A GROWING FAITH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 846, 18 June 1910, Page 5

A GROWING FAITH.

SPREAD OF MOHAMMEDANISM. MISSIONARY ACTIVITY URGED. IS7 Tclecrapli—Press Association—CoDyricht London, Juno 16. One of tho most striking subjects discussed at tho. World Missionary Conferonco related to the spread of Mohammedanism in Africa, Southern Asia, and Oceania. A commission that bad been, set up to report urged the conference to strenuous activity in-these- directions. TRAINING OF MISSIONARIES. (Rec. June 17, 11.30 p.m.) London, June 17. The Missionary Conference has discussed tho organisation of native

churches, and tho training of missionaries. ■ The second Commission's report suggested that missionaries should encourage the growing spirit especially evident in India and China of closer union within larger denominational lines. . l In regard to polygamy, the Commission decided that a- woman, not being her own mistress, should be allowed to bo baptised, while remaining in tho harem, ,' . TWO POINTS OF VIEW. Tlio conversion of Mohammedans is one of the most difficult tasks that tho Christian missionary lias to face. Bishop Montgomery etates that almost all who htivo had to deal practically with this faith have found it to bo one 'of the greatest hindrances to the victory of Christianity, and have been keenly conscious of its terrible defects. On tho other hand, people whose knowledge is mainly gained from books, and those who have, only a, popular idea of this religion, tako a much higher view of it, even to the extent of almost asserting that it is a preparation for the Christina faith, and that a MoJianimedan nation may deliberately, he left to the last to be evangelised. Such grave difference of opinion seems to arise from the fact that there is a very, lofty, as well ae a very low, 6ide to this faith. A leading authority on mission work in West Africa states that Mohammedanism has been making rapid strides in thai part of tlio world, "and is threatening more and more to carry all beioio it and become mistress of the situation; and that there is no manner of doubt that the method we have adopted in dealing with polygamy has contributed very considerably towards this, and this, too. even in the Yoruba country, that had long, generally speaking, conceived a great aversion toward Mohammedanism, and where, till this day, no one installed as a king is permitted to embrace the Mohannmedan faith, and in ono of whose provinces, as recently as about two years ago,-king and chiefs of their own accord took vigorous measures •to prevent tho spread of Mohammedanism in their province and to expel it from 'it."

BAPTISM OF POLYGAMISTS. The attitude of Christian missions towards polygamy is an exceedingly difficult one, and there has been much difference of opinion as to whether polygamists should be admitted to baptism. Tho general feeling seems ,to have been unfavourable to this course, hut men of such high authority .as Archbishop Whately ind Bishops Bickorsteth, Colenso, and Jlilman have been in. favour of their admission. Iu one of the PanAnglican papers, Bishop James Johnson, of Southern Nigeria, writes:— "Might not tho Christian missionary, whilst he lifts up higher and higher tlje flag of Monogamy as the ideal form of social life for the Christian, deal with a more liberal mind and liberal hand With the very difficult question of polygamy, "patiently looking forward to the leavening process of Christianity? Tho consideration of this question calls for a large cserciso of Christian charity and of patienco and mutual forbearance among brethren who, whilst they unitedly desiro. a supreme sway for Monogamy through Christianity, which tho Church is charged to _ preach and teach, yet differ in their opinion as to the way Polygamy, which has so largely taken its place, should bo dealt with, and no brother, nativo or foreign, should suffer in tho estimation either of his Bishop or of the Missionary Committee with which his Church is connected for expressing an opinion different from their own as has unfortunately been tho case sometimes in the African mission field. A practical dealing with the subject of tho relation of mission work to national customs is one that calls for much earnest prayer,, much sympathy, much judiciousness, so that-that relation may; in a great measure, be utilised through tho aid of the Divine Spirit towards promoting the spread of Christianity and its nationalisation everywhere in the world, and especially in Africa."