DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.611#0163
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. 117
there are men and women among the Indian Christian
community of whom any church in England or else-
where might well be proud."
To attempt to gauge the value of Mission work by
statistics is a very superficial business. The influence
of Christianity is simply incalculable. We do well to be
eager for results, visible and tangible results, but it is
well also to be patient and hopeful. It is impossible
to estimate the effect of Christian educational work
among the boys and young men, among the girls and
women. The constant preaching to willing listeners,
the social intercourse with non-Christians are by no
means fruitless, though figures cannot be given. The
actual Mission statistics represent but a fraction of the
achievements of Christian Missions. The numerous
movements among the people themselves in matters of
social and religious reform, are not these to a very large
extent the outcome of Christian work in this country?
The strength of a current cannot be gauged by the ripples
on the surface of the water, neither can the results of
Christianity be estimated by the number of baptisms.
The affirmation may be ventured that Christ is working
more effectively in the heart and life of many an unbap-
tised Hindu or Mahommedan, than in some of those
whose names are enrolled in Church Registers, both in
England and India.
Christian Missions may seem comparative failures
to those who have never made the conversion of the na-
tions to Jesus Christ a matter of prayerful concern, but to
those who have, while the visible results may bring great
disappointment and humiliation, there cannot be a sense
of failure. We are neither defeated nor dismayed, or if
we are, Jesus Christ is not. The kingdom cometh not
with observation, but it surely cometh.
there are men and women among the Indian Christian
community of whom any church in England or else-
where might well be proud."
To attempt to gauge the value of Mission work by
statistics is a very superficial business. The influence
of Christianity is simply incalculable. We do well to be
eager for results, visible and tangible results, but it is
well also to be patient and hopeful. It is impossible
to estimate the effect of Christian educational work
among the boys and young men, among the girls and
women. The constant preaching to willing listeners,
the social intercourse with non-Christians are by no
means fruitless, though figures cannot be given. The
actual Mission statistics represent but a fraction of the
achievements of Christian Missions. The numerous
movements among the people themselves in matters of
social and religious reform, are not these to a very large
extent the outcome of Christian work in this country?
The strength of a current cannot be gauged by the ripples
on the surface of the water, neither can the results of
Christianity be estimated by the number of baptisms.
The affirmation may be ventured that Christ is working
more effectively in the heart and life of many an unbap-
tised Hindu or Mahommedan, than in some of those
whose names are enrolled in Church Registers, both in
England and India.
Christian Missions may seem comparative failures
to those who have never made the conversion of the na-
tions to Jesus Christ a matter of prayerful concern, but to
those who have, while the visible results may bring great
disappointment and humiliation, there cannot be a sense
of failure. We are neither defeated nor dismayed, or if
we are, Jesus Christ is not. The kingdom cometh not
with observation, but it surely cometh.