STUDENTS LECTUftES ON MISSIONS . PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY MDCCCXCIIl FOREIGN MISSIONS AFTER A CENTURY BY REV. JAMES S. DENNIS, D. D. OF THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION BEIRUT, SYRIA 11 Out of tkt ikadaats a i it The wrld rtlk into light It is daybreak everywAere. n NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO Fleming H. Revell Company COPYRIGHT, 1893, FmiING H. RSVHLL COHPANT. TO THE MEMOKY OF ARTHUR MITCHELL, WHO LOVED THE CAUSE OF WORLD-WIDE MISSIONS tflTH A PASSION - VVinClI IIP CAUGHT FROM HIS MASTER THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED. PREFACE. THESE lectures were delivered in the spring of 1893, before the faculty and students of Prince ton Theological Seminary, on the basis of the newly established Students Lectureship on Mis sions, being the first course delivered on that foundation. The second lecture has been ex tended to double its original length, it order to give a fuller survey of the worlds Macedonian appeal than was possible within the usual limits of a single lecture. Otherwise the course is printed substantially as prepared for delivery, except that some passages here and there which were omitted for the sake of brevity have been retained, and some later facts of interest have been inserted, The establishment of lectureships on missions in our prominent theological seminaries is timely and in touch with the leadings of the Spirit of 3 4 PREFACE. God in our day. They serve a useful purpose in imparting fresh information and quickening an intelligent interest in a subject which stands easily at the present hour in the front rank of hopeful Christian effort. No student of the kingdom, no servant of Christ and His Church should fail to give serious and sympathetic attention to the marvelousdevelopment of missions as manifestly one of the foremost movements of Providence in the religious history of our century. J. S, D. NORFOLK, CONN., August, 1893. TABLE OF CONTENTS. LECTURE I. PAGE THE PRESENT-DAY MESSAGE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS TO THE CHURCH 9 Introductory survey of the general theme of the course The inductive method applied to Foreign Missions The range and limits of discussion indicated Foreign Missions personified and their message voiced Some reasons why this message should be received with special honor- i It speaks to us of world-wide reformation 2 It voices to us a thought of God 3 It teaches anew the great lesson of the universal meaning of re demption 4 It announces Gods purpose to train His Church for wider service and larger usefulness in the world The message of Foreign Missions a clear and direct call of Providence to the Church The message analyzed i It summons the Church to contend for the spiritual dominion of the world 2 It brings us tidings of abounding opportunity 3 It is a personal, confidential revelation of special privilege 4 It presses upon us the claims of duty g It sounds a ringing note of encouragement Foreign Missions vindicated by his tory, supported by a divine purpose, and indorsed by a divine blessing. LECTURE II. THE PRESENT-DAY MEANING OF THE MACEDONIAN VISION 53 The Macedonian Vision a typical incident It has its present-day counterpart in the claims of Foreign Missions 5 5 TABLE OP CONTENTS. j The Macedonian Vision of to-day a vivid and pictui esque reality The veiisimilitude of some of the Mace donian calls of the hour-A Macedonian Telegram from Japan A Winged Message from Korea A Weighty Call from China An Appeal from the Waiting IslesOthei messages fiom Siain, Burma, India, Africa, the Tmkish Empire, Persia, South America, Central America, and Mexico Phe Macedonian Vision expanded and gloiified Its sptcial urgency at the pieseut time-The piesent condition of the heathen world would call for the sacrifice of Christ had it never been made The Church has the privilege of cooperating with God in a service which ib worth the sacrifice of the Son of God. LECTURE III...