World Missionary Conference, 1910. <To consider missionary problems in relation to the non-christian world.> [Vol. 1]

THE CHURCH IN THE MISSION FIELD 341
foreign workers and delay in securing the results. A
corresponding view is expressed by some with regard
to the present situation. The policy suggested may
involve self-denial on the part of the foreign force in
refusing to take immediate advantage of tempting
openings for work; it may involve the hardship of seeing
opportunities pass and hindrances strengthening themselves; it may seem to involve the steeling of the heart
against the appeal of obvious needs; but in order that
the truer method may be followed, and the remoter
harvest be larger and of surer quality, they would limit
the foreign force by regard to what is needed for the
development of the native Church, rather than extend
it by a regard to what is required for the immediate and
effective evangelisation of the non-Christian people.
But the latter consideration is that which dominates
the expression of opinion from the foreign field. For
one thing, on all the more prominent fields where the
native Church is at work, the task of evangelisation is
far larger than should be left to the native Church to
attempt unaided. The unevangelised areas are still
immense, and the duty of carrying the Gospel to the
masses in these areas pertains to the Church of Christ
as a whole. Christians of the West dare not disown
responsibility for carrying it to those of an Eastern or
African nation, to whom the Christians in that nation
cannot possibly carry it within a reasonable time, while
the Christians of the West can. The cry of the unevangelised in those areas is a call for foreign reinforcements, as well as for more earnest advance on the part of
the native Church. Further, in many mission fields
the situation is critical. There are at present great
opportunities which may soon pass away; there are
forces in movement which may soon render the situation
much more difficult; there are positions to be seized
which may immensely influence the outcome of the future
campaign. In some cases the strengthening and expansion
of the foreign force is absolutely necessary in order to
secure the position of the native Church, and allow of