fforts which are working for the
social betterment of the world. To bring in the kingdom of God is the
Church's work, and it is becoming increasingly evident that the
kingdom, if it is to come in any real and living sense, must come where
Jesus Himself founded it--upon the plane of this present life.

There are two considerations which make this work on the part of the
Church at once imperative and hopeful. The first is that the Church is
specially called upon by the command and example of its Founder to
range itself on the side of the weak and helpless. It is commanded to
bring the principles of brotherly love to bear upon the conditions of
life which press most heavily upon the handicapped. It is called on in
the spirit of its Master to rebuke the greed of gain and the callous
selfishness which uses the toil, and even the degradation of others,
for its own personal enjoyment. The Church only fulfils its function
when {243} it is not only the consoler of the suffering but also the
champion of the oppressed. And the other consideration is that in
virtue of its nature and charter the Church is enabled to appeal to
motives which the State cannot supply. It brings all social obligation
under the comprehensive law of love. It exalts the principle of
brotherhood. It lifts up the sacrifice of Christ, and seeks to make it
potent over the hearts of men. It preaches the doctrine of humanity,
and strives to win a response in all who are willing to acknowledge
their common kinship and equality before God. It appeals to masters
and servants, to employers and labourers, to rich and poor, and bids
them remember that they are sharers alike of the Divine Mercy,
pensioners together upon their Heavenly Father's love.

4. Whatever shape the obligation of the Church may take in regard to
the social problems of the homeland, the duty of Christianity to the
larger world of Humanity admits of no question. The ethical
significance of the missionary movement of last century has been
pronounced by Wundt,[29] the distinguished historian of morals, as the
mightiest factor in modern civilisation. Speaking of humanity in its
highest sense as having been brought into the world by Christianity, he
mentions as its first manifestation the care of the sick, and then
adds, 'the second great expression of Christian humanity is the
establishment of missions.' It is unnecessary to dwell upon this
modern form of unselfish enthusiasm. It has i