MISSIONS AND THEIR RESULTS
The question whether lasting good is accomplished by missions or similar spasmodic efforts to awaken religious life is a point frequently debated by the Christian Church, and probably there will always be a difference of opinion on the subject. No doubt beneficial results frequently immediately follow such efforts, but too often they are not of such a character as to justify the claims put forth in support of the special appeals. An interesting inquiry into the results of the Torry-Alexander mission, which visited New Zealand a year or two ago, was conducted recently by the British Weekly. The paper invited the opinions of a number of members of Bradford and Liverpool on the results of the visit of the Mission to those towns and over twenty replies were received. None of the opinions given were actually hostile to the Mission, but the impression received from reading over the replies is that the effects of the Mission were somewhat disappointing. In most cases praise was given to Dr. Torrey and Mr Alexander for the aim and earnestness of their work, and in some cases the praise rose to the level of eulogy. One clergyman reported that the Mission “has helped to break up the deadly indifference to religion which has been so painfully manifest in this city,” and that the results had stood the test of time. “The results in individual cases and in the bulk were simply wonderful,” wrote another minister, while a third reported that throe thousand five hundred persons above the age of eighteen, and fifteen hundred under that age had professed to have been “awakened” during the Mission, and that there was “abundant reason for believing that the great majority of these were genuine ‘inquirers.’ ” Most of the ministers, however, confessed that the results were somewhat disappointing. The Mission attracted large congregations and resulted in a considerable number of “conversions,” but when ministers came to inquire into these cases with a view to attaching the converts to their churches, they found that only a few of them stood the test of time, most of them relapsing into indifference. “I must frankly confess,” said one correspondent, “that the results have been somewhat disappointing. As far as my own church is concerned, they are simply nil.” Another, after testifying that “many Christian men and women were greatly quickened in the Divine Life” by the Mission, was compelled to confess himself really disappointed when he considered definite results. “More than two thousand names of those professing conversion were taken; it is doubtful if but a small proportion of these are now to be found in active membership with the different churches.” Out of thirty-six names allotted to his church, only six were found to lie suitable for church membership. Another minister recorded cases of “glorious conversion,” but was bound to add that “in no real sense was the city moved,” and he did not think that the churches were “appreciably quickened or reinforced.” He was greatly disappointed in following up the “converts” whose names had been sent to him, and not a single addition was made to 'he roll of either of his three churches. “I have yet to meet with the well-educated man whom the Mission of Dr. Torrey nas reached,” said one correspondent, “there may be such, but I have not met him.” Dr. Torrey’s beliefs, such as on the question of the infallibility of the Bible, and the language in which he expressed them gave rise to a great deal of discussion, and on® minister remarked that he could well understand how certain persons said, "If that is the will of God, then I can’t do it.” It would be very interesting to know what the experience of the churches in New Zealand was with regard to the results achieved by the Mission in this colony.
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Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 11, 28 January 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)
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643MISSIONS AND THEIR RESULTS Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 11, 28 January 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)
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