remove this

great obstacle that the cause of righteousness and peace may extend over the world.

What has been gained by the missionary enterprises in comparison to what might have been gained if all had been united in heart and hand, in faith and hope and love? In regard to missionary work in heathen lands in the last one hundred years, one author gives as the result of his investigation 1,100,000a communicants. Another author gives the number of communicants at 1,300,000b, and over four million adherents. Of the 76,000,000 population in the United States the statistics show 28,000,000 Christians and that 48,000,000 people are not connected with any church. There are 9,000,000 Catholics. This leaves only 19,000,000 Protestant Christians. Can the millions not Christian be converted by a divided church? In A.D. 1792, William Carey, the apostle of modern missions, gave the total population of the globe as 731,000,000, and the number of Protestant Christians 44,000,000, Roman Catholics as 100,000,000. In 1890, from the proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, the total of the world's inhabitants is given as 1,487,000,000. In 1892, the Quarterly of the American Statistical Association for March gave the number of Protestants in the world as 143,000,000; Roman Catholics as 230,000,000. It will be seen that Protestants

a A Hundred Years of Missions, by Leonard.

b Ecumenical Missionary Conference, New York, 1900. Vol i., page 79.

By Dr. H. K. Carroll in Christian Advocate, 1902.

are increasing at a greater ratio than Roman Catholics. But these figures, however, show that a divided church is facing a most serious proposition which can only be solved by Christian union. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to restore the New-Testament church in order to convert the world. Not only so, but if the heathen are converted by a divided church, the same fierce, sectarian battles will be fought in those lands that have been fought in nominal Christian lands, since creed and sect and party strife began. The same indifference to church, the same infidelity will hinder the cause of Christ which has retarded its progress, weakened its influence, and prevented its triumph in Christian lands. While the work of conversion has been going on in pagan lands for one hundred years who can tell how many millions, on account of the unhallowed divisions and party strife, have gone over to infidelity or become indifferent to the church?

How then is infidelity to be silenced and the world converted? How is Christianity to be spread from sea to sea, from the rivers to the end of the earth? It can be accomplished in only one way, in the way for which the Savior prayed. All must be united on the word of the apostles and the world will believe. A united church would have the means, the men, the ships, the Bibles sufficient to convert the whole world in less than a half century-yes, in less than a single generation. The human family might be made one in faith and to rejoice in hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. The one great need is union. Before

this is accomplished all must be united upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone.

We have thus endeavored to present a divine plan of union-the principles of church fellowship, order and discipline taught in the gospel and the scriptural basis for the union of the saints. If these principles be adopted and acted upon by believers, sectarian strife, party animosity, denominational conflict and divisions would cease and a church of perfect symmetry, harmony, and beauty would arise to make glad the city of our God and bless the world. The union of all believers on the Christian basis would be both pleasing to God and honorable to His people. Such a union would bring the world to the Lord Jesus as the only Savior. Such a union God would smile upon, while the nations made glad by the sacred jubilee would sing in sweeter and louder strains than angels sang at the birth of Christ, "Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace and good-will to men,' and exultingly would shout "Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

CHAPTER XL

THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS

Christianity's Great Author Contrasted with Other Religious Teachers.

We began this volume by calling attention to the originality and superiority of the Christian religion over other religions, we close it by reference to its Great Author in contrast with other religious teachers.

Man is a religious being. Adoration of the supernatural is coextensive with the race. All peoples have anticipated some kind of existence after death. In view of this longing of the soul after immortality we may well inquire, "Is there a bright home skyward, where naught that blooms shall die?" If so, has God revealed it, and by whom? By the magicians of Egypt, the Magi of Persia, Buddha of India, Confucius of China, Socrates of Greece, Mohammed of Arabia, or Jesus of Palestine ?

However old the world may be, its recorded religions are before us and have been telling upon its destiny for thousands of years. Is there one God and one religion, or one God and many religions?

Look over the history of Egypt, of the Hindoos, the Chinese, of Persia, Greece, Rome, and Arabia. What are the fruits of their religions? Is there any religion to-day lifting up the race and giving hope of

future life, if so, who is its author? The answer must come back from every informed and candid man—it is Jesus. He is Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace and Priest of the Most High God. There is stronger proof of His life, labors, death, and resurrection than there is of the life and conquests of Alexander, Cæsar, or Hannibal. His twelve apostles gave their lives proclaiming these facts and died in attesting their truth. The fact is more fully demonstrated that Jesus was crucified under Pilate than that Cæsar was assassinated by Brutus.

His life and teachings are wonderful. He spake "as never man spake." He was the first on earth who taught humility as the road to greatness. No one gave it such importance before. He first, and alone, taught mercy to the world. The Jews, Grecians, Romans, and others had ideas of justice, but mercy was untaught, as a principle, before Him. He said, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. He first taught men to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven," and His followers are called "sons and daughters" of the Lord Almighty. He taught love to our enemies and gave the golden rule to the world. Who in this advanced age is accomplishing what Jesus did? Who has a voice like Him, heard all over the world and in the silence of the tomb?

Nineteen hundred years after His death there is, perhaps, not an institution on all the face of the world of love or mercy which He cannot claim. Before Christ and beyond Christianity where are the institu