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Show , PRESIDENT M'KINLEY ON FOR-I EIGN MISSIONS. i Last Saturday evening the president J of the United States addressed the ecumenical ecu-menical conference on foreign missions j in session in New York, and it is safe to say that his address was something of a disappointment to his audience, who had looked forward to the occasion occa-sion as a fitting one for the president to declare a Protestant policy for the Philippines. Instead, all he said was perhaps more applicable to the work of Catholic missionaries than it was to the work of those whom he addressed. In part the president said: "I am glad of the opportunity to offer without stint my tribute of respect to the missionary effort which has wrought such wonderful triumphs for civilization. "The story of the Christian missions is one of thrilling interest and marvelous marvel-ous results. The sacrifices of the missionaries mis-sionaries for their fellow men constitute consti-tute one of the most glorious pages of the world's history. The missionary, of Whatever church or ecclesiastical body, who devotes his life to the service ser-vice of the Master and of man, carrying carry-ing the torch of truth ami en'igbten-ment, en'igbten-ment, deserves the gratitude and homage hom-age of mankind. The noble, self-effacing, willing ministers of peace and good will should be classed with the world's heroes. "Wielding the sword of the SDirit. they have conquered ignorance and prejudice. They have been the pioneers pio-neers of civilization. They have illumined il-lumined the darkness of idolatry and superstition with the light of intelligence intelli-gence and truth. "They have been messengers of righteousness and love. They have braved disease and hunger and death, and in their exile have suffered unspeakable un-speakable hardships, but their noble spirits have never wavered. They count J their labor no sacrifice. j " 'Away with the word in such a view ana with such a tnought, say's David Livingston; 'it is emphatically no sacrifice; sac-rifice; say rather it is a privilege.' They furnish us examples of forbearance forbear-ance and fortitude, of patience and unyielding un-yielding purpose, and of a spirit which triumphs, not by the force of might, but by the majesty of right. They are placing in the hands of their brothers, less fortunate than themselves, the keys which unlock the treasures of knowledge knowl-edge and open the mind to noble aspirations as-pirations for better conditions. "Education is one of the indispensable indispensa-ble stens of mission enterprise, and In some form must precede all successful work. "The labors of missionaries, a'-wars difficult and trying, are no longer so perilous as in former times. In some quarters indifference and opposition have given place to aid and co-operation. A hundred years ago many of the fields were closed to missionary effort. ef-fort. Now almost everywhere is the open door, and only the man of the world now marks the extent of their thought and action. "Who can estimate their value to the progress of the nations? Their contribution contri-bution to the onward and upward march of humanity is beyond all cal culation. They have inculcated industry indus-try and taught the various trades. They have promoted concord and amity and brought nations closer together. They have made men better. They have increased in-creased the regard for home, have f ttengthened the sacred ties of family have made the community well ordered, and their work has been a potent influence influ-ence in the development of law and the establishment of government." I |