The poetic land of missions is reached by great steamers dipping deep in Oriental waters where "Afric's sunny fountain rolls down their golden sand." The prose land of missions is just over the hill where plain people are scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Distance lends enchantment. The story of the Chinaman without God in the world melts the heart to pity as long as he lives in the Celestial Umpire, but when he opens up a wash-house down the street we can easily pass by on the other side.

      "The field is the world." Home and every land must hear the King's command; Samaria and the uttermost parts with an interest strengthened by statute miles and Judea though nearer must be none the less dearer. The State missionary societies have devoted themselves patiently, persistently, and continuously to the work near at hand. Without the aid of the enchantment of distances, the romance of remoteness, they have performed a service second to none in real value. Their missionaries are ordinary ministers of the gospel; no advertised heroes among them; no stories related by them that thrill and throb like those wafted in on ocean waves, yet they labored in fields abounding in discouragements, perplexities and hardships.

      Theirs was a contribution supreme in its simplicity, unexcelled in its devotion and unsurpassed in its accomplishments. It was the Judean ministry in its spirit and power. It labored among those of common language and custom, and like the Saviour of the world, who dreamed of universal empire while saving his own people.

      One of our State missionary societies has made a sufficient contribution to our progress to justify the money expenditure of all the States, and yet it is the flowing together of a half-hundred streams of devotion that make up the Mississippi of influence, imparting its freshness and energy to the sluggish waters of every sea. We must judge of a service by its far-reaching influence, by the good transmitted, by the kindness passed along, by the converted man converting others. No one can estimate what State Missions has contributed in its remote influence, and investigation reveals that no one can tell what they have done by direct endeavor. Ten of

GEORGE E. LYON.

our leading State societies have organized over 2,700 churches and 3,200 Bible schools. They have added to the church over a half-million people and have expended over four million dollars in missionary work in these ten States. This is a statement made after receiving reports from these States in which figures, largely accurate, partly estimated, were given.

      The State missionary societies have rendered a varied service. The forming of organizations and lengthening of church rolls has only been a part of the work they have had in hand. Our Centennial Secretary says: "State Missions is the fundamental circulation among the free churches of Christ." It is the maintaining of clearing-houses, through which the people, extreme in their congregationalism, may come in touch with each other. They gather information and give it out according as the ministers and congregations have need. They have sought to give permanency [187] and character and unity and directness our forces. The State secretaries have been foremost in protecting the flocks from wolves, the bad preacher has been exposed and the worthy one has been aided in finding a worthy congregation.

      The State societies have imparted a sense of unity. They have used all means to get the disciples to feel that they are a part of a world movement. To accomplish this they have made individual and public appeal in homes and congregations, and men have been made to understand through this endeavor that "the church is essentially a missionary society." The State societies have maintained the State conventions and made them schools of methods. They have been educational, inspirational and spiritualizing in their character. They have brought the people together and made them one people in their sympathies, and sent them home with better plans and new energies. In addition to the State convention, district conventions are directed, and the people who would never be reached by a convention at all have received new vigor.

      The State societies are auxiliary to the American Christian Missionary Society, and have seconded and sustained their efforts and have received liberal appropriations from them to be used for work within the State. This has probably been a wise disposition of a part of their funds. One of the secretaries of the American Christian Missionary Society said, "The State secretaries know the field better than any one else can know it." They are as familiar with the States over which the conventions have made them overseers as the Scottish chiefs were with their native hills. The information possessed by the State Boards is the resource of all our missionary forces. They have aided in keeping them supplied with corrected lists of churches and ministers. They have furnished the base of supply for men and money for the great world campaign. We save the State for the State's sake as well as America's sake. We save America for America's sake as well as the world's sake.

      To save a church is the greatest work. It means the salvation of many individuals; it means throwing off a dark shroud and the removing of a disgrace from God's people. This is the contribution of the State societies. To save the churches that have already been organized is a sufficient task to employ all their time. The twenty-four thousand people added by State endeavor last year, because they were added to weak congregations rather than strong ones, count for much. A little added strength oftentimes means the growth into larger service and the bringing of the congregation to a place of safety. Our work in general has been blessed of Jehovah and we face the future with bounding hopes. The accomplishments of the new century, if we can enter into our labors with the right spirit, will make the results of the last century look small. Much has been given to us and from us much will be required.

[CCR 187-188]