A History of Protestant missions in the near East

76 History of Protestant Missions in the Near East
would otherwise cast in their lot with the Evangelical Church.
Inducements of office and honour are used also to hold men of
influence, and sometimes even to draw such back when they
have left the Church. We seem compelled to believe that the
adoption by the Koptic Church of some of our methods, such
as the introduction of preaching into church services at some
places, has as its chief aim the holding rather than the edifying
of the people. In any case, the presence of these new features
gives a semblance of life, causing the people to feel less need
of looking towards the Evangelical Church, and making them
less approachable. Here and there are found enlightened,
earnest Christians who retain their connection with the old
Church. But they have nearly always gotten their light from
outside, and still
go outside for their spiritual food. One of
these acknowledged to the writer that within his Church as a
whole 'spirituality does not exist.' One cannot but feel some
sympathy with the desire of this ancient Church to hold together
but in the absence of
; spiritual life, it amounts to
weighing of tradition and sentiment against eternal truth and
eternal life. If the day shall ever come that God shall breathe
upon these dry bones and cause them to live and rise up to
serve Him by some better process than the naturally slow and
painful one of wrenching the members one by one out of their
own and into another organization, it will be welcomed by our
mission. But that day is not yet here. The Evangelical
Church stands as the only rallying point for true faith and life
and service " (Unit. Presby. Ann. Kep. 1907, 52).
8. Has the Time Come for Muhammadan Missions in
the Near East f
This, too, is a much discussed question,
that is answered as
often in the negative as in the affirmative. The historical
as follows : Missions
development may be briefly stated,
were sent to do work among Muhammadans by first bringing
new life into the old Churches. It was found that this preparatory
work was more difficult than had been expected, and on
it all effort was at first concentrated.
Then it dawned upon the