these recruit? properly stationed in the smaller towns and cities, much may be expected. The fig ures for the whole country, as given by: Mr. G W. Fulton, are: one evangelistic missionary' to 126,323 people; one Japan ese preacher to 50,780 people; one Japan ese evangelist to _ 37,542; one Japanese Christian to 968 people; .and one meeting place to every 25,437 of the population. 1. O rganized missionary activity in the Sunday school is about the most interesting line of work that any school can undertake today. A live missionary superintendent and committee will do a marvelous work in any school in arranging a few “mission ary minutes” at least once a month, to be taken in the opening exercises of the school. 2. I n getting up the missionary program do not try to fit the program of another; school to yours. Note the “essentials” as here set forth, and then gather all the pro grams you can find and out of all this build one just suited to your local needs. 3. A roused activity was secured when some one was made responsible for the planning of these missionary days. Too’ much, organization is not good, but it is equally true that “what is everybody’s bus- iness;is nobody’s concern.” 4. N ote that missions at home as well as abroad were presented. The greatest “foreign” field is sometimes nearest home. 5. N ote also that there is nothing spas modic in these programs. In fact, these special days are only part of a great, per manent, continuous program. 6. I f our schools could only realize their opportunity, five minutes each Sunday would not be begrudged, and the result would be many more boys and girls offering themselves for Christian work as a life oc cupation. The stories of the lives of many of the great missionaries reveal the fact that their inspiration to such service came from such early instruction.— C. G. Trum bull.
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