very largely to our Presbyterian Mission, and a few other societies. Educational May 3-5, 1911 An Educational Conference of all these agencies was held in Beirut, May 3-5, 1911, for the purpose of discussing methods of school work in Syria with a view "To advance the Kingdom of Christ by securing closer affiliation, more helpful cooperation and more efficient methods on the part of those engaged in missionary education in Syria." "The School Curriculum," "The Training of Teachers," and kindred topics were discussed for three days and nights. The conference was fruitful of much good and marked the beginning of a more systematic and scientific educational policy. The importance of educational work in Syria cannot be over emphasized. The people are not waiting open mouthed for the gospel, but they are eager for an education. The leaders of the country realize that the people must be educated to save the nation from destruction. Is it not the part of wisdom to give them what they want and are ready to accept? The school work is an effective way of bringing Turkey within the hearing and under the influence of the gospel. The Moslem world can be approached through the mission school. Islam was born in ignorance, it lives upon ignorance, and one thing that will do much to overcome it is education. The duty of the Christian church is to turn on the light and let it shine into the darkened communities of Syria until the people come to realize their need of a better religion and a more powerful savior than the Prophet of Mecca. The light is beginning to shine, the day is beginning to break. Here and there are awakened souls who have caught the vision; and if the church will do her duty and go in and possess the land, wonderful things may be accomplished in Syria in this generation. G CHAPTER III. MEDICAL MISSIONS IN SYRIA. OD'S Son was a medical missionary. In presenting a series of chapters on medical missions it is scarcely necessary to add to this early divine authority any modern arguments for the value of medicine as a helpful agency in the propagation of the gospel. It is sufficient to say that medical missions have long been recognized as a legitimate and useful method of missionary activity. Dr. Speer in his "Christianity and the Nations" (p. 99) classes them among the four chief missionary methods showing that they are a normal outgrowth of the needs so pitifully presented on many a mission field. Among the conclusions reached by the Edinburgh World's Missionary Conference we find (vol I, p. 313) medical missions classed not as an absolutely indispensable method, but as one of high and undoubted value and ranking in usefulness with education. Their value may be judged by the results they produce. "They break down barriers; they attract reluctant and suspicious populations; they open whole regions; they capture entire villages and tribes; they give a practical demonstration of the spirit of Christianity." Three Stages There are three stages of development in medical missions; first, pioneer work; second, hospital work; |