The Task of the Ages
Thus the problem always resolves itself to this at last: God has set for American Protestant Christianity the gigantic task of the ages—the home-foreign-mission task—nothing less than the assimilation of all these foreign peoples who find a home on this continent into a common Americanism so that they shall form a composite American nation—Christian, united, free, and great. What could be more glorious than to have part in the solution of this problem? To this supreme service, young men and women of America, you are called of God. What say you: shall it be Alien or American?
QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTER VIII
Aim: To Make Hopeful Beginnings a Strong Incentive to Great Expansion of Christian Work for Foreigners
I. Faults on Both Sides.
1. What issues hang upon our work for the incoming foreigners?
2. * What barriers must be broken down in order to approach them successfully?
3. What do these immigrants (speaking of them in general terms) possess, and what do they lack, spiritually?
4. Is there a lack in our own personal attitude and feelings toward them? What is it?
5. * If you had come as an average immigrant, what would you be likely to think of "America" and the "Americans"?
II. Missionary Beginnings.
6. When and where is it most easy to approach the foreigner? What will a "lurking prejudice" do?
7. What Christian workers are there at the ports of entry? Give instances of the results of their labors.
8. Can we possibly rest content with what is now being done on these lines? Why not?
9. * Should all denominations unite in an effort to meet the situation? Will you strive for it?
10. What has been the history of evangelical churches down town in New York City? What centers of Christian work may be found there? What form would a more adequate provision be likely to take?
11. Among what classes of immigrants has the most successful Christian work been done?
12. Among what classes has it been thus far sporadic and experimental? Give instances of successful work for Italians.
III. Expansion Needed and Possible.
13. * Are those who are ordinarily neglected responsive to the right sort of effort? How may there be sent forth "more laborers into the harvest"?
14. When and how may the scattered forces be joined for more effective work?
15. * Shall we "dare to brave the perils of an unprecedented advance"?[99] Have we such faith that God will move his people to furnish the funds?