Page 260 - Neglected Arabia 1902-1905

Hissionary Letters and News
from Arabia

October—H)ccember, 1903

A NEW YEAR’S APPEAL.

KKV. JAMliS CANTINI：.

*1 his is tlie season of the year when many
commercial enterprises take an invontorv of
stock un hand, note its relation to the prob­
able domands of the future/ and make plans
to supply whatever deficiency exists. It mav
not be amiss to treat missions in Arabia on
the same linos, and with our reports of work
^lone, to take a look over the field as a whole,
noting our responsibilities, and our plans for
meeting them.
As a countr\ Arabia is not so well known as manv, and the
relation which as a mission we bear to it should be thoroughly
iiiulerst<)()(l. Speaking generally. we hold the entire eastern side
of thru vast peninsula; our river and coast line reaching as far as
from Maine to Florida. It is true that as yet the extent of our
actual possessions is in length rather than breadth, but that is
so with most countries settled from the sea. The strip of sea-coast
under responsible government is not wide, seldom reachin.c： to two
hundred miles, and generally much less. This we are constantly
crossing and recrossing with our Bibles and our teaching, stopping
only when \vc come to that vast desert, inhabited only by w.ander-
ing^ tribes, which stretches over so larijc a part of Central Arabia.

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