The New York 1900 Ecumenical Missionary Conference: A Centennial Reflection Thomas A. Askew

'J'en years ago, New York's Carnegie Hall celebrated its senseNewYork 1900mustbe viewed as a public media event, ..l. grand opening, which took place a century earlier, in one of the most extensive attempted in American religious 1890. The 1990 centenary program highlighted memorable past history. events in that famous venue: concerts, recitals, premieres, hon­ 2. To provide an international forum for missionaries and mis­ oredgatherings-everytype of distinguished achievement. Glar­ sion executives to assess experiences, strategies, and issues. In ingly omitted from the list, however, was one of the most this regard the conference sought to foster professional con­ ambitious, well-attended, and internationally significant con­ sultation within a broader popular program. Yet it must be claves in the auditorium's history: the New York Ecumenical remembered thatNew York 1900,like previoustrans-Atlantic Missionary Conference, held from to May 1, 1900. gatherings, was not a church council. Bearing no official Carnegie Hall served as the conference headquarters and authority, representatives spoke only for themselves. Proce­ locationof plenaryaddressesfor the morethansixtysessions that dural principles prohibited formal resolutions. Nevertheless, also filled nearby churches and meeting places. Estimates placed exchanges did take place on questions of vital concern, issues attendance numbers at 160,000to 200,000for the ten-day gather­ that would be more systematically unpacked at the World ing. Simply stated, it was the largest sustained formal religious Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1910. event in the history of the Republic to that date and the best­ 3. To demonstrate a unified church and manifest the oneness in attended international missionary conference ever. Participants mission of Protestant Christianity, resulting in greater comity included former president Benjamin Harrison, sitting president between the denominations in reaching the world for Christ. William McKinley, New York governor Theodore Roosevelt, as In short, to aid a fragmented Christianity in finding ways to well as globally distinguished clergy and mission leaders. Offi­ collaborate on foreign fields. This quest for cooperation, ex­ cial delegates numbered 2,500, with 162 mission boards repre­ emplified by the annual consultations of mission leaders at sented. The term "ecumenical" was introduced in the title, not various field conferences overseas, was an aspiration carried implying that every branch of the Christian church was cooper­ over from the 1888 Centenary Conference on the ating, but "because the plan of campaign which it proposes Protestant Missions of the World and before. covers the whole area of the inhabited globe."! The conference drew wide coverage from the secular and religious press. The NewYork 1900organizers tookinto account qualitative The failure of the Carnegie Hall centenary publicity even to changes that had developed in mission efforts during the 1890s. mention the conclave betrays the profound shifts in the religious These included the swelling ranks of female missionaries as well ethos and cultural memory since 1900.Largely forgotten, except as the dynamic mobilization of student volunteers, topics that for a few missiologists and historians, is the challenge that were accorded a "Women's Day" and a "Youth Day" on the Christian foreign missions stimulated in the popular imagina­ agenda. Recognized but assigned less emphasis were two other tion at the opening of the twentieth century. This essay recog­ initiatives of the decade, the interdenominational "faith-mis­ nizes the centennial of the New York Ecumenical Missionary sion" movement and the emerging dialogue among leaders of Conference- and offers selected perspectives on that bygone the globally dominant religions, exemplified by the 1893 Parlia­ epoch of missionary dynamic. ment of the World's Religions at Chicago's Columbia Exposi­ tion.' Any assessment of New York 1900 has to evaluate its Conference Goals and Preparation effectiveness in terms of its three goals, seen in end-of-the­ century context. A survey of press accounts, leaders' testimonials, conference Expectations ran high as invitations for the New York speeches, and official records reveals a composite of objectives Ecumenical Missionary Conference were dispatched. A that could be termed inspiration, consultation, and cooperation. perusal of popular mission publications in the United Kingdom Separately delineated these were: reveals great interest as delegations planned to attend. "The time of the gathering is significant. We are on the dividing line 1. To mobilize congregations and Christian public opinion to­ between two centuries.... Let there be earnest prayer [for the ward greater mission commitment, financial support, and conference] ... inaugurating a new era in the evangelization of increased missionary recruits; to do so by communicating the the world" editorialized the Missionary Record in Scotland.' In advances of the passing nineteenth century and enumerating New York the Missionary ReviewoftheWorld sponsored a "postal the needs of the non-Christian world in the opening twentieth card symposium" requesting that key representatives enumer­ century. There was also an apologetic objective: to meet ate their goals for the conclave.' Memories of the London 1888 antimissions criticism within and without the church. In this Centenary Conference fueled anticipation. At least 120 of those at New York 1900 also had experienced the London 1888 Exeter Hall meetings. Fittingly, New York 1900 was perceived as a Thomas A. Askewis therecently retired Stephen Phillips Professor ofHistory logical continuation of trans-Atlanticmissionconsultationsreach­ andChair oftheDepartment ofHistory,Gordon College, Wenham, Massachu­ ing back to the Union Missionary Convention occasioned by the setts.A previous article, "The 1888 London Centenary Missions Conference: visit of Alexander Duff to New York in 1854.6 A request at the Ecumenical Disappointment orAmerican Missions Coming ofAge?"appeared 1878 London Conference on Foreign Missions for an interna­ in theJuly1994 issueoftheINTERNATIONALBULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH. tional gathering every decade was fulfilled by the London 1888

146 INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH Centenary Conference; with a new century dawning, New York International Bulletin 1900 would maintain the sequence. Initial planning for New York 1900 originated at the annual of Missionary Research gatherings of North American mission board executives (later Established 1950 by R. Pierce Beaver as Occasional Bulletin from the the Foreign Missions Conference of North America) started in Missionary Research Library. Named Occasional Bulletin of Missionary 1893 by Presbyterian F. F. Ellinwood and other London 1888 Research 1977. Renamed INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH attendees. Judson Smith, Boston-based secretary of the Ameri­ 1981. Published quarterly in January, April, July, and October by can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and promi­ Overseas Ministries Study Center nent at London 1888, was named overall chair for the New York 490 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, U.S.A. event. He traveled to the United Kingdom and to the Continent Tel: (203) 624-6672 • Fax: (203) 865-2857 to recruit delegates," A year before the conference an invitation E-mail: [email protected]. Web: http://www.OMSC.org was posted to every known missionary. Official delegate status, however, was limited to a total of 2,500 "members" drawn from Editor: Contributing Editors: Mary Motte, F.M.M. Jonathan J. Bonk Catalino G. Arevalo, S.J. C. Rene Padilla eachsocietyor board, based on its field expenditures,with North David B.Barrett James M. Phillips American societies being limited to 1,666 seats. Ultimately 162 Associate Editor: Stephen B.Bevans, S.V.D. Dana L. Robert mission boards (not counting women's denominational societ­ Robert T. Coote Samuel Escobar Lamin Sanneh ies) were represented (64 North American, 50 Continental, 35 Barbara Hendricks, M.M. Wilbert R. Shenk United Kingdom and 13 others)." More than 600 foreign mission­ Assistant Editor: Paul G. Hiebert Charles R. Taber aries working in fifty countries attended. Daniel Nicholas Jan A. B.Jongeneel Tite Tienou Nevertheless, despite all efforts to be ecumenicaland global, Sebastian Karotemprel, S.D.B. Ruth A. Tucker New York 1900 was a decidedly North American and Anglo Senior Contributing Editor David A. Kerr Desmond Tutu event. Representation from the Southern Hemisphere was mini­ Gerald H. Anderson Graham Kings Andrew F.Walls mal. Of the thirty-two listed honorary vice presidents, one hailed Anne-Marie Kool AnastasiosYannoulatos Gary B.McGee

Books for review and correspondence regarding editorial matters should be New York 1900 statistics: addressed to the editors. Manuscripts unaccompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope (or international postal coupons) will not be returned. • 2,500 official delegates • 162 Subscriptions: $21 for one year, $39 for two years, and $55 for three years, mission boards postpaid worldwide. Airmail delivery is $16 per year extra. Foreign sub­ • 600 foreign missionaries scribers must pay in U.S. funds only. Use check drawn on a U.S. bank, Visa, MasterCard, or International Money Order in U.S. funds. Individual • up to 200,000 in attendance copies are $7.00; bulk rates upon request. Correspondence regarding sub­ scriptions and address changes should be sent to: INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH, P.O. Box 3000, Denville, New Jersey 07834, U.S.A. from India, Koli Charan Banurji, and three from : A. Merensky (Berlin Missionary Society), A. Schreiber (Rhennish Advertising: Missionary Society), and Professor Gustav Warneck, the re­ Ruth E. Taylor nowned missiologist. In fact, Warneck refused to attend, prima­ 11 Graffam Road, South Portland, Maine 04106, U.S.A. Telephone: (207) 799-4387 rily because of his reservations about Anglo-American mission methods and his suspicion of the watchword "evangelization of Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and indexed in: the world in this generation." Warneck's paper was read by Bibliografia Missionaria IBR (International Bibliography of another." An attempt was made to include American blacks. Book ReviewIndex Book Reviews) Booker T. Washington was listed as an honorary member. The Christian Periodical Index IBZ (International Bibliography of Black National Baptist Convention Foreign Mission Board of Guideto People in Periodical Literature Periodical Literature) Louisville, , was represented by Charles S. Morris." Guideto Social Science and Religion in Missionalia A galaxy of large and small committees was launched to Periodical Literature Religious andTheological Abstracts expedite the meetings, the extent of which impressed Scottish Religion IndexOne: Periodicals delegates. Duncan McLaren reported, "Our American cousins have a genius for organization; it is therefore needless to say that Index, abstracts, and full text of this journal are available on databases everything was admirably arranged."!' Also striking was the provided by EBSCO, H. W. Wilson Company, The Gale Group, and Univer­ sityMicrofilms. Also consultInfoTrac database at manyacademic and public open friendliness toward foreign travelers, most of whom were libraries. For more information, contact your online service. guests in American homes; "the Americans do not look upon Britons as foreigners."12 Program planning and execution was Opinions expressed in the INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN are those of the authors assigned to an executive committee of twenty-one men and one and not necessarily of the Overseas Ministries Study Center. woman, Abbie B. Childs of Boston. Ms. Childs had attended London 1888 and afterward helped found the World's Mission­ Copyright©2000by OverseasMinistries StudyCenter.All rightsreserved. ary Committeeof Christian Women. Other committee personnel Second-class postage paid at New Haven, Connecticut. included ArthurJ. Brown,James S. Dennis, F. F. Ellinwood,John POSTMASTER: Send address changes to INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF R. Mott, and Robert E. Speer. Though not executive committee MISSIONARY RESEARCH, P.O. Box 3000, Denville, New Jersey 07834, U.S.A. members, W. Wardlaw Thompson (London Missionary Society, chairof the British delegation), AlexanderSutherland (Canadian ISSN 0272-6122 Methodist Board, chair of committee on comity), Eugene Stock (Church Missionary Society, writer and editor), A. T. Pierson,

October 2000 147 and J. Hudson Taylor were conference presences in their own and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller were listed as honorary right. University presidents, including James B.Angell (Univer­ delegates. The chair of New York's Chamber of Commerce, sity of Michigan) and John Henry Barrows (Oberlin College), Morris K. Jessup, welcomed the delegates, presided on opening added academic prestige. Public interest was heightened by night, and introduced President McKinley. "Merchant princes" former president Benjamin Harrison serving as honorary chair (as A. T. Pierson called them), such as Jessup, William E. Dodge, and President William McKinley and Governor Theodore William T. Harris, and John Wanamaker, participated. Reflect­ Roosevelt of New York agreeing to speak. ing on the impact on businessmen, former president Harrison observed: "The great metropolis halted in its march of greed, to As Popular Event consider the meaning of this convention, and there was not a great mercantile house in the city in which it was not a theme of As a public mobilization, the conference can only be termed a interested discussion.r" signal success. J. Fairly Daly reported to Scotland, "Notable as The most dramatic public rally took place midweek in these [earlier international conferences] were, this fourth confer­ Carnegie Hall. Four hundred female missionaries were "mar­ ence, held in New York, excelled them all. In the number of its shalledonthe platformin groupsbyMrs. A. J.Gordonof Boston, delegates, in the wide range of its delegates, in the wide range of amid the clapping of thousands of hands, the waving of thou­ its subjects, in the influential character of its speakers and the sands of handkerchiefs, and the smiles and tears of a host of universal interest awakened by it, it has far exceeded any mis­ women worked up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm.v'" Some­ sionary conference previously held."13This level of effectiveness what patronizingly, noted the "hysterical was achieved because of proficient organization, celebrity ap­ hallelujahs. . . . the fluttering handkerchiefs looked like the peal, accessibility for large crowds, and themes that resonated whirling of thousands of snowflakes." It also editorialized: "The with mainstream public sentiments. Given the lack of modern millinery and varied colored costumes made the scene one of communications technology, New York 1900 was a marvel of exceedingbrightness, for, notwithstanding thatthe missionaries implementation. Tens of thousands flocked to the sixty-plus have in a measure eschewed the frippery of the world, they formal sessions (six or seven held daily across the city) and a nevertheless have the eternal feminine love of brightness and plethora of other specialized gatherings that encouraged inter­ color. Theywerealso imbuedwithanintenseenthusiasmandthe change and comradeship. "The business moved on from day to points made by the various speakers were vigorously ap­ day without a hitch. But how it was done was the marvel and plauded.?" Not wanting men to look condescendingly on such admirationof all....Colleges,clubs, and otherpublic institutions displays, Maria Hale Gordon reminded males of their enthusi­ threw open their doors [to host] receptions, dinners, and other asm when soldiers returned from a war. Climaxing the day, social entertainments."14 youngChristian women from ,Japan, Armenia, India, and Wide press coverage contributed to the high level of public Turkey were introduced in indigenous dress. Prominent among interest. Daily columns in the New York Times were long and this group was Lilavati Singh of India, professor of English detailed, sometimes recording discussions absent in the official literature at Lucknow College, whose conference address advo­ proceedings. At the close of the conference, theNew York Tribune catingmission-supportedhighereducationfor womenprompted published an illustrated extra edition of sixteen pages. Addingto former president Harrison to exclaim, "If I had given a million the visual impact was a huge exhibit of native curios, artifacts, dollars to foreign missions, I should count it wisely invested if it and missionary photographs that drew more than 50,000 view­ led only to the conversion of that one woman."!" The platform ers. tributes to women signaled recognition of the new roles they The opening session on Saturday evening, April 21, 1900, were assuming, a fact largely ignored in earlier conferences. joinedvisualelementswithnationalcelebritiesandinternational New York 1900 ignited strong public affirmation because it missionary heroes. A huge global map (50 feet long, 25 feet high) resonated with the popular assumption that Western of two panels, one for each hemisphere, served as backdrop. Christendom and the church were agents of progress for the Flanking honorary speakers Benjamin Harrison, William world's peoples. All the speeches by public dignitaries reflected McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt in the front row were white­ this confidence. President McKinley said of missionaries, "Who haired veteran missionaries who had become legends in their can estimate their value to the progress of nations? Their contri­ own times. Among those were John G. Paton of the South Seas, butionto the onward and upwards march of humanityis beyond Bishop Thoburn of India, Cyrus Hamlin of Constantinople, J. all calculation."20 Expounding a brand of "muscular Christian­ HudsonTaylorof China, Robert Laws of Africa, andDr. andMrs. ity," Governor Roosevelt echoed similar thoughts, with particu­ James Hepburn of East Asia. Behind these luminaries sat the lar attention to missionary efforts among North American Sioux delegates from Europe along with members of the general con­ Indians. "You are doing the greatest work that can be done. The ference committee. For foreigners the presence on one platform life worthliving is the life ... of the manwho strives [to] leave the of such dignitaries was astounding. "To equal that in our coun­ world a little better and not a little worse.'?' Likewise, former try, we should require to bring together the Lord Mayor of presidentHarrisonadmonishedthatbeyond the economic,schol­ London, the Prime Minister of Britain, and H.R.H., the Prince of arly, and technological development of the era, it is "to the Word Wales, and hear them advocate the cause of Christian mis­ of God and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we must turn for sions."15 Equally inspiring was the conference music directed by hope.... The Churchis not a revolutionary hooter." Missionaries Ira D. Sankeyandothers. The openinghymn, "JesusShallReign," "preachno crusade;inciteno rebellionby instilling the principles unleashed a waveof emotionthatwould reverberate throughthe of the Gospel of Christ. .. the doctrine of the parity of man."22 entire ten days of the conference. This emphasis on the unity of humankind and the gradual The planners especially sought to involve prominent busi­ redemptive and civilizing power of the Gospel confirmed a ness leaders who were assured of the fiscal efficiency of missions confidence that the native populations of the globe could be and who believed that profitable trade followed the missionary. elevated by embracing Christianity. Here was a daunting chal­ J. Pierpont Morganwas listed as an honorary vice president, lenge that brought together postmillennialists, amillennialists,

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~------=------~~------_. ---­ premillennialists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, He advised following the apostle Paul, who expounded the Lutherans,Baptists,andothers,a causethatWilliamR.Hutchison exclusiveness of Christian truth but enlisted "the elements com­ has termed America's "moral equivalent for imperialism," a mon to other religions with Christianity" to present Christ as the "sharedbeliefin a 'rightof conquest' for Christiancivilization.r?" fulfillment, not the destroyer, of the noblest religious sentiments. By 1900 America's "moral imperialism" had expanded to Robson also argued that thoughtful non-Western converts were include political and economic control, as the in bestequippedto dialoguewiththeir non-Christian peers."Presi­ 1898 gained an overseas empire. Though the were dentJ.M. Barrowsof OberlinCollege,whohadattendedthe1893 referred to in at least eight different addresses, none stated the Chicago Parliament of Religions, extolled Christianity as "the pro-imperial viewpoint more forcefully than Methodist Bishop best,andthe highest,and the truestin theknowledge of God." He John F. Hurst "as to the right and duty of a superior nation to went on to declare that "it is historically certain that the [udeo­ govern the weaker ... to bring these people to see and recognize Christian revelation has been the mainstream of history and the superiority of what we know as civilization, and give them [that] all other historical streams are tributary to Christianity." the opportunity to adopt it."24 It must be remembered that New Nevertheless (he continued), in the light of recent research and York 1900 occurred in an America of traditional churchly values experience, non-Christian faiths "are part of the great world of and optimistic ideals, a period "when the political and commer­ religion.... We must know them to know man, to know cial expansion of Europe and America had directed the thought ourselves and to know God in all his revelations." Reflecting an of Christendom to distant parts of the earth," as the editors of the evolutionary, optimistic confidence, Barrows went on to state conference proceedings noted." Given a society that considered that the ultimate result will be "a perfected humanity" joined itselfChristian, it should notsurprisecontemporaryreaders that under the leadership of "the resurrected Christ.'?" In their em­ New York 1900 generated such high levels of attention. phasis onChrist as the fulfillment, not the utter destroyer of non­ Christian faiths, Robson and Barrows reflected perspectives As Consultation further explicated at Edinburgh 1910.30 Women in foreign missions were accorded prominence. Yet Appraising the conference, an English correspondent observed, it is difficult to assess all the deliberations by and about females. "It was big. There was no doubt about that. ... There were big Though sixteen stenographers took verbatim reports of all ses­ preparations, big meetings, a big program, big speakers; and sions, the published proceedings omit some addresses and dis­ everyone hoped there would be big results.t'" The bigness, cussions on women's topics reported in the New York Times. however, worked to thedisadvantageof long-termeffectiveness. Women's significance was orally lauded by males, but most The program was too extensive to achieve concrete results. The female voices were largely confined to the separate, parallel numerous concurrent sessions scattered across the city did not sessions for women and not integrated into the primary presen­ permit consistency of topic or attendance. Significant speakers tations. Nevertheless it was evident that a new era had opened, were assigned competing time slots in different venues. The with professional women now playing vital mission roles. The more than 500 addresses were limited to twenty minutes each, plight of exploited womankind around the world was a recur­ followed by brief responses. Providing a platform for many rent theme, emphasizing thatonlyChristianfemales could effec­ voices worked against full exposition of topics. The prohibition tively minister to these dramatic needs. To do so, however, of voting even informal recommendations left discussions with­ female missionaries must be prepared to adapt to non-Western outclosure.Suchlimitationswereavoidedin planningEdinburgh customs." 1910, which surely benefited from lessons learned at New York. Mrs. Moses Smith, president of the Women's Board of Mis­ The above caveats do not mean, however, that vigorous sions of the Interior (Congregational, Chicago), underscored this exchange was absent. A sample list of subjects presents a tax­ new thrust. "In the Church, woman was held in conservatism onomy of policy questions faced by Protestant missions at the that only heroic courage could surmount. ... The entering of dawn of the new century, including the role of native churches, women in missions, effective evangelistic methods, the place of education and philanthropy, medicine, missionary preparation, ames Dennis offered a Scripturetranslation,literaturepreparation,administration,gov­ J ernment relations, and non-Christian religions. There was also a galaxy of statistics on country-by-countrysurvey. Allotted forty minutes instead of the mission funding and usualtwenty,ChurchMissionarySocietysecretaryEugeneStock launched deliberations with a terse, instructive appraisal of operations. mission developments from 1800 to 1900. His overview, divided into twenty-five-year segments, provided an unusual perspec­ tive from one of the most sophisticated minds at the conference." women into this larger Christian service marked an era in the Symbolic of the Victorian fascination with scientific tabulation, history of the Church which the future historian will be quick to Princeton's James S. Dennis offered a galaxy of statistics, later recognize ... [yet] many fail to apprehend the place and power included in the conference proceedings appendix, on mission of women's work in foreign missions.r" Emily H. Miller, a dean funding and operations across the world. at NorthwesternUniversity,calledfor the rightof womento hold Two general presentations on relating to world religions and manage their own property; that was the way to increase prefaced a country-by-country survey. George Robson of the financial support for missions." Helen Barrett Montgomery Scottish United Presbyterian Church posited that despite the observed that one of the signs of vitality of women's foreign persistence of idols and evils in non-Christianized societies, missions societies was the level of concern of their critics. She foreign religions "are not wholly the inventions of wickedness, resoundingly opposed any move to merge the women's organi­ but ... [contain] relics of truth[,] survivals of purposes and zations with the general denominational boards." aspirations, that, however misdirected, were originally pure." Questions arose as to whether female missionaries gaining

October 2000 149 converts in zenanas (i.e., secluded polygamous households) Atlantic leaders of missions. "Conferences sometimes lead to should be permitted to baptize new believers, and whether such more important things, even as protocols sometimes lead up to converts should be encouraged to leave their husbands. There Treaties.":" was no consensus, although the more cautious approach of waiting for male-administered baptism and asking women to Steps Toward Cooperation stay with their husbands seemed the majority opinion." As at previous conferences, the problem of polygamous convertswas No question received more considerationat NewYork 1900than debated withoutagreement." A discussion ensuedevenover the collaboration between mission societies. A preliminary study best marriage policy for couples dedicated to overseas service. committee issued a sixteen-page report preparing for discussion The high illness and death rate for young missionary wives that spread over three extended sessions. The word "comity" caused some, including Hudson Taylor, to advocate postponing was frequently employed because few envisioned an organic marriage for two years until the singles had each acclimated to federation of Protestant denominations at home and abroad. the field situation." Alexander Sutherland, chair of the study committee, set the While the relationship to governments and the need to context for action: "There has always been a tendency in human nurture leadership in the younger churches were discussed, the nature to exalt opinion into dogma and to mistake prejudice for legitimacy of Western colonialism in foreign lands was not. principle; and this tendency is responsible for not a few of the Undesirable behavior by Western colonialists, however, was divisions so characteristic, alas, of Protestant Christianity."42 condemned. President Barrows advised modesty as becoming Now was the time for adopting realistic and concrete steps to avoid duplication, competition, and confusionamongnon-West­ ern Christians. Speakers drew on collective achievements in solving field Schreiber cautioned against problems in China, Jamaica, , Assam, India,Japan, China, Americans who sent people and Korea to reinforce the urgent need for regional strategic to Germany "to convert the planning. In the midst of this quest for comity, however, a discordant note was sounded by A. Schreiber, expressing a heathen Germans." complaint from Germany. He cautioned against "very promi­ nent men here in America who have put Germany into the same line with any heathen land, and are sending people to Germany an ambassador for Christ. "Christianity is compelled to apolo­ to convert the heathen Germans."43 Here was another indication gize for Christendom.... Many things beside the wickedness of of the unease some German leaders felt toward American evan­ the human soul prevent pagan nations from coming rapidly into gelistic aggressiveness. the ranks of Christendom; memories of wrongs, rapacities, all the Some voices advocated more than comity. G. W. Knox of more brutal because perpetuated by strength upon weakness; Union Theological Seminary declared that "comity is too liquor traffic, opium shames, rude and domineering ways, offi­ weak....Wemusthavemorethanthat." W. R.Huntington,rector cial discourtesies ... careers of vice and villainy.... It is not the of New York's Grace Church Episcopal, felt "It is bound to best of Christianity that has always made itself most prominent come-Christian unity." Likewise W. H. Findlay, Wesleyan and pervasive in the non-Christian world.":" missionary to India, challenged the societies present to be knit Though New York 1900 focused on foreign ministries, Na­ "into an ecumenical confederation. Would that this conference tive Americans and blacks received some attention. In addition might herald, might even initiate, such a union." Similar aspira­ to Theodore Roosevelt's allusion to mission work among the tions were intimated in Gustav Warneck's paper: "If evangelical Sioux, the success of the Church Missionary Society with the missions are suffering from one lack more than another, it is the coastal tribes of British Columbia was highlighted. J. Taylor want of organization in which the Roman Catholic missions are Hamilton, secretary of the Moravian mission board, provided a so much their superiors.v" brief but stirring historical overview of Moravian and other In contrast, Sutherland summarized the larger moderate missions to Native Peoples scattered from the North American consensus by delineating ideal guiding principles that included interior to coastal Labrador and the Arctic islands." As for the avoidance of counterproductive actions, exercise of mutual re­ blacks, Charles S. Morris, missionary of the Black National spect for other Christian bodies, cessation of rivalry, Baptist Convention, made a special appeal to meet the needs of nonproselytizing of other Christians, and avoidance of duplica­ South African believers who suffered extreme prejudice and tion. Applied on the field, this approach meant collaboration rejection at the hands of white Christians. Morris's answer was in publishing, hospitals, higher education, territorial division, for mission societies "to recognize that the American Negro can and worker employment. Furthermore, an interdenominational do workthere that no other peoples can do .... I believe thatGod "consultation committee" should be launched on each field. is going to putit into the hearts of these blackboys and girls in the Sutherland was too realistic to expect Widespread implementa­ schools of the South to go with the message [of the Gospel] to tion. "Indeed, some may consider the whole thing as visionary and to West Africa, and vindicate American slavery and impractical ... but if even two or three could be included as far as it can be vindicated by taking across the ocean the stream to lead the way . .. doubtless other missions would soon of life." While criticizingSouth Africa, Morris said nothing about follow ... to hasten the fulfillment of the Savior's prayer, 'that segregation and prejudice in the United States." they all may be one."'45 Rereading the thousand-plus pages of text in the two­ Since no conference resolutions were permitted, an unoffi­ volume edited proceedings of New York 1900 reminds the cial caucus of about 200 delegates (North American, British, contemporary reader how vast were the challenges of the times. German, and Scandinavian) met at Central Presbyterian Church For the conference editors the gathering marked another note­ on the day following adjournment. F. F. Ellinwood offered a worthy episode in the decades-long dialogue among North motion, passed unanimously, to recommend forming a perma­

150 INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH ASBURY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

, ,

Jonesr \ \ f World s gelism

hristianity's Wo rld Mission would be less intimidating and Prepare for a more manageable if everyone spoke the same language, fol­ C lowed the same customs and viewed life the same way. That idyllic world, however, is not the wo rld Christ calls us to engage. Lifetime of The real world features at least a dozen major cultural fam ilies and more than 2,000 religions, 6,000 languages and 30,000 distinct Effective Ministry, societies and cultures. There are also an unknown (and shifting) number of sub-cultures, counter-cultures and peoples with their own ANYWHERE! distinct name, history and identity. Furthermore, secularization has transfo rmed Western nations into "mission fields" once again . Several fields of knowledge prepare the effective missionary to

DEGREE PROGRAMS "exegete" the biblical text and people's cultural context. These lit­ ('tr~ M.A. and Th.M. in World Mi ssion and eratures as necessary, and as sophisticated, as the literatures Evangelism, Doctor of Mi nistry, Do ctor that prepare physicians to make sense of an epidemic, or of Missiology, and Doctor of Philosophy astronomers of a galaxy. Asbury's ESJ School will prepare you to in Intercultural Studies. understand the historical, cultural and religious context of the field of mission to which Christ has called you, and to serve, communi­ cate and help grow the indigenous Church in that context. So if you are interested in making sense of a piece of the world, and in helping its people make sense of the Christian gospel, call the admissions office today at 1-800-2-ASBURY or Darrell Whiteman RonCrandall Eunice Irwin e-mail us at [email protected]. Assoc. Dean, Anthropology, Evangelism, Small Primal Religions, Indigenous Christianity Churches, Church Planting Con textual Theology ASBURY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Terry Muck Howard Snyder Matt Zahniser KENTU CKY CAMPUS : 204 N. Lexi ngton Avenue, Wilmore, KY 40390·1199 WorldReligions. History of Mis sion. (ross-Cultural FLORIDA CAMPUS: 8401 Valencia Co llege Lane, Orlando, FL 32825 & Christianity Theology of Mission Discipleship VI RTUAL CAMPUS: www.asburyseminary.eduj exljexl.html nent international coordinating committee. But it was not to be. seemed both feasible and desirable/"? The 1901 meeting of the Foreign Missions Conference of North Nor should the significance of what today would be termed America admitted the need but decided the time had "not yet personal networking be overlooked. Emerging leaders such as come for the establishment of suchan international committee as John R. Mott, Robert E. Speer, and Helen Barrett Montgomery that suggested by the post-conference resolution.r'" Though the mingled with aging veterans of nineteenth-century mission ad­ failure of New York 1900 to stimulate formation of an interna­ vance as well as with colleagues from across the globe. Eugene tional committee disappointed some delegates, the cause was Stock's postconference activities exemplify the benefits of net­ advanced. It is worth noting that at least 125 delegates at New working. Having met many new faces at the conference, he York also attended Edinburgh 1910. Ten of these were named to traveled afterward, visiting Canadian and American Episcopa­ the permanent thirty-six-member Continuation Committee cre­ lian communities. Impressed with the ability of High and Low ated at Edinburgh, including James L. Barton, Arthur J. Brown, Churchleaders to cooperateat NewYork 1900,he carriedbackto John R. Mott, Eugene Stock, and R. Wardlaw Thompson, who Britain a commitment to encourage more of the same in the served on the executive committee of that larger body, which Church of England." Mott chaired. In retrospect, New York 1900 may be viewed as a Despite the ecumenical claim of global representation, New contributory, if not an essential, step toward the greater collec­ York 1900 was decidedly an Anglo-North American enterprise. tive action of missionary organizations at Edinburgh 1910. Delegates from the foreign fields were primarily Western, English-speakingmissionaries. Non-Westernnationals werefew. Concluding Impressions Of 500 speakers, only eight came from the younger churches, three being women from India. Continental Europe was Assessed in terms of its goals-public information, missionary underrepresented, and its mission heritage underrecognized. If, consultations, future cooperation-New York 1900 came closest as has been suggested, London 1888 signaled the coming of age to achievingthefirst of these. In a closingaddress,RobertE.Speer of North American missions, New York 1900 symbolized the reminded the delegates that the intent was not to legislate or to United States and Canada achieving full partnership with the enforce opinion but to share experiences and face candidly the United Kingdom in world mission." From another perspective, practical questions of missions. "The conference was a demon­ New York 1900 may be viewed as the last demonstration on this stration of the missionary character of Christianity.... It met side of the ocean of that loosely defined trans-Atlantic evangeli­ merely to suggest and to influence opinion and to quicken hope cal united front that had coalesced in Victorian times. Given and courage.":" He especially emphasized its apologetic value in twentieth-century theological tensions, advancing secularism, challenging critics of the missionary cause. The conference reaf­ and tragic world events after 1914, it is difficult to imagine such firmed faith in "the fundamental convictions of the gospel" and a gathering taking place a generation later, especially in New confirmed the practicalityof missions. Yet Speer did not see at Carnegie Hall. York 1900 as never to be excelled. "[Although] it exceeded all Looking back at New York 1900, the contemporary reader otherChristianconferences, it wasyetbutpromise and prophesy senses a discernible distance from the confidences and language of more, and not the crest of a wave never again to rise so high."48 displayed. Christianity too readily was viewed in territorial These words were prescient. Edinburgh 1910, with its studied terms. The assumption was that Christendom with its advanced preparation, efficient deliberations, and concrete outcomes, took culture and religion would bring the benefits of civilization, the decennial conference movement to the next level of effective­ commerce, and the Christian faith to the rest of the world. The ness. Western empires would provide the stable context for achieving Essentially NewYork 1900 was a religious event, the largest these goals. The word "race" was employed in an imprecise and in American history devoted to world mission. English delegate casual manner thatwould be unacceptable today. Triumphalism W. H. Findlay termed it "this greatest religious gathering of punctuatedwithmartialmetaphorswastoo prevalentfor today's modern times.T" It impacted the lives of thousands. Personal cross-cultural sensitivities. testimonials called the conference uplifting, inspiring, assuring, The world is very different now. Christendom as then con­ challenging, and mobilizing. In an era when laity and clergy ceived no longer exists; nor do the empires. Twentieth-century rarely reached across ecclesiastical or international boundaries depredations have shattered Western assumptions of moral to worship, pray, and plan together, the conference provided a superiority. Yet in the midst of their misplaced confidences and profound unifying experience. The eventgave fresh impetus and human limitations, the generation of participants at New York credibility to the goal of Christian mission. The Methodist Re­1900 accomplished more than they realized. They prepared the corder in England described the goal as "extending the area of way for greater mission effort, cooperation, and understanding. civilization and Christendom.... whose tradition Their humane concern for the suffering, their commitment to the was to deny any serious value to missionary labors, and to treat dignity of women, their recognition of the effectiveness and missionary as a synonym for empty-headed enthusiast and necessity of indigenous witness, and their nurturing of a world­ fanatic ... [began] to admit that the evangelization of the world wide church stand today as an impressive and enduring legacy. Notes------­ 1. Ecumenical Missionary Conference, New York,1900,2vols. (New York: Conference, 1910,9 vols. (New York: Revell; and London: Oliphant, American Tract Society, 1900), 1:10. Hereafter cited as EMC. For a Anderson & Ferrier, 1910). comparisonofNewYork1900withpreviousconferences, seeWilliam 2. Hereafter referred to in the text as New York 1900. Richey Hogg, Ecumenical Foundations (New York:Harper& Brothers, 3. Neither A. B.Simpson of the Christian and Missionary Alliance nor 1952),chap. 2;James E.Johnston,ed., Report oftheCentenary Conference Rowland Bingham of the Sudan Interior Mission was present. The ontheProtestant MissionsoftheWorld, 2 vols. (New York: Fleming H. ChristianandMissionaryAllianceandthe Africa InlandMissiondid Revell; and London: James Nisbet, 1889); and World Missionary senddelegates. J.HudsonTaylorfrom the ChinaInlandMission was

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, .877.450.6643 (International calls: 515-292-7012) www.bllcl.org The Center for C-BTE Resources www.c-bte.org the best-known "faith mission" delegate at the conference. President listed as honorary members along with Civil War generals Lew John Henry Barrows of Oberlin College, an organizer of the 1893 Wallace, author of BenHur, and O. O. Howard, founder of Howard Parliament, was prominent at New York 1900. It should be Uni versity and director of the Freedman's Bureau during remembered that Oberlin was in the forefront of sending graduates Reconstruction. as missionaries, many of whom were martyred with their families in 25.EMC,1:9-10.For moreon the tendencyofmanyAmericanmissionaries the Boxer outbreak in China during the summer of 1900. to merge the Gospel and Western civilization, see Andrew Walls, 4. Missionary Record of the UnitedPresbyterian Church, January I, 1900, "The AmericanDimensionin the MissionaryMovement," in Earthen p. 115. I appreciate Margaret Acton's generous help in locating Vessels: American Evangelicals and Foreign Missions, 1880-1980, ed. Scottish printed sources on the conference. Thanks also to Sarah Joel A. Carpenter and Wilbert R. Shenk (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Scott and Justin Isaac, former Gordon College student research 1990), pp. 1-25. assistants. 26. Record, May 18, 1900, p. 481. The Record also observed that the 5. Missionary ReviewoftheWorld, n.s., 133,no. 6 ():93-99; English delegation of about 100 felt it was accorded ample program no. 8 (April 1900):245-51. inclusion; the Record was disappointed, though, that some United 6. NewYork businessmanWilliamE.Dodge hadprovidedimpetusfor Kingdom speakers were scheduled at the same hour at diverse the 1854conference; his son WilliamE.Dodgeservedas an honorary locations and that not all British societies sent representatives. vice president and promoter of New York 1900. EMC, 1:11;2:378. 27. EMC,l:401-13. 7. Smith's trip was approvingly noted in The Free Church Scotland 28. Reprinted in the Missionary Record ofthe UnitedPresbyterian Church, Monthly, February I, 1900, p. 35. July 2,1900,pp. 220-24.EMC,l:365-70providesanaltematesummary 8. Only a modest number of persons from the Continent actually of the address. attended;explainingthatfew Germanscame becauseofnotknowing 29. EMC, 1:57-58,360-61. English, A. Schreiber acted as spokesman for all the European 30. See J. Stanley Friesen, Missionary Responses to Tribal Religions at societies. The thirteen other societies were from: India (I), China (I), Edinburgh, 1910 (New York: Peter Land, 1996). Australia (6), (3), (I), and West Indies (1). 31. NYT, , 1900, p. 5. 9. EMC, 1:34. For an analysis of German disagreement with Anglo­ 32. EMC,l:218-29. American missionary methods and Warneck's absence, see Werner 33. NYT, April 27, 1900,p. 5, carried a summaryof Dean Miller's paper, Ustorf, "Anti-Americanism in German Missiology," MissionStudies which was not included in EMC. 11 (1989):26ff. Because of the Boer War already underway, at least 34. EMC,1:215-20. Out of her contacts at New York 1900,Montgomery one Dutchrepresentativefelt awkwardaroundthe British delegation. helped found the (women's) Central Committee on the United 10. EMC,l:469-71. Study for Foreign Missions, a publisher of mission-related books for 11. DuncanMcLaren,Missionary Record oftheUnitedPresbyterian Church, twenty-seven years. See William H. Brackney, "Helen B. July 2, 1990, p. 220. Montgomery, 1861-1934; LucyW. Peabody, 1861-1949," in Mission 12. Ibid., p. 216. McLaren recommended to Scotland the friendly habit Legacies, ed. Gerald H. Anderson et aL (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis of American ministers shaking hands in the church vestibule with Books, 1994), pp. 63, 64. parishioners instead of retiring to the vestry after each service. 35. NYT, , 1900, p. 5; EMC, 2:99. 13. Free Church of Scotland Monthly, August I, 1900, p. 179. 36. EMC,2:286-88. 14. Ibid., p. 180. 37. Ibid., 1:315. 15. Ibid. 38. Ibid., p. 359. The liquor trade was denounced in many speeches. 16. These remarks were overheard at a reception in the Savoy Hotel; 39. Ibid., pp. 40, 46, 485, 487-89. cited in Missionary ReviewoftheWorld, n.s., 13, no. 8 ():402­ 40. Ibid., pp. 400-71. 3. John R. Mott's long-term support from Mr. and Mrs. William E. 41. Ibid., p. 10. Dodge exemplifies the impact of such significant donors. See C. 42. Ibid., p. 273. Sutherland was one of only three persons identifiable Howard Hopkins,John R.Mott, 1865-1955 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, whose names appeared on the rosters of attendees at all three: 1979). London 1888, New York 1900, and Edinburgh 1910. 17. EMC, 1:46. Maria Hale Gordon, the widow of American Baptist 43. Ibid., p. 237. Missionary Union leader Adoniram Judson Gordon (1836-95), had 44. Ibid., pp. 272,279,290. attendedLondon1888andremainedactive at the MissionaryTraining 45. Ibid., p. 275-77. Institute founded by her husband in Boston in 1889. 46. Annualreportof the ForeignMissionsConferenceof NorthAmerica, 18.New York Times,April 27, 1900, p. 5. Hereafter cited as NYT. 1901, pp. 25-35, as cited in Hogg, Ecumenical Foundations, p. 47. 19. EMC, 1:47. 47. EMC, 1:59, 64. 20. Ibid., p.40. 48. Ibid., p. 64. 21. Ibid., p.43. 49. MethodistRecorder, May 17, 1900, p. 5. 22. Ibid., p.45.. 50. Ibid. 23. William R. Hutchison, "A Moral Equivalent for Imperialism: 51. See EugeneStock, My Recollections (London: James Nisbet, 1909),pp. Americans and Promotion of Christian Civilization, 1880-1910," in 360-61, and The History of the Church Missionary Society, vol. 4 Missionary Ideologies in the Imperialist Era: 1880-1920, ed. Torben (London: ChurchMissionarySociety,1916),p. 557.The (High Church) ChristiansenandWilliamR.Hutchison (Aarhaus,Denmark: Forlaget Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts did not Aros, 1982), pp. 167ff. participate at London 1888 or New York 1900; it did at Edinburgh 24. EMC, 1:497. Neither William Jennings Bryan nor former president 1910. Grover Cleveland, both churchmen and Democrats, were present to 52. Thomas A. Askew, "The 1988 London Centenary Missions offer alternative anti-imperialist views on American expansion, Conference: Ecumenical Disappointment or American Missions though the latterwas cited as an honorary member of the conference. Coming of Age?" International BulletinofMissionary Research 18 (July Noted American expansionist Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, U.S. 1994): 113-16. Navy, and General Leonard Wood, military governor of , were

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