212 CHURCH UNITY 



proportion to the number of missionaries; 

 and there is poor economy in the use of 

 both men and means. Only to intrepid 

 faith is there hope that those millions will 

 ever be greatly affected by the gospel. It 

 is opposed not only by natural wickedness, 

 but by the organized aggressiveness of 

 older faiths, which cannot be displaced with- 

 out a determined struggle. Workers in 

 foreign fields are opposed by corrupt con- 

 ditions which have behind them the sanc- 

 tion of centuries; philosophical theories 

 which regard the faith of Christians as 

 absurd ; governments which look with sus- 

 picion upon everything which teaches men 

 to think. The contest — except for those 

 who have faith in God — is unequal and 

 hopeless. Yet, in spite of obstacles, young 

 men and maidens, with courage and en- 

 thusiasm, are volunteering for forlorn hopes 

 in numbers greater than ever. They are 

 taking up their work, and dying in the 

 service as if victory were at hand. In view 

 of these facts, is it not time for the ranks to 

 be closed, and for everything which prevents 

 co-operation to be swept from the Church, 

 no matter who suffers ? 



2. When we turn from the foreign to 



