Page 403 - Neglected Arabia (1911-1915)(Vol 1)

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Comment.

The purpose of this number of Neglected Arabia, is not to stimu­
late giving of money. Money is a useful thing, but there are some
things that it cannot do. Carnegie and Rockefeller between them could
not establish the Church of Christ in Arabia.

It is hoped that this issue may accomplish two things. First, that it
may lead to increased prayer for this field, and Second, that by making
prayer more intelligent it may make it more efficient. We all recognize
that prayer is the most important human element in our success, and
yet as a matter of fact we seem to give our thought and effort to the
promotion of practically anything and everything else. There is need
not only for an increase of the number of those who thus labor for
Arabia, but also for a better understanding of what the real needs are

It should be better understood that the people for whom we work
and pray, are in the grip of a system of Philosophy and Religion, which
quite apart from any license allowed, holds them in a way, simply past :
understanding. This includes the high and low, the educated and the
ignorant. Partly as a result of this, the message of the Gospel, is dis­
tinctly a thing that the people do not want. Our business is like that ;
of Mr. Moody’s, namely, “to take the Gospel to people who don’t :
want it.” And in the face of great difficulties, with little or no visible ;
success to point to, the Missionary himself needs to be prayed for, lest
his faith become weak, and the fire of his zeal die down.
!

It is to be hoped that.none of the friends of The Arabian Mission ‘
trouble themselves, because of the newspaper accounts of threatened *
uprisings, in sympathy with Turkey, etc. Talk is cheap, and possibly
no one appreciates how cheap it can be, until he has spent a little time
in the East. Some of the prominent Busrahites said, when an Italian
invasion of that city was Bazaar talk, “Whoever comes, he is our
Uncle,” i. e., perfectly satisfactory as a suzerain.

It is planned to have the next number devoted to Busrah. Our
work there has developed far beyond any of our other stations. In­
deed it may be considered as the one station which has passed from (
the purely pioneer stage to that of Institutional work. With this de- I
velopment have arisen very serious problems. If after reading the
Number, anyone has suggestions to offer, they will be most cordially
received. The way through a labyrinth can sometimes be seen as well
from outside as in.

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