THE r.ELATION OF SCIENCE TO CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. 103 



It must, however, be acknowledged that there is something of 

 another side to all this influence of Applied Science. There 

 are manifestly evil uses to be made of some of our inventions, 

 and Anti-Christian propaganda as well as Christian, can use 

 the prestige of the West. There is little need, however, to 

 dwell upon this, if it be always recognised that the Missions 

 are likely to be the hottest field of battle, between the forces for 

 and against the religion of Jesus Christ. We are safe, too, in 

 the convi(;tion that the balance lies overwhelmingly with that 

 which tells in favour of Christian Missions. 



(c) In one direction, however, there is a serious menace for 

 missions in the march of Science. It lies in the fact that the 

 day of opportunity is made so short. That missions are at the 

 decisive hour " is because, for a little time, the nations are 

 plastic, receptive, dependent. It is but for an hour. For 

 Science, like Christianity, when once revealed is the heritage of 

 the whole human race. It has a greater army of apostles, a 

 more unfailing support of energy and means behind it, and 

 seems to tind in its agents motives almost equally compelling 

 with those which make the missionary. Who that believes God 

 to be the " God of Knowledge " can for a moment regret this 

 enthusiasm and progressive force ? Yet it would be intensely 

 grievous to see the fertilising tide of material knowledge sweep 

 over the great Eastern world, to see it spend its force, and leave 

 stranded far behind the sister blessings of the Christian faith, 

 which then might have a far less hopeful opportunity. 



Kot many years ago it seemed entirely in accordance with 

 the facts for Archbishop Temple to speak of three marked 

 stages in the history of Christian Missions. First, the age of 

 the Early Church, when the Church with all the power and 

 all the knowledge of the world ranged against it, in the Eoman 

 Empire, none the less won the day. Second, the later age when 

 the Church with all the true enlightenment on its side, but with 

 all the power of the world against it, in the Western Barbarian 

 nations, again won the day. Third, the present era, when the 

 Church with all the wisdom and all the power on its side, has 

 the task of winning the other two-thirds of the human race, 

 the great non- Christian peoples of Africa and the East. The 

 Church with all the wisdom and all the power on its side ! 

 Is that true even now ? Will it not become less and less true 

 every year, one ought perhaps to say every month because the 

 change is so rapid ? The march of science tends to cut the day 

 of opportunity, in this respect, very short. 



It might be out of place to make on these groimds, and in 



H 



