The Missionary Review of the World — October 1939
OCTOBER
A Papuan Missionary's Journal Russell W. Abel What I Found in Japan Henry P. Van Dusen Travel Difficulties in West China Howard Thomas The ·Need for World..Wide Evangelism Alexander McLeish A Desert Domain…..Among the Indian.s Flora Warren Seymour What God Has Done for My Soul Leland Wang When I Was a Leper in India P. Ghose 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Yea,.
to Remember .pmns Personal
O~tober I-Loyalty Sunday. of tbe Dr. Forrest L. Knapp, on August 1, was elected Associate General Secre- October 11-I8–Twelfth Quadrennial tary of the WorId's Sunday School Convention of the Woman's Parent (tCbtf~tfan Association, in charge of the Amer- Mite Missionary Society of the Af- ican Section. Since 1929, Dr. Knapp rican Methodist Episcopal Church, has served on the staff of the Inter- Chicago, Ill. national Council of Religious Educa- tion as director of leadership training, and in recent years he has also been BOOK of worship in song, com- director of field administration for the October 19-2S-International Conven- Council.
lLfft tion, Disciples of Christ. Rich- cA mond, Va. October 24-25-130th Annual Meet- . bining a hymn3l for general ing of the American Board of Com- Dr. R. L. *** of the Amer- missioners for Foreign Missions church use, and a song book for evan- meeting with the Mid-West Region, ~elistic purposes. Oitly songs sound Howard, ican Baptist Foreign Mission Society, Pilgrim Church, St. Louis, Mo. In the faith and inspirationaf in char- now has administrative responsibility for the Missions in Burma, Assam, October 27-29 – Annual Meeting' of acter included—emphasizing Evangd- Bengal-Orissa and South India. For the Board of Home Missions of the ism, Missions, and the Deeper Life. 14 years, Dr. Howard was first a Congregational and C h r i s t ian Many of the new—the best of the old. teacher and then president of Judson Churches, to be held in the Second Congregational Church, Waterbury, 504 Songs Responsive Readings College, Burma. Conn., in conjunction with the meeting of the New England Regional Topicallndex Gold Embossed … * …
Committee of the Missions Council. Published in round notes and Roxite cloth Dr. John C. Killain, Secretary of edition only a~ $65.00 per 100-an especiall~ the American Baptist Home Mission low price. Single copy, S5e postpaid. Society, announces that the Society October 27-29 – National Council of WTite today fOT Teturnable sample CDp:y has added a fourth Gospel trailer for Young Men's Christian Associa- use in field work. Two are used in CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS, Inc. the far western States, one in the midtions. Detroit, Mich.
November 5-12 – International Pro- 1502 NORTH THIRD STREET west and one in the southern States. phetic Conference under the aus- HARRISBURG, PA. pices of the Moody Bible Institute * … … of Chicago, Mecca Temple, New tana and Utah; and after nine years York. became the president of the College of Commissioner George Carpenter, Montana, remaining there until called leader of the Salvation Army in Can- November 10~I3-International Good- to New York City to become a secre- ada, was elected by the high council will Congress. Hotel Schroeder, tary of the Board of National Mis- to be the fifth general of the Army to Milwaukee, Wis. sions from which position he retired succeed General Evangeline Booth. six years ago. Under the Salvation Army's consti- November 19 – Men and Missions tution General Carpenter will have Sunday. * :~ * autocratic powers but he has promised to use them democratically. November 24-25 – Annual Meeting, Dr. Eduard Geismar, professor of United Stewardship Council. St. theology at the University of Copen- General Carpenter was born at Louis, Mo. hagen, died last May. He was consid- Raymond Terrace, Australia, sixty- ered one of the world's greatest the- seven years ago. He filled several Obituary Notes ologians. He tried to include the executive pOSItions before becoming whole of human life in his thinking, editor-in-chief of Army publications Dr. Cornelius H. Patton, Secretary and it was said of him that he was in Australia.. In 1911 he was trans- "afire for the Gospel." ferred to the international head- quarters in London and traveled extensively in England and on the Emeritus of the Americ:.n Board of Dr. Wm. *** the well- Continent. Returning to Australia, Commissioners for Foreign Missions, > he became in 1923 editor of "The War died on August 17 at the age of sev- E. Biederwolf, enty-eight at Waterville. N. H. In known evangelist, and director of Cry" at Sydney. As Lieutenant Comaddition to his long r,ervice for the Winona Lake Assembly, died at his missioner, Mr. Carpenter was terri- home in Monticello, Indiana, on Sep- torial commander of the Eastern Dis- trict of South America from 1933 to American Board, which, was a major tember 2, at the age of seventy-one. 1937. He became Canadian territorial interest of his life, Dr. Patton was an He was graduated from Princeton commander at Toronto, Ont., in July, author with a keen sense of literary University in 1892 and from the Sem- 1937. values and a most finished style. In inary in 1895 and became a very sucaddition to other writings, he wrote a cessful evangelist. He carried on this * * … little book on prayer, "The Rosary," work all over America and in foreign which is a book of devotion and fine lands for forty years. He made Rev. Frank K. ,singiser, who served Winona Lake Assembly a great center six years as a missionary in Burma, workmanship. * … … for summer religious conferences. and was for a time a secretary of the Dr. Biederwolf became deeply inter- American Baptist Foreign Mission Rev. Benjamin M. Jones, Methodist ested in lepers during his visit to Society, has recently been chosen m.issionary to Burma, died June 26 in Asia and was a director of the Amer- Executive Secretary of the Massa- 1I0ngkong. He was 59 years old and chusetts Bible Society.
had been an active missionary for 36 ican Mission to Lepers, to which he .* * * years, as an itinerant pastor, author was a large contributor. He was the Dr. Clarence E. Krumbholz, of New York City, has been elected Secand translator, high school teacher author of several books on Chris- retary of the Department of Welfare of the National Lutheran Council. superintendent of Chinese and of tianity. * … … … * * Burmese schools in Rangoon District, Dr. James H.' Rushbrooke of and head of the noted Rangoon Boys' Miss Mary W. Torrence, Assistant London was elected president of the Baptist World Alliance at its recent High School. Treasurer of the Board of National meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Missions of the Presbyterian Church, Rushbrooke, who has been general J* . ** secretary of the Alliance since 1928, Dr. Duncan a former U. S. A., died on August 8. Born in McMillan, Ovid, N. Y., Miss Torrence was the secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, died June 28, at eldest daughter of a Presbyterian 93. His first service was as superin- minister, the Rev. Hugh Wallace Tortendent of Presbyterian work in the rence, and studied at Elmira College territory which is now Idaho, Mon- and New York University. (Concluded on page 433.)
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REVIEW OF THE WORLD for Your Child •.. AT HOME An Assured Income- DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Calvert School's world-famous home study plan gives FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS superior education to thousands of children not near good VOL. LXII OCT., 1939 No. 10 schoo!s or unab]e to attend school. Complete courses A Sustaining Gift for each grade from Kindergarten to High School. All Publication and Business Office- books. materials and teacher gl!idance included. , Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. " 'What I thought I had I have Enthusiastically endorsed by educators and par- lost; what I gave away, I have.' ents. Low cost. Write today for free catalo£". Editorial and Exeeutive Office– We are not only thankful for this State child's age. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. sure income while we live, but Entered as second-class matter at we are glad to know that our gift CALVERT SCHOOL, 1810 E. Tuscany Rd., Baltimore. Md. will help to carryon the great Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under work when we are gone. " London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Liver- Act of March 3, 1879. pool, Durham, Dublin and Wales. Write for Booklet J, Deparbnent of Annuities Two gatherings were organized by the 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. International Committee on the Chris- Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. The Board of Foreign Missions tian Approach to the Jews. Published monthly, except August. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Dr. Charles ]. Turck has resigned British agents – Marshall, Morgan from the staff of the Board of Chris- and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York tian Education to take the presidency London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, of Macalaster College, St. Paul, Minn. 10 shillings a year. "THE REVIEW has been and is most He began his work with the Board in helpful." CARRIE M. KERSCHNER, the spring of 1936 and had previously MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- been professor of law at Tulane and LISHING CO., INC. Executive Secretary, Vanderbilt Universities and dean of BOARD OF DIRE'CTORS Woman's Missionary the College of Law at the University Society of the Evan- of Kentucky. ROBERT E. SPEER, President gelical and Reformed A. L. WARNsHUla, Viae-President Church. *** WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary Person.I Items Friends of Dr. and Mrs. Frank O. PAUL J. BRAISTED Gamewell, formerly a missionary of SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT (Concluded from second cover.) the Methodist Episcopal Church in D. J. FANT China and in charge of the fortifica- MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD was elected president to succeed the tions in the British legation during WM. B. LIPPHARD Rev. Dr. George W. Truett of Dallas, the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, are plan- ERIC M. NORTH Texas. The Rev. Dr. W. O. Lewis, ning to establish a $50,000 endowment SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Paris representative of the American fund for the Gamewell Professorship Baptist Foreign Mission Society, was of Christian Religion in Yenching Editorial Chat chosen general secretary. Albert Mat- University, Peiping. thews, Lieutenant-Governor of On- The end of vacations and the be.. tario, and C. T. Le Quesne of London What This World Needs ginning of war in Europe marked the were reelected treasurers for the coming of September. What will be Western and Eastern Hemispheres. A little more kindness is what the immediate results God alone this world needs; knows, but all through history wars *** and rumors of war have not been able A little more loving in words to defeat the loving purpose of Al- Mrs. Prem Nath Dass, Doctor of and in deeds; mighty God. His people have suffered Pedagogy from Boston University, is in Egypt and Palestine, in Babylon President of Isabella Thoburn College A little more helping of brother and Rome in the days that passed but at Lucknow, India. This was the first along; in the end the enemies of God and of Christian college to be established for righteousness have been overthrown. women in Asia. Dr. Dass is a grad- A little more smiling, a little The same will be true in the present uate of Goucher College, Baltimore, more song; conflicts in China, Korea and Europe. from which she received the degree of The very "gates of hell" cannot pre- Doctor of Laws.. A little more lifting of somevail against the Church of Christ. body's care; *** In the meantime the missionary A little more giving, a little campaign of the Church goes forward Rev. Charles H. Riggs of Nanking, more prayer; with new spiritual victories all around China, has been given the "Decoration the world-in Papua and China, in of the Blue Jade," one of the highest A little more thinking on things India and Japan, in Africa, and Amer- honors which can be bestowed by the that are true; ica. Read the record in this issue of Chinese Government for meritorious THE REVIEW and take courage. Pass service and humanitarian work. Mr. A little more patience, and tenthe magazine on to your pastor and Riggs was a member of the Nanking derness too; other friends. Now more than ever International Relief Committee durwe need to unite in earnest prayer for ing the taking of that city, and was A little more brushing of worour missionaries in every land, and instrumental in saving many thou- ries away; we need to ask God how we can best sands of lives. This decoration has help them and His cause by sacri- rarely been conferred upon any for- A little more thanking for blessficial gifts. eigner. Mr. Riggs was also pre- ings each day; sented with a hand sewn silk banner, *** suitably inscribed, by grateful refu- A little more climbing toward gees. some shining goal, Here are some recent comments from our readers: *** A little more seeking for things of the soul; "This is the first time that a copy Dr. Conrad Hoffmann has just reof the world-famou>l RF.VIEW falls, in- turned from a deputation program in A little more courage in paths to my hands. It is truly a great joy still untrod, to travel through its pages and have [433 ] a good view of the various missionary A little more trusting in manactivities throughout the world. It kind and God! represents almost all the chief coun- -Evelyn Gage Browne. tries of the world where the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is preached."
K. G. KURIAN. Malabar, South India.
OF THE NAVAJO RESERVATION VISIT THE GANADO
CHRISTIAN AME'RICAN INDIANS AND THEIR FRIE"IDS IN CONFE'RENCE AT BACONE, 1939 SOME INDIANS AND THOSE WHO ARE WORKING WITH THEM (See arUcle on page 448) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 10 OCTOBER, 1939 Topics of the Times DARK CLOUDS OVER THE WORLD democracy," with totalitarianism of various sorts The thoughtful reader of the book of Job will (and power-politics of the oldest kind) harrying have noticed, in the speech of Elihu, repeated ref- it on all sides. And the result has been persecuerences to the gathering clouds and darkness that tion of the Church. Except in France, Switzerpreceded a thunderstorm. And then we read that land, Holland and Italy the Protestant Churches the Lord answered Job in the midst of his tragic of Europe are suffering from poverty and oppresperplexity "out of the whirlwind," and said: sion. Many church buildings have been confisca- "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words ted and evangelical theological schools have been without knowledge?" starved into submission. The war now waging Today the darkness deepens over Europe and will not make it easier for Jew or Christian to live Asia. There are wars and rumors of new war. and work in Central Europe.
The radio and the press carry into every home the But Christians should not lose heart nor faith latest news about the conflicts. In Asia the unde- nor courage. Ours is an undiscourageable hope. clared war against China continues with all its We know that the darkest hours come before horrors. The Man-gods of Nationalism, Fascism dawn; that God creates the rainbow out the and Communism continue to set themselves clouds; that He guided his people by a cloud against the God-man, Jesus Christ. Meanwhile through the wilderness. "Clouds and darkness the rulers of nations take counsel together to break are round about Him, but justice and judgment asunder the bands of Christian ideals and cut the ~re the habitation of His throne." In these days cords of human brotherhood. Hitler's disregard It may seem to us, as to Jeremiah, that God has for his treaties and promises and his declaration covered himself as with a cloud so that no prayer on the invasion of Poland were typical of the man can pass through (Lam. 3: 44) yet at the end of himself and of the collapse of moral sanctions and his lamentations the prophet knew better for he regard for humanity in modern warfare. There exclaimed: "Thou, 0 Jehovah, abidest forever. was not a note of regret, not a hint of personal Thy throne is from generation to generation." pain in such decision to invade Polish territory. Under God's shadow we can live among the nawith the consequent destruction of life, liberty and tions and carry out His great commission. The property. Gospel of the Kingdom knows no race-barrier and In his book (just published), "Democracy To- no political frontier. In the darkest hour the true day and Tomorrow," Dr. Edward Benes of Czecho- Light still shines. The end of the world is not slovakia-himself the victim with his people of yet, and the last chapter of European history will totalitarian aggression-states that all Europe is not be written by a self-glorifying ex-corporal.
in a state of profound disintegration-morally, Amid the confusion of present-day events and socially and politically. The long struggle for the Babel of tongues, amid the darkening of counpolitical democracy, beginning in feudal and mon- sel by words without knowledge, we may hear the archic days, and passing through the era of the voice that came from the cloud on the Holy American and the French Revolutions, the changes Mount: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am rung by the nineteenth century arid the liberalism well pleased-hear Him." The darkest hour may of the twentieth, have developed into what he calls reveal God's love to broken hearts. "The night "The struggle for a kind of social and economic also is Thine," for then we can see the stars.
[ 435 ]
The missionary enterprise does not rest on op- is fought with spiritual weapons and is against portunism. It is always supremely urgent. When all selfishness and sin; it is waged for the purpose our Saviour foretold the day's of darkness that of extending the spiritual rule of the holy, rightwould precede His return He said "And the gos- eous and loving God of the universe. pel must first be preached unto all the nations" (Mark 13: 10). That is the law of priority; now There is. such a campaign being carried on tois the hour for us to apply it to our meditations, day in the form of Christian missions to sptead our prayer-life and our sacrificial giving. Then the Gospel of Christ. It is a warfare not against we shall sing the forty-sixth psalm until Christ flesh and blood, but ".against spiritual wickedness "maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth." in high places"; it is. not fought with carnal In every period of conflict and clouded horizon, weapons but with the "sword of the Spirit which let us follow the word of God spohn through the is the Word of God." Psalmist: "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations." These two conflicts clash-the national or mili- tary and the spiritual or militant. The wars in S. M. ZWEMER. China and Europe are wasting resources in money and life that God has provided for the good of THE WAR AND MISSIONS mankind; they are a prostitution of science and talent and personality to evil ends, and are divert- The lessons that were supposed to have been ing these blessings from constructive uses that learned in the Great War that ended twenty years will help make Christ known and will promote ago seem to have been forgotten; the ideals of His way of life. Worldly wars hinder the work abiding peace and Christian brotherhood have Christ came to do, that for which He gave His been scrapped in the new international conflict life; the work that He commissioned His followthat broke out in Europe on September third. ers to carry forwa~d. Human life is held cheap Germany is defying Poland, France and England in warfare, while God holds it precious; moral in her campaign for coveted territory. Millions and spiritual standards are sacrificed and deof men are under arms and bombs and bullets graded in selfish human conflicts, but obedience carry terror and destruction by night and by day. to these standards are essential signs of God's Ostensibly the cause of the conflict is the desire reign in the hearts of men. No one can estimate of the Reich for the possession of a seaport on the total evil effects of the war of 1914 to 1918 the Baltic and for a strip of land-the Polish Cor- in the influence it had on the people of Japan, ridor to the sea-which was guaranteed to Poland China, India and Africa when they saw "Chrisby the Treaty of Versailles. tian" peoples in bloody and cruel conflict when Christian ideals were trampled upon. The world There have always been, and are today, many has not recovered from the blighting effects of conflicts on this planet – economic and social, that war and now we face another which may be moral, military and spiritual-doubtless there al- as devastating and far-reaching. ways will be. But there is a vast difference in the objectives, the weapons used, and the spirit We realize something of the material and somanifested. It is .appalling to think of the de- cial evil effects of war and the waste of human struction that results from such conflicts as that energy, but many are apt to overlook the direct now going on in Europe and China-the ruthless results on Christian work and on workers who and often cruel sacrifice of life and property; the are drawn into the whirlpool against their will. lowering of moral standards, the wasteful ex- Think of the Moravians, the Lutheran Christians, penditure of money; the selfish profiteering and the Baptists, Methodists and other Evangelicals the hatred generated. in Germany. Many of the China Inland Mission workers are also Germans. The missionary work There is such a thing as a Christian warfare carried on in many lands by these friends has and it may even be possible to carryon an armed been curtailed or ended by the cutting off of workconflict for a Christian objective and in a Chris- ers and supplies and by the suspicion in which all tian spirit – as in any campaign to uphold law Germans are often held by fellow Christians of against crime, and in efforts to protect innocent other nations. There are on the mission fields toand helpless women and children from cruelty and day over 1,300 German missionaries representing oppression. The Word of God has sanctioned seventy evangelical societies. What is to be their some wars in the past and predicts other warfare fate? The contribution that German Christians in the future. Some such conflicts may be neces- have made to missionary statesmanship, religious sary in this world where sin abounds. But any scholarship, and to human progress cannot be wars sanctioned by God must have their motive estimated. What can they do in days of bitter and their objective in selfless love and must be international conflict? conducted under the laws of righteousness, with mercy and jUstice. The truly Christian warfare The evils of inhuman and un-Christian war- fare are staggering but in the midst of it all there
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
is great opportunity for Christlike service and to vasion of China upon Christian mission work and reveal faith in God. Suffering for the right de- as to the changes in the last two years. Only velops character and selfless ministry to sufferers about one half of these societies have answered reveals Christian virtues. Already in· China, the the questionnaire.* But from those who have courageous, sacrificial service of missionaries, both replied we gather the following facts: to combatants and non-combatants, has made the Chinese realize the superiority of Christianity and Eighty per cent of the Protestant mission stahas revealed the true spirit of Christ. Many Jap- tions (about 1,000) are still occupied by at least anese also have come under the s.pell. one foreign missionary each. A few have been closed because of lack of workers, at the request What then shall be the attitude of Christians in of foreign consuls or on the demand of the Japtimes of warfare? The early disciples were anese. Some societies, like the Christian and Miswarned by Christ himself, "When ye hear of wars sionary Alliance, the China Inland Mission, and and rumors of wars, be not troubled"-as to per- the Evangelical Church, report more stations opersonal safety, or the ultimate outcome. ated today than two years ago.
The Christian's position is, first of all, one of The number of British and American missionunshaken confidence in God, His power and love aries on the field (about 5,200) is almost as large and overruling purpose. He will finally be vic- as in July, 1937, when the ·conflict began. Some torious. Christians may suffer but they will not wives and children have been obliged to leave their shrink from holding high the banner of Christ. stations, and some others have come home on fur- lough or have been transferred to other fields. Second, Christians will be resolved to obey the About ten per cent of the missionaries on the field command of Christ–"Love your enemies" how- in 1937 have been withdrawn or have died and ever difficult that may be. We have the example have not been replaced. A few societies have acof Him who "when he was reviled, reviled not tually increased their staffs. again" ; who asked forgiveness for those who sought His death. The greatest change has probably taken place in the institutional work. In s·ome places it has been Third, Christians will sacrifice self in order necessary to close the primary and grade schools that they may carryon loving service. They will because of disturbed conditions, but in numbermaintain the work of God at home and abroad less cases the Chinese teachers and pastors have and will sympathetically support the workers who stood by and are carrying on the work even withcount not their lives dear unto themselves. We out foreign help. Many of the colleges and union are fellow workers with God in the terrific strug- institutions have been obliged to move westward gle of good against evil, of love against hate. to less disturbed and exposed areas. Most of them are carrying on, but with depleted staffs, less Fourth, Christians will pray for spiritual vic- adequate equipment and fewer students. Some tories; they will pray even for human enemies; colleges actually report an increase in students, they will pray for those who are in places of great in part due to transfers from closed institutions. responsibility; they will pray for all who are carrying out the commands of Christ and are min- Many societies report an unusually large inistering to ignorant and needy and suffering man- crease in baptized members – for example, the kind. English Baptists, a threefold increase, and the Christians may not win the world by battles Church of the Brethren, 100 %; some show a fallwith material weapons· but they will not fight evil with evil and need not be defeated in the good ing off, and many can make no report. fight of faith and love to win mankind to the life that is offered by Jesus.. As to the destructive effect of the conflict, only six missionaries are listed by three reporting so- THE MISSIONARY SITUATION IN CHINA cieties as killed but others have been injured. A few Chinese pastors and some thirty Chinese After two years of "undeclared" and unjusti- Christian workers are reported killed. A large fiable war in China, the situation is one that stirs number of Christians have been slain or injured sympathy and compassion for the Chinese, with in bombing raids or other attacks but there are admiration for their leaders and for the mission- no full reports on this. Much mission property aries who are standing by in this time of trouble. has been destroyed or damaged in about fifty sta- Probably a million Chinese have been killed or tions. The Southern Methodists report forty injured and ten million have been made tem- pieces of mission property occupied by Japanese, porarily homeless. Millions of dollars' worth of looted, damaged or destroyed in eight stations. property have been destroyed. The value of damage to property of the Southern A letter was sent from the REVIEW office to • We regret to say that we have thus far received no statement fifty British and American missionary societies, from the American Board (Congregational), the United Christian asking for information as to the effect of the in- Missionary SOCiety (Disciples), the China Inland Mission, or the Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church or the South- ern Presbyterians.
Baptists alone is estimated at $500,000; the total nomic, social, educational and religious spheres.
loss to all Protes,tant societies will run into mil- Unlike international gatherings of most political lions. representatives, each of the sessions of the Youth What about the present emphasis in mission Conference began every morning with worship work? Most of the seventy-five British and Amer- of the God of the universe, including prayer for ican societies having work in China express the guidance and the will to do His will. The Bible belief that the greatest emphasis should be, first, as the revelation of God was studied to discover on evangelistic work; second, on relief of suffer- His way of life for mankind.
ing, by caring for the injured, sick and destitute; It was a friendly conference in which 220 sepand third, by educating Chinese Christians to arate religious groups were represented, includcarryon the work and to build up a new China. ing the peace-loving Society of Friends and exiled As to the outlook, the general opinion is that members of the Russian Orthodox Church. The now is the day of unique opportunity. The Chi- purpose of the meeting was neither to legislate or nese people are more open to a sympathetic re- to pass resolutions. The delegates met to bind sponse to the Gospel than ever. While the Jap- Christians closer to God, to the Church of Christ anese invasion has created new difficulties in and to each other, to study ways of promoting a travel and missionary work, and while new hin- better understanding, deeper sympathy and greatdrances are put in the way in Japanese-occupied er friendliness among the Christian youth of toterritory, there are compensations in the way day-presumably the leaders of tomorrow-if China is being awakened and unified; the spirit destructive war does not wipe them off the face of materialism also shows a decrease. of the earth. Seventy-two countries of the world, The present-day appeal to America and Eng- in all of which there are strong Christian moveland includes five things: first, an expression of ments and united organizations, were represented. real sympathy in China's struggle for her rights America sent the largest delegation (325); and and for the right to make progress unmolested; over 500 came from the continent of Europe. All second, the sending of material help in this strug- races, nations and sects met on the basis of parity gle, with gifts of money to feed, clothe and house and with equal right to be heard. (Germany, the destitute and to minister to the sick and Greece and Russia sent no delegates).
wounded; third, continued support of the mis- The dominant notes were the desire to acknowlsionary work, without .any retreat; fourth (par- edge God as revealed in Christ and the need to ticularly stressed by many), the need for earnest recognize unity in the midst of outward diversity. prayer for courage and wisdom for the Chinese Delegates endeavored to emphasize points of leaders and for the establishment of peace, based agreement rather than differences, whether politon righteousness; fifth, a strong demand that ical, philosophical or theological. While there was America and Europe stop furnishing war ma- a universal desire for international peace based on terials to the aggressor nation, Japan. righteousness, many delegates thought this a de- One of the dominant notes in the messages sent sire that is beyond the possibility of realization by these missionary executives representing work under the present national and differing ideologies. in China is a courageous determination to carry It is generally conceded, however, in Christian ciron the work of Christ, faithfully and sacrificially, cles, that the one basis for a firm, lasting and counting on God to fulfil His promises and to brotherly peace is the establishment of the Kingbring ultimate success to His cause. The followers dom of God through a world-wide acceptance of of Christ have never been promised temporal pros- Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. perity or freedom from suffering, but they have been promised peace in the midst of trial and the It is interesting to note that 58 per cent of the victory through Christ. delegates were under twenty-six years of age and more than half the delegates were students.
THE CHRISTIAN YOUTH CONFERENCE The delegates were divided into forty-three groups for Bible study and discussion under seven While the political leaders of Europe were fev- main sections, which dealt with "The Church: Its erishly preparing for war or seeking to find some Nature and Mission," "Christian Youth in the way to maintain peace; while the youth of Japan World of Nations," "Christian Youth in the Ecowere in deadly conflict with the youth of China, nomic Order," "The Nation and State," the Chris- 1,350 representatives of the Christian youth of the tian Education, Race Problems, and "The world were meeting in Amsterdam, Holland (July Problem of Christian Marriage and Family Life." 24 to August 2) to discuss how to promote the peace and welfare of the world in political, eco- The slogan of the conference was "Christus Victor."
HEAD TRAINING STATION OF THE KWATO MISSION, SEEN FROM LOGE A
From aPapuan Missionary's Journal Extracts from the DIARY OF RUSSELLW. ABEL Author of "Charles W. Abel of Kwato"i Missionary of the New Guinea Evangelization Society THIS diary contains no thrilling stories but it controlled by God-houses, coconut plantations, gives a picture of the common round and gardens, improvements and village finances, all daily task; often that is the very place where surrendered and run according to God's will, inyour prayers are most needed. In the running of stead of haphazardly or selfishly. He also talked a mission, preparing classes, training young peo- about surrendering old prejudices; letting God pIe, we need to pray that God will guide and con- guide in new economic methods, instead of being trol, and that the results may be well laid founda- bound by tradition to the methods of forefathers tions for the building of Christian character, and which were unfair and wasteful of time and enreliable leadership for the future. Remember ergy. Those old methods left some sections of that this is written in the middle of a rainy season, the community with much leisure while others had only ten degrees south of the Equator, when so absolutely none. Genahia returned to Sariba (his much of our activities are hampered or deter- wife's village) where they talked about this, and mined by the whims of the roof of clouds over our were keen about it. "But after a few weeks," heads. said he, "I could see it was only a lot of preaching; there was no action to it." May 22. Great to-do over a measles scare in Samarai (a neighboring island). No one allowed So Genahia went to his own village, Hilawa, to go there unless urgent business calls, and those called the Christian people together and asked who go are forbidden to dally. They return as them what there was in their village and everyday Pariahs! living to show that they knew Christ, and to indi- cate His control and guidance in their lives. He Genahia (one of the Papuan Christians) turned said: up from Hilawa. Things have been very dead there, but they are trying to wake up from stupor. "If Hilawa is a sample of this great truth then Genahia was stirred by a talk Cecil Abel gave re- it means nothing." cently at a mid-week service. It was about villages They all agreed. So one evening, armed with a [439 ]
chalk and blackboard, he gave a lauheata (exposi- the waste of the coconuts lying on their beaches, tion) on "God-controlled villages," reproducing unused and spoiling. So they decided to build a Cecil Abel's talk. copra drier together to prevent this.
"Yes, how true," they all responded. But Gen- Tuesday, May 23. Today a large crowd of visahia reported that the talk did not really convict. itors came from the steamer. These occasions are "They agreed all right," he said, "but I was the of great value in breaking down the prejudice of one who was convicted. I was pricked to pieces travelers against missions, because of ignorance by my own talk!" and the misinformation that is soaked up in steamer bar-rooms. Therefore we do not be- As a result he introduced me to a man who felt grudge the time taken, when they can come and that he had a responsibliity to think through the see the work for themselves. We showed them agriculture of the village, and to lead a team who the different departments of the work and they would be responsible for the food supply, and for left just before lqnch. working out a plan for this under God's guidance. This man was only a nominal Christian, but he Among other things, they saw machinery in started praying, and having Quiet Times, which the mill and carpentry shop requiring skill and RAW PAPUAN HEATHEN – THEY CAN BE TRANSFORMED was something new to him. He became so en- concentration, being worked swiftly and efficiently thused over the guidance that came in answer to by Papuans. They visited the school and the printprayer that he said to Genahai, "This matter is too ing shop and the hospital. Then followed a teabig and too wonderful for me to tackle as I am. I party which gave us some good opportunities for am going to make a full confession of the past and talks with people whose ideas may affect our fuput all that right, and then I will be free to find ture and theirs. There was such a crowd gathered God's will for the future." Religion had meant for this that the mission house verandah resemnothing to this man, beyond a vague acceptance of bled a hotel lobby! the belief that there was probably a God far away, but that obeying Him was too difficult for mere I dined at the High School with the staff and mortals. Now he is having a real experience. boys, and gave a talk afterwards on "Justice" and its checkered growth through the ages. "I merely bring you the men," said Genahia, "we have nothing else to show. But next time we Wednesday, May 24. The day began wJth a come we will have something we have proved combined worship service and Bible study, to about God's wiIl for gardens." which more or less the whole island gathered. This was led by Cecil Abel. We studied II Corin- These people took their first step as a village, in thians 8, the subject being giving on the Macethe making of a community copra drier. In a donian plan. "How that in great trial of affliction united Quiet Time they had been convicted about the abundance of their joy and their deep pov-
FROM A PAPUAN MISSIONARY'S JOURNAL
erty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. laden with oil drums and timber for the new Bisi- For to their power and beyond their power they maka house: By t'he time we reached Davadava it were willing of themselves . . . and first gave was raining hard, and so dark that John Smeeton their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will (our skipper) suggested making for Bisimaka and of God . . . Therefore see ye that ye abound in spending the night there, instead of crossing the this grace also." Bay to Koeabule. So an hour later we turned into the quiet haven of the secluded Bisimaka Bay, Our minds ranged from the giving of those early where we had supper. A few of the Bisimaka Christians to Chiang Kai-shek's "Do-or-die" corps, girls came down in the rain and peered up at us, who consider themselves already dead, having but heavier rain drove them away, and made us given their lives for their country, so that they doubly thankful for the comfort and aecommodacan be chosen freely for the most dangerous jobs. don of the new boat.
After that we dispersed to our usual routine. We came across to Koeabule this morning. The Soon the sounds' of everyday activity replaced girls had polished up the old house, and filled the the hush of the time we had spent with God- rooms with roses and flowers which made it look sChool children being drilled, the marshalling of most welcome, and belied its age and sagging the kindergarten, the rhythm of the printing ma- floors,. This was done to welcome "Auntie Parkin." chines in the distance, the thump of the pile- A PAPUAN CHRISTIAN TEAM OF EVANGELISTS STARTING OUT driver at work enlarging our wharf, the puffing This was Miss Parkin's station for many years. and wailing of the sawmill shredding tree trunks In fact the plantation was nursed by her through into sawn timber. its infancy, sick trees doctored and nurtured, un- ruly, over-flowing rivers were diverted and There was a pause for prayer all over the is- trained to spill elsewhere. The centre that Koealand during the afternoon, as word went round bule now is owes its early foundations to her faiththat a very serious operation was about to be per- ful spade work, twenty-five years ago. formed at the hospital. The medical staff had a particularly heavy day and looked tired at dinner Cecil Abel turned up in the "Eauedo" after time. lunch, and I and some of the boys joined him on a Saturday afternoon picnic across the Bay to Cecil Abel departed for Milne Bay in the "Eau- Davadava. We fished and caught a couple of edo." I spent the evening at the High School, beauties. Business was mixed with pleasure and where we had singing practice as is usual on the objective that gave point to our trip was the Wednesday evenings. Among other things we inspection of some property on the way. Having learned the Dwarf's Song from Snow White. It done this, we landed up at the river-mouth where sounds well with boys' voices. Andrew and Eabomai, old Kwato students, have a little school and centre on a neck of land that Koeabule-Saturday, May 27. We left Kwato divides the sea from the river. Eabomai's little yesterday at 4 p. m.-Miss Parkin, Marjorie (Mrs. house was spotless, with fresh mats on the floor. Smeeton) Jonty (her little son) and myself. We sat round on the floor while she served tea, After being lustily farewelled at the wharf by the crowd, we steered into a roIly sea. We were well
; ~-"~ .. ;.. . -. ~;:'" ,:..: 1….:,,·) ~ < ~…. ,.. "-"~""''''-'''''''l ._'" -"lU.'.r:~ . I.t. I .. '. ,.,. ~ ~, ~ '" ~ PAPUAN RACING CANOES ~ FORMERLY USED FOR WAR delicious baked godibu (a kind of native aspara- Sunday, May 28. The rain squalls blew and gus) and pawpaws. torrented alternately all through the night. At 9: 30 the Gospel team foregathered for a meeting Eabomai is a real patriot who has done a lot to consider the day's plans. Most of the work of for her country. She has been responsible for the day was to center at Mutuiuwa, where some of teaching scores of adults to read. Wherever she the lads felt they had a work to do. At the mornhas lived she has made it her business to see that ing service at 11, I spoke on Paul's witness in Acts people could read their Suau Gospels. Papuan 26, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." adults wJth their ossified brains are no joke to I showed them what being faithful to that vision teach. But Eabomai has dogged perseverance, a cost him, and what was the result to the world. quality Papuans. are supposed to lack. There are many who read their New Testaments today,and We had an evening service with the station owe this geat privilege to her patience. Added to children, and singing in the building that was forthis, she has run a little boarding school for ten merly a copra kiln but has been transformed into years now. Some of her old pupils have married a roomy meeting hall by clearing out the inteand built their own homes at Davadava, where rior. quite a flourishing little village has developed. When I was inspecting village schools a few years Monday, May 29. John Smeeton and I left ago, I was impressed with the Scripture knowl- Koeabule at 7: 30 a. m. The boat had a heavy edge she had drummed into her pupils. Whatever program of loading at various places, and during else they did not know (and the standard attempt- the intervals I met people ashore. We finally ed was not high) you could not floor them on reached Kwato at 9: 30 p. m., in a downpour of Scripture, and they were able to quote it by the rain, 310 bags of copra reeking aboard, and an ream. On top of all this Eabomai has given elev- inexorable tide forging against us. en children to her country. The youngest is an infant in arms; the eldest is a teacher in the Mai- Wednesday, May 31. The usual mid-week servvara school; the second is a kindergarten teacher ice in the morning. Arthur Beavis led us in a at Kwato; the third, a boy, is in the Kwato High study of the 103d Psalm. Every time he men- School and is learning engineering. They are tioned the Psalmist, David, his small son David stepping along in the family tradition of service. (aged 3) sitting in the audience, nearly jumped The rest are littered all down the grades, but out of his skin, convinced it was all about him, their parents have established a heritage for them and beamed at everyone! to live up to. Their grandparents on both sJdes were cannibals. I spent the evening. at the High School teaching singing: a case of the blind leading the blind (or We returned to Koeabule for dinner just as the perhaps the dumb leading the dumb would decalm spell broke into rain squalls which continued scribe it better!) The principle is, Do as I say, through the night. but not as I do. However, it all went with a swing, and we spent a jolly evening, even if the ladies at
FROM A PAPUAN MISSIONARY'S JOURNAL
the other end of the building did need cotton wool her stride. Having given eight stalwart sons and for their ears. daughters to her country, and having at one time run a very efficient village school, she took up Thursday, June 1. A distracting day of squalls nursing when her husband died seven years ago, and rain. Cecil Abel was operated on yesterday and has proved a most valuable unit of the medical and is having an uphill time, an attack of malaria corps. Some of her old pupils are responsible having made the going hard. village leaders now.
A team meeting this evening to get the work of Monday, June 5. The High School staff met the week-end Clear, and to ensure the maximum as a team this afternoon to check up on the prog- ress, educational, physical and spiritual of the school and to discuss details of teaching and gen- eral running, so as to insure that it is not being run on self-effort, into which it is. easy to lapse, but according to God's will and in His power.
Wednesday, June 6. Led the mid-week service, studying Christ's teaching on prayer, the necessity of sincerity, and the Lord's Prayer as a pattern for our communion with Him.
The place is very full of babies. The Beavises are living in the Big House at the moment with their children; we have a visitor from another part of the territory with her two, and of course the dozens of little brown toddlers. All of which use of the two boats that will be at our disposal. BUILDING A SIXTY-FOOT BOAT AT KWATO Philip is taking a team to Koukou on the "Lantic." People from Kihikihiuna and Gadogadoa are com- keeps us young. All who live at Kwato develop ing over on the "Eauedo" to spend Sunday here; into resourceful Children's Hour entertainers! Halliday Beavis and Tiraka taking responsibility for them. Thursday, June 7. Cecil is improving but a hurried council of war arose out of Miss Parkin's Saturday, June 3. Chief event of the day was critical condition. (She came back from Koeabule, a cricket match. The mothers took their infants to a children's party in Samarai, from which they returned at dark, at which time some of the infants were showing distinct signs of a hang-over! The mothers regaled us at dinner with amazing stories of the capacity of their respective offspring for ices and meringues.
Sunday, June 4. A big crowd came to Kwato this morning, in spite of the stormy weather, and we had a crowded morning service, followed by Communion. There were special meetings for some of the visitors in the afternoon, and chances for personal talks.
Cecil still needs much care. The medical staff are having a busy time and are being fairly run off their feet. Garoinedi, the head Papuan nurse, is away having a long over-due holiday inland. There is great need for more nurses.
Garoinedi, one of our ex-nurses, is another of our patriots who took marriage and a career in
A CONFERENCE WITH PAPUAN CHRISTIANS AT KOEABULE, MILNE BAY ill with dysentery). There is danger of infection at low tide, drew a still greater crowd. While so the Beavises decided to take flight for Milne others of us, and some of the High School boys, Bay at once. We waved farewells from the wharf went fishing and shooting. We fished from the at2 p. m., and the "Kwatd' forged ahead into a "Eauedo," until we reached Nasalualua, a typical billowy sea. The house seems very empty with- Robinson Crusoe isle. There is a romantic tunnel out them all. right through the island, beaches, steep verdant hills, and impossible rocks and cliffs. We scaled I carried Miss Parkin, all too frail and light, the hillsides, scrambling through tangled underinto the Beavis' vacated room. She said, "You growth, and stalked up and down razor-back know Ezekiel gives us only three-.score years and ridges for fat white pigeons. Our shots, however, ten." (She is well over that.) I with complete merely sent them circling happily into the air. We lapse from orthodoxy said, "Nonsense, Ezekiel had some strenuous climbing of cliffs before we didn't know what he was talking about." got back to our anchorage at sunset. We enjoyed the exercise and the sunbake on the launch, and Friday, June 8. Miss Parkin seemed worse sang songs all the way home. this morning, after a bad night, and very weak for the battle that is required of her. A messenger Sunday, June 10. We awoke to an orchestral took a notice board round the island with a mes- roar of rain, whipped up by winds. It lasted all sage in Suau: day unabated. There was no hope of any Sunday service as our folks possess neither raincoats nor "Today our mother Keduruma is very ill; at 9 o'cl:)ck umbrellas. Nor are there fires by which to get let us stand aside from our work to pray for her. Let us dry. So people had their own little meetings in be of one mind in our asking." their own homes or classrooms. We had a prayer meeting up at the mission house. , At 9 o'clock a bell chimed and a hush swept over the island. Some paused for prayer just where We managed to have an evening service, howthey were their tools in their hands. Others ever, for which we squeezed into a house on the joined in twos and threes. One saw whole school hilltop, called the Flat, as the hall of the Big classes with their heads bowed. A group of laun- House, where it is usually held had to be kept dry girls prayed round the ironing table. Cooks quiet for Miss Parkin. She needs constant nursand their helpers put aside pots and pans. Nurses ing, night and day. Mary Abel is untiring by her prayed with their patients. The printing office, bedside. a whirl with humming machinery since 7: 30, when work begins, was quiet. We felt a current Monday, June 12. The weather remains bad of power, and peace instead of anxiety. but schools and activities continue just the same, and the boats fulfil their programs and battle Saturday, June 9. The day dawned clear and against the elements. bright: a welcome change. Saturday morning is always a busy time. All things crowded out The rain hinders much that we plan. Some of or left undone during the week await one, like us did a most unheard-of thing. We spent a sediment at the bottom of the cup. A cricket match "homey" evening playing a game with our guests, occupied the boys. The reefs, which were bared
FROM A PAPUAN MISSIONARY'S JOURNAL
who receive the minimum of attention, but are un- to school and to which he has never returned, and complaining. they said: Tuesday, June 13. Spent a lot of time today "We don't want you here. If you are a Christrying to get a bit of light into some darkened tian and have broken your taboos it will be unlucky minds. This over an unfortunate affair that is for us to have you among us; we do not want you." bringing no honor to Christians, for those concerned have called themselves that. A- in love THE NEW GENERATION IN PAPUA with B-'s wife, ceased struggling against the idea. So for Kwato's sake he left, and took up his A similar message came from the girl's village: residence at a nearby village. His friends there "Do not come here to live. We would not mind welcomed him, as they thought he would be a help if you were heathen, but since you are 'children to them. Three months later B-'s wife followed of the light,' it will probably start an epidemic." him there, and they decided to regard themselves as man and wife: all that is necessary in Papua. The way of transgressors is hard, though I The village people protested. never thought it was in Papua.
"If you were a heathen or ignorant man we Saturday, June 17. Miss Parkin entered into would not mind. But you know better. You life eternal last night after a long, weary day, come from Kwato, and we look up to you." and in spite of all that skill and love could do. "Fear not, I am with thee" was a verse that she They gave him two alternatives, either to send kept repeating, and which comforted her greatly. the girl back to her husband or leave their island. Her spirit found release at last and all was peace and joy for her. So ended a brave and selfless "Weare trying to build a new marriage stand- earthly life. ard," they said, "and you come and kick the foundations. You left Kwato out of respect for She was greatly loved by many to whom she Kwato, why do you not respect us?" ministered, so that there was a hush of sorrow on the island. The house was full of Papuans who "You make the wrong way too easy," said oth- wanted to do something to help, or sat around for ers. "When our children get into difficulties in comfort or tried to share the courage they had their married lives, they will say, Why cannot we found. do that?" The following morning, in the Prayer Garden Some of them were a bit "white-wash club" beyond the church, we laid her to rest–the last about it. The elders of the village pleaded with of the three pioneers who blazed the trail for us, the man and woman to think what their example and in much hardship, but in unflinching devotion was going to mean, and to sacrifice selfish thoughts set a standard of self-sacrifice and service for for the sake of the new Papua. The woman wrote Papua. May we follow in their steps. a long effusion, ending: "This love binds us, who knows how to unite it? We cannot."
The man added a pathetic postscript: "I bear you no ill-will. I appreciated your words last night, but I am unable to heed them. I have chosen this path and do not know how to leave it. Let the blame be mine."
A- then got a job in Samarai, where B-, the injured husband, was working. B- said to a native policeman, "I couldn't take legal action against this fellow for I am a Christian and cannot take a brother into court. . But if I meet him I will probably knock his head off!"
This was reported, so the whole matter was brought to court and made public. There followed a sad washing of the dirty linen of those who had once testified to Christ's power in their lives. In the end, A- was told to choose between a term in jail or leaving the village, in accordance with the wishes of the majority. He chose the latter, a blow to him, as his work and interests are all in that vicinity. Then people came from the village, which he left as a child to come to Kwato
I Found in
* A Letter from Dr. Henry P. Van Dusen, of New York THIS is not an easy time to visit Japan. It is secret of the bond between children and parents all the more difficult if 'one's purpose is an issuing of a depth and beauty in family unity un- embassy of friendship and consultation with known in the modern West. It breeds deference Japanese Christian leaders. Fortunately, our toward the past and its heroes which safeguards itinerary brought us there before our main visit the heritage of the race. It inculcates obedience to China. Had we come to Japan straight from to authority in any form. And it prepares the six weeks of exposure to the concrete actualities Japanese spirit for humble obeisance before the of Japanese rule in Korea, Manchuria and China, Holy God and eager yearning to know and do His it would have been more difficult to respond to the will. gracious ho~pitality of our Japanese friends with But it also predisposes the Japanese to uncrit- wholehearted enthusiasm or to maintain a re- ical credence toward all official teaching. The strained silence before their pitiable self-deception fact is the people know almost nothing, literally regarding the policy and program of their Gov- nothing, of the truth about the war in China-its ernment. causes, is initiation, its course, the methods and An initial impression is that the Japanese Gov- objectives of their own forces in its prosecution.
ernment makes it as disagreeable as possible for They hear only of the menace of Communism and foreigners to enter and travel in their land, and atheism, of the villiany of Chiang Kai-shek, of the then the Japanese people outdo themselves to unbroken victories of their armies. As one J apa- make it altogether delightful to remain. . . . nese friend remarked to me with characteristic There is no land on earth where the graces of innocency, "If our forces are really so successful courtesy, of hospitality, or kindliness, are so in- as our papers tell us, they ought to be in inner Tib- stinctive and so lovely, where every personal rela- et by now!" In the papers, English as well as Japa- tionship is so habitually infused with beauty and nese, there is hardly a column, whether it tells of consideration. We shall carry always, as one of action at the front or of purely domestic happen- the happiest of life's memories, vivid recollections ings in America or Australia without remotest of the unwearied solicitude and unnumbered kind- connection with Japan's concerns, which is not nesses of Japanese friends. doctored to preach its moral. Japanese propagan- But, for all that, Japan is today a tragic nation, da is :transparently crude. But, by the same tragically misguided and self-deceived, and des- token, the Japanese people are unbelievably credu- tined, one fears, for a bitter future. The moment lous.
one moves from the realms of personal relation- Apparent enthusiasm for the war is everywhere ships into areas where the nation's life and policy evident-in the omnipresence of uniforms, in con- are involved, it is a wholly different world. Si- tinuous parades to speed soldiers to tlie front, in lence, secretiveness, evasiveness and a baffling the dignified public reverence toward the ashes semi-mystical subdued passion possess the con- of the dead as they come home. But, when one sciousness of almost every Japanese, even the fin- is reminded of the national fondness for uniforms est Christians. In greater or less measure, their at all times and learns that the parades are care- thinking (or better, feeling) on political and in- fully staged and attendance at them prescribed, ternational matters is dominated by a combina- he accepts the unanimous judgment of foreign tion of insidious, all-pervasive propaganda and residents that there is no popular enthusiasm unthinking patriotic loyalty which appears to be whatsoever-only troubled bafflement at the war's the strongest force in their beings. No one can un- duration and its severity, and dumb loyalty to na- derstand Japan who has not felt at first hand the tional leaders.
power of this passionate reverence-the deepest, One's strongest impression is that the underlyand noblest element in the Japanese nature from ing psychology of the Japanese nation is one not which flowers much that is finest in their ethics of courage or ambition or hatred or cruelty, but and religion as well as their history and culture. of fear. They fear almost everything-Commu- It is the root of the respect for learning and schol- nism preeminently, but also China, Russia, the arship which creates so lovely and touching a re- Western powers, America, especially the Amerilationship between pupil and teacher. It is the can Navy. That fear breeds a national policy moderated neither by truth nor by fairness, nor Pre*sDbyatteerdianToTkryibo,unSee, pAteumgbuesrt even by shrewd discretion. It is this fear and an- 20, 1938, and condensed from The 31, 1939.
[446 ] other outstanding trait of the Japanese character One wishes he could speak with the same clear which promise to be their ultimate undoing-the enthusiasm of the Japanese Christian leaders. fact that they lack the most elementary capacity We must recall that they learn no truth ,.about the to understand the ordinary and inevitable psycho- war save as it reaches them from foreign papers logical reactions of other peoples. In consequence, through foreign friends. And that the sentiment they constantly appear to go out of their way to of reverent and obedient loyalty which is the offend by every device Chinese and all other for- noblest attribute of rational character moves eigners, all the while persuading themselves that deeply within their souls and readily allies itself they are winning others to a "truer understand- with religious devotion. They recall with their ing" of Japan'.g altruistic destiny as the expeller fellow-countrymen the injustices and indignities of western influence from the Orient and the sav- which their nation has suffered from the western iour of all other yellow and brown people from world. They, too, are extraordinarily obtuse to the white domination to their true destiny as satellites normal feelings of other peoples. The uninvited of Japan's divine Emperor. To put it crudely but embassy of five distinguished Japanese Christian without exaggeration, in dealing with any other leaders to Peiping in the summer of 1938 to counpeople, the Japanese as a nation have no sense sel with Chinese Christian leaders for the evanwhatever. The most devastating rebuttal to the gelization of North China was a vivid illustration. whole Japanese case for her present ambitions- We sat at dinner one night in a friend's home with and it is definitive-is the fact that, though Japan a foremost Christian statesman who had paid a envisions herself as the emancipator of all orien- heavy personal price for his courageous liberalism tal peoples, there is not one of these peoples from in the days before this war. His wife remarked Siberia to Malaya, however much they may chafe that she and her husband were spendipg much under western rule or resent white exploitation, time studying the Chinese language. I inquired which does not contemplate one other fate with in- why. He replied that his people, though they finitely greater fear and loathing-the possibility owed so much of their culture to China, really of Japanese domination. It is a sad truth that Ja- knew almost nothing of China'.g history and litpan hasn't a single friend among the nations near- erature and art. He and his wife wanted comer than Rome or Berlin. mand of Chinese for this purpose. Then he added, his face lighting up with a beautiful smile, "You There would seem to be only two possible out- know this unhappy incident is drawing the Chicomes for Japan-either a radical change in na- nese and Japanese peoples so much closer totional leadership and policy or ultimate involve- gether." ment in a titanic conflict with one or more of the "Great Powers" issuing in crushing military de- Regarding the war, the Japane.se Christian leadfeat. If the latter should come, whatever our de- ers for the most part keep a studied silence. Unsires and the efforts of our peace lovers, it is much doubtedly most of them regret its occurrence promore than probable that the principal power ar- foundly and abhor the suffering and taking of life. rayed against Japan will be the United States. The Undoubtedly a few strongly disapprove their govmost disturbing single fact in Japan, for her no ernment's actions, blaming them upon the domless than for the peace of the world, is that no well- inance of the military clique. Undoubtedly within informed observer holds reasonable hope of the the souls of all, there is grave di.gquiet and some first of those two alternatives. acute suffering which stirs sincere symp~thy. But very, very few of them are able to see the whole It is against this background that we must view matter in anything like its true light. It is espethe Church in Japan. In such a national situation, cially disquieting to discover young Christian leadthe Christian movement faces superlative diffi- ers, trained in American graduate schools which pride themselves on their "debunking realism," culties. falling victims to those most blatant propaganda The missionaries, with certain few very sad and absurd mythologies. A brilliant young pro- fessor with several terms of study abroad confided and unfortunately very prominent exceptions, are to me, "Christianity's great problem in Japan tofulfilling a difficult role magnificently, the role of day is to unite worship of the Emperor with wor- "dignified silence." It is a silence which is cost- ship of God." And so there is no "Confessional ing many of them intense suffering for every in- Church" within the Christian Movement in Japan. stinct prompts them to declare a Christian judg- Even the most clearheaded and fearless leaders ment upon Japan's outrages. To their Japanese argue there would be no gain from the suffering friends, their abhorrence of J apane.ge aggression and martyrdom which forthright protest would must be very apparent, though there is no uttered involve. The sacrifice of self (hari leari) is too word of criticism or condemnation. They are in familiar to stir response. Japan as friends and counsellors to the Japanese Church. It is not their province to judge national Almost sadder than ignorance and credulity is policy but to lend to their Japanese colleagues such sympathy and strength as they can.
the mask of silence cast over Christian candor. is hardly short of miraculous. As one studies and Almost no Japanese Christians speak with complete frankness to foreign friends, even most inti- puzzles over the issues for the future of Chrismate associates of many years. It is said that tianity in Japan, one comes to feel that it is He, they dare not speak frankly to one another. and He almost unaided, who must fight the battle within their souls against all that would lure them And yet the unshakable loyalty of Japanese from truth and the kingdom. For before them Christians,even those of most warped perspec- there lie not only severe problems in relation to tive, to Christ is beyond question and profoundly Government and nation, but many trials and impressive. He has taken a hold upon them which dangers within the life of their church.
A Desert Domain-Among·· the Indians –ae{ By FLORA WARREN SEYMOUR, Chicago, Illinois Author of "The Story of the Red Man" (see Frontispiece) PERHAPS the most colorful of the four region- aries from all corners of the huge 50,000 square al conferences of the Fellowship of Indian mile reservation – larger than Massachusetts, Workers this past summer was the one at the Rhode Island and Connecticut combined-spoke Ganado Mission in Arizona, in the heart of the of the different aspects, of their work. Most fruit- Navajo reservation. Two other important confer- ful of all was the contribution of the Navajos ences took place later, one at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, themselves since they are the subjects of so much and one at Thomas Indian School in western New of modern experimentation. York. The attitude of the National Indian Bureau has At Ganado, (about fifty_miles from Gallup, New been considered by many as hostile towards this Mexico) in the swirling sand of the southwestern tribe which it is required by law and treaty to desert is a beautiful center of fellowship and as- care for as a guardian. Since the Navajo election piration, it is charac,terized by sincere, unflagging, of last September the futility of this attitude has effective work for the physical, mental, moral and been apparent even to those least inclined to favor spiritual good of the Navajo people. A school the Navajo's side. In spite of every effort by radio takes the young Navajo through high school exhortations and personal visitations, in spite of grades; a hospital, under the management of Dr. the pressure of jobs withheld and jobs offered, the C. H. Salsbury, ranks with the best; in the nurses' Navajos, by a vote of four to one, elected as chairtraining school young women graduates–chiefly man of the tribal council, the man who has been Indian-are equipped to practice their profession their leader in their struggle of the past few in any hospital or community in the land. years-Jacob C. Morgan, a graduate of Hampton Institute, a resident of Farmington, New Mexico, The Christian chapel is the oldest building on and a native Christian missionary. With him this peaceful green island in the midst of a sea of was elected a council whose members are from sand. Last June representatives of ten or twelve two-thirds to three-fourths in harmony with the religious denominations, and leaders of many dif- ideals and purposes of Chairman Morgan. ferent Indian tribes of the southwest, met at Ganado to discuss the problems of the Indians. It was obvious that the government program could not keep up a show of "Indian self-govern- Because this is Navajo country, and because the ment" and at the same time deliberately disregard problems of the Navajo have been most pressing the opinions and desires of the large majority of of late, the predominant note was the needs and the tribe. Even the Indian Bureau, in spite of attitudes of these shepherd people. All phases of the arbitrary powers it possesses can not remain the problem were represented. The Superintend- permanently in conflict with its wards. Some ent ·of the Navajo reservation, E. R. Fryer, dis- measures to secure harmony and cooperation are cussed the Federal government's work and aims. imperative. Another speaker was Dr. Thomas Jesse Jones, of the Phelps-Stokes Foundation, who, with a num- When the tribal council was called together, ber of associates has been making a survey of the some months after its election, a five-day session reservation with a view to bringing about some was held in accordance with Indian ideas of counconciliation among the opposing views. Mission- cil procedure. To the Indian mind adequate time
A DESERT DOMAIN ~ AMONG THE INDIANS
for deliberation is all-important. "I won't want age-old habits and attitudes can not be changed to sit down again for a month," said one delegate by a simple twist of the wrist. Navajos are not when he arose at the conclusion of the five-day accustomed to handle money and cannot yet look conference. upon wages and cash as their basis of livelihood. Moreover, the official statement that they need While some measure of agreement had been not use the money they earn to pay debts at the reached, yet the day before the beginning of the trader's store has helped to break down Navajo Ganado meeting it was evident that trouble was credit and sense of responsibility for debt; it brewing in the Leupp district over the reduction has also hastened the dissipation of these wages of horses. The res ervation superintendent and via the gambling and illicit liquor route. Chairman Morgan flew together by Government airplane to the scene of the difficulty-distances The liquor problem is admittedly more serious are immense on this reservation-and Morgan today among the Navajos than at any time in helped to bring the reluctant Navajos to consent their history. It is still a crime for any man, white to the reduction of their stock. or Indian, to bring intoxicating liquors upon the reservation. But roads and automobiles are too Admittedly, the Navajo Reservation maintains many and the desire to enforce the law is too too many "Indian ponies" for the good of its sheep feeble to insure law enforcement. The result is and cattle. Reduction in the number of horses HOGANS-HOMES OF INDIANS ON THE. NAVAJO RESERVATION. ARIZONA had been urged for many a year, and some slight that the highways are strewn with empty bottles progress has been made. But the reduction of and drunkenness among Government employees, sheep is something that touches the Navajo life white or Indian, goes practically unrebuked. The more closely, and when the Indian Bureau de- . result is widespread evil and the outlook is not mands that the number shall be radically reduced hopeful. .
the assent of the Navajos is not easy to gain. While the opposition of the Indian Bureau to As Chairman Morgan cleverly put it in his Christian missionary work is not quite so prospeech at the Ganado Conference, the question is nounced as it was two or three years ago, still, one "less of soil erosion than of soul erosion." the encouragement of the "ancient Indian tradi- Both Navajos and their friends working among tions" is featured, and the revival of old pagan them deplore the breakdown of Navajo morale in rites and ceremonies is applauded at Washington. the past few years. For a livelihood they depend Only a few days before the Ganado conference the on lambs, wool and rugs brought in at intervals Secretary of the Interior, visiting the region, made throughout the year for credit at the trader's a public speech and gave out interviews in which store. The discouragement of the sheep industry he urged the people of New Mexico to preserve in recent times, and the introduction of more gov- "their colorful Indian ceremonies" as an attracernment work-first called Indian Emergency tion for tourists and as one of the great financial Conservation Work, and now officially referred to assets of the region.
as the CCC of the Indian Department-has been "Yes," said one of the Indian speakers at the intended to establish a cash basis of living. But conference, "come down here in a few years and
you'll see me on exhibition in a barred cage, and ernment day schools was projected and carried Tsi Notah, here, in another. On that cage will be out. Of seventy-two schools originally planned, a sign reading 'A NAVAJO INDIAN, PRE- thirty-eight are now in use-more or less; their SERVED FOR THE BENEFIT OF TOURISTS.' " ability to attract and hold Indian pupils is still far The audience appreciated the resentment of a below their seating capacity. At one time the self-respecting Navajo at being held up publicly as schools were to be entirely Navajo, conducted by Navajo "assistants" and in the Navajo language. a curio or museum exhibit. Then they were to be made "community centers." "Ancient traditions" in the shape of medicine Later their great purpose was to be to make the Navajo "soil erosion conscious." After several dances met with discouragement even from the years of extravagant and changing experimentagovernment for a brief period last spring. In the tion, there is coming about something approachwinter an epidemic of diphtheria was not consid- ing the school which the Navajo desires and needs ered serious enough to warrant the adoption of for his children, a place where they may learn the quarantine measures such as would have been language and the ways of the white civilization rigidly enforced among white people. "Yebechai" which is dominant even in this remote spot. The dances over diphtheria patients, with the gath- Navajo, though himself unlearned, knows well ering together of Navajos from far and near, that the "three R's" furnish a road to more sucbrought about a great spread of the disease in cessful contacts with the white race, the better dis- November and December. In January the spread posal of his goods, and a greater chance of of meningitis, added to the prevailing epidemics, advancement. Like other parents, he wants his came to notice in the newspapers, and assistance children to have what will help them. was given to the Navajos in putting a ban on public meetings until the epidemic should be under Even now, with the schools apparently abandon- ing the most useless of their nebulosities, control. attendance does not justify the huge expense of So, though officially-in its own words-giving inaugurating or maintaining them. Nor does the experiment justify the conclusion that the Navajo "full faith and credit" to the work of the native children in general are receiving an education. Inmedicine man, the Indian Bureau found it expedi- cluding the mission schools and the public schools, ent to ask the medicine man to soft-pedal his spec- as well as those offered by the Indian Bureau, not tacular ministrations except in the case of less one third of the Navajo children of school age are serious diseases. In the meantime he may con- enrolled and in even irregular attendance. tinue to help spread such diseases as tuberculosis, or to allow minor infections to run their course It is difficult to find Navajo girls who have had in the name of "the ancient religion." the educational· training requisite to begin a nurse's training course of study. The school at The Bureau establishes expensive and well- Ganado should be used for high school work but equipped hospitals with highly trained staffs, and not enough pupils have received training from the yet at the same time encourages the submission of government schools to fit them for high school patients to native healers whose stock-in-trade is entrance. The high school department of the a primitive and superstitious "magic" that defies Navajo Methodist Mission School at Farmington, all modern rules of health and sanitation. These New Mexico, graduated its first class last spring; old shamans are said to number one-seventh of the as it sends out a group of educated young people adult men of the tribe; their demand for sheep each year, there will be a very little better supply and goats in payment for their ministrations helps to draw upon to fill the great need. The Navajo to increase the poverty of the Indians. In con- is asking for education; but instead of bread he trast to these medicine men stand the young wom- too often receives from his appointed guardian en of the nurses' training school at Ganado, whose something pitiably like a stone. hope and purpose is to aid their fellow tribesmen by acquiring the highest standards of health and The mission schools-of different denomina- tions-are greatly appreciated by the Navajos as sanitation. was evident to all who heard the Indian missionar- It is to be regretted that a larger number of ies speak at the Ganado conference. Christian missions are exerting a great influence upon a these student nurses are not from the Navajo people who, though remote and out of touch with tribe. The difficulty lies in the fact that for some civilizing influences, have always been eager to ten years the Indians of the country have been learn and are ready to adapt themselves to ch,mgsubjects of the experimental type of education ing conditions. Let us hope that their "soul erowhich calls itself "progressive." The Navajos are sion" can be checked and that through the efforts a semi-nomadic people, and until recent years it of their Christian friends they may rise to their was obvious that boarding schools offered the most full stature as a people. feasible form of training to children whose parents might be here today and elsewhere tomorrow. Disregarding the evidence of facts, an elaborate plan for building a great number of costly gov-
Need for World~Wide
By ALEXANDER McLEISH, London World Dominion Movement O N THE journey from London eastwards to er said, on "the edge of the abyss." Its well known Vancouver the traveller passes through all secretary, Dr. Adolf Keller, entitled his recent the great mission fields of the world. I book on the European Church situation, "Five have made this journey twice in the last two years, Minutes to Twelve." This is the attitude of the visiting most of these countries. Two-thirds of Church leaders of Europe to present-day trends the world's population are found in these non- in that Continent. They consider that we in Christian nations, and among their 1,400,000,000 North America and Great Britain have entrenched people 150 years of mission work have built up a ourselves behind a barrage of false security. The Christian Church of 15,000,000. These numbers, world is no longer indifferent or neutral with rehowever, convey little of the real nature of the gard to the challenge of Christianity; it is organ- Christian impact which has been associated with izing itself in opposition, in anti-God movements, the other great forces, good and bad, which have in a multitude of religious cults, and in nationalbrought the backward nations of the world into istic religions which provide no moral basis for the stream of modern progress. The Church, how- spiritual reconstruction of any kind, hence the ever, has at last firmly established itself in many chaos and confusion which prevail everywhere. of these lands, a fact which was demonstrated at The gravity and urgency of the situation cannot the World Missionary Conference at Madras dur- be exaggerated, for the Church is, called to bear its ing the last fortnight of 1938. For three months witness in an atmosphere predominantly antagthe 474 delegates were approaching and leaving onistic. The Madras Conference called the India along all the lines of world travel, and teams Churches of the world to confession and repentof these delegates have since been visiting the ance for their share in this situation. The lands of the older Churches. Church's provincialism, its divisions and its strife were condemned, and a call sounded for a new Even in these days of frequent world confer- unity in face of a distracted and divided world. ences, this Conference was of peculiar significance. Can the Church rise to this call? It is a matter of Most of the 64 countries and territories represent- extreme urgency that it does so. ed were those of the younger Churches, and fifty per cent of the delegates represented these Great attention was paid to the extent and char- Churches, a large number of whom were young acter of the unfinished task of the Church. No men. longer did the Churches of so-called older Chris- tian lands stand in a position of superiority to the The subject of the Conference was "The Church" younger Churches of other lands. These repre- -the Christian fellowship throughout the world. sentatives of the whole Church in the world, in The dominant fact revealed was that the Christian many protracted and strenuous sessions, consid- Church today bears its witness and fights its bat- ered the implications of the Church's faith in a tIes in a non-Christian world-a world largely non-Christian environment. They realized that antagonistic to the idea of world brotherhood. every problem was at root a spiritual problem. One-tenth only of its total population belong,s They reviewed the Church's obligations in regard even nominally to the evangelical or Protestant Church. Let us be under no delusion as to the to the State, to economics, to social problems, to fact that the Christian Church is still a minority the needs of rural areas, and always came back movement the ideals of which are a perpetual to the fact that only new men can create or suschallenge to the dominant spirit of the world in tain a new world. Regeneration comes before which it exists. reconstruction. The eternal problem of the Church stood out clearly, namely, how to carryon its task A few months ago I attended a meeting of the of witnessing to the source of this new life in Inter-Church Aid Committee at Basel, Switzer- Jesus Christ. This unfinished task of effective land, and listened to reports of the Churches in Christian witness was studied over the whole Europe. The majority of these Churches are in world field. dire straits today-Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Italy, Russia, Poland, and There is, it was noted, in Europe a concerted, Eastern Europe generally; all are, as one speak- organized attempt to secularize the minds of mil- [451 ]
lions of people. Attention was, however, concen- South America. Some islands of the French trated on the Christian task in the non-Christian West Indies, such as Martinique, are, with the ex- world. Many countries and areas are entirely ception of the Adventists, quite untouched by closed to Christian witness, such as Afghanistan, Protestant missions.
the Soviet Republics, Bhutan, Outer Mongolia, Further study reveals the presence everywhere Nepal and Tibet. The fact that countries once of special groups and classes, particularly immiopen are closing to the Gospel is a significant fea- grant populations, which have been largely overture of our times. Swedish missionaries in Tur- looked. This is particularly true of the Jewish kestan have just been driven out. Protestant communities throughout the world, especially in work in Ethiopia and the Italian Mrican colon- Poland, Eastern Europe, South Africa and South ieshas practically ceased to exist; continuance of work in the old Syrian province of Alexandretta America. is threatened. It is impossible to enter into further detail In China it is estimated that 45 per cent of the here, but it is well to remember that the Christian country is entirely untouched by Christian forces. task is not merely concerned with areas and num- Half of Manchuria is beyond Christian influence. bers, but with the creation of the Christian way of French Indo-China has many areas and tribes life as it affects the social, economic and cultural untouched, and only one missionary society. The life of these peoples, in other words with the Netherlands Indies, in addition to having large establishment of the Kingdom of God in human areas still closed, has some areas which are open relationships. Truly a stupendous task!
but not entered, and many areas which are barely The Character of the Task Ahead touched. lit is estimated that there are 36,000,000 (1) The Church is faced with a situation in people outside the possibility of hearing the Gos- its missionary task where areas are closing to the Gospel and where many peoples have become less pel. open-minded to Christian influences. There are In India, in addition to a large number of Indian revivals within Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Shintoism. States in which no missionaries reside (about 500) , there are areas consisting of two, three and, (2) There is more organized opposition to the in one case, five million people without effective Christian witness than at any time within the Christian witness. The fact that in India there past one hundred years. There is a real danger are only 14 Protestant missionaries and 7,000 that if the work of the Church is not intensified Christians to the million people, shows the magni- adverse movements will become so strong as to tude of the unfinished task. The existence of seriously threaten the Christian cause throughout 60,000,000 of the depressed classes and aboriginal the world. peoples is a call for increased effort. The fact that large significant movements to Christianity (3) The world is in a ferment; nations are are taking place among these depressed classes seeking substitutes for God, and nationalisms are is a challenge to all concerned. In ten years this replacing old religious loyalties. opportunity may have passed away. Evangelistic effort among the 80,000,000 Moslems and Sijehs is (4) There are more non-Christians in the world now than there were ten years ago. The' also wholly inadequate. In other areas of Asia the number of mission- increase in membership of the Christian Church aries is so small that vast tracts of country are has not yet overtaken the increase in population.
still untouched. This is especially true of Moslem (5) The resources in missionaries and funds lands such as Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Turkey, and fromthe sending countries are relatively consider- of the great Buddhist areas of Burma and Siam, ably less than they were some years ago, and in and the rural areas of Japan. consequence there has been a curtailment of evan- In Africa, in spite of the high average of 56 gelistic effort and a reduction in the number of Protestant missionaries to the million people, and missionaries, especially in Asia, and the abandon- though the growth of the Church has been more ment of work in many rural areas.
rapid than in any other continent, there are still These facts speak for themselves. They pre- many areas and tribes to be reached, especialy in sent a picture of the kind of world within which the Moslem north, French West and Equatorial the Church is operating today. To realize the vast Africa, Portuguese Guinea, Mozambique and the extent and urgency of this task is the first step in Emirates of Nigeria. any attempt adequately to meet it. This the South America presents another territory which Madras Conference did more realistically than calls for the services of many more workers. Rel- any previous conference of its kind. Yet this atively, the evangelical Church is not even as vision of need must become the mainspring of strong there as in India. In Mexico and Central effective action.
America the Church is only half as strong as in In meeting this situation there is no ground for
THE NEED FOR WORLD-WIDE EVANGELISM
peSSImIsm. The success of the Christian mission of the great Batak Church of Sumatra, and the in so many lands makes that clear. What was till mass movements of India. recently wholly the task of the Western Churches has now become the task of the universal Church; The call to the Church is to go forward. Nothand the Conference emphasized that each branch ing in the present difficult world situation in any of the Church must be of service to all the other way invalidates the Gospel. It is still the power branches. The strong must help the weak, and of God unto salvation, and ten thousand modern the rich the poor. The great task of world evan- miracles could be instanced in proof of it. There gelization may, in one sense, be said to be just is no way to world peace save through world evanbeginning when we think of its magnitude and gelization. The early Church was martyred for difficulty. This task in this new day must be its faith that "Jesus Christ is Lord"; in this day undertaken by a partnership between the older we believe men are no less heroic. and the younger Churches, by a pooling of all resources, and by the cooperation of all Christians, Can the Church summon Christians everywhere says the secretary of the largest missionary soci- to a new adventure for the Kingdom of God? ety in the world. Can it give youth a new vision of the purpose of God for the world? Can it challenge men to live Another fact to be stressed is that the accept- dangerously for the sake of the Gospel? "Safety ance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord involves first" is no motto for the soldier of Christ. Every the duty and privilege of every Christian wit- fact in the world situation calls upon Christians nessing to the faith he has found. This is no mere to carry forward the Church's task more resoplatitude, but should and ought to be the greatest lutely. Neither in Great Britain or in the United factor in the Christian movement. The witness States have we done what we could. We have of man to man has always been the main factor in nothing to boast of and much to repent of, but we the ,spread of the Christian faith, and will always can do better if we will. We should make as much be so. "Ye shall be witnesses of me," says Christ. as possible of the pros,pect of a new world partner- In Nigeria, where the Church has doubled its ship in evangelization in uniting our resources of membership in the last twelve years, ninety per men and money in pursuit of one common task. cent of its members have been won by the wit- Such an effort alone will justify and guarantee ness of the Africans themselves. The same is true the continued existence of the Church throughout the world.
The Unique Supremacy of Christianity One of the boldest offenders against the truth ity and other religions, although at each point concerning Eastern non-Christian religions is Christianity is superior. H. G. Wells. Professor R. E. Hume, who was born and bred in India, and knows intimately its "There are three points in which I cannot adlanguage and literatures and its life, says: duce any parallel from the history of the other religions; namely, the character of Jesus Christ "From an intensive study of the sacred Scrip- himself, the character of God as revealed by Jesus ture of the various religions I make bold to state Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit as assured by that H. G. Wells does not know the historical doc- Jesus Christ. umentary facts when he makes statements concerning Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and Chris- "These are the very points which are essentials tianity such as the following: of Christianity as formulated elaborately in the doctrine of the Trinity or as summarized simply "'Islam . . . was the broadest, freshest, and in the benediction of Paul in 2 Corinthians 13: 14, cleanest political idea that had yet come into ac- 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of tivity in the world and it offered better terms than God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be any other to the mass of mankind' ("Outline of with you all.' "-From The Philippine Evangelist. History," Vol. 2; p.23). "Five cents for gum may stretch your jaw mus- " 'There was in the real teaching of Jesus . . . cles but contract your dollar. Five cents for misnothing to prevent a personal disciple of Jesus sions may contract your jaw muscles, but may from accepting all the recorded teaching of Bud- work miracles in many a land. A five dollar dha' (Vol. 1; p. 582)" 'permanent' will be all gone in six months, but a five dollar investment in a missionary, goes right "I would testify that the study of the various on 'world without end.' "-From Dollars After religions has produced a greater confidence in the Their Kind. Printed in The Presbyterian Tribunequalled religious value of the Christian Bible une. and especially in the supremacy of Jesus Christ. There are points of similarity between Christian-
A CHINESE HOME ON THE HIGH HILLS OF YUNNAN. WEST
Travel Difficulties In West China By HOWARD THOMAS, Kiulungkiang, Yunnan Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Courage, a sense of humor, a conviction Our pass.ports were not examined at the border of the call and comradeship of God, and some acceptance and consequently we came into China expecting to send our passports to Yunnanfu immediately afof the "oriental attitude" of mind-all these are of great ter the local officials had examined and returned help in enabling missionaries to endure hardship cheerfully them. and victoriously in the midst of dangers and difficulties. When we arrived at our station, Kiulungkiang, The following extracts from letters received from Rev. we presented our passports to the local officials and Mrs. Howard Thomas, two young Presbyterian mis- and after a few days the documents were resionaries, who have recently taken up work in Yunnan, West China, across the border from Siam. The letters are dated October 11, 1938 and March 27, 1939.
October 11, 1938 turned, with the word that they were good and in order. We prepared to send them to our Amer- W HEN we first came into West China from ican consul; but before we could get them en Burma a very annoying clause was route they were called for in order that the stamped on our passports in this fashion: Chineses officials might have them translated into "This passport not valid for travel in or to China." English. They were not returned for three In Bangkok, on our way up here, the Ameri- months; they came with plenty of bad news, with can Consulate informed us that we should send the orders for us "To get out of China at once and our passports to Yunnanfu and that everything secure a visa." We went and begged permission to necessary would be done in the proper manner, remain until after the rains, but there was no since there is no Chinese consul in Bangkok. mercy_ We were told that the women might [454 ]
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES IN WEST CHINA
remain but that we must leave at once. So Dr. smiles. He even begged me to accept his son in Nelson, the senior missionary and I began to plan my home and teach him English and French. for a nine-day pack trip in torrents of rain to Kentung, Burma; then a two to four-day bus The next day we left Moung Hai in the suntrip to Taunggyi, and a two-day rail trip to Ran- shine, but before we had gone far it began to goon. rain and we spent most of the day in water. The horse flies were terrible, and my pony bled copi- We found that we couldn't beg, borrow, or ously. Just before we reached our destination buy horses; so we had to hire Chinese carriers. that day, we came upon a section of low country, The men can carry up to forty-five pounds in the completely inundated. Here it was necessary to dry season, but this was during the rains. We hire a guide to get us across the fields. That night had one pack pony, two riding ponies, and a very we slept in another temple, which was quite clean. poor horse. We tried to make a pack pony out of Our sleep was disturbed during the night by an him, but when we put a load on his back and earth-quake. If you want a real thrill go into walked him around in the rain for two days to a temple with tile roofing and have an earth-quake train him, he just wouldn't be good. entertain you. The officials sent soldiers along to see that no harm came to us-ostensibly to guard We were two days late in starting because we us; actually to see that we left China. We had had to spend so much time finding carriers. Fi- to pay them and provide their food. nally on May 11th, about three-thirty we got away, and after going about five miles, pulled The following day the going' really became into a village for the night. One of the natives tough for in many places. the mud and w;,tter asked us to share his dwelling; so ten carriers were up to the horses' bellies. We were soon and two foreigner,s gave him a thousand thanks covered with mud from toes to top. My pony, a and made their beds under the bamboo and grass four-year-old stallion became "heady" and fought that he called home. Oh, but it did rain that me half the day. night. In the evening we stopped at a Chinese school To assure getting across the mountains to shel- (in name only), consisting of a bunch of bamboo ter on the following day, we left early in the thrown together in the quickest possible manner. morning and plodded along all day in mud and A bit of grass, called thatch, was thrown on the rain. At ten-thirty we stopped for a bite to eat. rOQf to keep out the rain. This was a red letter Imagine us perched on the mountain side in the day in my life as I had a soap bath. Usually I "flood-like" rains, trying to build a fire and cook waited until the mud dried and then brushed it our rice and tea. Ruth (Mrs. Thomas) had roast- off with a towel; then the following day the rain ed a chicken; so our first meal was a good one. would wash off the dust. This day doctor and I After eating we moved up the trail and that night went down to an old well and by means of a bamwe stopped in a Buddhist temple. Our carriers boo which had been made into a dipper we were were about dead and many had sore feet. Walk- able to dip water out fora bath. I slept horribly ing in the wet jungle from five in the morning and the next morning discovered the reason. Imauntil eight at night was almost too much for gine my amazement at finding my sheet literally them; but they wanted to keep the doctor and smeared with blood. We had picked up a couple pastor with them and so were willing to work to -seemed like a dozen-leeches after our bath and prove it. The temple was filthy, but it was dry. took them to bed with us. They certainly can After our men had cooked a hurried supper, we do a "bloody night's work." We also had gone dragged ourselves off to bed, after I had washed to bed with a host of wood ticks, which came in my feet to the knees to get off the worst of the for a share of the feast. mud. Next day we had about four hours of sunshine The rain was still very much with us the next and soft winds and after that the deluge. It morning but at about ten o'clock we arrived in doesn't seem possible that there could be so much Moung Hai and presented our cards at the "ya- mud in the world as we went through that day. men" (magistrate's office). The magistrate was I was utterly exhausted, dragging myself through provoked at us because we had not stopped in to that mire, while the carriers dragged themsee him on the way up, complaining that we had selves and our loads, each weighing at least forty crossed his territory without his official permis- pounds. And to make matters worse there were sion. The real reason for his animosity was that ·several bad slides and fallen trees to work ourwe had stopped at the home of a friend of the selves and horses around and over. It was a long mission, one of the leading tea merchants, rather hard day and both men and horses showed the efthan at the "yamen." Consequently, he "lost some fects. The temple in which I slept that night was freshly painted and the odor was stifling, but we face." were too fatigued to be bothered by it. I got my After about two hours with the official, and an second bath and attempted to shave.
exchange of compliments he sent us away with
On the following day we reached the customs The village from which we were ferried has a house, and found that the bridge at the river had very bad name. The men were worried for fear been wa'shed away; so we had to cross by native that the villagers might raid us in the night and boats, while the horses swam. I always carry a rob us, that means RpaAay-owh, or finish, for small pressure stove and boil my own drinking when the Tai rob, they kill. But after prayers we water but that was little for three men. The Chi- went to bed and slept soundly. "A mighty fortress nese coolies drink anything and get away with it is our God." or it gets them. The custom's official had collected $672 from me the first time I came in, and a The following day we decided to leave the carfriend of his held me up for nearly $400. He riers and forge on ahead so that we might reach gave us a warm welcome; why shouldn't he be Kentung that day. Ordinarily that stage requires pleased to see me? The Chinese are great tea two days' travel. It was the toughest day I have drinkers. As soon as we were seated a pot of tea had in a long time. was set before us and was instantly drained. Another also vanished hurriedly and from the time We stayed in Kentung two days with the Buof our entrance, about five o'clock, until we went kers. Dr. Richard and Rev. Raymond Buker are to bed about nine, we emptied seven pots of tea. twin brothers, Baptist missionaries from New (Each pot held about two quarts.) I felt that I England. They are wonderful folk. From here would gladly have paid five dollars for a glass of we went by bus to Taunggyi. What roads! ! ! iced water-and probably would have died after Imagine travelling from six in the morning undrinking it. til eleven at night, seventeen hours with probably two hours out for meals, and making only one We were invited to have breakfast with the hundred and fifteen miles. There were no springs official-and so we got a very late start. There is in the seats either! From Taunggyi we went on a custom out here that is quite convenient. When to Rangoon by rail, "Narrow gage." The mounwe enter a Tai village, the headman is required to tains are so steep that our engine kept zig-zagging put us up for the night if we are reputable men. back and forth to descend to the plain. En route (We had a letter from the Chow-Fa proving our doctor and I were both stricken with malaria intrinsic worth.) If we accept his hospitality, he and unable to secure any quinine. This was my is obliged to extend the invitation to our men. This first attack and it was a beauty! makes an opportunity for personal evangelism, but this time we didn't have the language. It never entered our heads that we would have to spend more than three or four days in Ran- After we did get going it seemed to me that we goon. We spent twenty-two. The American Conwere fording rivers and mud holes all day. It sul had to cable Washington for permission to rained hard and we had a terrible mountain to amend our passports. The Chinese wouldn't give go over. We struggled up the slope and slid us a visa without the "clause" being altered. All down the other side. I pitied the horses that car- the time it kept raining unusually hard and our ried loads. I figured that it was safer riding on carriers threatened to go back home and leave us. the level and walking up and down hills, which "Sera" was killing horses by the hundreds, rumors was about all the way. We swam into a temple of banditry on the Burma-China border were flycovered with mud and filthy water. After a bath ing thick and fast. The Lord kept me marvellous- (a shower afforded by the gully in the roof) I ly calm and at mental ease. dived into a meal and was asleep almost before I had finished. Sleep hid the filth and vermin Finally we left in a whirl wind and arrived in while I dreamed of cleanliness and good food. Taunggyi by train on time. Bad roads and mud took their toll in time, but most in patience, and At about five o'clock we were ready to yoke, and we were two days late arriving in Kengtung. We lift, but we didn't get away before seven. At about paid a diplomatic call on the British official who two that day the rains let up for a while and I warned us against trying to make the trip "up decided that I would give my horse the bit and country" on account of bandits and the impassable let him run. We were on the top of a mountain roads. The Burmese government had a double and the trail was good, sandy and hard. He ran. frontier force on duty because of conditions. It Doctor came with us. We were quite a bit ahead is a great thing to have a living faith in a Living of the men. Just at the crest of the mountain Heavenly Father. we noticed some very large and interesting tracks; deeply embedded in the soil. When the men came, The trip home was, marked by about six weeks they said that the tracks were of a tiger the larg- of more rain worse than the trip down. We had est that they had ever seen. They were recently seven ponies from Kentung-thanks to Buker's made, as the rains had not washed them out. influence-three of them loaded with money, and At four we reached the river and after two hours our carriers were loaded light. We set out to make of oriental bargaining we were ferried across. good time and we reached home in seven days and two hours. Think of it: seven and a half days of very difficult traveling to go one hundred and fifty
miles. The Chinese said: "Just think, the for- by much perfumes. But there we sat bearded, eigners made the trip in seven days during the wet, muddy, and Nelson was wearing an automatic rains! Why we take nine days during the dry pistol strapped over his shoulders, embarrassed season. Great men those foreigners." ::amid the flower of Chinese society in Moung HaL When we arrived in Moung Hai, we were .a sight After the wedding, the magistrate led us about to behold. That day we had come across inun- the room and introduced us to every person of dated lands and down very difficult mountain importance. We were then taken to the home of trails. We were muddy, bearded, and filthy. We the groom and given the seats of honor at the went to the home of our friend, the tea merchant, and delivered some articles we had purchased for him. Doctor Nelson went to the mission hospital to assist Dr. Tan, a Chinese doctor, with some very bad burn cases. I went to the magistrate to present our passports. He wanted to keep them for some time. I blankly refused even to consider the point. Our consul had set me a procedure to follow and I stuck to my guns. Suddenly he be- came flowery and insisted that I remain in his home for three weeks as his guest. Here was a situation on which I had not planned. The magis- trate must not be offended for I wanted his assist- ance in the work that I was planning in his dis- trict. His son proved to be the solution to the problem. The boy had taken a fancy to me and I won the father's admiration. After carefully ex- plaining the situation through an interpreter, who had been educated in one of our mission schools in Siam, the magistrate decided that I could go home in three days. Quite rejected I left the "ya- men" and ran into another English-speaking Chi- nese official who was grateful for some advice that I had given him regarding American farming methods and farm machinery. When I told him that it was imperative that I leave Moung Rai at once for home, he promised to speak to the magis- trate immediately. After five minutes he came back all aglow, saying that I could go today, but I must first attend an official wedding. Finally I blurted out that our ponies had gone on with our men to the next village and that I hadn't a thing to wear save the dirty clothes on my back. That would be quite all right. The magistrate would call for me at two-thirty.
I returned to the home of the tea merchant, cared for my horse and then ·did my utmost to make myself presentable. Photo by Dr. Doug/as Oollier A WESTERN CHINESE HILI. TRIBESMAN At the given time the magistrate called and informed our host that he was waiting for us. I head table. They brought on an eighteen-course· felt utterly defeated when i walked out and saw the silks, jewelry, correctness of their Chinese dinner, the second one since ten o'clock.
dress. We were herded into the home with all the Since our return to Kiulungkiang many things glowing politeness of the Orient and found two or have happened in our village. To begin a series three hundred people gathered. They separated of sad events, a beef floated down the river and and we walked with the magistrate to the seats whirling about on the turbulent, swollen river of honor. Surrounded by silks and fineries of stopped to touch our shore with pollution and every description our dirtiness was made the more death. Several of the villagers hadn't had enough glaring. Fortunately our "trail odors," smoke, to eat in months. Here was meat; so they availed horses, mustiness, and dirty waters, were covered themselves of it, covering the taste of "death long
present" with spices and vegetables. One woman out of tlleir village. This is a direct challenge to aged and blind, the mother of a youngster, soon the Church and we set ourselves to pray for dedied. Another chap was saved by a native trained liverance. A few days ago the woman came to in our hospital. A third lived to suffer all the church, restored to' health. agonies imaginable and some that you can't imagine. The church is supporting as many as it can Our native Christians have the idea that the and the missionaries are at the end of their gift Church is a mint. They are very indifferent to money. A sick man had to have food; so he sold the needs of the others arO'und them and think one of his daughters to a Chinaman, to be used by that evangelism is nO't their wO'rk. Pray with us his guests. Ruth went to Mrs. Park and asked that God will send His HO'ly Spirit among us to buy her back. The Chinaman was very kind with a real reviving power. We are praying for and said that the girl was too dumb to be of souls that many may be brought to Christ and any use to him, so that he was glad to be rid of find new life in Him. We are consciO'us of a need her. She is now at home with her brother. of real Spirit-filled evangelisms. Pray that God will anoint some one and send him forth in the The most tragic event was the case of a family power of the Spirit to build a Church to' the glO'ry who were driven from their village because of the of His name. May GO'd give us strength to main- "spirits." The father of this family was accused tain O'ur radiance and helpfulness without signs of being a spirit man. He died many years ago, of discouragement. We must not look on these but his spirit seems to have taken up its abode and other problems as beyond improvement and in the body of his son. A man was taken ill in becO'me hardened to them. May God grant to us the village 'and made an accusation against the the passion for the lost, the heart of love, and the family. As a result they were forced to flee the penetrating mind of Christ. We desire to serve village at once. The father came for permission effectively for His sake. Each Tuesday evening to come into our village. Then the mother was re- interested Christians are gathering at our home cently taken ill with what is called "break bone to pray for two things; a clean and upright heart fever"-dengue fever. The old villagers assert and a mighty outpouring of God's Holy Spirit. that "the spirit" is now entered into the woman Will you join with us? and that they were correct in driving the family (To be concluded in November.) When I Was a Leper in India* A Letter from an Indian to the Editor of ffThe Indian Social Reformer"
To THE EDITOR OF "THE INDIAN SOCIAL RE- This I did, and his diagnosis. was found to be FORMER"-SIR, correct. For a long time no one seemed to realize that anything was wrong, or at least said nothing Together with many another college young man, about it. Then my patches rather suddenly be- I have for long been influenced by what you write gan to grow, and I was looked at askance by my and imply to be the correct attitude to the Brit- friends and practically put out of the house by my isher, Christian missions, Rajahs, etc. relatives.
Several years ago, something however happened Upon inquiry I was told that the best Leper that began to change my mind with regard to the Asylums were in the hands of Christian missions. correctness of your reasoning and information in To go to one of these "prosyletizing factories," some instances. While practicing at the court- however, did not appeal to me at all after all that house one evening, a doctor friend began looking you had written about missions. NO't having any me over rather closely and said that I looked as other place to go to, I was almost forced to take though I had leprosy and should be examined. refuge there however.
• From The Indian Social Reformer. The editor of The RefOff'TneIf', Entering this leper settlement out in the dis- In printing this letter, says: "We were no more responsible for Mr. trict was an experience that I will never forget. I Ghose's old undiscriminating prejudice against all Christian move- was given a neat little house with two rooms. ments in general, including the Mission to Lepers whose excellent There was running water, septic tank, a garden, work we have always recognized, than we are now for his equally and everything else that was necessary. The very undiscriminating enthusiasm for all Christian movements. For in- day I arrived the doctor came to' see me. Quite stance, The Reformer of December 18, 1937, wrote: 'The Reformer cO'ntrary to my expectation he did nO't say anyhas felt obliged to criticize the proselyting activities of foreign thing about being a Christian, nor did he ever Christian missions as they aim at destroying the spiritual heritage of the people in which alone their religious life can find root and sustenance. The Mission to Lepers, however, is an expression of pure humanitarianism untainted by any ulterior motive. Neither Hinduism nor Islam has anything comparable to show and, so long as this is the case, Christianity !)lust btl allowed precedence from a Ilurely humanitarian point of view.' "
WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR MY SOUL
after during the whole ,time I was there. The one beautiful morning I assured myself that there effect of his, visit will ever remain. He was a young would be nothing wrong in going in and having a European that reminded me of an inc1l..rnation. look. I went and in some ways was conquered. His English was faultless and for an hour he took Everyone was so reverent, the church so beautiful, time to talk to me about everything under the sun. and the service positively touching. The speaker His kindliness, his sympathy, his understanding, spoke about finding your life by losing it. If anyhis humility, his joy and his clear-cut answers to one ever had a right to speak about this aspect of all my anxious questions, left no doubt in my mind life I was sure that these missionaries had. I but that this, was a man who knew what he was thought of what had happened to that little laughtalking about. During my stay there I was to see ing nurse. When I first knew her she was a plump that Governments from different parts of the little thing, but before the hot season was over, world were sending their experts to this young she looked like a faded rose. Looking at all the man in order to learn from him. He received maggot-infected leprous sores had turned her enough offers for big jobs during the course of the stomach and for weeks she could not eat. At times year to make any plain human being envious, and she sank down while at work from sheer faintyet in spite of it all, he remained here with us ness. When we asked her what was wrong she lepers where he was getting a mere pittance, even smiled and said "Nothing." Many a time her leper feeding us at times from his own kitchen. friends united to pray to God for her. She stuck to her post, and finally conquered, but only after I had heard that there was also a European a terrible struggle. nurse in the settlement, but some days passed before I had my first interview with her. And the Now I am home again well and hearty. Just way this happened was peculiar. One morning by looking at me no one would suspect what hapquite early a young lady came in, talked to me for pened to me, but the experiences at this Christian a short time, and then put her hand on my shoul- Leper Asylum will ever remain a blessed memder saying, "Don't worry, you will be all right ory. At heart I am a Christian. I do not suppose in two years." When I complained about a sore it would be possible to be anything else after the she opened the bandage with her own hands, and had a look. I realized that she was no brdinary experience I have had. nurse, but it was not until that evening that I You will now understand why it is that I can found out that she was the European nurse. When I realized that this young lady had done what no more joyfully assent when you throw mud at none of my relatives would do, tears came to my Christian movements; in fact it pains me, and I eyes. cannot help but offer a silent pr,ayer for you when- ever I find these bitter remarks made in igno- There was a beautiful church in the settlement, rance. Purity and sacrifice and kindness cannot but I had decided to keep my distance. Many a be eradicated by covering them with impurity, Sunday morning I had stood at the door listening to the singing and other music, but had vowed unkindness and unloveliness. never to be caught in this "proselyting net." Yet Yours, etc., P. GROSE.
Calcutta, May 8, 1939.
What God Has Done for My Soul* The Testimony of a Chinese Christian -<t&{Ia1:.= =..B..Y=L.E..L..A..N. D=..W=AN=G=O..f…F.O..O.c..h.o..w..,=C.h.i.D..a.==;;;;;:.11– "e OME and hear, all ye that fear God, and I I never went to a Sunday school or mission when will declare what He hath done for my I was a boy, and the first Bible that ever came into soul" (Ps. 66: 6). my hands was one given to my father by his I was brought up in a Confucian home in Christian friend; he did not even read it. One Foochow where two hundred people lived together day I saw this beautiful book on his desk and said, in a compound; none of them were Christians. "Father, may I ;have that book?" He said, "Yes,"
• Part of a chapter from "The Arrows of the Lord" by Leland I began to read it but could not understand, and I Wang, 1 shilling. Marshall Morgan and Scott, London. thought it was a useless book. As a boy I liked
to collect postage stamps, and so I used my first Hua Nan Women's College, Foochow, conducted Bible as a stamp album. Today I can truly say by Miss Ruth Paxson. She asked me to go to that the Bible is my meat and drink. some church and hear the Gospel. I was disap- One or two stories of the days of my youth will pointed and wrote to her saying, "I have no time give some idea of the background of my life. If to go to church; I want to be frank with you, I do anyone treated me well, I liked him; if he did not not care to go." My fiancee was disappointed but treat me well, I hated him. Once, when I was did not break the engagement because betrothals a very small boy, I was staying with my mother's in China are considered almost as binding as a brother. He spanked me so I did not like him. I marriage.
wished he might have a headache or a stomach- Shortly after that I came back to' Foochow ache, then I would feel happy. One day I asked and my parents arranged for our wedding. My somebody if I might drink some kerosene oil, fiancee wanted to be married in the chapel of which we use for lamps, and I was told that it the Women's College, but the principal said that would make me sick. So I stole some of the oil if we did so, we must have a Christian wedding.
and poured it into my uncle's rice. But my uncle So, although I was not a Christian, we had a had a nose and, he could smell it before he ate. Christian wedding. The pastor said to me, "You He asked, "Why is there oil in my rice?" and need not do anything, Mr. Wang; I will ask you someone said, "This boy has been asking if he a few questions and you just nod your head." Af- might drink oil, so he must be the guilty one." Of ter he had read the Scriptures, he asked us all to course I was punished again. stand in prayer. I had never been to a prayer Our family owned a shop in Foochow and when meeting so I watched to see how the people prayed. money was taken, silver or paper was put into a I saw that some had their eyes closed and some big receiving box at the back of the shop; but had their eyes open, so I stood with one eye open pennies were not so carefully guarded, and and one eye shut! the coppers would sometimes fall on the floor. This After the ceremony, according to Chinese cuswas a great temptation to me. I thought, if I tom, the bride and bridegroom must bow to the ask for a few pennies for candies perhaps they ancestors; my wife refused to do this as she was won't give them to me, so I will try to get some a Christian. I was not pleased, neither were my for myself. I put paste on the bottom of my shoes parents, and I went myself and bowed before the and then walked about the shop, coming out with ancestral tablets. Today I am glad that my wife the pennies sticking to the bottom of my shoes. took that stand, because now all my family are As I did not pick the pennies up I thought that Christians; if she had yielded to our wish, there I did not steal. If I had not come to believe in would have been a different story.
the Lord Jesus Christ, I do not know what sort On the next Sunday, my wife asked me to ,go of person I would be today. with her to church, so I went. I could not under- When I was fourteen years old, I went to stand what the preacher was talking about, but Shanghai to study in a Government School. Of I was greatly impressed with the last /hymn, course there was no Bible teaching there. One "Nearer my God to Thee." I thought, these peoday I fell from a high place and broke my leg ple must have a wonderful God for they wish to and had to stay in hospital for a month. During get near to Him. People who worship other gods that time I began to study our Chinese religions and idols are afraid of them, but to a Christian -Buddhism, Comucianism, Taoism; but they the words "God be with you" are a comfort.
gave me no satisfaction. After the service the people shook hands with Two years later I went to Cheefoo, and while me and said they hoped to see me next Sunday. there I began to think, Where do men come from? My wife said, "Mr. Wang is not a Christian yet, Where do we go after death? What is the real please pray for him."
purpose of life? I could not solve these problems, She asked many people to pray for me, and I so I thought-the aim of life is to be happy. Then said to myself that I would see whether God an- I began to indulge in the pleasures of sin, drink- swered their prayers. At that time I thought that ing and gambling and other vices, but they gave prayer was superstition.
me no joy. One day when I began to think how Christianity About this time I finished my schooling and had come to China over a hundred years ago; came to Woosong where I entered the Chinese since then schools have been opened for the chil- Navy and became an officer. Then I became en- dren, hospitals for the sick, homes for the lepers.
gaged to be married to a young girl who was not I thought, Christians are doing many good works a Christian at that time. One day, to my surprise, so there must be good in its source. Jesus Christ I received a letter from her, telling me that she must be a good Man. Also I thought, the history had been converted in a Gospel meeting held in of this world is dated either before or after the
birth of Jesus, B. C. or A. D. Why was not some In 1920 I was baptiz,ed by immersion in obedi- outstanding person in history chosen instead of ence to the Lord's word. Then (in 1921) one Jesus of Nazareth? Again I thought, Jesus must day as I was reading Isaiah 52: 11-12, "Depart be a wonderful Man. I decided that I must know ye, dep.'lrt ye, go ye out from thence . . . for the the life story of Jesus; or I should be lacking in Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel common sense. So I started to read the New will be your rereward." I felt that the Lord want- Testament. The first chapter of Matthew's Gos- ed me to be "separated unto the Gospel" and to be pel-"Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat a preacher. I gladly obeyed His call and I felt Jacob . . ." and all that was not interesting to that the Lord wanted me to be an evangelist, a me, but I read on, and came to the Sermon on the free instrument in His hands to go wherever He Mount. When I read where Jesus said, "Blessed led me. But I could not ask my father to support are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," me and did not know how I could support my I said to myself, How can I expect to see God? I family. One evening a missionary gave me "The know the condition of my own heart too well. Life of George Muller of Bristol." I read it with Again I read: "When thou doest alms, let not thy great interest and said to myself: George Muller left hand know what thy right hand doeth." I did not go around to raise money for his orphans; thought if I do something good I like people to . God supplied his needs in answer to his prayers.
know about it and to talk about it. So the teach- God is no respecter of persons, and if He carr an- ings of Jesus began to attract my attention. The swer George Muller's prayers, He can answer more I read the Gospel the more I realized that mine. If God is the true and living God, then I there must be a living and true God, the Creator of have no need to fear. Jeremiah 10: 10 answered the universe. I began to realize that I was a lost my question, "But the Lord is the true God, he is sinner in the sight of God. Then I began to see the living God, and an everlasting king." I that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the medi- thought also: If the Lord can supply the needs ator between God and me; that He died for my of two million people, including women and chil- sins on the Cross, and that He is able to save to dren, in the wilderness for forty years, then He the uttermost all those that come to God through can easily take care of a small family. So I de- Him. Finally in 1918 I took the Lord Jesus Christ cided to trust the Lord to supply all my needs as my Saviour. Thus the prayers for me were (Philippians 4: 19).
answered. I went back to Foochow and started to hold After I was saved I became deeply concerned open-air meetings. I used to take a bell and a over the salvation of my family. Praise the Lord basket full of tracts and Gospels and go out where for the promise, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ crowds would gather around and listen while I and thou shalt be saved and thy ho'USe." I began sang and preached the Gospel.
to pray for my mother, and she was the first one The Lord has marvelously opened the door for to come to the Lord in answer to prayer. Then His unworthy servant to preach in different parts afterwards my brother Wilson came to the Lord, of China, and in 1928 He called me to go to the and he is now a preacher of the Gospel. Then my South Sea Islands. After the tour I told the two younger brothers, and finally my father, all churches in China about the need of the Gospel in came to the Lord. My uncle also (the one to Malaysia and we have sent out twelve Chinese mis- whom I gave the oil) came to the Saviour before sionaries to preach the Gospel to the Chinese peo- he died. Praise God for His marvelous salvation. ple there as well as to the natives. The Lord has Reading God's word has been a great blessing graciously blessed that work in the salvation of in my spiritual life. One day I read these words souls. It is a great joy to see sinners come to J ein Acts 17: 11, "they . . . searched the scriptures sus Christ and to receive salvation from Him.
daily," and I decided to do the same thing by I praise the Lord for the joy and privilege of God's help. Now I usually read ten chapters of knowing Him and making Him known to others.
the Bible every day-two in the Old Testament, I marvel at His matchless, amazing patience with two in the New Testament, five Psalms and one me. His grace is sufficient for me and I long to chapter of Proverbs. In this way I read through see others come to the knowledge of this wonder- the Old Testament once a year, the New Testament ful Saviour, whom to know i,s life eternal.
three times a year, and the Psalms and the Book I have chosen for my life text Paul's words in of Proverbs once a month. The Psalms teach me Galatians 2: 20 : "I am crucified with Christ to pray and how to commune with God; the Prov- (identification): nevertheless I live; yet not I, erbs teach me how to deal with men. My motto but Christ liveth in me (habitation): and the life for the past years has been, "No Bible, no break- which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of fast" because I realize that I must "seek first the the Son of God (realization), who loved me and kingdom of God and His righteousness." gave himself for me" (substitution). I Effective Ways of Working 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, 5718 OAK AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~~Ji~11=============I~ Effective Use of Maps development of it. A member September, 1939. The pin and Each of us needs to gain a from each of various interested the legend would be at Buenos groups, such as the Sunday Aires. clearer idea of the world outreach of missions. We are all a school departments, Sunday eve- The third Sunday might find part of the world mission of the ning groups, church and mis- all the denomination's mission chureh. During this year we points, marked with pins of a sionary organizations may be special color and the names of are thinking especially of Christ represented on the committee. the towns inserted. A pin of the in the life of the world. This committee need not meet same color should be inserted in often, but each member should the border of the map with the During a world-wide study of explanation: A blue (or the missions they were taking, a feel responsible for helping the color used) pin, indicates where young people's class in Sunday chairman who does the actual one or more of our missionaries lettering, decides what to put on, or national representatives are school made a map of unique at work. value. It portrayed contacts locates places and chooses the which they had, through every "legend" or information to be As the weeks go by, more put on the map. items should be added, especial channel they could discover, as attention being paid to recent their study progressed, with the The meaning of the map in outstanding contacts. When an offering is sent, the Board Headchurch at work in all the world. the lobby should be explained to quarters may be located, with A congregation or missionary each organization or department, the legend: December 30, the emphasising the process by quarterly remittance of our society might well make such use. church was. sent to the Board of of such a map this year. Con- which the contacts of the church Missions for the world-wide work sider some ways in which it with the world-work will be en- of the church. The route taken might be developed. tered upon it. The congrega- to the field by a group of newly commissioned missionaries may The first requisite is a large tion and members of organizaoutline map of the world. It may tions should be asked to follow be home made. It is wise to its development from week to week during the next few mount it on composition board, soft enough so that interesting months.
bright headed pins may be in- The first Sunday may show serted easily, but hard enough where the local church is on the be shown by colored arrows. The so that small lettering by hand map, with some other features country, dealt with in a book in India ink will show clearly. added, including the location of which the congregation is being The map may be hung in the lob- the church's living link mission- urged to read may be colored. by of church or parish house, ary; the fields in which the de- China may be dotted with tiny but should not be too unwieldy nomination is at work; lands pins or spots when an offering is to be moved, if desired, to some from which members of the local taken for China Famine Relief. other place in the church for congregation come; the field of Use color freely. Colors may work of some recent missionary be vivid and not obscure the specific use. The idea is to let the map de- speaker; or some information writing if you use the transvelop from week to week as of like nature. Each identifica- parent kind used to tint lantern members of the church and its tion should be by means of a slides and photographs. It is inorganizations have contact with bright headed pin, with small, expensive and can be secured the world-work of their local clear, dark printing to give the from ·any dealer in photographic church and denomination. Con- necessary explanation-such as supplies. If you use India ink tacts will be of many sorts as Donald Wright, missionary in for a legend color can be applied will appear in the paragraphs Bolenge, Africa, spoke to us July over it without obscuring the 15. A pin would be set at Bo- legend. below. One person may have the re- lenge, and the printing near it. A wide-awake committee or sponsibility for deciding what The second Sunday might find chairman can make sure that the items are to be entered on it, an addition like this: Our Jun- map develops in an intensely inor,a young people's group, or iors are studying our mission teresting way. Small groups a committee, may undertake the work at Buenos Aires, through (such as an Intermediate Class, [462 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
OUl" ~ssjo~ ltesPOltsib:ilif.~ t~ THE MISSIONARY MAP AT THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN DOOR, LOS ANGELES BIBLE' INSTITUTE (Showing fields represented and work supported by the Church)
the Junior Department, the La- and/or average attendance at church standing, their devotional spirdies' Aid, or the Men's Bible services. it, their appreciation. Class) should have an opportunity to study the map inten- Naturally, supplies should not Because of this woman's spesively from time to time, with a be ordered without the leaders cial interest in poetry she might resume by the pastor or the having first studied carefully the have been able to help plan spechurch missionary chairman de- general leaflet to which we have cial uses of it. How much it scribing the commitments of the referred and a definite plan for would add to a program on India local congregation for missions, use of the supplies and for the to have a woman dressed in the and some consideration of the taking of an offering. lovely .Hindu costume come value of the enterprise. Fre- slowly across the platform and, quent reference to this project China Relief is an urgent ne- profile to the audience, before a in various meetings will stimu- cessity. Send for the leaflet. tiny shrine, repeat one of the late individual study. Various Study it. Make effective plans, deeply devotional poem-prayers groups will have pride in find- with its help, for your church to of an ancient Hindu saint, such ing their own particular contacts have a worthwhile part in the re- a prayer as those found in Temnoted on the map. lief of human suffering in China. ple Bells. A Christian mother of India might be seen reciting While we suggest this use of Make Use of Special Interests to her child one of the beautiful a world map as a whole-church poem-hymns of Tilak, the Indian enterprise, we are not indiffer- The missionary society of one Christian. A tableau might be ent to its value in a single organ- church had in its membership a arranged in which a mother ization.. Often a group is quite woman who, although not her- reads to her family a group of unaware of the ramifications of self a poet, had a keen apprecia- modern religious poems. There its own contacts and service; tion of and discriminating taste are many ways in which the the development of such a pic- in poetry. She kept a notebook beauty of poetry can be joined torial representation of its own into which she copied the best to simple dramatic art. It is outreach will be of immense of the modern religious poems well, however, to avoid the dravalue. as they appeared in magazines matic "reading" of poems which and other periodicals or in col- have been memorized. Our Response to Distress lections of verse. She had carried it forward over a period of years The research person may not The Church Committee for so that it became a truly remark- always plan a dramatic use of China Relief (105 East 22d St., able collection. verses. She will sometimes New York, N. Y.) is the unified merely turn over suitable mateagency of the ,churches of Amer- Noone ever asked her to do a rial to the devotional committee. ica. Send for their leaflet, thing with that interesting note- Or she may suggest that some- "Church Committee for China book and no use was made -of it. one read quite simply a group Relief-What? Why? How?" Her collection, which might have of poems from the written or for the leaders in your church. enriched the whole church, was printed page. Sometimes a poem It is important that you have ignored. Lovers of poetry do can be used as a group prayer. this leaflet even if you do not not, as a rule, urge their interest Hymn-poems can be used vernow plan to do something for upon others. It must be sought. bally and later learned as hymns. China Relief. For general use At the same time, those in charge A poem may sometimes be made among members of your church of the devotional programs in into a poster. Occasionally inand its organizations, the leaf- that church, well aware of the dividual copies of a poem may let gives several very good plans. good reason for using poetry be given to each member of the We quote the following para- which often says something more group. A short verse may be graph on materials available effectively than prosaic expres- copied on offering envelopes or so that you may have some idea sions can say it, were often using containers for special offerings. of the valuable help they give weak and mediocre poetry, or you in working for China Relief. cheap and meaningless jingle. If poetry is of special interest A t the moment they could find to one member of your group, The following types of materials nothing more worthy for their make use of that interest to enare available free on order: leaflets purpose. Meanwhile there was rich your fellowship. In a small for general distribution, posters, en- that woman with her notebook way, or in a large way, make use velopes for pledges and cash offer- teaming with exquisite, simple, of it. Incidentally, it is better ings, newspaper mats and articles for vivid and vital poems on almost to start in a small way and grow, local publicity, informational leaflet any subject they needed! than to overdo something and for speakers and workers, a play that then have to drop it or curtail can be presented by dramatic clubs or She might have been appointed its use. persons selected for that purpose. as research secretary for the There are several copies of a 16mm. group in the field of religious "Dawn in the West" film, "For the Wounds of China," re- verse. Given the theme for study quiring 15 minutes to run. One of for the year she might have been This excellent one-act play of these may be secured by special ar- asked to make a special search China today, in its great migrarangement, if available on the date for poems which would enrich tion of intellectual and governdesired. Order supplies two weeks in the groups' study, their under- mental forces to the West, is well advance of time needed, if possible. State number of each item desired
worth your consideration. It is nese life were presented through Increasing Attendance by Helen Wilcox, and is prepared the table decorations. A study and distributed by the Church on Africa was accompanied by "I like to take guests to my Committee for China Relief, 105 posters showing the evolving missionary meeting for I can East 22d St., New York, N. Y. stages of African village life- count on the other members Copies are provided free for per- centuries of change experienced greeting them, chatting with formances in the interest of by the people in a few years. them, and making them feel welfunds for China relief to be sent come. to the committee. Otherwise the Too often our idea of a councharge is 25 cents a copy. The try is narrow. Well chosen dec- "I like to take them because I young people's department could orations can enlarge a group's am sure that the program will put on this play very effectively, concepts of a country, its people be interesting. and worthwhile. or it might be handled for an and their customs. interdenominational meeting, by "In fact I enjoy taking them a cast from the d iff ere n t 3. Decorations may give infor- as much as I enjoy taking somechurches. mation. Picture maps and other one to my favorite club." maps may be used with good Decorations for Missionary effect. A charming home has its The woman who made these Events dining-room decorated wit h statements was speaking sin- maps of different countries. The cerely. Decorations for missionary missionary meeting might folteas, meetings, etc., should serve low suit, with the difference that How many of us can make a some specific purpose, if they are maps used for one meeting will similar statement? If we canto be worth the time and trouble need to be bold in their message not, it is because we ourselves it takes to prepare them. There and vivid in their coloring so have not worked at making the are various types of decorations, that a close view is not neces- guests of other members have a some of them are noted below. sary. Globes form an interest- delightful time, thus helping to ing part in decorating. Posters, create that custom; it is because 1. Decorations may give a attractively made, may also be when our turn came to be on the specific national or racial empha- used. program we have not raised its sis. A missionary tea was held standard just a little by our type in a room beautifully decorated 4. Decorations may have a of preparation and presentation, with well-made artificial cherry message. Good missionary pic- thus helping to set a high standblossoms. The furniture was all tures play a real part. A fine ard for all programs; it is bewicker or bamboo. This made a picture may be given a central cause we have not had a pride fine setting for the Japanese place. It should be properly in our missionary society and program which was part of the lighted, interpreted and enjoyed worked with others to make an "tea." Another study group on in a special way during a special invitation to visit it as desirable Japan arranged a "center" de- meeting. Its less conspicuous a thing as an invitation to visit voted to the display of Japanese place among other decorations in our very nicest club. articles. This "center" was a room later on will be all the backed by an interesting J apa- more meaningful. The real character of our misnese print. A third organization sionary society is not judged by held a meeting where the wor- 5. Decorations may be sym- our guest meeting day. It is ship center was formed by a bolic. A map of Africa with judged by how many of its mem- Japanese painting of a scene crossed African spears hung on bers bring guests to the regular from Jesus' life. Below it was one side, and on the other side a meetings. propped up an open Japanese simple cross made of two Bible. Incense was burned on straight, slender tree branches, The missionary society with a either side instead of candles. or of light wood, may keep be- large guest-attendance will have fore the audience the question an increasing member-attend- The first setting gave atmos- of whether Africa is to be a ance too. phere. The second provided not hotbed of inter-tribal, inter-raonly a Japanese focal point for cial and inter-national warfare An Urgent Need the eye, but made it possible to and bickering, or of whether use some of the articles during Christian brotherhood is to pre- It has often been found a probthe study. The third said very vail there. lem to select something quite plainly: Japan has an interpre- tangible which children may do tation of Christianity to give us. Decorations need not always as a service to others. This is Let us have our eyes open to its be used. But when they are especially true where the gift is message wherever we find it. used, they should play a definite designed to fill a real need. The part in the educational or emo- project of filling the Friendship 2. Decorations may emphasize tional aim of the meeting. Study Suitcases with articles badly different phases of a country's the use of decorations and the needed by Spanish children who life. One Christmas meeting effect that can be produced to are suffering in war-devastated was held around a tiny creche the greater glory of God, rather Spain is a very practical and from Mexico. At a dinner meet- than merely to tickle the fancy worthwhile service. ing a series of scenes from Chi- of the audience. – Information about this project in detail can be secured from the American Friends Service Com- mittee, 20 South Twelfth Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~~===============================~ Frequent reports appear in at the thought of what lies "No continent lacked representhese columns on two of the ahead? Can past conferences tation," said "Quarry Article I" more colorful; phases of the stem the tides of evil that seem Council's program, the work for about to engulf the entire civ- published at the Conference, Indians and Migrants, but our ilized worId? Can past confer- "and it is doubtful whether any readers should not forget the ences counteract the tides of other representative gathering other important activities of the hate that are about to be directed Council, work for Peace and bet- toward the millions of people has ever brought together as ter Race Relations, study of who themselves are only the vic- great a number of official dele- Legislation in matters related to tims of circumstance? gates from as many countries our interests, participation in under any auspices, on any occaplans and programs for Interde- Suddenly the thing that thou- sion, anywhere in the world, not nominational Conferences and sands said could not happen has excepting the meetings of the cooperation with the United League of Nations." Christian You t h Movement come. Millions whose prayers through the Committee on Young It is significant indeed that in People's Work which is a joint have been for peace have been a day when nations and peoples committee with the Home Mis- compelled to take up the sword. are drifting farther and farther sions Council. The Chairman of And in the face of this we write apart, the Church of Jesus this Committee, Miss Julia a report of the Ams,terdam Christ is issuing a call for all Heinz, attended the Amsterdam WorId Conference of Christian who call upon His name to sense WorId Conference of Christian Youth. What great resolutions the "essential togetherness" of Youth and we are happy to offer and recommendations have isyou this month her report on sued from this Conference that the children of one Father. that significant gathering. will guide youth today in their several countries to determine Significant also is the fact Christus Victor their course in the face of to- that youth is finding its place day's overwhelming rea lit y? Amsterdam! To almost two None . .. Amsterdam made no in this great movement. For thousand young people and lead- formal recommendations. Am- many of the younger delegates ers of youth this word is no s,terdam passed no weighty reso- it was their initial experience in longer a place on the map! It is lutions. It expressly stated that the oocumenical movement of our a great spiritual reality. It is it did not meet for that purpose. day, for fifty-eight percent of the alive because representatives But Amsterdam gave to each of from two hundred and twenty its delegates a great commission, total number of the delegates separately organized religious for Amsterdam was a living wit- were under twenty-six years of groups found here a common ness to the fact that representa- age, and forty percent of all meeting ground for the expres- tives from seventy-one nations present fell in the 25-26 year sion of their faith. Coming from could meet as one body in spite group. Three out of every five seventy-one nations with the of differences of language, creed, delegates were men. horror of devastating wars al- and color; in spite of barriers, ready in progress, and the every- denominational, confessional, lan- The leadership planned wisely where-present preparations for guage, customs, national allecoming disaster so desperately giances; in spite of existing en- when the Bible and worship apparent, youth faced the com- mity between nations, "Christus were given a central place at the ing issues and found demon- Victor" brought together and strated at Amsterdam the liv- held them so a great gathering Conference. Prayerful and coning, vital, throbbing reality of of youth and leaders of youth in secrated planning w ere rethe way to peace. the interest of the greatest cause warded, for both of these fea- on earth-ffiCumenicity. It dem- tures paved the way to a better Of what moment now are onstrated what the world has not understanding of each other. "Amsterdam" and "Madras" found possible and then commis- Perhaps in no other way were when the whole world trembles sioned ,all who shared in that our differences and our unity so demonstration to "Go and tell." well revealed as when strug- gling with language differences [466 ] in our separate groups, we found that one of our common failings was considerable unfa- miliarity with the Bible. No less important was the discovery that there was much confusion among
BULLETIN: COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME M-ISSIONS
us as to the relation of the mes- well as significant statement Something New! sage of the Bible to the decisions made by a leader in one of the which youth must make today. discussion groups revealed the The Council of Women for But there was born also a new fact that in a certain European Home Missions has a very atsense of the necessity that youth country the Y. W. C. A. was tractive Migrant Luncheon Set be clear and articulate concern- founded on the American plan of fifteen pieces printed on paiinf gytohuethfusnhdaalml ebnetaalbsleoftoitstafkaieth~ five years ago but since its per. The centerpiece (14"x22") definite stand in relation to the founding had become gradually is a colorful map of the U. S. many conflicting ideologies and more of a spiritual center. This showing some of the crops of blind faiths with which it is chal- again brought the West to an each state. The fourteen place lenged today. analysis of its own institutions. mats (1l"x14") show the four- This same lea d e r, however, teen states in which the Council One of the interesting observa- pointed out that in recent inter- has' work for Migrants.. These national gatherings of the Y. W. are all in four colors and on each tions made by the writer was tne C. A. groups there was evident are indicated the places where a much stronger spiritual note the Council projects are. The fact that we of America together on the part of the Western dele- complete set only 50 cents. Order gations. from the Council of Women for with China and India were con- Home Missions. In our differences, therefore, stantly brought face to face with we found new s,trength and a Question Box new sense of unity. Speaking of the continental (European) point unity, Pastor Elie Laurial of In how many Government In- France said, quoting Fr. Grary, dian Schools do the Home Misof view-for we were repeatedly "The nations will not be saved in sion Councils. have Religious isolation, any more than indi- Work Directors? rebuffed when in our eagerness viduals. In this century it is a to "do something about it" we movement of entirety that God Where are these schools lowere reminded that God does the demands of the human race . . . cated? doing and that we are merely When, ignoring all secondary tools in His hands. While the aims, the nations go straight to What types of Indians attend continental mind was busy with the purpose of God: when they these schools? the theological implications of a stop crucifixion,. the crucifixion Bible passage, the western mind of the man-,God in every man How many denominations cowas seeking its practical appli- who is killed by the sword, by operate in support of this work? cation. And the significant dis- slavery, by ignorance or by huncovery was made that the con- ger, then will divine benedic- What type of program is cartinental youth knew far more tion rest upon the nations. And ried on? about the Bible than did youth the ·first nation to realize this from the West-and that Chinese righteousness of the Kingdom in (Answers next month.) Christian youth were also more its own country will draw others conversant with Bible content, irresis.tibly after it." World Day of Prayer while youth from India, aided by Dr. T. Z. Koo of China, in Theme: In quietness and contheir mystical background, pre- speaking of the need for some fidence shall be your strength. sented still another philosophical form of international machinery, viewpoint often far outreaching called attention to the fact that The program, unusually devoboth continental and western twelve unbroken eggs do not tional in character, was prepared thinking. Over and over we make an omelet. "And no more by Muriel and Dorothy Lester. heard members of the American can twelve nations not willing to delegation say – "I thought we go the whole way make a League Prayer were so far ahead of the rest of of Nations," said he. Differenthe world, but instead we have tiating between "International" Pr'ayer is so simple, rather a superficial conception of and "Christian" he called at- It is like quietly opening a door the realities,and what seems tention to the fact that inter- And slipping into the very presvital and necessary to us may nationalism means little today not be the most important thing because it places upon us no ob- ence of God, ligation, and the world is waiting There in the stillness after all." Again and again we for the manifestations of the To listen for His voice, heard expressions of humility sons of God, who though they Perhaps to petition, and apology for American ar- carry the name of the Son of Or only to listen; rogance. So we learned from God, yet fail so often to be their It matters not; each other-for one leader was brother's keeper. Just to be there, heard to express herself thus- In His presence, "We of Europe must learn from (This report will be concluded Is prayer! you of the west that it is neces- in the November number.) sary to be practical in this matter of religion but we feel equally sure that we must not loose our hold on the. Bible in so doing, for we see III that your weakness." One very interesting as
World,wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO WESTERN ASIA . instead of making Christianity new villages are open to evan- gelism and Christians are ready Scattering the Bible infect its politics. to accept it; even women are -"One Family." willing to do this, one of thf' A patient in the American most remarkable changes. Lit Hospital in Turkey was given a Proposal for Arab-Jewish eracy is also making progress; Bible and carried it home to his Impasse from one town an evangelistic Armenian village, proud of own- band of two men and six women ing it. But a Moslem mullah A writer in the Palestine Re- go out periodically to sell Chrissnatched it from him, tore it in tian books and tell the Good pieces and flung it into the view suggests that a redistribu- News. street, where it lay until a grocer picked up the pieces to use as tion of Palestine's population be In spite of limitations, the inwrapping paper. Soon these fluence of Christian schools is were scattered all over the vil- made, after the manner of the very wide. Contacts on a large lage as wrapping for cheese, scale are made through them, as olives, and other purchases. It transfer ofa million Greeks well as through hospitals and was not long before customers welfare centers. Public preachbegan to ask the grocer if he had from Asia Minor to Greece some ing, however, is not permitted any more such wrapping paper on the streets or in bazaars. but his supply was used up. fifteen years ago, which resulted INDIA AND SIAM One day a Bible colporteur in the strengthening of Greece. was making his rounds through Sixteen Points for Ohristians Turkish pro v inc e s and was Weak Arab states possess terriamazed to find one hundred per- At a convention of 45,000 sons eager to buy Bibles although tory equal to half of Europe, South India Christians, a sixno Christian teacher had ever teen-point program for Christian been at work in that village. with fertile land and natural re- betterment was adopted: these points to furnish a basis for a -Evangelical Christian. sources, but are under-inhabited. "New Life Movement," exp·ected to sweep the country. "No il- Anxious Times in Palestine If, for example, the Arabs in Pal- literacy" is item number one. Others are: The past year will be remem- estine were transferred to Iraq bered for the spread of terror- No filth in or around the ism, bloodshed, suspicion and in an orderly manner, it would house. Every Christian's clothes hatred among those to whom clean. Cleansing of tobacco Palestine will always I:;e "the increase the Iraqian populakion from personal and social habits. Holy Land." Four out of five No liquor. No excessive interest of the populace are Arabic- some twenty-five per cent, and charges. No expensive feasts. speaking Palestinians; Chris- No debts contracted through tians form about 8 per cent of to that extent would strengthen marriage. All disputes settled the population; among them, out of court. A cooperative in about 2,000 members of the An- that land. Jewish people might every village. No recreation that glican Church. Much of the cannot be taken in the name of work of this Church has gone on reasonably be expected to· pro~ the Lord Jesus. without interruption and a new girls' school has been opened vide a part of the cost of such a At least one tenth of income in the headman's home. to the church and charity. Wip- transfer, in return for the land ing out the remnants of caste in It is in the sphere of moral, the Christian community. Famsocial and spiritual outlook that which they would receive. Sums ily prayers in every home. Puncthe most serious damage has tuality. Adoption of a salutabeen done in Palestine. There provided by the British Govern- tion, folding the hands and sayseems to be great danger that ing N amascaram. the Christian minority will allow ment and by the Jews would be politics to infect its Christianity -Cfiristian Advocate. available for carrying out ex- tensive irrigation projects, build- ing of homes and the purchase of livestock and equipment for the Arab immigrants into Iraq.
The problems of organization would be solved by an interna- tional commission of English, Arabs and Jews with necessary powers." -So S. Times.
Openings in Iran Dr. Donald Carr, whose ac- quaintance with Iran dates from 1894, found, when he revisited the country last year, that the Spirit of God is moving there more than ever before. Many are groping for the light, and some are finding it. Dr. Carr bases his opinion on the fact that [468 ] The Church Advances prayers for all in camp; visits til he has perfected it, and then to villages during the morning, start on another. The Life of Faith, quoting a with meetings wherever possible, report of the Church Missionary and invitations to evening meet- -Missionary Herald. Society, lists a number of en- ings in camp, or private talks in couraging facts, among them: the afternoon. Correspondence, Church Receives Legal Status in the diocese of Nasik, Chris- or seeing callers takes up the tians ten years ago numbered afternoon, and after sunset camp The constitution of Siam es- 15,500; for 1939, the figures are prayers, followed by an evening tablishes Buddhism as the state 21,600, an increase of 40%. meeting around the camp fire. religion, but guarantees religious This advance is not to be reck- Attendance at these is from ten freedom to all and sundry. This oned in numbers only; there has to seventy or eighty. is a priceless document to the been steady advance in stand- Protestant Siamese Christian. It ards of instruction, and the keen- Sometimes meetings are held was taken for granted when the ness of candidates for baptism. in camel owners' camps, always Church of Christ in Siam was In the Gojra Mission, 375 con- in the morning before the camels organized that the securing of gregations are scattered among are turned loose. It is a pic- government sanction would be a 1,200 villages, embracing more turesque sight to see the vener- routine matter only, but it has than 16,000 Christians. In a able' bearded herdsmen solemnly taken almost five years to make large Moslem village, Christians listening to the Gospel of Jesus this an accomplished fact. The made 40,000 bricks for their Christ, while all around sit huge difficulty was to find out how to church and gave all the labor camels, with baby camels frisk- secure the coveted sanction. free. The building is used daily, ing about. Christians help in all The first move was to ask how and when the teacher is away these meetings, and hymns are others had proceeded. It was the men of the congregation con- sung with no uncertain sound. found that Roman Catholics had duct the service themselves. But only a few can be induced secured property rights by royal When it is realized that a year's to speak in pubUc. decree under the absolute monwage for most of these men is archy, and that these rights less than £2 it is possible to Singing Christ into Hearts were tied up in French treaties. gauge what costly giving has gone to the building of their This is a new venture of Rev. Next a British legal adviser church. Last year the Christians Emmons E. White of Manama- was consulted, who suggested of the district raised more than dura. Indians love a story in the Church be registered under Rs. 3,000 for the support of their song, but it must be in the musi- Clubs and Societies. But the clergy and lay pastors. cal form familiar to them, and Church of Christ is not a club, so it is no small job to learn to sing the quest went on. It was hoped Hinduism Becoming More the Indian way. Emmons White that the British Minister's long Popular has accomplished it and has experience in Siam would enable made his professional debut him to point out the proper The Chronicle of London re- with a "Kalakshepam," or mu- path. His pronouncement was ports a steady awakening to life sical sermon, on the Prodigal that Malay people under British of certain Hindu sects and Son. It took nine weeks to pre- control offered no parallel to the groups in North India. Hindu pare this sermon, and an hour case because theirs was a forfestivals are celebrated with in- and a half to deliver it. It was eign office affair, while the creased fervor, reforms are be- a real ordeal. Mr. White had Church of Christ was a purely ing carried out, new temples preached many times, and sung Siamese affair. By that time erected, and Hindu schools for many times, but never before two years had passed. Then girls started. India is bringing had he combined the two in In- light broke and a special petiout her organizing ability, her dian fashion. tion was sent to the Minister of moral and spiritual strength and Interior requesting permission beauty. It seems to be a life The type of audience was sig- to establish the Church of Christ and death struggle between sec- nificant; made up of the elite of in Siam. He replied he had no ularism and religion, as well as Hinduism – lawers, judges, objection "if no laws were viobetween Christianity. and the teachers, etc. In India, it is the lated." Important as this perstrongly entrenched religions of custom to garland the perform- mission was, it made no mention India. er early in the program, so when of property rights. However, it Mr. White saw the many gar- appeared that the only thing nec- Evangelizing the Bhils lands being brought in he knew essary was to appoint trustees; that he had won approval. When then it was discovered a law had Rev. C. L. Shaw, C. M. S. mis- it was all over leading citizens been passed making it impossible sionary in Lusadia, describes a publicly expressed their appre- to have property held by trustypical form of evangelism ciation. His teacher was so hap- tees. Finally it was suggested among the Bhils – itinerating py he could not eat his rice and that the Executive Committee of work. The daily program is curry afterward. Mr. White the Church of Christ in Siam something like this; sunrise plans to repeat this sermon un- form itself into "The Founda- tion of the Church of Christ in Siam" and hold this and all oth-
er properties for the Church. A told of a Chinese official, con- Opportunities Multiply Constitution had to be drawn up fronted with a problem of naand approved. The Government tional importance, who would Writing in the C. M. S. Outhad to be convinced that this not demean himself by asking look, Rev. G. K. Carpenter of Foundation was not a Board of the opinion of a subordinate, Hongkong says the most en- Trustees, etc., etc. Three years though the official knew nothing couraging feature of the present were spent in this struggle. At at all about the matter in ques- situation is the widespread de~ long last, the Church of Christ tion and the subordinate was an sire to hear the Gospel. Once in Siam becomes a juristic entity expert. To save "face," the offi- they reach a place of safety, and bears the stamp of Govern- cial was willing to commit a refugees have plenty of time on ment approval. monumental blunder leading to their hands, so that the evan- great loss for the country, and gelist has more opportunities -Siam Lookout. the subordinate must keep silent than he can even begin to take to save his superior's face and advantage of. Wherever it is Readjustment his own job. Foreign technical possible for Christians to gather advisers have said to her: "I for worship, they do so. One The Church of Christ in Siam suppose I am paid to listen to finds them collected here and (Thai) is the result of efforts of men tell me they know more there to pray for their counvarious missions. It consists, of about the job than I do." One try, and to encourage each other fifty-three churches whose mem- result has been that many ex- in their faith. It is an experibers are Siamese and twelve pensive American-made fighting ence, says Mr. Carpenter, to atwhose members are Chinese. Of planes were cracked up on their tend a service in a Chinese these only six of the former and initial flights in China because church, and feel the reality of one of the latter are self-support- Chinese pilots, who have re- the prayers of the congregation. ing. Most of these churches are ceived training on slower ma- A young doctor testified that he in urban centers and the organ- chines, refused to take further has learned what prayer means, ized church is weak in rural instruction from foreign instruc- and many others have had a like areas. tors. This took almost as heavy experience. toll of China's air force as did The tot a 1 membership is the enemy planes. Rural Oooperatives 10,000, of which 1,070 are Chinese Christians and the re- Increasing Interference Two years of war have remainder mainly Siamese. The with Ohurches sulted in the quadrupling of the total Christian community is number of cooperatives in estimated as 14,000, out of four- From areas occupied by Jap- Szechwan. Their geographical teen-and-a-half million people, anese soldiers come increasing distribution is also startling; which is less than one in a thou- reports of interference wit h today they are found all over the sand. This situation seems to church activities. For the most Province. More than 85 per call for a revaluation of the va- part, the arrests have been of cent of them are credit societies; rious types of work and a more pastors or church workers who the rest are public utilities inclusive program. are accused (if accused at all) societies, production and market- of anti-Japanese activity. For ing societies, consumers' socie- -World Dominion. example, a pastor proudly dis- ties, supply societies, and supply played a letter from his son who and marketing societies. To CHINA was helping in the resistance in store the surplus of last year's another province. An evangelist abundant harvest, at least 1,312 Seven Deadly Sins was cited for a speech made two of these societies constructed or three years ago in which he granaries. In one of China's dames, urged national resistance. Madame Chiang Kai-shek de- The rural cooperative moveplores "seven deadly sins" which Strangely enough, it is re- ment is not confined to Szechwan she believes have hindered ported that in some places those alone. The Agricultural Credit China's becoming one of the who have a Bible on their per- Administration, in collaboration great world powers and are con- son are immune from arrest. with the Farmers' Bank of tinuing to hamper the prosecu- An American missionary who China, the Bank of China, and tion of the present war with wanted to pass through the lines provincial cooperative banks, are Japan. They are: (1) self-seek- had some difficulty convincing all helping to spread the moveing or "squeeze"; (2) "face" the sentries that he was a mis- ment throughout the nation. or false pride; (3) cliquism; sionary, because he could not (4) defeatism; (5) inaccuracy; produce a well- worn pocket -China Information (6) lack of self-discipline; and Testament. His colleague car- Service. (7) evasion of responsibility. ried one, and upon his assurance "Squeeze" and "face" she espe- that the man without a Bible Seminary Students Graduate cially condemns. Profiteering is was in reality a missionary, they one form of squeeze, and is a were allowed to pass. Nanking Theological Semthing that has characterized all inary and the Bible Teachers' wars in every part of the world. -Christian Century. Training School each graduated eight students this summer, in As an instance of "face" she
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
spite of war. The Central The- Bible S.ocieties. In both inner understanding would come about ological Seminary (Episcopal) and outer Mongolia, the lamais- between the two countries. moved from Nanking to Peking tic system is weakening, for the and is graduating a class of destruction of which Gilmour -Monday Morning. two, while the Peking Theologi- prayed fifty years ago. One miscal Seminary (Methodist) will s,ionary writes: "Never before Revise Chinese Textbooks graduate six. The Canton Union have I found such readiness to Theological Seminary has moved hear the Word of God, from the When the Japanese occupied from Kowloon, where it found greatest down to the most hum- China's Manchurian provinces temporary refuge, to Hsichow ble." Soviet Russia forbids mis- in 1931, one of the first jobs was near Talifu, Yunnan. Here it sionary work in outer Mongolia. to revise textbooks used in Chiwill be affiliated unofficially with There is now no liberty for mis- nese schools. A commission apthe Central China University, sions in the great Central Asian pointed by the Army general another union Christian institu- plateau, one of the largest un- staff went through all Chinese tion which is "refugeeing." The evangelized areas in the world school books, particularly those Union Theological Seminary for- today. The Swedish mission in used in the lower grades, and merly in Wuchang has found a Chinese Turkistan has been ex- carefully eliminated all refertemporary home at Linling in pelled. – World Dominion. ences which might have a tendthe southwestern part of Hunan. ency to make Chinese children Thus the preparation of Chris- JAPAN-CHOSEN patriotic toward their own countian ministers goes on. try. The revised books empha- Opportunities sized the greatness and holy mis- -Christian Century. sion of Nippon as the leader of The dean of Middle School of Asiatic peoples and fostered "co- New Leper Hospital Seinan Gakuin, in Fukuoka, tells operation" with Japan on the of a series of Christian evan- part of Chinese youths. A grant of $35,000 for con- gelistic meetings, lasting four struction purposes and an annual days, in the school, which re- This policy of textbook revisubsidy of £300 donated by the sulted in the decision of fifty sion, started eight years ago, has Mission to Lepers in London, pupils to lead a new life in been continued in occupied terwill soon bring about the com- Christ. Four pupils were bap- ritory from the Great Wall to pletion of the first Leper Hospi- tized; also the wife of the jani- Canton; and recently the fever tal in West China, specially tor. The crowds who witnessed has extended to Japan itself. erected to combat the dread dis- the ceremony showed how keenly The "holy mission" to reconease. The new hospital will be the boys and· girls who attend struct East Asia has made it located on the campus of the church are becoming interested necessary to purge primary edu- West China Union University in in spiritual things; and not in cation at home. The books in Chengtu. Construction has al- the school only, for society in use since 1924 contain nothing ready begun. Dr. Wallace Craw- general gives evidence of in- about the superiority of the Yaford, head of the University creasing interest in religion. mato race. Clinic, will be Director; he is a Christian books are in demand Canadian missionary who has more than ever before. -China Weekly Review. been in Szechwan more than 30 years. -The Commission. Standing Room Only The establishment of this "Giving Their Lives" Japanese Christian leaders, Leper Hospital will mark anoth- since their return from the er significant stride of progress A Japanese Christian minister Madras Conference, are carrying in the anti-leprosy movement in recently returned from a trip to on a nationwide evangelistic China. The movement was first China made the following ob- campaign, and are finding large started by the Chinese Mission servation: "Japanese soldiers groups everywhere eager to hear to Lepers with headquarters in discovered missionaries for the them speak. Walking up to the Shanghai. In 1934 the mission first time when they invaded big public auditorium in Hibiya succeeded in a financial campaign China. They found them in Park, Tokyo, for a meeting at to raise $60,000 which was later every city and town, teaching, which Kagawa was to speak, a used for the construction of a preaching, doctoring, nursing missionary was disheartened at national leprosarium outside the and doing a hundred and one seeing very few people on their city limits of Shanghai. Near things to help the Chinese people way in. When she got inside, the new hospital will be a small -giving their lives for Christ. she found the reason: the great factory, where occupational ther- They found that missionaries auditorium was already packed apy will be afforded the patients. were respected and loved." with people in the aisles and wherever extra seats or s,tand- In Mongolia These same missionaries re- ing room was permitted. Every- marked that if a few mission- one had come early to be sure of Inner Mongolia is wide open aries from Japan, and a few Jap- admittance. Dr. Kagawa plans to missionary work, and J ap- anese men like Mr. Yasumura to give a large part of his time to anese authorities are favorably could come to China, a better this work for the next few disposed toward the activities of months. -Monday Morning.
Church Union New Religious Cults roads of insects. The most pleas- ing to the eye are the bamboo Methodist union has made Japan is plagued with an over- churches, for after the bamboo little difference in Japan, since supply of religious cults of one cracks and splits without sep- Northern and Southern Method- sort or another. Some of them arating, an early morning sun ist missions have been cooper- count their followers by the hun- shining through the cracks ating, together with the mission- dreds of thousands and scarcely makes a mosaic out of the worary forces of the United Church a week passes without the regis- shippers. of Canada, within the structure tration of a new one with the of the Japan Methodist Church Religious Bureau of the Depart- Dyaks make very little effort for many years. On the other ment of Education with the re- to beautify their churches, due, hand, the Methodist Protestant sult that the registration of semi- not to lack of regard, but to lack Mission, consisting of about and pseudo:-religious bodies has of any resthetic taste. Congregatwenty churches and two middle leaped beyond the 500 mark. tions are divided. with men on schools is not disposed to lose its Many of them are faith-healing the right and women on the left. identity. or fortune-telling, masquerading Babies are brought along, and as religion. Two of them, which free to move about as they like, The latest merger to be ef- had somehow secured a nation- so that the undertone of infant fected is that of the West and wide following, recently were wrigglings and gurglings is dis- East Associations of Baptist suppressed by the government turbing until one becomes accus- Churches. The latter is an out- because their teachings were al- tomed to it. Few of the Dyaks growth of Northern Baptist leged to be inimical to the inter- can sing; they have practically missionary effort; the former ests of the state. no native music and little natural of the Southern Baptist Conven- ability to learn to sing. tion. Both have approved the – World Dominion. merger. The new body will be -The Mission Field. almost entirely under Japanese Korea's "Christian League" leadership. Thus, church union Nurses' School, Manila is being realized in Japan, as After the Japanese Governelsewhere throughout the world. ment dissolved the National The Nurses' Training School Christian Council of Korea, need of St. Luke's Hospital, Manila, -Christian Century. was felt for some more inclusive P. I., has made a great contri- federation of Christian groups bution to the spiritual and physi- Work in Tenement District in that country. This need is cal welfare of the people of the now being met by the formation entire Philippine Islands. Three Namba Church, on the edge of of the Chosen Kirisutokyo Dome- hundred and twenty-five nurses a crowded tenement district in ikai (Korea Christian League) have been graduated. Forty- Osaka, Japan, was not flourish- with which almost all the Chris- four of these are from the Epising. Shifts in population and in tian bodies in Korea, both native copal Mission. In St. Luke's personnel caused problems, and and Japanese, are now identified. Hospital there are now three the work died down to such a It remains to be seen whether a graduate nurses and 15 student degree that members of the pres- way may be found to affiliate this nurses who are mission girls. bytery considered .selling the Federation with the National Of the staff of seven nurses in property. Nobody disputed the Christian Council of Japan. B r e n t Hospital, Zamboanga, fact that a needier spot than this four are mission girls. The neighborhood could hardly be -Christian Century. Moro Girls' School in Zamfound, and both mission and boanga has sent nine girls to St. presbytery offered to help. A ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC Luke's Hospital for their trainboard of directors, representing ing. In St. Theodore's Hospital, both groups, was organized and Worship in Borneo Sagada, are six nurses all of a neighborhood social center was whom are from the mission. set up. A Japanese social work- The Dyak communal type of er, who had been associated with life makes the small out-station -Spirit of Missions. Dr. Kagawa, was appointed head church a necessity. It is imposworker. Clubs for children have sible for the Dyak to worship NORTH AMERICA been started, a day nursery quietly in his own home, as it school opened, and mothers' would be in the average Amer- Students and Religion meetings are being held. There ican home, because there is alis a waiting list for the nursery most no privacy. Therefore, as Charles E. Conover, writing school, and church attendance is soon as there are three or four in the Christian Century, says increasing. Dr. Kagawa is great- Christian families in one of these that the crucial fact for the ly interested in the project and communal houses, every effort is Christian Church in the campus sometimes speaks there, always made to have them build a religious situation today is that to a crowded house. church. It costs very little to student interest in religion is in- build one, since it consists only creasing. "If attendance at -Monday Morning. of a pole framework, thatched church services," he says, "par- with leaves, though it requires ticipation in Y. M. C. A., Y. W. constant attention to resist in- C. A., and church-related stu-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
dent religious groups, and enrol- and Jews. Thus the new Meth- ligion and custom; difference in ment in courses in religion in odist Church with 7,500,000 loyalty, marriage; children lookone state university in Ohio are members means a Methodist ing down on parents and obedito be taken as evidences of stu- population of approximately ence to parents, were quite dent attitudes toward religion, 16,000,000. In other words, the freely discussed. Conclusions there is today an impressive Baptist groups in the United reached were practically the student response to religion." States are nearly equal in size to same in both groups, and the fol- Evidence from various sources the Roman Catholics, while the lowing resolution was adopted: is furnished to support this opin- Methodists come third. The figion. The Federal Council Bul- ure of 35,800,000 for the Prot- Recognizing the many problems that letin made this statement: "Evi- estant larger bodies needs to be confront us because of our different dence multiplies, in the colleges considerably increased in order cultural upbringing, we, parents and and universities throughout the to record Protestant population. children, believe that in our quest for country, that the time is ripe for the ideal home we must love and rea fresh religious movement." The Church's Business spect one another, make ourselves The response to the University worthy of this love and respect, do Christian Mission on great uni- To recapture literate Amer- our share in furthering our mutual versity campuses substantiates ica for the Church is the vitally understanding, solve our problems by reports from campus religious important concern of all Chris- consultation and cooperation; and folleaders that a new opportunity tian people, declares Bishop low throughout our lives the teachings confronts the Christian Church Block, of California. He believes of our Lord Jesus Christ. in this generation of students. that great numbers of literate Further evidence comes from the people have lost interest in the Chinese Church in New York University of Pennsylvania, Church because of mechanistic Princeton University and other philosophies taught them in col- The Chinese Presbyterian institutions, in the form of new lege, and says that specially Church on East 31st St., New courses in religion offered to trained teams should be sent to York, Rev. K. C. Yeung, pastor, meet the requests of students all parts of the country to "dis- is crowded as never before. themselves. Interrupted by the cuss quietly the verities of faith." Since the outbreak of war in the depression and inactive for eight This point was stressed at the Far East, the Chinese popUlation years, the department of reli- annual meeting of the executive of New York has doubled. At gion will be resumed this fall committee of the Forward Move- present there is a large number in the University of Oregon, ment in New York, June 13, of boys, sent here by their par- Eugene. when the time was devoted ents with the approval of the largely to a discussion of meth- government, to be educated It should be noted, however, ods of training Christians to away from the dangers of war, that a revival of interest in reli- present their belief effectively. gion must not be confused with and then to return to fill posia revival of religion. -The Living Church. tions of leadership. The Chi- Church Influence Widens Japanese Church in New York nese Boy Scout organization is enrolling large numbers of these. The current edition of the Mrs. T. Komuro is the Bible This is the church of which Rev. Year Book of Churches, issued woman in the Japanese Method- Huie Kin was pastor for so by the Federal Council, indicates ist Church in New York City. many years. a gain in membership during She writes in Woman's Home the past year of 915,000. The Missions for May of a record- -Presbyterian Progress. Protestant larger bodies number breaking event in that church 35,800,000; the smaller bodies, last March, when 400 women Lutheran Improvement 1,600,000; Rom a n Catholics, from seven different conferences 21,300,000; Jewish congrega- visited this center. Basement The 43d annual Convention of tions, 4,000,000; the 0 the r and the three floors of the build- the Lutheran Free Church, held groups fall below 1,000,000. ing were literally packed with in Minneapolis, was voted the the visitors. most successful in the Church's Figures for Jewish congrega- history, and much thankfulness tions comprise the entire Jewish Among the many activities of was felt over the improved finanpopulation; and for Catholics this Japanese Church during the cial position. One goal achieved comprise all persons baptized in past year was the second annual was the raising of sufficient that faith, minus fifteen per cent conference of the Japanese funds for a new building at deducted for lapses, while among Young People's Christian Feder- Augsburg College in Minneapothe Protestants a careful inter- ation of New York, the main lis. Dr. Christensen, President pretation is necessary in order to featUre being a discussion be- of this College, stated that the secure the truth, because the pro- tween the young people's group following objectives were more portion of adults varies, but in and the parents' group on what important: all Protestant groups it is higher constitutes the ideal home. than among Roman Catholics To give full opportunity to the Misunderstanding due to lan- Spirit of God to do His creative and guage, difference in culture, re- quickening work among the members of the student body.
To maintain and deepen our devo- tion to the expressed ideals and spir- itual program of Augsburg.
To raise and strengthen the stand- 35 years, all missionary work is which students and their leadards of academic work in both College and Seminary. financed by the tribes. ers are called in this day of con- -Monday Morning. fusion and high opportunity. To choose very carefully the stu- That each of us here is in a sodents who are admitted to the Theo- Methodist Bishops' Crusade bering sense 'one among a thoulogical Seminary. sand' is a patent fact. Inter- To cultivate even more intimate re- To interpret the meaning of preters are the primary need of lations with the congregations and unification, and make it a real- a day in which the people perish people of our Church. ity, the Council of Bishops of for lack of vision. If you can To build ever greater efficiency and the Methodist Church plan to go out from college to be an efdeeper confidence in the business man- start a crusade throughout the fective interpreter of the truth, agement of the institution and its re- entire nation in January, 1940, you will have served your gensources. taking their cue from the Bish- eration." To lay emphasis upon Christian ops' Crusade of the Methodist service as a definite part of Augsburg's program, on the part of both Episcopal Church, South. As part of the plan to weld Methstudents and graduates. the South, and Southern Bishops Ohurch Institute for Negroes in the North. The subject of It was voted that the Home missions will be at the heart of Eight schools comprise this Mission Board invest funds only this Crusade. extensive educational program in those places where there is odists into spiritual unity, of the Episcopal Church for the the prospect of developing self- Northern Bishops will speak in benefit of the colored race. It is supporting congregations with- expected that 5,000 students will in a short time. For the cause of – World Outlook. be enrolled in them the coming foreign missions during the year, year. Important improvements $36,000 was appropriated. H Un-united Methodists have just been made at one of was decided to hold an appropri- them, the G ail 0 r Industrial ate celebration of the fiftieth There are some American School at Mason, Tenn., includanniversary of the Church's Mis- Methodists who are still outside ing replacement of a building sion in Madagascar next year. the new Methodist C h u r c h, destroyed by fire. Gaudet School, chiefly Negro Methodists. The New Orleans, is adding a course -National Lutheran color e d Methodist Episcopal in shop practice for boys. Voor- Council. Church, which originally came hees School, Denmark, S. C., fin- out of the former Methodist ished its last year with a surplus Nez Perces Evangelists Episcopal Church South, has in the treasury, and expects 4,248 churches with a member- again to match its record enrol- These Indian evangelists go on ship Of 374,440. The African ment of 700. St. Paul's School, invitation, or wherever they hear Methodist E pis cop a I Zion Lawrenceville, Va., plans an exof a need for the Gospel. Last Church has 4,205 churches with tension of its agricultural fall two of them, and their fami- a membership of 597,785. The courses. lies, were at work among a small African Methodist Episcopal group of Nez Perces at Nespe- Church has 7,115 churches with The Institute Singers, comlem, Wash., and from there they a membership of 650,000. posed of Negroes connected with reached other tribes, including the various Institute schools, the Spokanes. Three others -Advance. made another summer tour late went to Browning, Mont., to in July and early in August, gohold meetings among the Black- Student Leadership Conference ing to resorts in New England foot Indians. At one time there and New York State, and singwere calls from nine tribes; by The National Student Leader- ing and speaking in resort hotels dividing their forces, these tribes ship Training Conference, held to promote the work of the Inwere reached. Their appeal is at Berea College, Kentucky, June stitute. -Spirit of Missions. more effective than that of white 12-17, attracted nearly 300 dele- missionaries, because when In- gates from 126 Methodist col- Whole Congregation Becomes dians hear a white man preach leges and seminaries. The pur- Protestant they are apt to say: "Oh, this a pose was to consider student white man's religion; our own Christian life and to train, In Canada, an entire congreis better suited to the. Indians." through a series of seminars, gation shifted from the Roman Ministers and elders of the six youth leaders of youth. Catholic Ito the Presbyterian Nez Per c e s Presbyterian Dr. Georgia Harkness, Profes- Church. This one hundred per churches decide what tribes are sor of Religion at Mount Holy- cent change came about when to be visited, who shall make the oke College, in delivering the the parish priest was removed trips and how long they shall closing address of the confer- from his position because he stay. Indian churches are solic- ence, stressed the high function protested to his bishop that his ited for funds to meet the ex- of being an interpreter of Christ. people were unable to pay cer- penses of these trips. With the Her subject was "An Interpreter tain assessments made by the exception of an individual gift -One Among a Thousand." "I diocesan board. Whereupon the available through the Board of believe to be an interpreter is the priest and the 80 families in his National Missions· for the past function above all others to parish made formal application
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
and were received as a church Tabasco is a land of rivers and with the first generation of by the Miramichi Presbytery, swamps, and the difficulty .of heathenism and savagery, but and when the newly appointed getting about helped the ChrIs- there are signs of progress. priest arrived on the scene he tians who came quietly, one by -Inland South America found that he had no congrega- one, in canoes to a point agreed Union.
tion. -Presbyterian Register. upon, hid their canoes in t~e River Plate Federation jungle and silently made theIr LATIN AMERICA way to an opening in the fo~est, The Confederation of Protes- leaving guards along the rIver tant Churches in the River Plate Growth in a Century banks to warn the worshipers of area has met with hearty sup- the appro.ach of strangers. D?r- port. It i.s perhaps the most A century has passed since ing this perio.d, when the outsIde important step in two decades evangelical work began in Latin world dismissed Tabasco as 100 toward Christian cooperation. America. During that time per cent "Red" and entirely an- The project was launched in churches have been established tagonistic to religion, four new April, 1938, when 44 invited in the twenty republics, wmch groups of worshipers were guests representing unofficially have a to.tal membership of formed. In the capital a few 17 Protestant denominations and 337,714 communicants and an years ago all churches were de- organizations named a com!lli~ evangelical community of 1,724,- stroyed; even to.mbstones which tee of nine to formulate prmCI- 584. Approximately one-half of bore a cross were knocked down. these are in Brazil; yet one-half Yet in this city the evangelist pIes for an inclusive body. This of all Latin America, about was able to meet an eager group committee's findings were ap- 60,000,000 people, have had no of worshipers and to make plans proved three months later by chance to. hear the Gospel. for carrying to the mission meet- ano.ther assembly, which re- ing a plea for more workers. quested that official delegates be Some new developments are named for a general assembly to reported from Brazil. The Insti- -Monday Morning. be held in April 1939. tute of Religious Culture, a new movement with headquarters at The Campas At this meeting in Buenos Sao Paulo, is presenting Chris- Aires, a constitution was adopted tianity in an attractive way to The Inland South America and an able and representative the educated classes. Missionary Union has a work executive committee was elected among the Campas,a wild, sav- to carry forward the work of A school for lay preachers is age tribe whose sensibilities have the confederation. Twenty-five training laymen in Christian been so dulled with alcohol and officially appointed delegates reptruth and preaching, enabling cocaine that their response to any them to conduct services in their uplifting influence is discourag- resented the following denomiown churches in cooperation ing, to say the least. When fired nations: Methodist, Waldensian, with the pastors. All this is in- up with masato, a fermented Mennonite, Scotch Presbyterian, spired and directed by the Bra- drink, and urged by revenge or zilians themselves. resentment, they are exceedingly Disciples of Christ, Evangelical dangerous. They are true com- Union of South America, Chris- The Evangelical Union of munists, with little individual tian and Missionary Alliance South America reports encour- initiative, irresponsible and and the French Evangelical aging progress in its new mis- usually do the opposite of what Church. The German Co.ngregasion work in Bolivia. Tract they are told, so that unlimited tional Church, which is officially distribution, Sunday s c h 0 0 I s, patience is required to deal with affiliated, was without represenmedical work and preaching are them. They are scattered over tation. Bodies sending fraternal being carried on. Most of the a large area and move about a delegates were: Anglican, Unitpeople in the locality are Que- great deal. They clear a new ed Lutheran, Southern Baptist, chua-speaking Indians. space each year and build a new house, which consists of just a Danish Lutheran, German Evan- -World Dominion. palm leaf roof. They live a gelical Church, Brethren Church makeshift kind of life; every- (U. S. A.), Salvation Army, Mexican "Covenanters" thing is temporary with them. Y. W. C. A., Y. M. C. A. and the For the past several years the American Bible Society. remote state of Tabasco in Mexico has been a hot bed of radical- -Christian Century.
ism and religious persecution. At Cahuapanas an attempt has Waldensians in South America It was believed that under the been made to organize a group bitterly anti-clerical reg i m e of these Indians where there are The Waldensian Church in the every trace of religious activity some six families more or less River Plata republics is selfhad been wiped out. Recently a permanent. Some are even suppo.rting and autonomous, different story has come out. At learning to read, using the New maintaining only friendly conthe annual meeting of the Mex- Testament as a text. They learn nection with the Waldensian ico. Mission, held in Yucatan, a so slowly and their interest is Church in Italy. However, most Mayan evangelist told of inci- so often diverted that two hours of its pastors have been trained dents that paralleled those of of school daily is as much as any in Italy. In recent years, the Covenanter days in Scotland. teacher can stand. It is work tendency has been to. send minis-
terial students to the Union The- Yugoslav Women's Missionary Last year a movement was ological Seminary in Buenos Union launched for establishing a Bi- Aires. ble school. In spite of the dire The organization of a Wom- poverty in Eastern Europe, The total communicant mem- an's Missionary Union in Yugo- about $3,000 has been raised and bership of this church is just slavia is the realization of a a site has been found available under 5,000; its religious com- dream of many years. Soon in Brest Litovsk, Poland, for munity numbers 10,000, so that after the World War, a Russian this institution. This property it is one of the largest Protestant refugee, Mrs. Lydia Kalmikov, is a farm, with a palace, barns groups in this area. The mem- went to live in Belgrade, and be- and granaries which can be used bers are deeply religious, Cal- gan to work for a woman's so- to advantage for dormitories vinist as to doctrine and Presby- ciety in the Belgrade Baptist and class rooms, while the ferterian as to polity. The church Church. For several years a tile acres will provide more than had its origin in 1857, when the local organization was main- enough food for the whole Waldensian Church in Italy be- tained; then similar groups in school. It is expected that sale gan work among Italian immi- other churches throughout the of surplus will take care of salgrants in Uruguay. country were formed, but their aries and other expenses. The work was in no way related. institution will be tax-exempt. It -Christian Century. There was no common study pro- is earnestly hoped that sufficient gram: most of the work was funds may be secured to pur- EUROPE along the line of hand work and chase the property. bazaars. It was all the women League of Prayer and Service knew how to do. The Bible will be the chief text book. Students will be Under the direction of Dr. M. Last May, Mrs. Earl Trutza trained to be Bible teachers, di- came from Bucharest to help rectors of religious education, E. Aubrey, President of the Fed- form a general organization. ministers, evangelists, mission- The women are very happy in ary leaders, Sun day school eral Council of Churches in Eng- the plans for this new work, and workers, Gospel singers, choir are eager for instruction in directors, and for many other land, Dr. Sidney M. Berry and methods of service. forms of Christian service.
Rev. W. H. Elliott, what is -The Commission. -Union of Churches of Christ. known as the "League of Prayer Union of Churches of Christ in Poland No Religious Freedom in and Service" has been estab- Rumania lished. It has more than Since this Union was formed in Poland in 1921 it has grown Rumania was willing to line 2,000,000 members distributed until there are 78 churches and up on the European "democratic more than 350 mission stations front," but still occupies an throughout England, and while scattered over nine provinces of equivocal position on the ques- Poland; and a dozen churches tion of religious freedom. Last it was established originally by and more than 20 missions in spring, Baptists the w 0 rId Rumania, Jugoslavia, Esthonia, around rejoiced when the preradio the demand has lately Latvia and other Eastern Euro- mier declared that the principle pean countries. Catholics, Mo- of religious freedom would be arisen for public meetings which hammedans, anarchists and infi- honored in Rumania, and the dels, all have heard the Word of Baptists, the largest unorthodox have crammed the largest halls God. The Union has held nine sect in that country, were spe- national conventions, f i f tee n cifically given permission to reavailable. The theme is to cre- thousand Bible and evangelistic open their c h u r c h e s. This conferences, scores of Bible declaration was actually put into ate a great brotherhood of men Teacher Training Courses, and effect in Bucharest, but in the united by common prayer for the Bible Music Classes, also con- provinces local authorities con- ducted home Bible studies by tinued to keep many churches maintenance of peace. Minis- correspondence. It has distrib- padlocked, while children who uted over 40,000 Bibles and refused to make the sign of the ters of all denominations have Scripture portions in many Eu- cross were held back in the ropean languages. In the seven- schools. been participating, so that it teen years of its history it has conducted thousands of outdoor As the situation now appears seems likely that the movement evangelistic meetings, trained to stand, seven smaller sects are orchestras and choruses, visited outlawed, but Baptist, Adventist will be of significance in Chris- homes, hospitals and prisons; and Evangelical churches may relieved the poor, orphans and practice their faith, provided tian unity, as well as in building aged. they meet certain requirements; a spirit of peace.
The Archbishop of Canter- bury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland were among the signers to a call to prayer at Pentecost, in which confession was made of selfishness in inter- national relations; and all who believe in the sovereignty of God were urged to be guided by the Holy Spirit, so that justice, good will and peace might prevail. In response, the senior Lutheran Bishop of Germany published a vehement open letter to the Archbishop of Can t e r bur y, which is evidence of the de- terioration of Christianity in Germany. -Advance.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
among them: each local church their neighbors, the Moors. But With this stirring of life, and must present a petition signed since the revolution, anti-Semit- the increasing demand for eduby at least fifty bona fide mem~ ism has changed this friendly cation, it is not surprising to bers; all church properties must atmosphere, and a major prob- find the work of book shops inbe listed with the government lem is well on its way. creasing. From little villages, people walk miles to the nearest authorities; churches must be at -International Committee C. M. S. book shop for books and least two hundred yards apart; of Christian Approach all burial services held outside a to the Jews. school supplies. church must be previously au~ -"One Family."
thorized; all pastors must regis~ Victories in Egypt Congo Ties Experiment ter with the cult ministry, must be not less than thirty years old, Faqus now has an organized The Congo Mission field has and must be in "good standing." Christian congregation which launched out into a new enter- has developed in the course of a prise. An evangelistic team of There are enough technicali~ year. Its thirty or more mem.:. natives has been selected, a car ties here to guarantee that Ru~ bers own their church property and loud speaker equipment semania will have just as much and are planning extensions of cured, and some of the team have religious freedom as the state it. In Mansura, the Boys' School been taught to play the cornet. wishes to grant; and that is the continues to be an outstanding Since February this group has degree of freedom vouchsafed in example of an efficiently run been visiting Africa Inland Mistotalitarian countries. school under the management of sion stations and out-schools in an Egyptian headmaster who the Bangala-speaking area. -Christwn Century. has not only made it pay its way, but was able last year to dispense One member of the team is a Godless Movement Threatened a small bonus as an addition to blind man from Uganda, named by Women the very modest salaries of his Paulo. He has been a Christian loyal staff. for many years, and about two A Russian paper, AntireUgioz- years ago he had the conviction nik, sees grave danger to the A club for men and boys spon- that God wanted him to witness Godless movement through the sors a full program of lectures, for Him. in the Congo, among various international women's meetings and games in compe- those who speak his language. organizations in Europe and tition with the "Moslem Broth- Many natives have been won America. Three are mentioned ers'Society." Fortnightly meet- through the messages given by in particular: ings at this Club, conducted by Paulo. He is now studying Ban- Evangelist Kamel Mansur, often gala in order to reach these peo- The' International League of Cath~ attract an overflow audience. ple. -Congo Mission News. olic Women, which has affiliations in thirty-five countries and meets at -United Presbyterian. Utrecht.
The International Association of Young Women which has affiliations in fifty-five countries, and a member- Deepening Church Life Holding the Ropes ship of some 5,000,000, which meets at An already overworked mis- Geneva. The Women's Church Organizations in the United States of America with A conspicuous feature of the sionary force is being taxed to 7,000,000 members. work of the C. M. S. of the past the limit by the problem of the – World Dominion. two years has been the special 26,000 and more converts who missions to deepen the life of the were gathered in during the AFRICA Church. The Society reports Centennial Preaching Campaign that in one place forty to fifty in the Cameroun. Plans have Jews in Morocco old men and women suddenly had to be developed to instruct presented themselves for in- this vast group in the meaning Those who think there is no struction; this, too, in a village of Christianity, and to keep them Jewish problem in Spain forget for several years considered from slipping back into heathen~ to include Spanish Morocco. The dead. Heavy drinking has been ism. The central part of these Spanish peninsula has only about one of the chief stumbling blocks. plans, around which everything 4,000 Jews, but in Spanish Mo- To meet this situation, it was de- else revolves, is a Five-Year rocco there are more than 200,- cided to hold an eight-day mis- program of Bible study. In 000, and very active communi- sion for African workers. This 1938, Bible conferences were ties some of them are. It is a was well attended. Before the held at all the strategic points. curious fact that before the revo- service on the closing Sunday, a A leaflet was issued from the lution, there was intense anti- pile of beer gourds, fermenting Mission Press and circulated Semitism in Spain, with its mere pots, sugar cane scrapers, drink- among the leaders of these con- 4,000 Jews; while in Morocco ing horns and such parapher- ferences, with the purpose of this feeling was practically non- nalia, were placed before the unifying the program. There existent. The Jews of Morocco altar as a symbol of complete were references for Scripture have enjoyed both peace and surrender. Throughout the day, memory work, guides for the prosperity for centuries; they chiefs came to testify that they preparation of expository meslived in perfect harmony with had given up drinking. sages by native Christians and
a six-page outline of the Epistle with the total life of each country to sanction or participate in war, conto the Galatians. Results have and community. tains also its hope of redemption. We led the Mission to double the affirm our faith that the mission of number of these leaflets to be Six registers of information the Church today is to witness with printed this year. are now being bunt Up: singleness of heart, at whatever cost, to the power of good to overcome evil, One of the most gratifying re- A register of all North American of love to conquer hatred, of the sults of the 1938 program has doctors and nurses, serving in all over- Cross to shatter the sword. been the fact that over 10,000 seas mission fields. additional converts have been The Bible and Freedom added to the roll of enquirers. A register of missionary doctors and nurses who are on furlough. Earl Baldwin, in an address in -Foreign Affairs Bulletin. Toronto recently, expressed his A register of medical missionary belief that Britain's disposition African Farm School alumni and alumnre, now settled in the to attempt the solution of the United States and Canada. iuternational problems by honest A new type of primary school deliberation and conference for boys was opened at Nyanga, A register of Christian doctors and roots back into generation upon South Africa, in 1937, under the nurses throughout North America generation of Bible reading by Cape Department of Education. who are in positions of leadership, the people of England. Certain it Cooperating in this project are and who, because of their understand- is that wherever the Bible has the All-Saints' Mission, the ing of, and belief in, medical missions, been thoughtfully read, human Bunga, the Native Recruiting may serve as contact-makers in many freedom has been assured. To- Corporation and the Cape Edu- communities. day, lovers of freedom everycation Department. An 85-acre where will read with encouragefarm, with all equipment, has A register of schools, hospitals, as- ment that Latin America is manbeen placed at the disposal of semblies, etc., where graduate medical ifesting an insatiable hunger for the school, though it is not study may be carried on, and special the Scriptures; that China, with :strictly speaking an agricultural hospital experience secured. all her appalling needs, bought school. The measure of success more Bibles than ever before, may be seen in the fact that al- A register of institutions, includ- and that the Bible outsold "Mein though pupils must pay fees, a ing university schools, special hospi- Kampf" in Germany last year number of applicants have had tals, etc., where graduate nursing by 200,000 copies. Japan into be refused.-The Chronicle. study may be carried on. creased her purchases of the Bi- ble last year by about 10 per MISCELLANEOUS One of the first tasks under- cent over the previous year. Christian churches in Japan Christian Medical Council taken by the new Council has have celebrated the fiftieth an- niversary of the first complete After twelve years of plan- been to help the National Chris- Japanese Bible. In Brazil, the ning, this Council was formed ability to absorb the Scriptures in June, 1938. It was the sec- tian Council of China secure is limited only by the ability of ond step of united action, taken Bible Societies to supply copies. by missionary societies, in the young doctors for emergency medical field. Five years ago, In China, after the Bible Sonine societies organized the As- war service in the mission hos- cieties had somewhat adjusted sociated Mission Medical Office, themselves to war conditions Biand this has amply demonstrated pitals that are serving as base bles and Testaments were pubwhat can be accomplished by co- lished at the rate of 20,000 a operation. hospitals in many parts of Cen- month-a book every four sec- onds, day and night. It is re- Specifically, the purpose of the tral China. -Bulletin. ported that a truck load of Bibles Christian Medical Council is : going west from Hongkong Christian Pacifism plunged into the river. The To aid the societies in maintaining books were rescued and dried in cat a high level the professional and F. O. R. stands for "Fellow- a Hangkow egg-packing house, spiritual standards of their overseas ship of Reconciliation." This and every copy sold. medical and nursing work. group has put out a manifesto entitled "The Affirmation on -Bible House, New York. To make available to the several so- Christian Pacifist Faith" as folcieties, and to their doctors and nurses lows: I Am a Steward: overseas, relevant information regarding developments in the whole field of We believe that God is the Father Of God-given talents.-Mat. 25: 14-29. medical missionary endeavor. of all mankind, that His will as re- vealed in Jesus Christ is universal Of God's revealed law.-Rom. 3: 1-4. To aid the societies in creating chan- love, and that Christ's Gospel involves nels through which to bring, both in the faith that evil can be overcome Of the Gospel.-1 Cor. 4: 1-5. North America and overseas, a fuller only with good. understanding of the significance of Of Christ's grace.-1 Peter 4: 7-11. this Christian humanitarian enter- We believe that in the Cross is re- vealed God's way of dealing with -By Rev. T. M. Stevenson, ~prise. wrongdoers, and that to this way all Craigsville, Va. Christians are called. To suggest to the societies ways by which their overseas medical institu- We believe that war, which attempts ~tions may develop greater integration to overcome evil with more evil, is a denial of the way of the Cross.
We believe that the Church is called to the way of the Cross.
We believe that when the state in the prosecution of war seeks to com- pel the denial of the Gospel, the Church must resist at whatever cost.
We believe that God leads His Church into new life through obedi- ence of the individual believer in re- fusing war for Christ's sake.
Therefore we proclaim to a world which is once again madly preparing for war that the Gospel of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, which leaves us with no other choice but to refuse
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Personality and Character Develop- and fourteen chapters of the evangelist will no doubt secure ment. By J. D. Messick, Ph.D., Koran, has already been de- more ready assent to a doctrinal Dean of Administration and Head scribed in a review of the first principle than when presenting of the Department of Education, volume (see June REVIEW, 1938, a plea for acceptance of the Elon College, North Carolina. 192 page 320). This completes the Lordship of Christ; nevertheless pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell Co. translation and represents an the two phases of truth belong 1939. enormous amount of industry on together. True evangelism does the part of Dr. Bell. The trans- not encourage the expectation of "N0 matter how much learn- lation is an improvement on immediate spiritual maturity, ing and science, nor how much earlier translations; the critical nor should it contribute to the culture and arts may be included notes are valuable and in nearly convert's arrested development. in the curricula of the public every case are based on careful It should present the miracle of schooll:' and colleges, they will be study of the text and of the work a new life whose daily susteof little avail unless they are of earlier critics. There are, nance is to be drawn from the supported by ethical character. however, a few inaccurate ren- divine source. The author, a . . . There is no substitute for derings. The author apparently successful evangelist, records a morality, character, and Chris- was ignorant of the light thrown deep conviction which he suptian education. Unless these on a very difficult and obscure ports by a wealth of scriptural abide, democratic citizenship will Surah, CXIII, in a study of Mo- testimony as to the centrality of find itself unequal to the task of hammed's complexes by Dr. this truth in the divine plan. perpetuating itself." Worrall, of Chicago University, in the Journal of Asiatic Oriental HUGH R. MONRO. This quotation (p. 179 of Dr. Studies. The general index is Messick's volume) presents suc- inadequate, but there is a most Revealing Christ. By Percy Hartill, cinctly the author's viewpoint valuable chronological table and B.D. Archdeacon and rector of and purpose. Since most of the a note on the mistakes of Stoke-on-Trent. Is. 2d. 71 pp. chapters were originally radio NOldeke. S.P.G. London. 1939. talks, they are simple in form and practical in intent. The na- SAMUEL M. ZWEMER. This is a small book of seventy ture and importance of person- pages, pure gold,one of theS.P.G. ality are sketched; its growth The New Sovereignty. By Reginald Lenten series. It is "revealing" outlined; and the influence on Wallis. 96 pp. 1 sh. Pickering & of the best that God gives to the growing personality of home Inglis. Glasgow. 1939. true believers. Its brief chapand school are discussed at some ters open with, "What is a Chrislength, with considerable prac- Twelve brief chapters deal tian?" and the answer is, "To be tical detail. Some time the au- with a theme of supreme im- a Christian is to be a person who thor should add a chapter, or portance, yet strangely neglected is trying to reveal Christ by bewrite another book, on the in the preaching and teaching of ing Christ-like." Christ sends Church as a factor in building our day. The author perhaps us all into the world to reveal character, a topic omitted from treats with too little regard what God, as He lives in us. And this this volume. Generous reading he terms "only believism"; for is wherever we are, and to all lists add value to the discussion, after all, great souls often spring the world. To be missionaryand questions for discussion at from a very small seed. There hearted is of the essence of the end of each chapter make it can be no doubt, however, that Christianity itself. The book is usable for study groups in spiritual failure can generally to help us be the kind of person P. T. A. or similar organizations. be traced to faulty consecration. who will truly reveal Christ. The Christian life, as Captain The thoughts, expressions and K. J. FOREMAN. Wallis so clearly points out, is quotations are often refresh- more than a series of emotional ingly novel, and the thoughts The Quran. Translated, with a criti- experiences; it is rather the more apt to be expected are for- cal rearrangement of the Surahs. flower and fruit of a sacred cov- cibly and beautifully stated. By Richard Bell, B.D., D.D. Vol. enant by which all of the Chris- Some of the illustrations are II. 697 pp. $6.00. T. T. Clark, tian's faculties and powers are superb. There is a delightful Edinburgh; Scribner's, New York. brought willingly under the aroma about the little book 1939. scepter of Jesus Christ. The which was well selected for its This new translation and ar- [479 ] rangement of the one hundred
Lenten purpose. Any lover of book on Holiness," showing that much practical help from his exthe purer, finer, Biblical Chris- God must be approached "in the perience in keeping the "Morntian living will be informed, way of His appointing, and that ing Watch" so that the practice charmed and made a better wit- by sacrifice." Stress is laid on will be effective in Christian the number of times such words thinking, living and service. He ness for Christ by reading it. as "holiness," "clean" and "un- acknowledges his indebtedness. clean," and "atonement" occur. to the Oxford Groups. He will be quickened by the chapters on, "Pruning to bear Similar treatment is given to Zonya. By Agnes Scott Kent. Illus. fruit," "Seeing God," and Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuter- 313 pp. $1.50. Evangelical Pub- "Union with Christ." There is onomy. In general it may be lishers. Toronto, Canada. 1939. a unity in it all, telling what is added that the author is conneeded in C h r i s t ian sand servative and holds to the Mosaic Here is a novel that has to do churches today to truly reveal authorship of all five books. with Jewish suffering and evan- Christ to the world. The re- gelism. It begins with a vivid viewer is reminded of the fine This is the third new instance account of fiendish Jewish polittle books of forty years ago of this type of "Bible studies" groms in Russia and continues by Bishop Moule of Durham. brought to this reviewer's atten- with the hard struggles and tion in less than a month. One temptations met by Jewish im- FRANK LUKENS. cannot help wondering whether migrants in America. The pic- so much effort is wisely spent on ture is relieved by the courage The Gospel in the Pentateuch. By the externals of Scripture-mar- and love manifested by such Herbert Lockyer, D.D. The Bible shalling facts about the Bible- characters as Alexander Ivanav, Institute Colportage Association. when there is so much need of the intelligent and earnest young Chicago. 1939. good expositions of the mes- Rabbi. Here is an antidote to sages of its books. Is there not anti-Semitism. It is a love story Probably the first thing that danger of drawing more atten- in which trial and tribulation strikes one in picking up this tion to the setting of the jewel are mixed with the search for neat little book is that it belongs than the jewel itself? God and His way of peace and to a great class of so-called pardon. Zonya, the-young Jew- "B i b I e studies," consisting ROBERT M. KURTZ. ish girl, tries rabbinical trasimply of analyses of parts of ditions, C h r i s t ian Science, the Scriptures. Outlining some When I Awake. By Jack C. Winslow. Communism, spiritism and clairbook of the Bible seems to' have 78 pp. Paper. 18. 6d. Hodder and voyance, but finally finds peace a fascination for students of a Stoughton. London. 1938. in Christ, as does her beloved certain type, some of whom lack Alexander. They are led by a sense of proportion. Such are Nothing in Christian experi- friends who know the Scriptures, apt to build an analysis about ence will take the place of daily for the author is a missionary some favorite doctrine or theory. communion with God. There have to the Jews and speaks from ex- been periodic cycles when this perience. It is a realistic story Dr. Lockyer has avoided any need was emphasized and when of absorbing interest, but with extreme, so that the reader may the practice was neglected. The too many unrealistic coincidences take up this book without any periods of neglect are always to be true to general experience. prejudice of his own. periods of weakness and lack of vision. Family and private Twenty-five Years Work Among the Before turning to the Penta- prayer have been observed more Lepers of India. By William C. teuch the author gives a general or less regularly and earnestly Irvine. 144 pp. Illus. 28. 6d. outline of the Scriptures as a for generations in many Chris- Pickering & Inglis. London. 1939. whole, including what he re- tian homes. Fifty years ago gards as the "keynote" of each "The Morning Watch" was em- The Superintendent of. Belbook. Then taking up the phasized and was promoted in gaum Leper Hospital has given Mosaic books, he outlines the Y. M. C. A. and Student Volun- twenty-five years of service to leading topics of Genesis, laying teer circles. Then it fell largely the lepers of India. In this acemphasis upon the fact that this into disuse or became formal. count of his experiences he lays book is "the seed-plot of the Today there is a reemphasis on emphasis upon the spiritual Bible," since "the beginning of daily "Quiet Times" when Chris- rather than on the physical all truth" is contained in it. He tians will speak to God of their ministrations. The incidents quotes J. Sidlow Baxter's strik- deepest needs and will listen for related lead one to count his ing comparison of Genesis and His guidance and receive His blessings, remembering benefits Revelation, in jtselfan urgent strength. enjoyed in good birth, environinvitation to study the "Book of ment, helpful teachers and lit- Beginnings.." Here is. a very helpful little erature, and from the prayers of book on the "Morning Watch" friends. Many definite answers The subtitle given the book of by one who has practiced it for to prayer are recorded here. The Exodus is the "Book of Redemp- forty years. The author is Jack closing chapter, by Dr. Robert tion" because the symbols of the C. Winslow, vicar of Beckley Cochrane, deals with the history Hebrew system of worship fore- Parish, England, and formerly a and treatment of leprosy. shadow the redemptive work of missionary in India, well known Christ. The historical contents in connection with his Ashram H.H .. F. also trace the redemption of at Poona. Mr. Winslow gives Israel from bondage.
Leviticus is called the "Text-
MOILEM
PUBUSHBD BY THB HARTFORD SBMINARY FOUNDATION Editors: SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, EDWIN E. CALVERLEY Some Articles in the October Number The Short, Broad and High Views Edwin E. CalveTle, The 'Alids of North Syria EdwaTd J. JUTji The Bengal Church and the Convert D. A. Chowdhury Sufism and Sikhism C. H. Loehlin Jeffery's "Foreign Vocabulary of the Qur'an" ChaTles C. TOTTey The Fundamental Structure of Islam Edwin E. Cal..,erley The Sufi Poem, "Milk and Sugar" Dwight M. Donaldson Abraham Amirkhanianz • His DaughteT Book Reviews Current Topics Survey of Periodicals Sue Molleson Foster Index for the Year 1939 _.-+~ SUBSCRIBE NOW ~I(— 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents.) British Agents: MARSHALL, MORGAN & SCOTT, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight Shillings a Year, net Just Like You. By Lucy W. Peabody. Penthouse of the Gods. A pilgrimage He Opened the Door of Japanl Carl Illustrated. 186 pages. $1.00 post- into the heart of Tibet and the Crow. 275 pp. $3.00. Harper Bros. paid. Order from M. H. Leavis, sacred city of Lhasa. Theos Ber- New York. 186 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. nard. 344 pp. $3.50. Scribner & Sons. New York, N. Y. The Doctrine of Modern Judaism. The author of this attractive book A. Lukyn Williams. 169 pp. 58. has traveled widely in Asia and has Gateway to Tibet: The Kansu-Tib- S. P. C. K. London. gathered photographs, drawings, etan Border. Robert B. Ekvall. poems and stories that promote world 198 pp. $1.00. Christian Publi- The World's Religions. A Short friendship among children. By be- cations. Harrisburg. History. Charles S. Braden. 256 ginning with them racial prejudice pp. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashmay be eliminated and world peace The Turkey of Ataturk. Donald E. ville. and missionary interest may be pro- Webster. 337 pp. $2.50. Amermoted. Mrs. Peabody tells of Chinese, ican Academy of Political and So- Comrades Round the World. Chris- Japanese, Filipino, Indian, European, cial Science. Philadelphia. tian Youth in Action. Franklin S. Eskimo, African and other children Mack. 165 pp. Cloth, $1.00; paper, showing very attractive pictures of The African Today and Tomorrow. 60 cents. Friendship Press. New them. It is an excellent book (for Diedrich Westermann. Illus. 335 York. children 4 to 10 years old) to put into pp. 88. 6d. Oxford University the home and the public library. Press. London. 101 Eye-Catching Objects. Elmer L. Wilder. 212 pp. $1.50. Funda- New Books The Black Man in White America. mental Truth Publishers. Findlay, J. G. Van Duesen. 338 pp. $3.25. Ohio. My Days of Strength: An American Associated Publishers. Washington, Woman Doctor's Forty Years in D. C. The Message of the Book of Revela- China. Anne Walter Fearn. 297 tion. Cady H. Allen. 180 pp. pp. Harper Bros. New York. History of Mexico. Henry B. Parkes. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville. $3.00. 432 pp. $3.75. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. Builder of Dreams. The Life of Rob- Alex Wood, Bishop of Nagpur, Mis- ert Edward Chambers. Ruth Carver sionary, Sportsman, Philosopher: Papuan Journey. H. L. Hurst. 168 Gardner and Christine Coffee Cham- A Memoir. Eyre Chatterton. Illus. pp. 38. 6d. Livingstone Press. bers. 200 pp. $1.00. Boardman 145 pp. 38. 6d. S. P. C. K. Lon- London. Press. Nashville. don. Let Us Unite. Church Unity in Sammy Writes a Book. Me (W. W. Vom Wesen und Wirken der Aus- China, and Church and Mission Enete) . 112 pp. 75 cents. Board- landskirchen. Hermann Stohr. 144 Cooperation. 79 pp. Willow Pat- man Press. Nashville. pp. 1.80 M. Oekumenischer Ver- tern Press. Shanghai. lag. Stettin, Germany. Japan and Shanghai. Shuhsi Hsu. The Rise of a Pagan State. Japan's 104 pp. Kelly and Walsh. Shang- Religious Background. G. H. Bous- hai. quet. Illus. 125 pp. Frs. 50. Li- brairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner. Religious Life of the Japanese Peo- Paris. ple. Masaharu Aneski. Illus. 106 pp. 58. Kegan Paul. London.
Iktf
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The Missionary Review of the World — September 1939
1939
The Japanese Control of Religion By a Recent Resident Christian Opportunities in Japan J. Harper Brady The Churches in the DustBowl Mark A. Dawber By-Products of the Arabian Mission Samuel M. Zwemer Fasl-Begh-Address Unknown "Shaheeda"
Training Indian Women Doctors Dame Edith Brown The Present Situation in Portugal Wm. H. Rainey Preaching Christ in Europe Adolf Keller 25 Cents ~ Copy $2.50 a Year
Items Dates to Remember throughout the Presbyterian
and in other Christian circles because Dr. Clarence G. Salsbury, Superin- August 1-IO-Erieside Conference for of his work for lepers of Allahabad tendent of Ganado Presbyterian Mis- Boys and Young Men. Willowick, and in connection with the Allahabad sion to Navajo Indians in Arizona, Ohio. Agricultural Institute, a missionary and medical director of Sage Memorial enterprise. He attended the Mt. Her- Hospital, has been made President Aug. 5-10-Ninth Quadrennial Con- mon School for Young Men and of the recently organized Arizona vention ·of the Woman's Home and Princeton University where he was a Hospital Association. Arizona is one Foreign Missionary Society of Af- member of the class of 1903, and went of the last states to organize such rican Methodist Episcopal Zion to India the same year. He received an association. Almost all the state's Church, Detroit, Mich. the degree of Doctor of Philanthropy 45 hospitals are embraced in this from Princeton and Bachelor of Scieffort to handle matters arising from August 13-20-Geneva Summer School ence in Agriculture from Ohio State legislative and social security prob- of Missions, Lake Geneva, Wis. For College, Master of Science from Amlems. It will be affiliated with the information write to Mrs. Paul H. herst College and received the Kaisar- American Hospital Association. Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey Ave., i-Hind Gold Medal in 1935 and the Oak Park, ill. King George Medal in 1937. *** Mrs. A. E. Harper, of the Presby- August 30-September 2 – National He was born in Manchester, Engterian Punjab Mission, has received Rural Forum. Penn State College, land, on October 24, 1874, and came the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal for dis- under the auspices of the American to the United States in 1894. tinguished service to India. Dr. and Country Life Assn., Dr. Benson Y. Mrs. Harper, who have been in India Landis, Executive Secretary, 297 Obituary Notes since 1914, are in charge of the Moga Fourth Ave., New York. Training School for Village Teachers, The Rev. Dr. Ross Stevenson, Preswhich is the formal name for what September I-Home Mission Day at ident Emeritus of Princeton Theologi- Indians and missionaries prefer to the World's Fair, New York. cal Seminary, a former pastor of the call "The Village of Service." Mrs. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Harper is the author of two books for September 2-4 – Erieside Business and a Moderator of the General Asyoung people on India-"The Golden Women's Conference, Willowick, sembly of the Presbyterian Church in Sparrow" and "Shera of the Punjab." Ohio. the United States of America, died in New York on August 13 at 73 years *** October I-Loyalty Sunday. of age. He is survived by his widow, Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer, after ten October 11-I8-Twelfth Quadrennial Florence Day Stevenson and by his years of residence at Princeton, N. J., three sons, Dr. Theodore Dwight Stehas moved to the Hotel Carteret, Sev- Convention of the Woman's Parent venson, a medical missionary in Canenth Avenue and 23rd Street, New Mite Missionary Society of the Af- ton, China, Donald Day Stevenson of York City. rican Methodist Episcopal Church, Pennsylvania State College and Wil- Chicago, ill. liam Edwards Stevenson of the law *** October 24-25-130th Annual Meet- firm of Debevoise, Stevenson, Plimp- ArthtH' L. Carson, Ph.D., director ing of the American Board of Com- ton & Page. of the Rural Institute of Cheeloo Uni- missioners for Foreign Missions versity, Tsinan, China, has been meeting with the Mid~West Region, Dr. Stevenson was much loved as a elected president of Silliman Univer- Pilgrim Church, St. Louis, Mo. pastor, teacher and friend. He was sity, Dumaguete, P. I. Dr. Carson one of the best-known Presbyterian went W China in 1921, and after a Dr. Helen Kim, a pioneer in wom- clergymen in the United States. For short service in Canton, he organized en's education in Korea, has been many years he served .as Chairman of an agricultural department in the elected President of Ewha College in the Presbyterian General Assembly's boys' high school at Weihsien, to meet Seoul, to succeed Miss Alice Appen- Department of Church Cooperation a recognized need. In Cheloo Univer- zeller. Dr. Kim has participated in and Union, and was a leader in the sity he had opportunity to serve the many international conferences both negotiations of his denomination for rural Chinese to better advantage. at home and abroad as a representa- a proposed concordat with the Prot- tive of Korea. She was a delegate to estant Episcopal Church. *** the Jerusalem Conference in 1928. He was born at Ligonier, Pa., on Dr. Edward Warren Capen is re- *** March 1, 1866, the son of the Rev. tiring from the deanship of the Ken- Ross Stevenson, Presbyterian minisnedy School of Missions of the Hart- Rev. J. G. Holdcroft, missionary of ter, and Martha A. Harbison Stevenford Seminary Foundation, after son. He was graduated from Washservice in that office since 1919. The the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. in ington and Jefferson College and then steady development of the school dur- Korea, has returned to Seoul in order from McCormick Theological Semiing toe last twenty-eight years is due to stand by the missionaries there and nary at Chicago. For four years he largely to his personal devotion. Dur- help in the work during this time of occupied a pastorate in Sedalia, Mo., ing this time more than 892 students crisis. Mrs. Holderoft is detained in and then returned to McCormick Semhave enrolled, representing more than America on account of her mother, inary for eight years. In 1902 he besixty mission boards; and these stu- who is 86 years of age. Pray for Dr. came pastor of the Fifth Avenue dents have served in 47 different mis- and Mrs. Holdcroft in this time of Presbyterian Church in New York sion fields throughout the world. testing. and in 1909 accepted the call of the Brown Memorial Church in Balti- *** *** more. He was elected president of Dr. T. K. Van, acting President of Dr. Samuel Higginbottom, Presi- Princeton Theological Seminary in the University of Shanghai since the dent of Ewing Christian College, Alla- 1914, and the next year was elected assassination of President Herman habad, India, has the distinction of be- Moderator of the General Assembly. C. E. Liu in 1938, has been elected ing the only lay missionary who has the President. In view of the tense ever been elected Moderator of the Dr. Stevenson retired from the pressituation following the assassination Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. idency of the Princeton Theological by a Japanese agent, it was not This honor was conferred upon him at Seminary in May, 1936, and subsethought wise to select a president at the General Assembly in Cleveland, quently served as temporary president the time. Ohio on May 25th. of the American section of the World Dr. Van's sterling Christian char- Dr. Higginbottom is not an Ameri- Conference on Faith and Order and acter, his scholarly attainments and can citizen, having been born in Great the Universal Christian Council for his quiet efficiency in a crisis mark Britain, is not an ordained minister, Life and Work. He and Mrs. Steventhe wisdom of his selection. never attended a theological seminary son went on a tour of Presbyterian and was elected an elder of the Pres- missions in the Far East in 1937. byterian Church in Cleveland only about two weeks before he was elected (Concluded on third cover.) Moderator. He has become well known and greatly beloved and honored
THE CALL LEADS . .. THE MISSIONARY To
REVIEW OF THE WORLD "EAST OF SUEZ" ORIENT DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor by VOL. LXII SEPT.,1939 No.9 EMp(l.ESS The Jain Temple, Calcutta Publication and Business Office- fl.PIlESS Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. rOB OVBB 100 YBllBS Only 10 swift days direct to THB WllY HllS .8BN Editorial and Executive Ollice– Yokohama when you sail by 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Empress to the Orient. Only PaO Entered as second-class matter at 3 more days to visit lovely Hawaii en route by Empress of Let the comfort of modern liners and the secur- Post Ollice, Harrisburg, Pa., under Japan, largest and fastest liner ity of British seamanship enhance your voy- Act of March 3, 1879. on the Pacific, or Empress of age. Whenever you are called to the other Canada. From California side of the world, choose this traditional route. 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. ports connect at Honolulu. Cross to England by a modern transatlantic Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. liner and then embark in a great liner of the Published monthly, except August. Frequent sailings from both P & 0 and British India fleets, led by the new All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. Vancouver and Victoria to 23,500-ton Strathallan, Strathmore, and Strath- British agents – Marshall, Morgan Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, eden carrying First and Tourist Classes. Air- and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, Shanghai,HongKong,Manila. conditioned dining saloons in First Class, hot London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Consult YOUR OWN TRAVEL and cold running water throughout, built-in 10 sh!1lings a year. AGENT or Canadian Pacific: out-door swimming pools, children's play- 41 offices in U. S. and Canada. rooms! Regular service to Egypt, Sudan, Iran- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBian Gulf, India, Burma, Ceylon, Straits Seule- LISHING CO., INC. ments, China, Japan, Australia, East and South Africa, Mauritius. Special reductions BOARD OF DIRECTORS and generous baggage allowance for missionaries. ROBERT E. SPEER, President A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President Convenient throuqh bookinqs can WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary j be arranqed by your travel aqent. PAUL J. BRAISTED Or apply at 25 Broadway, 638 Fit~~ A~•• N. Y•••• ~ =Y ,,"'''' ~ SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT D. J. FANT MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD WM. B. LIPPllARD ERIC M. NORTH SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Editorial Chat The summer is past and the autumn begins. It is a time for new pro- grams and increased activity in the Church and mission work as well as in schools, business and public enter- prises.
We call attention to the material in this number of THE REVIEW–edi- torials, articles, news, methods-all bring useful and interesting informa- tion for Christian workers. THE RE- VIEW brings before each reader im- portant topics for prayer, conference and cooperation. Read prayerfully the articles on "The Dust Bowl Churches," the situation in Japan and in Europe. You will be stirred by the reports from Arabia and India and Dutch New Guinea. You will be deeply interested in the story of a Russian Christian's pilgrimage in Central Asia. Make your interest count for the Cause of Christ.
*** Some recent comments on the value of THE REVIEW show that God is blessing its ministry: "I have had the pleasure of reading your magazine on different occasions. Not being able to subscribe, I am wondering if any reader would be willing to pass on to me their used CUNARD WHlE Sl AR copies. It would be much appreci- ated." HECTOR H. GARDINER.
, p..gents for l Lin Cheng Hsien, GenerCl Hopei, North China. NO ORl£NTA *** P£NlNSUlAR AlNOlA ST£AM SH "I send my subscription for another ANO BRlTl CO MPANl£S year feeling it a very fine investment. NAVlGATlON I enjoy all the articles and comments.
If I go to summer or winter schools I shall certainly commend THE RE- VIEW." MRS. HENRY W. PEABODY.
Beverly, Mass.
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DlSTRlBUTlUN GIVING LITERATURE TO PRISONERS A PORTUGUESE
MONUMENT TO LUIS DE CAMOES WITH BIBLE SOCIETY DEPOT IN THE BACKGROUND AT LISBON (See article on page 409.) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1939 Topics of the Times MEETING THE CRISIS IN THE CHURCH Czechoslovakia and the Polish Ukraine? Perse- Many churches in America, as in other lands, cution cannot destroy them; poverty alone will are facing it crisis. Their income from gifts has decreased, their membership has dwindled, the not kill them. Such experiences did not destroy community in which the work is carried on has radically changed. What is their outlook? What the Apostolic Church; nor have they prevented is the solution of their problem? the growth of the church in mission fields. But There are worse things than for an organization or an individual to die a physical death. It materialism, self-centeredness and failure to culis far worse to die spiritually than to lose the reason for existence. If a man or a church cannot tivate spiritual life will sap vitality in churches longer serve the Cause of Christ in a community "Why cumbereth it the ground"? Physical death and individuals. may open the way to new spiritual life. Today, in the midst of world-wide distress, is One solution for a dying church may be a change it not time for Christians to seek spiritual vitality to meet the needs and conditions of the new environment. The change from a dead conserva- and to express spiritual life in personal service? tism to a living organism may be the way to larger service. A church that has served chiefly There is special need to help fellow Christians in aged saints, may well begin to reach out to meet the growing needs of youth, to train Christian distress wherever they may be, and to promote the workers, to evangelize the unconverted and backsliders of the community, to become truly a living missionary work of Christ with new vigor wherpower and a missionary-minded congregation. Size never determines vitality, power or useful- ever doors are open-at home or abroad. ness. There is clearly work for every Christian and every church in any environment where hu- Dr. Adolf Keller, of Switzerland, Director of man contacts may be made. The first requisite for service is the indwelling and manifestation of the Central Bureau for the Relief of the Evangelithe living Christ in the life and work of the individual or in the church. cal Churches of Europe, calls attention to the fact If churches in America are experiencing a that the need for help for these churches is incrisis-what about the churches in Japan, where militarism prevails; in Germany where totalitar- creasing rather than diminishing. He says: ianism seeks to control church life; in Russia where all faith in God is discredited; in China The rise of totalitarianism and the almost incredible where foreign invasion destroys property and life; fury of the outbreak of anti-Semitism have deeply affected in countries of Europe where unrest, poverty and the economic situation of the evangelical churches their materialism prevail? What shall be done for the liberty of conscience, their spiritual as well as congregaevangelical churches in Spain, in Germany, in tional and organizational life. All over the world the structure of civilization shows deep fissures where we had seen only solid rock.
Certain areas of specific need have within the last year shown increased distress, due in part to adverse eco- nomic conditions, but in far greater measure to the effects of national hysteria, the persecution mania which has broken out in so many places. A few problems are indi- cated here.
M.u~h :tttentio.n has been given to feeding evangelical famIhes In RUSSIa, those whose breadwinner has been sent to Siberia or the Arctic Circle. Relieving the extreme poverty of Reformed and other Protestant ministers in Rumania has been another project.
The encouraging evangelical movement in the Ukraine is being hit both by financial difficulties and by all manner of petty persecution·on the part of local authorities, i. e., every pastor must get a permit for every sermon that he preaches, whether in his own parish or elsewhere.
As the need grows for a strong and enlightened Chris- tian ministry, courageous and independent, the number of young men who can finance their training dwindles in Europe.
[387 ]
A staggering refugee problem also faces us. These were the problems _before the Madras Czechoslovakia is on the critical list for the losses of Conference, and they were the problems before territory have meant a heavy blow to the Church of the the forty-sixth Foreign Missions Conference, held Czech Brethren (Hussite). They are paying a heavy price in Swarthmore in June. These two working confor peace, and it would be shameful if we let them pay it alone. Recent reports from Italy indicate that unfavorable ferences were built on similar lines-a new plan developments are facing the Waldensian Church. for the American annual meeting. It was not a The Christian Church in Europe is once more time for speeches and reports but an opportunity bringing forth martyrs; humble people jeopard- for prayerful deliberation on specific topics, preize their livelihood and the future of their children pared for by commissions and discussed in variin order to stand by Christian principles which are no longer recognized by their governments; yet ous groups that reported their recommendations churches are packed in many places where empty benches had become the rule. The witness of these to the whole conference. Two hundred and heroes of the faith has awakened echoes around eighty-seven men and women, from over sixty dethe world. nominations met for eight days to consider seven great mission areas and then such topics as-The Christianity may be driven again into the catacombs and caves, but churches in America and Life-Giving Church, The Sustenance of the Life England must rise to meet the challenge of the o~ the Church, Christian Leadership, World Tenhour. SIOns and Cooperation. Dr. John R. Mott, the veteran leader-ever youthful in outlook and vigor PROBLEMS FOR MISSION WORKERS -reminded the conference that the only founda- tion for the Christian Church is the ever Living There has probably never been a time when the whole foreign missionary enterprise has been con- Christ and faith in Him as the Son of God and fronted with greater difficulties, more complicated Saviour of man. problems, more dire need or more challenging opportunities than today. The very size of the The principle of Christian fellowship and coenterprise-with twenty-seven thousand Protes- operation in the name of Christ was dominant at tant missionaries on the field besides a total staff Swarthmore. Representatives from Mexico, Afriof over 200,000 Christian workers of various races and nations cooperating with them-constitutes ca, China, India and other fields, as well as from a problem as to the direction and support of the work. About $30,000,000 is required every year various Evangelical communions, brought varied in voluntary gifts from Protestant Christians to views and stirring challenges to cope with the task maintain this work with any degree of efficiency -so far as money can help to accomplish this. sacrificially and adequately.
Other problems are involved in the complexity The results of this conference, as well as the of the work-which is more than simple evange- outcome of Madras, must be seen in the churches, lism and the training of Christian leaders-in the the Board offices and on the field in the months to growth and self-assertion of the developing come. One thing is certain-nothing adequate churches in mission lands; in the unrest and conflicts in such countries as India, China, Korea and and abiding can be accomplished except through Japan; in the changed attitudes of the governments toward Christian missions in such lands as the power and leadership of the Spirit of Gwhod~ liv- Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Japan and Mexico; in the ing and working in individual disciples are war spirit and economic depression in Europe and America, resulting in a decrease of missionary surrendered to Christ and devoted to His cause. gifts. Add to this the agitation for new align- ments in the various denominations the over- An important move was made toward unifica- whelming number of appeals for philanthropic causes and the temptation to discouragement as tion of Protestant foreign mission management to the outcome of the whole missionary enterprise, and the decline of faith in many professed Chris- in America. The organizations which have handled tians in the compelling force of the missionary command of Christ-all these and other factors various phases of the enterprise on a semi-autonmake it imperative for loyal Christians to reexamine the world situation, to look at the basis omous basis, winocrlku,dpinrgomroegtiioonnaalnddwiroemcetino'n~ rural and objectives of the missionary enterprise and work, medical work, to consider the forces on which we can rely for victory in the Christian campaign. have now been incorporated into the membership of the Conference as representative committees of that single body. The ten committees are on Africa, the Far East, India, the Philippines, Latin America, Promotion in Interest-Publicity, Foreign Students and Radio, Rural Missions, Women's Work and Christian Medical Council for Overseas Work. The chairmen of these committees will be members of the executive department of the Foreign Missions Conference.
Another new and important featUre of the Swarthmore meeting was the united conference of fifty-six newly appointed missionaries of eight mission Boards. These new missionaries are go- ing to fourteen fields. In addition to the lan-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
guage study, the new missionaries were prepared THE WORLD CONGRESS OF BAPTISTS by a consideration of such topics as The Missionary Home; The Spiritual, Social and Intellectual During July (20th to 27th) the representatives Relationships of the Workers on the Field; The of 12,000,000 Baptists of the world met in Atlanta, Missionaries' Health; The Sharing of Christ with Georgia, for the sixth Baptist World Congress. Others. The fellowship, the prayer life and the Previous sessions have been held in Philadelphia, objectives of the recruits were greatly clarified London, Oslo (Norway), Toronto and Berlin. Dr. and strengthened at Swarthmore. George W. Truett of Texas, presided at the ses- sions. Dr. J. H. Rushbrooke of London, the Gen- The change from January to June for the an- eral Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, the nual Foreign Missions Conference and the invita- newly elected president, made a strong plea to tion to the newly appointed missionaries have rec- Christians to withstand the assaults now beingognized advantages and will probably be con- made in many lands against civil and religious tinued. freedom. Among other things he said: The chairman elected for next year's confer- Among all evil omens of the past five years the most ence was Dr. C. Darby Fulton of Nashville, Sec- menacing is the activity of secular and ecclesiastical powretary of the Executive Committee of Foreign ers in narrowing the bonds of liberty. Freedom, civil Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. and religious, has been extinguished in many parts of the The Vice-chairmen are Miss Sarah Lyon and Rev. earth and in others menaced and diminished, and theories Leonard A. Dixon; secretaries Dr. Leslie Moss and of the State have arisen, against which the instinctive Miss Florence Tyler; treasurer, M. P. Moller. Christian reaction is decisive.
Frequent mention was made at the conference . . . With efforts to bring Soviet Russia into closer of the sufferings of China, the need to help the contact with the Western democracies, the churches in the Chinese in their distress, the deplorable evil of democratic countries should insist upon a pledge of relicontinued sale of war materials to Japan, effects gious freedom in Rlssia as a basis for such cooperation. of militarism, and the destructive trade in nar- If we forget Russia, we are less than Christians. cotics, the demoralizing effects of war all over the world and the need to work for peace based on No feature of our time is as gravely alarming to the righteousness and brotherly love. missionary enterprise as the multiplication of restrictions and demands in the enlarging Japanese-controlled areas One recommendation of the conference, relating of the Far East. . . . to evangelism includes the following call to prayer: Documents emanating from some of these areas indicate grave and,multiplying obstacles to missionary propaganda, The whole question of evangelism with reference to the while the reverence to the Emperor exacted from Chrisunoccupied areas of the world imperatively demands a spe- tian pupils in schools, in forms scarcely if at all distincial session of the Foreign Missions Conference for which guishable from Shinto religious rites, suggests too closely adequate preparation should be made. . . . Realizing the the Roman emperor-worship for refusing which early urgency of the situation in this hour -of crisis throughout Christians endured a martyr-death. . . . the world and confessing the failure of the Church to meet-fully its evangelistic responsibility, acknowledging our The appalling martyrdom of China is the shame of the utter dependence upon God for His Holy Spirit in power Western World. We could have stopped it and we did not. for the consecration of both person and property to the task of world evangelism, and recognizing the divine origin Protestants had been fearful of the future in Spain, and content of the Gospel Message and the divine source knowing the temper of the Roman Catholic hierarchy and of the commission to preach the Gospel to every creature, their unity in support of General Franco. But pledges we would sound forth a Call to Prayer, addressed to the have been received from General Franco, the Duke of whole Church of Christ, but especially to the churches in Alba, and Lord Phillimore, for freedom of religious worthe United States and Canada, calling upon God's people ship. to be instant in intercession: The congress took up the question of evan- 1. That the Lord of the harvest send forth laborers into gelism, the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Keller, president His harvest. of the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago, asserting that it "will cure most of the 2. That the Church, especially at home, be revived, and ills of society." If the souls of Hitler, Mussolini, delivered from compromise with the world, and with sin. Stalin, Chamberlain, Daladier and the Japanese Emperor could be reached to cause them to pray 3. That the unity of the Church may find its expression in unison, there could be no war. in a greater unanimity in understanding and expounding the content of the Gospel message as revealed in God's A statement of the Baptist position on war and Word. peace, condemned profiteering from war and urged general disarmament, strengthening of the League 4. That God may grant to us all who ought to preach of Nations, an international police force and court the Gospel "utterance in opening the mouth to make known of justice, and solution of the problem of unequal with boldness the mystery of the Gospel" (Eph. 6: 19) distribution of natural resources. The statement and "that God may open unto us a door for the Word, and also denounced racial discrimination as "sin," and to speak the mystery of Christ . . . that we may make it condemned totalitarian ideas of the State. For the manifest as we ought to speak." (Col. 4: 3, 4) and first time in this Congress-and in a southern city -all signs were removed that indicated racial dis- 5. That in fulfillment of His promises God may pour out his Spirit in these latter days upon all flesh and turn multitudes to repent of sin and believe in the Saviour.
crimination or division, between white and colored Christians are as cordial as· ever. Permits for evangelistic meetings are not given to missionardelegates. ies or ways are found to keep the people away, as all gatherings, except for regular worship, are Presenting the Baptist position on questions of discouraged.
church unity, commissions of the World Alliance "Due to a combination of circumstances, mid- winter Bible Institutes and conferences have not declared Baptist opposition to organic union with been held as in former years. Missionary activi- ties now are mostly confined to local conferences other churches, but they urged "Christian unity" with Korean leaders, personal work, social con- tacts and ministering to the needy. Surrounded and cooperation with other denominations "at a as we are by so much destitution, physical and spiritual, there are plenty of opportunities for time when Christians are called upon to think and service.
act together." . "Medical mission work is going well, but here also difficulties multiply. All licensed Korean doc- The report of a special commission favored the tors on the hospital staff have been drawn away to outside work; this leaves us greatly handicapparticipation of various Baptist bodies in the ped. War conditions make it extremely difficult to secure experienced physicians. The Japanese are World Council of Churches, so long as the council seeking to control everything – man-power, re- sources, wages, prices, even the thinking and does not constitute itself into an "ecclesiastical speech of the people. The whole country is being geared up to the highest efficiency as a fighting union," or super-church. machine. Naturally mission work suffers because of war conditions. Foreigners are suspect, be- The commission made it clear that Baptists do cause they are foreigners; their movements watched and regulated, their leadership and innot reject "federal" relations to other churches, fluence is frowned upon. Non-cooperation with the Japanese policy on the 'shrine question' is reand feel that "persistent, indifferent division" and garded as reb~llion against the government; though every other form of patriotism is encoursectarianism are "deep disloyalty" to the Christian aged by the Church and the Mission.
faith. . . . "Another friend writes that the local police have insisted that a Korean be appointed on the hospital The report stated the conviction that all Chris- staff to act as a 'go-between' between the police and missionary superintendent who, according to tians should be open to the development of op- Japanese law, has full authority over everything in the hospital. . . . The hospital evangelist was portunity and plans which would encourage our put in jail because he would not go to the shrine. He held his ground and many were praying for participation in the common responsibilities of him; as a result not only was he released but he is back in the hospital preaching the Gospel. Today evangelical Christianity. many of the best Christians cannot be much in evidence in church affairs." On recommendation of the Committee on Evan- Evangelistic work is going on in heathen regelism the congress voted a five-year program of gions and is entirely unmolested where the shrine issue does not come up. It is where the church is evangelism. The plan included the adoption of strong that the issue is pushed. Christians there- fore are going out to the untouched regions and similar programs by the constituent bodies, the are preaching the Gospel there.
setting aside of a special day of prayer and ap- What the future has in store for Christian work in Chosen we do not know, but there is a great and pointment of a committee to direct a world-wide effectual door opened in the hospitals.
campaign. Of late there seems to be some change in the attitude of the Japanese toward the Koreans for DISTURBED CONDITIONS IN CHOSEN in some places they are not pushing the shrine issue as fanatically as they did. Pray for Korea. Recent "uncensored" reports from Chosen show that Japan is not only seeking to force Koreans into the Japanese mold but is apparently endeavoring to get rid of Christian missionary influence as a hindrance to the dictatorial program of the militaristic party. Christians who are loyal lawabiding subjects, but who acknowledge Almighty God as the one supreme Ruler, are suffering persecution from shortsighted human rulers. Missionaries are finding their Christian work hindered if not forbidden. Nevertheless the "Word of God is not bound," says a friend who sends us a report from which we quote the following: "Last autumn the work proceeded along much the usual lines. We missionaries adopted the policy of responding to Korean cans for service, rather than go to outstations upon our own initiative. Under prevailing conditions our visits might prove more embarrassing than helpful to the Korean Christians. In the winter it became very apparent that intimidation wa·s being brought to bear on the churches and that opportunities for missionary cooperation with the outstation churches would be few. For the present the old itinerating days are over though Korean
Japanese Control of
-<!Iii By, Fonn" R",;dent of Jap.. 1111>– T HE long-projected and much discussed Bill The former one did not definitely recognize Chris- for the Control of Religious Bodies was tianity; it required the approval by the authorities passed by the Japane£e Imperial Diet on of the creedal basis as well as of the organization March 23 and will become effective from April 1, of religious bodies; and left much more by way of 1940. Previous bills were formulated by the J ap- supervision to the local police. The former bill anese Cabinets in 1899, 1927, and 1929, but either was to "control religions," this one "to control rewere turned down by the Diet, or were withdrawn ligious bodies." They are under different articles by the government without presentation. The of the constitution.
new law has been in process of preparation since There is need for such a bill as the present one.
1929, during which period it has been subjected As mentioned above, Japan has in recent years ex- to revision of various sorts including one recon- perienced a great growth of what are known as struction from the ground up. "quasi-religions." Some are purely commercial The law provides for a comprehensive control organizations; some are revivals of ancient super- of religious organizations. Approval by the Min- stitions; some indulge in immoral practices; some ister of Education is necessary for the establish- run counter to the national polity. Three years ment of any religious sect or denomination. A ago the famous Way of Man sect was disbanded statement as to the creed, ritual, and organization and its temples razed OIl the ground of lese maof the body must be submitted with the applica- jeste; it claimed a membership of over a million.
tion for recognition, but official "approval" of the Corrupt practices within Buddhist sects have long same is not specifically required. Both sects and been an offense to peace-loving Japanese. The law local congregations must appoint a responsible was needed.
"head" to deal with the government in all matters. This law, like the former bills, has been drawn This step in the direction of a monarchial form up after conference with an investigation commis- of church government is somewhat offset by a pro- sion on which were representatives of all three re- vision which makes congregational permission ligions, the representative of Christianity being necessary for changes in doctrine, clergy, rites, or Rev. Mitsuru Tomita, of the Presbyterian-Re- rules. The establishment of a local congregation formed Church, the chairman of the Board of requires the approval first of the head of the sect Directors of Meiji Gakuin. He wielded such great and then of the Governor of the prefecture. The influence that on several occasions members of the law recognizes Buddhism, sect Shinto, and Chris- Shinto sects protested that too much regard was tianity as religions of the Japanese Empire. Every being paid by the authorities to the desires of the denomination or sect, as well as every local organ- representative of Christianity.
ization, will be required to register as soon as the Gains made possible by the Bill: law becomes effective. Other religions will be (a) The recognition of Christianity as one of dealt with as "reUgious societies" by what will pre- the three religions of the Empire. This of course sumably be a more severe code, since one of the will increase its prestige. Some Christians have avowed purposes of the law is to control the activ- even expressed the hope that Christian stories ities of the freak, and sometimes dangerous, reli- may be inserted into the school text books as gions which have been springing up like Shinto and Buddhist stories now are. But the real mushrooms in Japan in recent years. A well-con- gain will be that the local churches may appeal certed drive of certain Mohammedan leaders to from the tyranny of local police officials to the have Islam included among the "recognized" re- Governor or Minister of Education.
ligions failed in the Diet, in spite of the fact that (b) The permission to organize Christian the Army was reported to be backing the move in bodies as juridical persons, thus offering them an effort to win favor among Mohammedans in legal protection. There are local churches which China and in islands of the South Seas. years ago were organized in this way; but in re- This law IS much milder than the one which in cent years, the practice has not been permitted.
1929 met defeat because of the bitter opposition of Certain denominations are organized as land- the Christian Church and certain Buddhist sects. owning juridical persons; but under the new law [ 391 ]
each denomination and each local congregation nese subjects, of course, are permitted to enjoy may organize as a zaidan hojin and will then have freedom of religious belief, but only "within limthe full legal rights accorded to a "foundation." its of peace and order and not antagonistic to their duties as sUbjects." And it would not re- (c) Many existing local rules will be regular- quire much argument to prove that the duties of ized. This will be a great gain. Up to the pres- Japanese subjects include not only social and poent our churches and preaching places have been litical duties but also what in the West are called regarded merely as "religious societies," and have religious duties. Japan has no state religion, been at the mercy of local petty officials. This has but state Shinto demands of Japanese subjects caused endless annoyance to missionaries and the response in loyalty and worship paid elsechurch officers. where to religion. As a recent writer has stated, "Under such circumstances, no division between The objections commonly made against the Bill 'church' and 'state~ is possible, nor has there ever are not new. At present it is required that every been such a division in Japanese history." local church register a "founder" who is its legal and responsible head and is supposed to speak with The Japanese concept of religion is something authority for the congregation. Schools also must quite different from that held by Westerners. The appoint such a person. The head of the National Japanese word for "religion" was, in fact, coined Christian Council is held responsible for its ac- by a Christian in the nineteenth century. A numtions to the government. This is "an old Japanese ber of significant points in this connection were custom"; and the best way to meet it is to appoint brought out by the debate in the Imperial Diet such an officer and then to regulate his actions. on the Bill under discussion. Home Minister Reports of local congregations must now be made Araki on one occasion stated that the differentia to local police stations in much the same form as of a religion are (1) a founder, (2) a creed, and those prescribed in the new law. (3) organization for self propagation. This definition has cropped up several times before in Under existing laws religious societies can be recent years, and very conveniently leaves state disbanded for the reasons given in the new law. Shinto out of the category of religion altogether. "Russellites" can no lonler prosecute their work Even Daikichiro Tagawa, a member of the Diet in Japan; Mormons withdrew some years ago; and a prominent Christian layman accepts this the "Way of Man" cult was disbanded. distinction in his recent book "Kokka to Shukyo" (State and Church) and appears to believe that There is danger, however, in the possibility that state Shinto lies outside the religious category be- "subversive" elements may be discovered in Chris- cause it contains no superstition! According to tian creeds when such statements are presented him, the holding of superstition concerning founto the officials, even though such presentation is ders of religions and their followers is one of the technically only a matter of form. A number of characteristics of a religion, including Chris- Christian doctrines may be interpreted as run- tianity. ning counter to the Japanese national polity as understood at present; for example, some forms The debates in the Diet lead one to the ineviof millenarianism; some expressions of the rela- table conclusion that Japanese of the official or tion of Church and State; the Quaker and Advent- governing class look upon state Shinto, or the ist attitude toward military service; references Way of the gods, exactly as we of the West look to Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, are upon a religion; in fact, their use of the word all susceptible to such misinterpretation. Here "Way" seems to differ very little from the Chrisagain it is to the advantage of the Church to have tian's use of it when he says that Christ is the the denominational creed registered at headquar- Way; and their use of the word "religion" makes ters where it can be interpreted by intelligent it mean little more than "superstition." Minister men. Araki, moreover, explained in reply to a certain interpellation that the followers of all religions The Effect of the Law in Japan were obliged to give priority to the shrines, asserting that if generally practiced this I have no fear for adverse effect of the law on act will have the effect of reducing religious fricthe Church in Japan proper, but if the law is put tion in the country. into effect in Chosen and in "occupied" China, that, I fear, will be a different story. In such a setting Christianity can hope for little more than toleration and protection from unau- As far as Japan proper is concerned there are thorized persecution; this the new law appears to no dangers in the new law which do not inhere in provide. the general situation, which in itself is fraught with potential danger. The existence of the Christian religion in a land ruled by "the Sovereign who is a manifest God," is anomalous. J apa-
Opportunities in Japan Today*
By REV. J. HARPER BRADY, Kochishi Missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S.
SOME folks think there are none. Others that around, on the gates and doors of every home, are they are few and getting fewer. But the real silent testimonies to additional burdens and fears missionary still finds that the days in Japan and sorrows, over and above what was there are days of twenty-four hours of opportunity- eighteen months ago. Soldiers leaving – the some of which find him and some of which he, wounded returning-lots of little wooden boxes- Spirit-led, must find. If greater needs mean life for so many with all its poverty and sickness greater opportunities, then there are greater op- and darkness seemed hard enough. Our hearts portunities today than ever before. are bleeding for the millions across that narrow strip of water! They also bleed for those around There is a greater need for light, for there are us in their sorrow and we would do what we can more people in Japan now than when the mission- to heal the broken-hearted. Into such homes and aries first went there with the Light. Only about hearts there is a welcome, far more often than not, one-half of one per cent have received the true for the missionary who comes with a heart of love. Light and are connected with any church, Catholic or Protestant. And this tends to get less as Difficulties are many and great in Japan for the the gain in population far exceeds the proportion- one who comes from a foreign land and seeks to ate gain in church membership. And the Prot- bring men to the one and only Saviour. When estant half of this number is divided into all the Japan and America are not on the best of terms isms of the United States and a few special ones our work as missionaries is made harder. These for good measure. If ever the unreached multi- things change from day to day and are not the tudes presented a challenge and opportunity for real difficulties. Sin and indifference are our missionary service, then that challenge and that strong and abiding adversaries. Sometimes these opportunity are greater today because the multi- are on the outside – and now and then we find tude of shepherdless folk is greater. The Church them on the inside and give them nicer names. in Japan, for which we daily thank God, is still It has never been a "convenient season" for men too weak in numbers, resources and vision for this to humble themselves, forsake sin, deny self, and mighty task. A great nation in need, desperate enthrone the Lord. need, of Christ! Our resources are more and greater than the Then there is the opportunity presented by a difficulties. The first year of this conflict was greater need for guidance. For this is a virile in many ways the best year of the twenty-one we nation, going places and doing things. If they have been there. But we found it more necessary do not go to the right places and do not do the than ever to live daily "looking unto Jesus" and right things, they suffer, maybe millions of other to yield to Him, but not to fear and discouraged folks suffer, we all suffer, and much that we cher- fellow workers. Divine boldness, shot through ish and hold dear is endangered. If a nation is with love, has never been rebuffed but always welweak and asleep and staying at home (as such a comed. Our resources in Christ, as more and nation would), there is no particular need for more we have discovered them and made them guidance. But such is not Japan. How terribly our own, have proven more and greater than our real and urgent is her need for the controlling, difficul ties. guiding hand of God! Never for a moment neglecting the multitudes, yet this ought we not to More men are needed. There are fewer mishave left undone; winning for Christ those sionaries than there were some years ago, owing who mould the opinions of the mind and deter- to retirements, sickness, the "de- and re-pression." mine the paths in which these multitudes must "We need reinforcements to work with these walk for good or ill. A little has been done-more Christians in the God-given, God-planned task of must be and can be done. reconciling men in Japan to Himself through the lives of other men who are vitally in touch with A greater need for comfort exists everywhere, Him. The greatest challenge of the hour is that for in whatever city or town one may live, all the doors are open for evangelistic work in this country. The forces that are with us are greater * Reprinted from The (Jh,ristian Observer. than all the adversaries."
[ 393 ]
Churches in the Dust
By REV. MARK A. DAWBER, D.D., New York Executive Secretary of the Home Missions Council I HAVE been requested to make a statement as missions; they gave to home and foreign missions. to what is now taking place in the drought Then the war ended, the price of wheat finally and dust area and what is happening to the went down below the cost of production, and there Church. This I gladly do, but with the definite followed four years of steady drought. The peo- understanding that what is said may not apply to ple continued during drought to maintain their every situation but represents in a general degree giving.
the developments and attitudes. The churches held on, hoping against hope that In the first place it is necessary to distinguish something would happen. The people kept say- between the drought area in general and the "dust ing, "Well, perhaps next year it will rain." "But bowl" in particular. The drought area includes the heavens were as brass." The preachers shared all the territory where, because of the absence of the lot of the people and, in many cases, because sufficient snow and rain, there have been no crops, they did not complain, suffered out of all propor- and where, because of the continued cultivation tion. Some were able to hold out by getting part- of the soil without a sequence of cover crops to time employment during the week. Splendid col- hold the top soil and because of a high wind ve- lege and seminary men with whom I was person- locity, the top soil is blown away. This region in- ally acquainted were getting oilly $250.00 a year. cludes the Pan Handle of Oklahoma, part of Texas, In some sections a great consolidation of churches western Kansas, and the Dakotas. Here is a stretch took place. One county I visited, that during the of country between the Gulf and Canada that heyday of prosperity maintained ten ministers, seems to be the victim of these recurrent dry years had but one to care for the remaining people. I nev- and also exposed to these high winds. The "dust er saw more vital religion anywhere than I wit- bowl" is a part of this same problem and area; it nessed among some of the ministers in the drought includes the region immediately around eastern area. Here is one-they called him "Rusty." The Colorado and western Kansas. Over this section an name does not do him justice because there was atmospheric condition obtains that attracts the nothing "rusty" about him. No grass grew under dust as it flies from the drought area and is sucked his feet. This was not due to the drought, but be- down in what is called the "dust bowl." In the "dust cause "Rusty" kept his parish so well traveled, bowl" area the soil has not been dried out as in the ei,ther by car or on foot, that he made a pathway drought area, but the constant accumulation of the wherever he was. He had a great philosophy of dust has buried the good soil and the crops so that life. Speaking of his people who were facing a the result is much the same as the drought. fifth year of drought, he said, "You know, it's no Prosperity and Adversity use getting discouraged. That won't get a fellow anywhere, but lead to more discouragement, and This whole country was highly developed during if I allow myself to get discouraged I will have no the days of the World War. The world was cry- message for my people and nothing to help them ing for wheat, wheat, everywhere wheat! Some with when I visit them."
of the best wheat in the country was raised here, To the problem of drought and dust must be and this land also produced the largest number of added the scourge of sickness. The Red Cross bushels to the acre. Wheat was bringing two dol- and health authorities were pressed to the limit lars a bushel. During this period the country to make possible medical aid to the thousands who prospered. The people paid. for their land, built were sufferers from the drought and who lived homes and settled down to the business of agri- where the swirling dust-laden wind brought sick- culture and to face their responsibilities as citi- ness and death in its yellowish clouds. A peculiar zens. They built schools and churches. These kind of dust pneumonia was induced and intensipeople came to settle and not to move. They are fied in the dust and drought area.
a home-loving, church-going folk. They sub- The Government was faced also with a special scribed generously to the Church and its causes. relief problem. In Boca County, Colorado, as These churches were not dependent upon home many as eighty per cent of the people were on the [394 ] relief rolls at one time. The same was true of a The small towns and villages that are in the large number of other counties in other states. drought area are also adjusting themselves in The farms and homes that represented the sav- accordance with the agricultural changes. Fewer ings and hard work of a lifetime were made val- churches will be required. ueless. In debt and with no basis for taxation or collections, such counties and communities con- Migration and Coming Home fronted a problem which one can readily imagine. The map of the drought country is dotted with Examples of Heroism "ghost towns," evacuated under the pressure of these changing economic forces. Relocation of The following items are taken from correspond- population is a necessity. We cannot arrest an ence that I have conducted relative to this sit- economic process that is rooted in nature and uation. One district superintendent writes: mother earth to suit either misguided people who desired to farm, or anxious speculators, or unfor- "Those six years of drought were eventful ones for me. tunate investors. Communities have grown, pros- They taught me many things, but best of all they revealed pered and been blighted before this, and will conthe high Christian spirit of the people." tinue to pass through these cycles in spite of the advice and warning of Government and society. Other statements are: The lesson to be learned, however, is that intelli- gent citizens will realize that only by correcting "The churches discovered that they could stand more the economic abuses and readjusting the dislocabuffeting than they thought they could stand. They had tions which have come because of our failure to gone through a period of prosperity; then followed a pe- provide scientific settlement of people and a techriod of unexpected disaster. This was a real test of Chris- nique of land use such as the Farm Security Adtian faith." ministration is seeking to establish, is there any real hope for a permanent agriculture. The "A number of churches closed, but with the understand- Church will do well to cooperate in such a proing that they would open again; if the rain came, the gram of common-sense community development. people would come back." A goodly number of the former residents of the "In this section some adjustments were made, but no drought area are now "migrants" in California. people were left without the benefit of a minister." There they are called "Dust Bowlers." Ever since the droughts of 1934 and 1936 they have "The churches made no attempt to evade any outside been streaming westward from the Great Plains. responsibility, such as the great missionary program. A count at the California border records the entry They were an inspiration to others in the liberality of their into that state by automobile alone of 221,000 giving." refugees between the middle of 1935 and the end of 1937. More than four-fifths of them came from "Another thing that was revealed in the drought disas- the drought states. "Burned out, blowed out, eat ter was that the best of the young men and women in the out"-what is to be done with them? ministry did not hesitate to go right into the midst of it." They are having a desperate time as migrants "In many instances help came from the outside, for following the crops. Now the rains have come which we were profoundly thankful, but the most inspir- again to the Great Plains, and many of them are ing thing was the willingness of the people to help each turning their faces wistfully toward the East. other. The self-respect and the mind to cope with diffi- They still own a "place" in Kansas, Colorado, or culty have meant something to these people." the Dakotas. Others lost the equity in their farms and became tenants, but the only neighborhood One could continue to cite the many and various and community experience they had was back testimonies of experience. But we are concerned in the drought country. They were members of as to what is now taking place, what is the outlook the church. No wonder they long to get back. for the immediate future, and what kind of program is being devised for the coming years. Many of those who were "dried" or "dusted" out have returned, some for sentimental reasons, First, let it be said that many of the communi- others because they discovered that they were no ties in the drought area will never be rehabilitated better off elsewhere. Those who have been exon the old basis of agriculture. The soil is de- posed for the first time to a migrant life have stroyed-"gone with the wind." The Department reaped a bitter harvest of experience, and are sayof Agriculture is making a desperate effort to ing "Never again." establish the native buffalo grass, but it is a most difficult task. If this can be done, a limited num- I visited in a small farm shack in the dust reber of farmers can be maintained in cattle-raising, gion of eastern Colorado a year ago. It was in a such as prevailed before the land was ploughed up section where nearly everybody had left. This for wheat. In other sections where not all the good land was destroyed, it would be possible to reestablish a smaller number of farmers if there could be some greater diversification of crops, and more of the land were left in grass. This is already taking place and the church life is already being adjusted to the more restricted population.
farmer had been away two years but had returned. of four hundred people with four churches and There had been recent rains that had given en- two others in the sparsely populated territory couragement, but that was not the main reason for around. This town, like many others, was started this man's return. The dust was still piled high during the World War, with the promise of prosaround the house and the yard and fences. Farm perity in two-dollar wheat. The settlers were of machinery left behind was still buried in the dust. the cultured type and remain, hoping against hope We sat in the kitchen and talked, and I finally for better days. They have nothing to sell and no plunged into the question of the reason for his place to go. One church would be ample for this return. I had already noted the absence of his town and the surrounding community. Such wife, and that his two daughters were evidently adjustments could be made in many of the areas keeping house. Looking through the open door, that have been devastated by drought, dust, and he pointed to a little graveyard that the dust had grasshoppers, and the responsible denominational also made well-nigh invisible. He proceeded to leaders owe it to such communities to lead out in tell me the story. "Well-nigh twenty years ago a program of economy, of comity and cooperation. I came to this place with my bride; it is the only real home I have ever had. Together we worked One of the outstanding editors of a series of hard and made money and paid for this place. Kansas weekly papers, which circulate in the Poor and desolate as it seems now, it is my own. drought country, makes some interesting observa- Once it was lovely in the green of crops and pas- tions as to conditions: ture. Over in yon graveyard lies my wife and two children. I cannot leave them. This is my Like all other institutions out here, the Church has sufhome." A lump came in my throat and made fered with the successive years of drought and disaster argument impossible. What was there to say to this section has known, and is bereft of income since the such a plea? whole economic program is built around farm production. There has been some retreat in faith, particularly in the Others are now returning because of the in- last two years; the feeling that seven years of drought creased snow and rainfall of the past year. Sec- and hardship would be succeeded by seven prosperous tions that have been barren and desolate in the years was clearly based on biblical precedent. When 1938 drought and dust for five years are now lovely in failed to bring a crop, certain wavering was evident and the green of the grass and the gold of the wheat the succeeding crop in 1939 likewise added its effect. Of crop. Moreover, we must remember that to most course, the departure of countless thousands of people of these people these places are home. They are from this region resulted in the loss of some of our finest all they possess and, given a year or two of reason- leaders. People are now working on Sunday who preable rainfall, the people can do better here than viously declined so to do. I noted last night some seventy anywhere else for they have no rent to pay. or eighty cars near the picture theatre as compared to four cars in front of the Baptist Church and six cars in Scourge of Grasshoppers front of the Nazarene Church. In this town, a town of some eight hundred people, we still maintain four churches There is another problem that should be con- and three full-time ministers. I have felt however that sidered with the drought and dust. The recurring the town would be better off with only two churches invisitation of grasshoppers is equally as distressing stead of the nine or ten we have tried to support in good to certain farm areas. In certain sections where days. The unification move in these small towns would the crops are reasonably free from drought and strengthen the churches, in my opinion, although denom- dust peril, they are in danger of the plague of inational differences will always prevent that desired end grasshoppers. In Montana there is still much to some extent. suffering because of the results of this plague of 1938. Rehabilitation The Farm Administration is carrying forward If some way could be devised whereby these a vigorous campaign to exterminate the grasshop- people would go into greater diversification of pers this year. An army of men is employed to crops and, in particular, get a goodly portion of mix the poison with sawdust and wheat bran and their land back again into buffalo grass for graz- distribute it. Airplanes are used to scatter the ing cattle, they could solve their problem. In poison over the infested areas. other drought areas where the farmers have con- tinued on this basis, they have survived with little The pastors are facing their tasks with a spirit loss. Sections of Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, of heroism, but it is a terrific battle to be con- and Wyoming that were in the drought region, stantly fighting this triple problem of drought, and where the farmers did not plough up the land dust, and grasshoppers. Whatever the future may to wheat duripg the World War but continued to develop in regard to these three factors, there cer- graze cattle on the native buffalo grass, have re- tainly could be many adjustments made to ease mained with little change during the dry years. the situation from the point of view of the Church in some of these communities. Here is one town As suggested previously, the Church will do well to join its forces with Uncle Sam in a more constructive approach to the settlement of people on the land, to avoid a repetition of the wastage of our rural heritage in riotous farming, to pre-
BY-PRODUCTS OF THE ARABIAN MISSION
vent this soil erosion that has its ultimate and The stewardship of the soil is a religious remore serious disaster in human erosion. Large sponsibility. But the other side of this problem sections of the inland United States will doubtless is that you cannot maintain good churches where go back to desert. It is estimated that in three of the soil has been depleted. In the meantime we the dust storms alone some three hundred million must give financial help and encouragement to the tons of fertile soil has been blown away from the Church in the drought area, in order that it may Mississippi Valley, a quantity equal to 150,000 help the people as they return to get a new start. acres of good land. We must help them to carryon the work.
By,Products of the Arabian Mission By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D. II ~.- One of the Pioneers of the Arabian Mission I~==============================~ "I WENT into Arabia . . . ," wrote the Apostle the Moslem situation. Their influence has gone Paul to the Galatians. But no one knows out to every mission Board having work among why he went to Arabia, nor where he went, Moslems. The Cairo Conference was proposed by nor what he did there. There were no direct re- James Cantine at an Indian missionary gathering, sults from this journey as far as we know. The to which he was a delegate from the Persian Gulf.
indirect results were a new man in Christ; a new It resulted in a deeper interest in Moslems in all missionary program; a revolution in missionary missionary circles. Three volumes of its report thinking, and thirteen Epistles that have shaken were printed and its resolutions were translated the Church and the world, after Paul's three years into German, Danish and Dutch. The general of meditation. conference held at Lucknow in 1911 was the pre- The Standard Oil Company and the Dupont cursor of the Cairo Study Center; a series of text- Manui,acturing Company both tell the world that books on Islam was issued and the Missionaries to their by-products are far more important and re- Moslems League for all India was formed. From munerating than their original products. As we this conference also dated the Moslem World quar- look back fifty years, we rejoice at what the terly, published first in London, 1911-1918, and Arabian Mission has done in and for Arabia. The since then in New York City. It was at Lucknow direct results are by no means negligible, but the that plans were made for a Christian literature by-products of the Mission are an even more re- committee for the world of Islam.
markable testimony to God's guidance and good- The Arabian missionaries served the Student ness and overruling Providence. Volunteer Movement in America for a number of First of all, we thank God that the Arabian years. Zwemer, Harrison and Storm visited hun- Mission of the Reformed Church in America be- dreds of universities, colleges and seminaries and came the mother of four other Christian missions. secured scores of misionaries for Moslem lands.
The Danish Church Mission at Aden was the re- This movement also published mission-study text- sult oi an appeal for Hadramaut, written by one books on Islam and on unoccupied fields, which of our missionaries in 1894; the Christian and had a circulation of over twenty thousand, with Missionary Alliance work in Palestine and Iran remarkable results in awakening the students of owe their initiative to influences from Arabia; that generation to the challenge of Islam and the the United Mission in Iraq was founded by Dr. unfinished task of evangelism.
James Cantine and Dr. William I. Chamberlain; The literary output of the Arabian Mission in- Miss Grace Strang was formerly a member of the cludes not only the books mentioned, but also the Arabian Mission and later started the Friends of twenty-eight volumes of The Moslem World, the Arabia Mission at Hillah. six volumes of Cairo and Lucknow Reports, and The Arabian Mission organized and followed up smaller textbooks on "Islam," "Moslem Woman- the first and second missionary conferences on hood" and "Moslem Childhood."· We must add the Mohammedan world, at Cairo in 1906 and at also thirty Arabic tracts and ten books for Mos- Lucknow in 1911. These were the first councils lems, printed by the Nile Mission Press, and trans- ever held by missionaries to survey and to face lated into other languages; two Arabic grammars
by Dr. John Van Ess; Dr. Paul W. Harrison's its organization; the Fellowship of Faith for Mos- "With the Arab at Home"; and twenty books in lems is a prayer league with headquarters in Lon- English on Arabia, Islam or missions by Zwemer, don, which enlists world-wide intercession for of which some have been translated into Chinese, Moslems wherever found; the Friends of Mos- Swedish, Danish, German, French, Dutch, Urdu lems in China, of which the Reverend C. L. Pickand Persian. And last, but not least, Dr. W. ens of Hankow is secretary, is a union of workers, Harold Storm's survey of all Arabia for the World native and foreign, for prayer and effort; the Dominion Movement. Brotherhood of Andrew (Lahore), is an associa- tion of Moslem converts for mutual help, social The medical missionaries to Arabia have made and economic, and to publish tracts, extend a helpan important contribution to medicine and sur- ing hand to converts and restore backsliders. gery in papers sent to medical journals. In the investigation of leprosy, Dr. Storm's report and The Arabian Mission has given two of its misthe work of Dr. Moerdyk are well known. Also sionaries to occupy Chairs of Missions and Isthe special surgical technique of Dr. Harrison lamics, one at Princeton Theological Seminary and Dr. Mylrea and their work in oriental dis- and one at the Hartford School of Missions. eases. The steady, patient, persistent work of the mis- The following organizations, all of which deal sionaries, men and women, in eastern Arabia has with Moslem evangelization, owe their origin di- changed the whole attitude of the government offirectly to the Arabian Mission: The American cials, British and Arab, from indifference or hos- Christian Literature Society for Moslems, incor- tility to warm friendship. It has changed the porated in New York and with field committees spiritual climate of East Arabia. What this in every land where there are missions to Mos- means is clear from the following article in which lems, from China to Egypt, has contributed over Sir Arnold Wilson gives a well deserved tribute to fifty thousand dollars for books and tracts since the work in Arabia.
A Diplomat on Missions in Arabia* -<Ell By SIR ARNOLD WILSON. M. P. III!>– .n.A MERICAN Christian missionary activities in 1891. After a preliminary study of the vast re- Asia are as widespread as those of Britain; gion, they established themselves in Basrah they labor under the same handicaps, suf- (1892), in Bahrein (1893), and in Muscat (1894), fer the same kind of criticism and, among those to and in 1895 in Amarah. That they should have whom they minister, enjoy the same reputation for encountered opposition is not surprising: that altruism. Having had some opportunity, over a they should have accomplished little in the first period of nearly twenty years, of observing at few decades was likewise to be expected. Progress close quarters the work of the Arabian Mission in other than mechanical inventions is to be reckof the Reformed Church in America, I feel moved oned in terms, not of calendar years, but of generto record something of its history, growth and ations. achievement. In 1895 Dr. Worrall went to Basrah as a perma- The first American pioneer in Arabia was James nent medical worker: with him was his wife, also Cantine. Islam was then as intolerant of Chris- a physician. Here they printed the first Arabic tianity as at any time; the Arabs, in whose hands missionary leaflets. In 1902 medical work began lay its principal shrines, stood aloof, isolated and at Bahrein in a permanent building, The Mason suspicious, because they saw Islam everywhere at Memorial Hospital, adjoining existing boys' and issue with Christian powers, and almost every- girls' schools. Death took a heavy toll during where losing ground. these years, but men and women to replace those who had fallen were not lacking, and by 1906, Cantine went first to Beirut to study the lan- when I first went to the Persian Gulf, the Ameriguage. In 1890 he went with Samuel Zwemer to can Mission was already well established. Aden, and there met an English missionary, the aged Bishop Valpy French, who died in Muscat in Lieut.-Colonel Cox (later Sir Percy), British Consul-General in South Persia and Political Resi- • Condensed from The Nineteenth Century and Ajte,r.
A DIPLOMAT ON MISSIONS IN ARABIA
dent in charge of the Arabian coast, knew both and unscholarly speed. It required a supple- James Cantine and Samuel M. Zwemer personally. A good Arabie scholar, he recognized their mentary local vocabulary; that, too, was fortherudition; a man of high principles, he a~mired the tenacity with which they preserved theIr own coming, and it was followed by an advanced Araideals. His subordinates at Muscat and Bahrein and at Kuwait, and his colleagues at Basrah, were bic grammar which is still the standard text-book encouraged to help American missionary activities when they could properly do so, and the Arab in Iraq. chiefs were not encouraged to complain of the subversive activities of men who then, as in Ephe- After the War the Lansing Memorial Hospital sus nearly 1900 years before, seemed bent upon disturbing popular beliefs. was transferred to Amarah, * as the Maude Mem- In 1909 medical work was started in Matrah, orial Hospital (recently erected) met the needs not far from Muscat. In 1916 the great influenza epidemic smote Arabia and Persia. Ibn Saud, of of Basrah but the mission school remained at Arabian monarchs the most enlightened, sent for an American doctor from Bahrein; the call was Basrah an'd prospered. The parents of a child, answered and proved to be the first of many. The inauguration of an air service from Basrah to whether Moslem or Christian, who have passed India via Bahrein made further visits possible to the Pirate Coast, as the long coastline of Muscat through a mission school have no reason to regret and Hasa was long appropriately called. The discovery of petroleum in Bahrein and of artesian their choice, and the Government has learned that water, has brought to the American Mission fresh opportunities and fresh responsibilities. such boys can be trusted when they grow to be In 1910 medical work was started in Kuwait, men. *** thanks to the good offices of Sheikh Mubarak with the Sheikh Khazal of Mohammerah and the Naqib Such, very briefly, is the history of a mission of Basrah, whose son, despaired of in Bombay hospitals, was cured of a tumor on the .neck by which for fifty years has sought to make good Dr. Bennett. They had a long tussle wIth local prejudice, for Kuwait had maintained its inde- Moslems better citizens in the hope that some pendence of Turkey mainly by keeping all foreign- among them and they the best, will make the ers at a distance. A school followed in 1913 and later a permanent hospital. sacrifice, to them second only to that of life itself, When the Great War broke out Ibn Saud was and profess Christ. Its work is not to be measnearby with his army, and sought medical aid from Dr. C. S. G. Mylrea, who is still stationed at ured in terms of converts made, in bodies cured, Kuwait where he occupies a unique position. In the following year Mubarak died, regretted by or children taught, still less in gallant lives spent, every European who knew him, and most of all by a younger man whom he had befriended in and sometimes prematurely ended, in regions adversity, Ibn Saud, today King of Saudi Arabia. War came to the gates of Kuwait and the hospital which to outsiders seem, in Lord Curzon's words was full of wounded; its value and the absolutely disinterested service of the staff was recognized. when he toured the Persian Gulf in 1902, "so in- The young Ahmad, who succeeded to the Sheikhship of Kuwait, was encouraged to learn what he trinsically abominable and vile." There is room could from Dr. and Mrs. Edwin E. Calverley, of the American Mission. in the world, and there is need, both for the priest When the British expeditionary force entered and the missionary, for the acolyte at the altar Basrah in November 1914, they found the American Lansing Memorial Hospital full of Turkish and the surgeon at the mission hospital, for the wounded; Dr. John Van Ess and his wife were in charge of the mission; their wide knowledge preacher in the market-place, and for "the school of local affairs was greatly in request. The army wanted an elementary grammar of Iraqic Arabic; marm" in the classroom. Fifty years of Christian Dr. Van Ess produced one with scholarly precision witness in Arabia, in the Persian Gulf and Persia has profoundly modified the ethical outlook of Moslems.
Exponents of Islam today tend to emphasize its points of approach to Christianity, rather than the differences. Their legislation tends to approx- imate Western patterns in many ways. A coun- try once exposed to Western ideas, can never be the' same as before. The new foundations must embody Western as well as Eastern material if what is built thereon is to endure. Christian mis- sions in general, and the American Mission in Arabia in particular, are doing much, but not a tithe of what should be done, to ensure that Arabs, to whom it falls to choose Western material with which to build, shall be enabled to distinguish between good and bad and between true and false.
On their ability to do so depends their future. As in China and in Persia, in India and elsewhere, Anglo-American cooperation in the missionary field is today cordial and complete. The contri- bution that America is making to the welfare of the world in this sphere is unheralded and little regarded by statesmen or merchants, but I believe it will endure when much else has perished.
• It is now engaged, with considerable success, in the treatment of leprosy.
Fasl–Begh-Address
By "SHAHEEDA"
An E1Jangelical Russian Missionary "A ND so you are about to return to your wan- arkand and the half-wild Emirate of Bokhara, to l".. derings with the Word of God through the frontier of Afghanistan, where the river Turkestan? Well, God speed you! and, by the way, do try to find my friend Fasl-Begh!" Amou-Darya rolled its muddy waters through the "Your friend Fasl-Begh? Who is he and where sandy deserts of Karakum into the Aral Sea. does he live?" I asked from the old gentleman to whom I was bidding farewell. He was of some- All this wide stretch of land was solidly Moslem, what foreign appearance, as he sat there with his red fez on his head-a turkish mullah from with only a sprinkling of Europeans, mostly Rus- Erzeroum in times past, but for many years a zealous Christian missionary to Moslems in one sians. And in this vast "haystack" I had been of the Balkan States. asked to find Fasl-Begh Ssurkh-Khan, a man "That is what I am asking you to find out," said he. "Some 15 years ago he was my helper wholly unknown to me. at Kashgar, where we translated the New Testament into Kashgary. A fine man, of noble birth Two or three months passed in traveling with and noble mind, and not far from the Kingdom of God. . . . If you will make my request a sub- the Word of God through the country by rail, then ject for prayer, the Lord Himself will guide you to where my friend may be found. And you can by steamer or overland on the native high twogive him news about the work which has been committed to me, and my warm brotherly wishes wheeled aroba. I was in touch with hundreds of and blessing!" Ousbeks, Kirghis, Turkmen, Tadjik and Afghans, I smiled, as I shook his hand: "This is like looking for a needle in a haystack-but it appeals yet not once had I been prompted to ask anyone to me as a matter of faith, to look for 'someone, somewhere,' on a stretch of land of 3 to 4,000 "whether he was Fasl-Begh or ever had heard kilometres wide and inhabiteu by about eight millions of people! But I will trust God, who has about him." But I had not forgotten old Mr. promised to 'guide us with His eye.' He certainly knows where our friend Fasl-Begh is. even Awetaranian's request: I had prayerfully comif he be at the end of the earth !" mitted his friend's name to my memory, whence So I set out for Turkestan, for another summer's work as a wandering colporteur with the it had slipped into my subconsciousness, and I Scriptures. I had been called by the Lord four years ago, from a prosperous work in the slums of was sure that in God's own good time it would Moscow, to a "knight-errant's" life in Russian Central Asia. Being neither upheld nor fettered reappear. . by any missionary society, I had set out under the Master's guidance, to make known the name Meanwhile I had been working with all the of the Lord Jesus Christ in this almost wholly Moslem land. love, energy, initiative and "hallowed pluck,"
In my j ourneyings I crossed the several thou- which were at my disposal, amidst most varied sands of miles from Ferghana on the western frontier of China to the Caspian Sea-traveling, circumstances and among "all sorts and conditions by rail, or in the cars used by the Mohammedan population, or I journeyed from the north, the of men"; making known the precious name of my border of Kirghisistan, down south through Sam- Lord-His exalted state, His love unto death- by word of mouth, or by tracts in anyone of twenty-two different languages.
Many heard of Him, some questioned me about Him, from curiosity or because of enmity against His Godhead and His Cross. A few had pondered the message which promised life and light, for- giveness and peace to their earnest but darkened souls.
Late autumn had set in and the time had come to settle in one of the large cities of Turkestan where I could give myself to language-study. I felt the burden of the summer's work; the strain of the many talks and pleadings, battling against the iron wall of Islam; the pain at the rebuff and scorn against the Son of God; the exertion of attempting to read, speak and think in so many different languages; the most needed ones, as Ousbek and Pharsi, were not yet sufficiently mas- tered by me. The body also felt the hardships of traveling in the primitive native way, of the ex- [400 ] cessive heat by day and the cold nights often spent earth and sky and living creatures seemed to join under the starry sky, with unsufficient food and in the song of praise which filled my heart. On lack of sleep. My whole being, spirit soul and the impression of that trip, I decided to go up to body, had been drained, poured out in the passion- Osh and see what the Lord might have prepared ate effort to "call many" and if possible to "save for me there. some." Yet, praise the Lord, with all this human strain and pain, there was joy in my heart for the It was a large, typically Ousbek village or small great privilege of having been sent out as "a voice town, with a Russian military garrison guarding in the wilderness" of a Moslem land and people! the mountain road up to Kashgar, built at the foot of the Mount Suleiman, in memory of a legendary While getting ready to settle at Samarkand for visit to Osh by King Solomon. The view from the winter, the thought suddenly struck me that there was vast and beautiful. To the right, one during this summer's journeyings I had passed by looked into Western China, to the left, in Eastern the small town of Osh, peopled by Ousbeks and sit- Bokhara, towered snowcapped mountain ranges; uated in the mountains, on the way to Kashgar swift, silver-green streams rushed down, through or Chinese Turkestan. I could not close my sum- sandy deserts, to the fertile plains near Andijan mer term, nor rest, till I had gone up to Osh once which nestled in the light-green vineyards and more. dark mulberry trees.
Going Up to Osh I put up at a small caravansary and wandered, with my load of Scriptures in Russian and in the The memory of my last trip up to the Kashgar native language, some days up and down the few road was yet dear to me. It had not been success- streets in the military compound, and through the ful in a purely spiritual sense; but it had been labyrinth of lanes and bazaars in the "old" or large quite a "pioneer's" feat. The large Ousbek vil- Ousbek village. But neither in the shops nor in lage which I went out to visit lay still higher up the tea-houses, did I find interest in my message than Osh at its 5000 feet, and never before had or in my books. This seemed a closed place to me! any messenger of the Cross been there. I remem- This was strange, especially because of the strong bered the slow drive up with the aroba, the road inward urge which had made me return on my having been hewn out into mountains of pink and steps and mount up here! I wondered what had white alabaster. I recalled my arrival at eve- been the purpose of my Master in leading me so ning, before a great fair which would attract hun- definitely to this out-of-the way Osh? dreds of mountain people, all of them Moslems. I passed the night sleepless, in my high two- Evening was falling; shops were being closed wheeled car, in the big courtyard of the caravan- and the men went to the tea-houses or to their sary-rats jumping over me and dogs sniffing at homes. I was about to return to my lodgings, me. I meditated about the responsibility of bring- having just finished talking to an inquisitive old ing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Moslems. Bokharian Jew, when my eyes fell on a man who, Even if not one would allow me to explain the evidently, had been listening to our conversation message to him I knew from experience that many on religious questions. I was struck with his apwould buy the prettily bound and cheap Scrip- pearance. Dressed like an Ousbek, with the Kaftan ture portions in Ousbek, Kirghis and Persian, and Moslem headgear, yet he had not the face and would take them into far-away mountain- of the Turk but of the Aryan race! It was a villages where they would be read. The seed thin long, greybearded face with a most un-monwould thus fall on hearts-stony one or thorny or golian eagle's nose and clever dark grey eyes. -God alone knew!-maybe on a good ground. There was an inward light shining in them, a question-as he looked at me-and we continued I had noticed on my arrival that the next day's for some moments to look spellbound at each round through the fair would be difficult. The other. people seemed rougher than those of the plain, many of them might never before have seen a Then from my subconsciousness a nearly for- European woman, an unveiled one! They looked gotten name rose up; by a sudden inspiration I threateningly and in an unfriendly way at the said slowly and tentatively: "Are you Faslunwelcome guest. What would they say to her Begh?" With a still brighter light in his eyes he message? answered: "Yes, I am Fasl-Begh!"
But with all that, I had deep joy and peace in Joy flooded my soul! In a moment we had my heart. Around me was the moonlit silent gripped each other's hands and immediately a night, the rustling of wind in the high poplar bond of future friendship, yea fellowship, linked trees, the sweet voices of many a nightingale and us one to another. At last I said to Him: "I the twitter of half-asleep birds, the fragrant have been asked by Mr. Awetaranian to find you smell of the resting earth! I felt the presence of 'somewhere' in Central Asia and to give you his Him whom I loved and served, and all around the message of brotherly love. And lo! our Lord,
who knew all these years since you separated ber of years, in order to let them be educated. "Do you wish them to have a Christian educawhere you could be found, hath guided me up here tion?" I asked. to the very farthest spot of Turkestan!" "Yes, I mean it just that way!" was his answer. The little girl still needed a mother's care but Fasl-Begh was delighted to hear once more we agreed that I would make arrangements for from his former friend and co-worker with whom the boy with my missionary friends at Cairo and Beirut, and would come for him, the Lord willing, he had lost contact for many a year. I promised the next spring. I bade my new friends farewell and left for Bokhara. This happened in Septemto come to his house the next day, and so we ber 1913.
separated for the night. Subsequent Events Only those of God's children who have experi- The winter passed quickly for me-partly in medical missionary work at Jiddah among the pilenced His leadings into ways which seem sheer grims passing through this port on their way to Mecca-partly in language-study at Samarkand. "foolishness" to the world-those who have been In May 1914 I was again at Osh, heartily wel- comed by Fasl-Begh and his family. willing, as Abraham was, to leave all and go out I found the man more firm in his stand for "not knowing whither" and why they are led- Christ, more outspoken before his neighbors; we could thank God for scorn and shame borne by only these understand the joy which filled my him for Christ's sake. It was agreed that the grandfather who meant to make this year the pilheart to overflowing. They will feel the tender grimage to Mecca, should take the boy with him and deliver him to me at Jiddah, where I hoped to gratefulness for having been privileged once be again at work during the Hajj. .
more, to "find Him fully true" and trustworthy! When we separated, we could not foresee the destructive warfare that would sweep over the The next morning I went to Fasl-Begh's com- world a few months later, breaking up and shat- tering like a typhoon, kingdoms, nations and indipound and at once felt at home with his children viduals! The Great War was on. The whole of Europe, and especially the Mediterranean states, and his wife, whom he presented as "the best of were .in a turmoil. People who were traveling, had eIther come to a dead-stop, cowering in anxiwomen"-an expression quite unusual with a Mo- ety wherever the thunderbolt of war struck them, or were rushing in a wild panic to return to their hammedan. I shared the family meal and we respective countries.
then went to Fasl-Begh's private den, full of The pilgrimage to Mecca had been forbidden by nearly every government; consequently neibooks-evidently the abode of a student. ther Fasl-Begh's father nor his son were able to reach me at Jiddah, from which I had been ex- "Have you found and accepted the truth as it pelled by the Turkish Government.
is in Jesus, through your work of translation of My hope of going again to see my friends at Osh had also come to nought. My unusual jourthe Gospels into Kashgary?" I asked him. For neyings through Central Asia had always been undesirable to the Russian Government; but after answer he showed me his Bible in Persian, and I the War broke out their mild displeasure changed into frank suspicion towards me. In order not was deeply moved on finding its margins covered to involve my friends in my personal difficulties, I refrained from going to Osh. But seed had with annotations, proving unmistakably that been sown, faith had been strengthened, a bond of fellowship linked me with the solitary far-away here was a seeker and an earnest one, with a real seeker. It lay in the Lord's hands to perfect the work which He had begun in Fasl-Begh's heart. interest in the Word of God. Never again did I meet my friend face to face. Again I asked: "Friend Fasl-Begh, have you From the few letters which we exchanged, whilst I stayed in Samarkand, I gathered with joy, that accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?" through material trials which the World War He looked at me with thoughtful eyes and said: "I do believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross. . . ." , "But did He die for you, personally?" He kept silence, but his manner, was not that of a Mo- hammedan to whom the cross of Christ was an offence. He was more a seeking "Nicodemus"
who asks in sincerity "How can these things be?
How may I make my own the truth which I be- lieve as a historical fact?" The Holy Spirit, who had revealed God's plan of love for mankind, could also enlighten this sincere lonely seeker in- to an experience of the truth.
We had a friendly talk as in the presence of Him who had been drawing this precious soul to Himself all these years. Fasl-Begh was a sensi- tive and retiring man; it would cost too much, as yet, to step out openly from the Beit-ul-Islam into the family of God in Jesus Christ! He was still bound by the traditions and customs of Islam and he was one of the foremost men of the village; like the "rich young ruler" he did not yet love Jesus enough to "leave all and follow Him."
I was gladdened by his request to take two of his children to Europe or to the Levant for a num-
"UNTIL WE FIND THEM" IN DUTCH NEW GUINEA
brought with it, and quite alone in his Moslem for they had become his open foes. When the surroundings, he was pressing on towards the Mennonite brethren next came to Osh, they did goal-Christ his Saviour. I committed Fasl- not find him. When the days of Russian lawless- Begh and his family to my Mennonite friends in ness had come and anyone could lift up his hand Kirghisistan, but above all into the hands of God. against everybody else with impunity, a mob of villagers approached his house, reviling and Six years later-in 1922-1 returned to Turke- threatening him, and clamoured for his Biblestan and at once made enquiries about Fasl-Begh. the cause of their fierce hatred! The answer was that during my absence my Mennonite brethren had visited all my Moslem No man had stood by him in his hour of friends, and had found Fasl-Begh spiritually alive danger; he was killed by the mob, and entered and, gratefully accepting instruction; they hoped, his Lord's presence, one of the firstfruits from on his witness to the Lord Jesus as his personal Turkestan Moslems. Saviour, to baptize him the next year. Thus my friend Basl-Begh, whom I had set He must have made a frank confession to his out to seek and to find, had been sought and neighbors of his acceptance of the Lord Jesus, found by the Lord Jesus, to be with Him forever.
"Until We Find Them" In Dutch New Guinea* By R. A. JAFFRAY, Makassar, Netherlands East Indies Missionary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance JESUS spake this parable-the three-in-one par- two ago, for the first time, have been sighted and able of The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and photographed from the air. Until thus discovered The Lost Son. Fi:r~st, one in one hundred is they had lived alone, away from the coast, with no lost, then one in ten, and then one of two is lost. road or even footpath leading from the coast to The shepherd goes after the one lost sheep, till their jungle home. Until a year or so ago they He finds it. The woman lights a candle, sweeps had not known that any others share this world the house, and seeks diligently, till she finds it. with them; they had not known that any other The father waits patiently and lovingly until the peoples lived under the sun save themselves. son returns from his sin and wanderings in a far country, until the lost son is found, the dead is 'I'hanks to men seeking oil and gold in New alive again. Guinea, these people have been located. The Dutch Government at once set to the task of making So must we go out after the last tribe of man- trails from the coast towns nearest to them, to the kind, wherever they be, however far away from place where they live on the mountain slope, in Christ and His Gospel. It is not enough to wait the jungles of the well-nigh impenetrable, virgin till they come to us, or cry to us to come to them. forest. Shall not the missionary at once go up We must deliberately, determinedly, go after them, these trails, and seek the lost until he find them? enduring the hardships of the jungle trail, till we find them. Dutch and American companies have united in gigantic effort of seeking oil in this. great island When the last tribe of mankind is at last told of New Guinea. At one place, a town called Babo, the story of God's redeeming love, the Father will over twenty million U. S. A. dollars have already rejoice, and they will then "begin to be merry" been expended, and only this year are they comin Heaven, and the merriment will never end. mencing to drill for the oil. The captain of the steamer on which the writer recently traveled Probably among the last peoples of earth to be from Makassar over to Dutch New Guinea said discovered, are those tribes in the interior of that no lesls than 120 new American scientists are Dutch New Guinea, whose villages, only a year or expected to arrive in Rabo and other places in Dutch New Guinea. this year in the search for oil, • Condensed from the Evangelical Christian, Toronto, Canada.
and he expected that on every trip from now on, positive message of the Gospel is to these people! his steamer would be filled with Americans bound Dutch missionaries on the northern coast, and for the oil fields of New Guinea. British missionaries in British New Guinea, have They mean business. Do we? They are after already seen tens of thousands, of these wild Papthe things that peris:h. Shall we go and seek for uans turn to Christ and be saved. So shall it be souls that never die, till we find them? They are with these who have so recently been discovered willing to pay the price in inconvenience and hard- on the southwestern coast of Dutch New Guinea. ship. Are we willing to suffer and bleed, if need be? Are we willing to pray, and to give, and to During the past few years in Borneo, we have go, in Christ's Name, until we find, perhaps, the seen the mighty Spirit of God at work among the last tribes of earth who are to hear the Gospel ere wild men, the Dyaks, of the Borneo jungle. Over He returns to this world to rule? ten thousand of them have definitely accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and as many more The Christian and Missionary Alliance has ap- seek to know the Lord Jesus and His gracious plied to the Dutch Colonial Government for per- power to save. What He has, done, and is still mission to open missionary work in three parts doing for the wild man of Borneo, He can, and of Dutch New Guinea, first, on an island off the will do for the still wilder man of the interior northern coast, called Misool (it has been called jungles of New Guinea. We have a deep conthe devil's island); ,second, in the northerly part sciousness that it is the Will of the Lord that the of Dutch New Guinea, called Vogel-kop (Bird's Dyak of Borneo, now saved, thoroughly taught Head), where a lake, known as Lake Amaroe, has in the Word of the Gospel, and filled with the been discovered; third, further down the south- Spirit of Christ, will be the best evangelist to take western coast, where three lakes have been dis- the Gospel to the still wilder man, the Papuan of covered from the air, called the Wissel Lakes, and New Guinea. where dwell tens of thousands of hitherto unknown peoples. Many Dyaks have gone over to New Guinea in connection with the oil and gold companies, and The whole southwestern coast of Dutch New among them, quite a number of Dyak Christians, Guinea is an unoccupied field for Protestant mis- including three or four of the elders of the church. sionary work. Up the many little rivers may be In connection with the Alliance Bible School at found Papuans to whom no one has gone with the Makassar, where more than three hundred stu- Gospel. They are not only head-hunters, but they dents are being trained for the Gospel ministry, are cannibals, living still in the Stone Age; and we have more than fifty Dyak students in preparayet the testimony of all who have had contact at tion for the work. Pray that the right men may all with these people of the interior is that they be called and sent forth in the name of the Lord. have found them friendly. These people eat the A prominent Dutch official expressed himself as flesh of enemies conquered in war, but God seems heartily in favor of the plan. It is significant that to have made them friendly toward the white man. both the local and the highest officials are heartily supporting the suggestion of this new work in the Dr. A. H. Colyn, the son of the Prime Minister interior of New Guinea. of Holland, headed an expedition to these newlydiscovered lakes by plane. Some of the Papuans These recently discovered cannibal tribes, the were so interested in these "men from heaven" Papuans of the interior of New Guinea, have sunk that they determined to follow them and thus to the level of the beast but they were originally learn the way to heaven! They said, "Thes,e men made in the image of their Creator and may yet came from heaven. We saw them come. This is be saved and restored to God's image. what we want to know-the way to heaven." With considerable difficulty six natives found their way Pray that we may reach these wild people of to Babo but they soon found that Babo was not New Guinea. Let us go with Him after the last heaven by any means. The Assistant Resident at lost sheep, "until He find it." Fak-fak felt that it was his duty to fly with these seekers back to their own jungle land! Seed Thoughts from the Moody Bible Institute Speakers The dress of the Papuan is very simple. They go practically naked, with the exception of a loin Fruit is never born by doing; fruit is always cloth and strings of beads. They wear heavy ear- born by dying.-Bishop William Culbertson. rings, a bone piercing the nose, etc., all of which are charms, supposed to ward off the evil in- Don't talk about the tragedy of the cross; fluences of demons. In fact, their whole religion that was God-planned. Talk about the tragedy is a negative one of fear, and is a matter of sacri- of sin that caused the cross.-Dr. H. W. Bieber. fice to demons, so as to avoid the harm which they have the power to inflict. What good tidings the Too many Christians are seeking an easy life. They w~nt the Gospel train to be streamlined and air-conditioned, and furnished with chairs.-Le- land Wang, China.
STUDENTS IN THE LUDHIANA WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN MEDICAL COLLEGE (1937-38
Training Indian Women Doctors By DAME EDITH BROWN, D.B.E., M.A., M.D., M.C.O.G., Ludhiana, Punjab, India A S A YOUNG woman doctor, I went out to The financial resources of this embryo college r-. India forty-seven years ago, and began consisted in a gift of fifty pounds, with a promise of a further fifty pounds per annum for the follow- medical missionary work. My single- ing three years. Had it not been that we were handed effort to alleviate the desperate sufferings confident that this was a call of God and that He of Indian women was seriously handicapped for would provide, it would have been madness to lack of skilled assistance, so that I took counsel launch out on such an enterprise with such meagre with other medical missionaries, and we came to resources. the conclusion that the solution of the problem was to take steps to found a medical school where In- The College started work in an old schoolhouse, dian Christian girls could be trained as doctors with four medical students and two student disand nurses. No effort seemed too great if we pensers. Today, after forty-four years of ceasecould build up a corps of efficient Indian Chris- less, consecutive grind we have three hundred stutian doctors for the Indian women. dents who are adequately housed in college build- ings covering fifteen acres. These premises have It was a pioneer venture but, urged by the cost fifty thousand pounds and we s,tarted with desperate need, the preliminary difficulties were only fifty pounds in hand. To us it is a miracle overcome and in 1894 the first Medical Training indeed. Now the College is affiliated with Punjab School for women in India was established. It University; this status enables our students to take was a glorious venture! The challenge was: the M.B. and B.S. degrees of that University- "India's millions of suffering and uncared-for degrees which are recognized in England. women." Our response was: "By the good hand of our God upon us it shall be done." In addition to a thorough medical education, the [405 ]
students have the inestimable benefit of a moral We have a useful pathological laboratory, with training, which cannot fail to impress them, and a well-equipped department for X-ray and radium to influence all their future life. Each day the treatment. We also have tuberculosis clinics. work hegins with prayer and careful and thorough The maternity· department is one of the busies1t, Bible teaching. By this means the students can and is the means of saving incalculable suffering explore the great Treasure House of the Word of to India's mothers and of saving the lives of hun- God, which is the Easterner's heritage as truly as dreds of India's children. it is the Westerner's. From this College and hospital three hundred In addiition to residential buildings tlere is a and sixty d.octors, and more than two hundred and hospital with two hundred and sixty beds, and an fifty nurses and dispensers, have been sent into outpatient department with average attendance all parts of India. Most of them have gone as daily of two hundred and seventy-five women and Christian missionaries to their own people. children. Some of the hospital wards are so arranged that it is possible f.or purdah women to More than nine hundred of our midwives of observe the rigorous restrictions imposed on them. various grades are now working in the Punjab. Our patients include Moslems, Sikhs, Persian, And even this is not all-for very many of them Afghan, and Nepalese women, to say nothing of begin to train nurses and midwives in the district the many "outcastes" who find here the welcome to which they are sent. Recently we visited one and care which is of the very spirit of Christ. who had prepared sixty village women for the Midwifery Examination. The Civil Surgeon, giv- SOME HOSPITAL BUILDINGS AT LUDHIANA ing a good report, said that there was now not one untrained dai working in her district. Twelve well qualified doctors are on our staff, each being in charge of her own department; two One .of our graduates, Dr. Rose Shadi Khan, more are needed for the additional work required received a special Red Cross medal and a purse to prepare the students for the higher degrees. of Rs. 300 in recognition of her devoted services at the time of the Quetta earthquake. She was The Surgical Department is always busy. To one of two Ludhiana graduates working there, have had an operation here is often considered an and for days we at the Women's Christian Medical honor to be coveted! One young woman had a College were anxious, as we could get no news of large tumor removed. When her friends came to their safety. At last we heard, to our relief, that see her, her sister was envious of all the interest both were alive, though one had been badly hurt. excited as she told them of the preparation, and Dr. Khan, uninjured, was doing all she could to of the Operating Theatre, and of the wonderful help and for. three days and nights she had no chloroform she had smelt, and of the attention time for food or sleep, as she cared for the she received from the doctors and nurses. When wounded and dying. One by one they were dug I asked to see the sister, I found, to her joy, out from the ruins. Many were purdah women that she, too, required an operati.on. After a few known to Dr. Khan, for she had worked for sevdays she was, lying happily in a bed next to her eral years in Quetta, and they clung to her in their sister. Then they sent for their elder sister, hop- terror and pain. She worked day and night for ing that she might share their privilege. When it several weeks, till at last, worn out, she was was found that she did not need surgical care, she ordered to take a rest. She passed through Ludwept tears of disappointment. Why were her hiana, looking thin and tired, but with triumph younger sisters to have all the attention and all in her eyes, and as soon as she was able she rethe fun (?) while she was left out? turned to her work again. At present she is in a lonely station on the Northwest Frontier, where she is loved and trusted by all. The influence of this Indian doctor extends beyond the boundaries of her native land, for she is often called over into Iran, where her skilled help is sought by lonely, sick, and distressed women.
One is sometimes asked: "Are the Indian girls really worth training as doctors; do you find them capable of bearing responsibility?" My reply, emphatically, is that they respond to training, and are wen able to take responsibility. We have proved it on our own staff, and the .opinion is con- firmed on all sides by those who employ our grad- uates. One medical missionary, writing recently about the work done by one of them, concluded her
TRAINING WOMEN DOCTORS
report by saying: "She is an excellent missionary, upon the dispensary door. It was night. Would and quite the best assistant surgeon I have met. anyone hear? Finally a motherly Indian Chris- At present she has charge of an outstation mission tian woman opened the door and took her in. As hospital of thirty beds. I regard her as a friend no one ever claimed her, the missionary sent her and do not see how we could carry on without to school. Later she came to Ludhiana to train her." as a nurse. At the end of her training a call came for a missionary nurse for Arabia, and Sundri Another graduate is senior surgeon in a large volunteered. It was a foreign land to her-dif- hospital, of which she takes charge when the mis- ferent language, different food, and twelve days' sionary is away on district work. Not only do the journey distant. Through the fine work she did so lovingly in the mission hospital she found her A VE'RANDAH WARD IN THE HOSPITAL way into the homes and hearts of these Arab women, rich and poor alike; and so skilfully did various missionary societies appreciate the value she handle many difficult obstetric cases, that her of Ludhiana graduates, but the Government also help often was sought in preference to that of her recognizes their worth. Seven have been awarded European colleague. the Kaiser-i-Hind medal for public services, and the honor of being the first Indian woman in the Then came the World War. The missionaries Madras Presidency to become medical superin- were not allowed to stay in their station, and tendent of a hospital with a European staff, falls Sundri was left alone. Single-handed she kept the to one of the graduates. hospital open for three years, dealing with such cases as she was fitted to manage. She remem- Nurse Sundri is an illustration of how wide- bered, too, that now she was the only one left to spread the influence of these girls may become. preach Good Tidings, and she gave herself the Forty years ago little six-year-old Sundri, child of more earnestly to Sunday services and dispensary high-caste Hindu parents, was about to be "mar- prayers, and to personal talks with her patients. ried to the gods." Her mother had become a widow before any marriage arrangement had been When peace was proclaimed, government pro- made for the child, and now the expense was too ceedings required the presence in England of cer- great. Who would care what befell a despised tain Arabian sheiks, who in turn desired that their widow and her daughter? The temple would re- wives accompany them. An interpreter would be ceive the child. She should be "married to the required, and who was hetter fitted than their gods," and live a life of immorality. Those who nurse-friend Sundri, who knew English so well? 'know anything of the nefarious practices such dedication demands, will realize how terrible was STUDENTS IN THE PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY the future carved out for the poor child. Little girls have been known to commit suicide rather And to England Sundri went! Later she returned than live in such surroundings. again to Arabia, took up private work in a dis- pensary of her own, and adopted Rosa, a little Sundri was terrified. Then she remembered Arabian orphan girl. Rosa is now at Ludhiana. that once, when she had been ill, her mother had Recently Sundri, ill and dying, committed this taken her to a dispensary in a neighboring village little Arab girl to our care. She is now at school, where a medical missionary had lovingly cared for and our prayer is that later she will become a her and made her well again. doctor or nurse-a missionary to her own people in the far-off land of Arabia. Under cover of darkness the child ran away to this village, and hammered with her little fists
A study of the reports show that the graduates ical College have long realized the des.perate need from this Medical College are now ministering of the villages, and have given anxious thought as each year to about three million women and chil- to how that need may be met. Nine years ago, I dren. Such a record is proof positive that the stated that it was urgent that new centres be women of India themselves highly value the help opened in the towns and villages, north, east, given by their medically trained sisters. The south, and west of Ludhiana. We saw great posgratitude they express is often very touching. sibilities in such village centres, each to be equip- ped with a woman dootor, a nurse, a health visitor, A friend from England once told me that when and a teacher. Last year a special gift enabled us she was traveling in India, though she was unable to open one of these centres, and its value is so to understand her language, an Indian woman was great that I hope we will not be obliged to wait determined to make plain to her the love and grati- another nine long years before we are able to open tude which all the women of the district had to- others. wards the Ludhiana doctor at work there. Taking her three-months-old baby boy, this Indian woman Let me emphasize the urgency of the hour. laid him on the ground at the doctor's feet. Then, Great and rapid changes are occurring in India as bowing in an attitude of utter devotion, she work and power is passing into the hands of her clasped the doctor's right hand, while with an own people. What we are able to do today may be outstretched arm she made a sweeping gesture to impossible tomorrow. This is a strategic time. include all the women in the courtyard.. At Ludhiana we are trying to seize every oppor- tunity to prepare and equip Christian women and Indian Women's Work for Women girls so that they may be ready to meet the great responsibilities which await them in the near The medical care of India's women is of great future.
importance. That it should be done by their own Remember that India's welfare and uplift and evangelization are in a peculiar way our responpeople is the quickest way of accomplishing the sibility as Christian men and women. * task, as it is financially the most economical. It • Information and literature may be had from the General Secreis the right and natural way. The fact speaks for tary, Miss M. E'. Craske, Ludhiana Women's Christian Medical Col- lege, 39, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S. W. 1, England, or itself that in one missionary's life-time the work from Miss L. Powel, 6938 Cresheim Road, Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, Pa.
has moved so quickly that now three million RULES OF OHRISTIAN LIVING women and children are being reached each year The following "Rules of Christian Living" are said to have been prepared for himself by the late by the medical skill of their own people. General Booth of the Salvation Army: At the Ludhiana Medical College, on a scholar- 1. Consider your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and treat it with reverence and care. ship of thirty pounds ($150.00) per annum for 2. Keep your mind active. Stimulate it with five years, an Indian girl can take her medical thoughts of others that lead to doing something.
degree. Think of it! A medical missionary to 3. Take time to be holy, with daily Bible read- ing and prayer. her own people at the total expenditure of one 4. Support the church of your faith. Min~le hundred and fifty pounds ($750). Contrast this with others.
with the expense of training a foreign medical 5. Cultivate the presence of God. He wants to enter your life and will as far as you let Him. missionary, not to speak of the cost of outfit and 6. Take God into the details of your life. You passage. Surely, on the basis of economy alone naturally call upon Him in trouble and for the bigger things.. the plea, "Train India's own women as doctors," 7. Pray for this troubled, war-threatened world is a sound one. • and the leaders who hold the destinies of the var- ious nations. This is unquestionably the right and natural way, for however devoted the Western missionary 8. Have a thankful spirit for the blessings of may be, she still is a foreigner, and one whose God-country, home, friends, and numerous other speech and ways are strange. The gentle, edu- blessings. cated Indian friend speaks the language perfectly, understands local prejudices, and is familiar with 9. Work as if everything depended upon work, Indian customs and habits of life. She is a woman and pray as if everything depended upon prayer. of the country, and wins her way unhampered by the handicaps which face the missionary from 10. Think of death not as something to be another land. Quite naturally she will tell her dreaded, but as a great and new experience where patients the Wonderful Story-old to us but new loved ones are met and ambitions realized. to them. She will use familiar illustrations to press the point, and the listeners will hear how she has found in Jesus her Saviour and her Lord.
"Village Uplift" has recently become the slogan of social service in India. The word is heard on all sides, but we of the Women's Christian Med-
Present Situation in Portugal*
By WM. H. RAINEY .
-.•~ Superintendent of the British and Foreign Society for Western Europe THE political situation in Portugal is compli- interests of the former. This statement aroused cated and uncertain. The power, in practice the Portuguese hatred of Spain, due to the cruel- but not in theory, of this totalitarian State is ties of Philip II. Thus another element of uncerinvested in the Prime Minister, Dr. Oliviero Sala- tainty and even fear was introduced into the na- zar, who is also Minister of Finance and of War. tional life.
Unlike his colleagues in similar states, the Por- England is fully alive to the importance of the tuguese Prime Minister shrinks from publicity Anglo-Portuguese alliance, hence the naval and so that not many have even seen him. military missions and the creation in Lisbon of a Dr. Salazar is pro-German yet he is a member branch of the British Institute. The position of of the "company of Jesus" whose policy is the British and Foreign Bible Society in Portu- strongly anti-Nazi and, therefore, pro-democratic. gal is closely allied with British prestige. The Such a policy may seem strange in an order that freedom allowed to colporteurs is partly due to has always stood for absolutism in Church and the nationality of the Bible Society.
State but the anti-Catholic attitude of the Nazis The religious situation in Portugal has only has thrown the Jesuits into unaccusomed com- changed slightly in the last few years. The pany. Under the late Pope, Pius XII, the Jesuits Roman Catholic Church has continued to increase were all-powerful at the Vatican, and dictated the in power and may now be said to have regained papal foreign policy. Thus one can imagine Sala- the ground lost during the anti-clerical period zar torn between personal preference and reli- following the declaration of the Republic in 1910.
gious obligation. The Prime Minister's love for Such is its influence today that much of the gov- Germany is tempered with fear for the safety of ernment tax on salaries, destined to aid the un- the Colonies, for Portugal is still the third largest employed, is used to build and repair churches colonial powet". Without the alliance with Great and theological seminaries. The great army of Britain this rich almost undeveloped empire over- militia on the Fascist model, which includes prac- seas would long ago have fallen a victim to pred- tically all citizens from the ages of 10 to 60, is well atory powers. Fear of German aggression, even under the control of the Roman Catholic clergy.
in the form of a so-called peaceful penetration of Attendance at mass, although not legally obliga- Angola, swiftly brought wavering Portugal back tory, is pra·ctically so. Only the valiant few have into the English alliance. It is possible, even the courage to spoil their prospects by refusing to probable, that Portugal would try to remain neu- attend. There are also minor cases of persecution.
tral in the event of a European war. Although Two cases are indicative of the trend of things- many of the governing class are pro-Nazi, yet the recently a State employee, a lay-preacher of the business-men are pro-British and the working Portuguese Presbyterian Church, was threatened class in the towns are Communists. with dismissal if he did not stop preaching. A The situation is still further complicated by Baptist Church has been closed on the pretext that the Spanish question. The Nationalist rebellion Communists attended the services.
was organized in Portugal and has received Por- Bible Society colporteurs, however, have no tuguese support, in spite of so-called "observers" cause for complaint. Colporteur Gil reports that on the frontier. Spanish Government refugees, during the 25 years he has served the Society he seeking asylum in Portugal, were handed over to has never known so much interest in the Bible, the Nationalist authorities and even some of the among Catholics as well as Protestants.
flags in use with Franco's forces bear the Portu- The strength of the Bible Society's position in guese arms as well as those of Spain, Italy and Portugal lies in the fact that it publishes a Roman Germany. Yet a Falangist-the Falangists are Catholic, as well an an Evangelical, version of the the Spanish fascists, who are opposed to the Re- Bible. The Roman Catholic, or "Figueiredo" ver- quetes, who are strongly "clerical"-speaking on a sion, is a classic of the Portuguese language and public occasion, referred to the desire of his party is used in many Protestant Churches and schools.
to unite Spain and Portugal, presumably in the If war can be avoided, the prospects of Evangeli- * See Frontispiece. cal work in Portugal should be bright.
[ 409 ]
Christ in Europe
By PROF. ADOLF KELLER, D.D., Geneva, Switzerland W HAT interests us here is not so much the subjective experience, as from a transcendent mes- question what controversial ideology is sage of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. dominating the European Continent although it has a tremendous influence on religious In preparing my sermon for Good Friday 1917, life, nor what theological conflicts are fought it struck me that following the word of Christ: through in the European churches, which were "It is accomplished," I had not to speak of peralways inclined to express their religious life more sonal experiences but of the great fact and meseasily in theological form than it was done in sage which God has placed before us in the life America. We shall simply ask in this survey how and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is preached on the Continent and what a new evangelical life His message is kindling in A wide change in continental preaching is the European churches. partly due to the rebirth of a theology of the Reformation-Karl Barth's study of the Epistle If during the past century Church regiment, to the Romans appeared in 1918-and partly to Church authority and its representatives played a spontaneous rediscovery of the objectivity of an important rOle in European Church life, the God's Revelation in Christ. theologians came to the front these last decades when continental Protestantism re-thought the Since then preaching has again become the Reformation and tried to build up a new Church, announcement of the Gospel of Christ, as against not so much on an ecclesiastical authority but on giving moral or social advice, philosophical delibsound theology. Today we may observe that it erations or sentimental experiences. The first is the tUrn of the simple preacher of the Gospel task of the Church is again the preaching of the who has his word to say and is listened to. Gos- Gospel. This needs no further justification, yet pel preaching as such has become again the great there is no unanimity about what the preaching of essential fact in the life of the Church. the Gospel really means. Is Gospel-preaching con- sistent with the glorification of the nation and the But each century, each denomination, each na- mysticism of a totalitarian State? Yet, the eleven tion has made, in history, its contribution towards German Churches, whose leaders published a few a special type of preaching. The nineteenth cen- months ago a nationalist and totalitarian theory, tury preaching is in many respects quite dif- confound the Gospel with a myth; a divine revelaferent from the preaching which rose during the tion with religious self-consciousness; the Refor- World War, and which is heard today. The mation with the Renaissance. But the Churches last century was widely dominated by the theology in Germany, where this Gospel is preached, are of experience and of subjectivism which was empty. Evangelical people do not confound the started by the first great theologian of the century, "bread" of our Lord with the "stones" of a nat- Schleiermacher, who initiated a new theolo'gical ural philosophy. thinking by taking the feeling of absolute dependence on God as the point of departure for An important feature in the theory and pracsound Christian theology. Wherever such a the- tice of preaching becomes evident in these empty ology of experience and of the subjective Christian German Churches: preaching needs a congregaconsciousness was vigorous, preaching aimed at tion that listens to God's Word. I preached for awakening similar experiences. Schleiermacher six years in John Knox's Chapel in Geneva and himself was perhaps even a greater and more had often Scottish visitors in my audience. One evangelical preacher than theologian and inter- of them was once listening so attentively that it preter of German idealism and romanticism. Un- meant quite an inspiration to me. When he came der this theology it was more or less forgotten that after the sermon to shake hands, I found that he Christianity was born, not so much from a sweet had not understood one word because he did not understand German-but he listened. The re- sponse of many congregations where "German [410 ] Christians" are preaching is silence or absence. we have to fight; Christ is the only One who can Such spiritual indifference kills any sermon which overcome the reign of demons. is not characterized by more than human wisdom. The Church which no longer listens to God's In this respect, of course, preaching is the reflex word is dying. of a more orthodox and Christocentric theology. Yet, in other parts, especially in Eastern Europe, On the other hand, Confessional Churches in it is not so much an echo to theological thinking as Germany are crowded. A man like Niemol1er, a a response to Bible reading. The Bible itself and great preacher, drew larger audiences than the not only theology as a witness to the Holy Scripchurch in Dahlem could hold. There was always tures has been and is the great teacher of how to a pilgrimage from Berlin to Dahlem when the preach. Preaching is therefore no longer the art former captain of the submarine preached. Even of trained. pastors. The man who. reads the Bible, Ministers of State were in the audience. Niem61- preaches. A lay preaching movement may be obler is continuing to preach though silenced. In served all over Eastern Europe. In Austria near America, during the National Preaching Mission, Villach, is a Bible School preparing lay preachthere was not one single town where I was not ers for the Balkan countries. In Poland and Rusasked about Neimoller. He has the ear of the sia there is a large preaching mission carried on world because he preaches the Gospel even at the by laymen, the "Gospel-Christians," who are wancost of great sacrifice. dering from village to village announcing, often secretly, in farms, woods, lonely places the re- The essence of this Gospel-preaching is quite deeming message which they have learned to know simple. It is dominated by the two great leading from the Bible. In Polish Ukraine an evangelical thoughts of the Reformation: Luther's Sola gratia movement sprang up in a village when Krasniuk, ("by grace alone") and Calvin's great message of a Ukrainain prisoner of war, returned from a the sovereignty of God: Soli Deo gloria! Modern German prisoner's camp where he had learned to evangelical preaching in Europe is again focused read the Bible to his family in a Polish village. in these two great lights of the Reformation. It To read the Bible means to meet Christ, and this is Biblical, Paulinian. It is more an interpreta- is the one great stimulus for preaching. The tion of the Biblical text than an explanation of a annual report of the British and Foreign Bible subject for which the text is only a starting point. Society shows indeed that in spite of a growing Karl Barth in Basle does not allow his students poverty, political tension and religious persecuto develop their own brilliant thoughts by using tion the Continent has bought more Bibles than a Bible text. Stick to the text in reverence and during last year. Even in Spain the sale of the obedience, he would say. Under such influences Bible has increased. continental preaching has become more Biblical and more dynamic. It is a witness, not simply a The Hope for Reformation historical exposition or a psychological application of spiritual truth. Historicism and psychologism Where the Bible is re-discovered and read, a have largely diluted, during large parts of nine- reformation is always near. Other general literteenth century preaching, the divine substance of ature is certainly sharing the breakdown of any the preached word. These theological and psycho- really leading power for mankind; the Bible has logical temptations are overcome today. Christ again proved able to give real leadership to perhimself and not science or theology, not personal sonal and public life of mankind. Nowhere this piety or mystic experiences, is again the great sub- is perhaps deeper felt than in Russia where the ject of evangelical preaching~Christ who saves importation or printing of the Bible is still forfrom sin by His grace. The attack directed against bidden. A great thirst for the Word of God is the Saviour by a self-redeeming humanism and found wherever religious interest is not entirely secularism has, by reaction, made continental quenched. This unique Book and parts of it are preaching more Christocentric than ever. Where penetrating into Russia wherever pores of com- Christ is preached there is no place for a shallow munication are still open in the well protected nationalism or a vigorous moralism. All these pachydermic armour of their Russian giant. It isms are effaced by the tremendous realistic pow- penetrates into the interior via the great streams, er of sin and the all victorious Grace. Preaching via China and Turkestan. For many Christians is therefore, under the impression of the War and the possession of the Bible is the greatest treasure, its aftermath, more pessimistic than in the self- as the Word of God has become rare and thoucontent nineteenth century in so far as the possi- sands of Bibles have crumbled to dust because they bilities and confidence in man is concerned and has were read so intensely. It is a; matter of great again discovered the demonic character of the rejoicing that not only the Bible is read again world, the principalities and powers with which among Protestants-but Bible lessons are intro- duced for the first time in evangelical services. A
new Bible movement is spreading also in the Ro- by we felt that our skin must be heathen too. He man Catholic Church, and it happens that Ortho- gave us an inferiority complex. We began to feel dox priests, as in the famous conferences of Nar- that if we dressed in his clothes we should be va, assemble around the Bible and not only kiss less heathen. If we began to speak English well the holy Book as a part of the Orthodox service, we felt sure we were civilized and Christian. but read it with the joy of a great discovery. If we speak the truth (and we must speak the Wherever Christ is preached, the Cross is ines- truth), we must admit that the African says tocapable. The willingness to suffer with Christ is day, We want to feel at home when we worship. one of the essential features of Christian life. We want to feel that God has come to Africa. This willingness not to be afraid even of martyr- South African buildings, are always round dom is perhaps the greatest aspect of present day thatched huts. The first time that I went into a Christian life on the Continent. The world at- church-it was built on the western pattern-I tacks Christ, not so much by force and persecu- said, "I am in a foreign country." A Christian tion as by a new philosophy and new tempting priest put up a hut with a thatched roof and a ideologies. Those who are not adopting this phi- stone altar, such as we Africans use in worship; losophy in Russia or in the totalitarian States then I was at home before God. The stone altar must suffer persecution. The answer of the Rus- on which we used to make our sacrifices to our sian Christians to this persecution is silent suffer- ancestors in an attempt to worship the unknown ing. In Germany loud witness is still heard. In God, was the place where we could come to God the western and central democracies the liberty ourselves because God had made the ultimate to preach the Gospel is in no way restricted. A sacrifice. Outside, under the beautiful roof of the great missionary activity is started by the world that is the sky, what more beautiful church Churches in France, Holland and Switzerland could you find than that? The carpeted earth for which do not confine their missionary zeal to the our floor, under a big tree: there is the very best pagan world overseas but are discovering that church of all and we are at home there. The high they have a mission field at home, that the Church mountain suggests the power of God; the roaring itself is becoming a mission field as for instance ocean is better music than an organ. Our rivers France, which formerly has been called the oldest -we have beautiful rivers-they are not heathen daughter of the Church and counts today at least rivers; they tell us of God. Take our people out thirty millions of people who have no connection there and we can worship."-Miss Minnie Saga. whatever with any Church and have lost even an elementary knowledge of Christ and His Gospel. *** It is very likely that many Protestant Churches Mrs. Short, a British (L. M. S.) missionary in will join the remarkable effort which has been Papua, is training up the young people to a belief made by the American Federal Council of that God wants Papuans to remain Papuans when Churches in its National Preaching Mission to they become Christians. She encourages the weartake a fresh stand for the Church in the centre of ing of the native dress or some simple adaptation all Christian life and activity, in the announcement of it suited to modern conditions, the building of of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The world has churches in the island fashion, and giving a Chrisproved today that it holds no really redeeming tian content to the old customs. Most of the oppomessage and that its recipes are not bringing heal- sition to this comes from the people themselves. ing or salvation but sickness and death. The They say, "Now we are Christians we are en- Church of Christ, confronted with this breakdown lightened people. We must dress as you do. We of culture and inefficiency of human wisdom, must have churches like yours. We must worship knows more than ever that she holds the word of in your way." Sentiment in some places is so salvation and has to bring it to the whole world. strong on the connection between religion and a particular form of dress that women may refus·e FROM MADRAS CONFERENCE to wear waistbelts because the costume into which their grandmothers were put by early mission- A Bantu African woman in a bright blue dress aries was a long shapeless garment without a belt. and head-cloth, spoke with a natural eloquence It was natural to those pioneer missionaries to which moved all hearts in the group on the wor- carry with them the customs, the conventions, the ship of the Church. style of clothes and religious buildings to which they were accustomed in their western lands. But "To us Africans, Christianity is a white man's Christians in Papua and other lands must be religion. The white man regarded as heathen helped to see that God wants Papuan Christians everything that he found in Mrica; not knowing and African Christians from every land, not our language or our culture he judged it as heath- simply Christians who are an imitation of the en. He made us so conscious of this that by and Westerner.
Ways of
'Tested Met1wds for Increasing Interest at Home ,EDITED BY GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA College Students Organize scribed by Bethanians and private do- Notice, too, that the project is nations. Each Saturday some of the for Actual Service girls conduct the recreational activi- not forced into just one channel. ties of McKinleyville which supple- Not all girls are interested in Young people of today are ment the newly added Boy Scout weighing babies and in taking ready to give time and energy to Troop under the leadership of William medical histories. There are rendering real service, if there Rutter, also of Bethany College. is some person or organization , In addition to this work, Bethany other avenues of service outto plan the work so it will be students have conducted Sunday school lined. Recreational leadership, effective, and if there is sufficient classes and church services at Mcreal need in the project to make Kinleyville for some time. and leadership for religious eduthem feel it worth giving them- cation is asked-and found. selves to. Front Rank, April 16, 1939. Too often we ask our young The following report of a serv- There are several points people to do some silly little ice project being carried on by worthy of note. The college thing which is no real challenge Bethany College students in Y. W. C. A. sponsored the proj- to their ability or interest. We West Virginia gives a picture of ect. Dr. Hoagland supervised it. assume they are too busy to do a situation which has need, ap- The article does not say who real things. That is, to be sure, peal and organization to make suggested it, but we may rest the excuse which they give to get the response effective. Study it assured that some one presented out of entering into our feeble carefully. the need vividly, or there would attempts to harness their ener- have been no such whole-hearted gies to worthwhile things in un- When the McKinleyville mine shut response. down, the presiding doctor and nurse worthy ways. But give them a could no longer be afforded. The Beth- Notice also that professional any College Y. W. C. A., under the aid was enlisted. There was no worthwhile job with a real chalsupervision of Dr. Florence M. Hoag- attempt made to have a bunch of lenge in it-give them competent land, promptly established the present college girls doing something leadership-give them organizaclinic for pre-school children. Once a that only a doctor and a nurse tion for effective use of their month under the leadership of Dr. could do effectively. But what energy and time-and your col- Booher of Wellsburg and the county college girls could do in connec- lege student displays all the renurse, who also donate their services, tion with the clinic was thrilling source, ingenuity and responsithe girls conduct the clinic in the little enough to them to insure their bility which made our ancestors, town four miles from Bethany College. participation. with no more years to their The girls weigh and measure the credit than these college young babies, take medical and social his- The international touch in the people possess, go forth to contories, and follow the orders and treat- participation of the Chinese stuments prescribed by the doctor. dent has more than a little value. quer a wilderness and to build a new nation. Taking her place in the clinic is Bethany's Chinese co-ed, a member of Race relations become normally the Y. W. C. A., Violette Chun. Attract Larger Audiences inconsequent when people of dif- Each time the Y. W. C. A. girls visit McKinleyville the townspeople fering races are working to- A missionary speaker recently know they are bringing canned food, gether in the spirit of Christ to went to one of the smaller clothing, medicine, milk, and other alleviate human suffering and to churches of his denomination for items that the children need. All Beth- build a happier world. For a Sunday evening address. To any College is now aiding with a "soap" campaign in which each stu- every such experience of joy in his amazement, considering the dent not only must use soap before working together we may well audience in some other engage- coming to fraternities and dormitories give thanks. ments he had filled, the church but must also bring one cake for Mc- Then there is the enlistment which was not a small one in Kinleyville. Already the girls are of the whole college in special size, was packed. Furthermore witnessing the results of their fine parts of the project. Soap and the choir loft was overflowing work. Underfed children are gaining in weight, children with impetigo-a books for the library! Two with eager-eyed boys and girls contagious skin disease – once more items which are easily provided from the eighth grade. The servhave clear complexions, and the by a large group, but which scantily clothed are now warm. The make a big hole in any budget ice started. There was little beco-eds have also established a library yond his speech and a musical with part of the funds and books sub- which must buy them outright. program by those boys and girls.
[413 ]
They were the eighth grade a Many of the mothers and fa- business going by continuing to cappella choir of a neighboring thers, older brothers and sisters spend her money for expensive school. They sang hymns, spir- of the children in that choir do trifles such as perfume bottles, it,uals and other dignified and not ordinarily hear good mis- imported service plates and suitable music. They listened sionary addresses. They came jewelry for herself, than to give with intense enjoyment to his because their children were to the money away. She was using sing. They went away glad that a false philosophy to bolster up address. they had heard a worthwhile ad- her selfishness. When it was all over, the bou- dress as well. The money paid for the quets of gay summer flowers Let us point out that a single jewelry went mostly into the singer, no matter with how pocket of the wealthy owner of with which the church had been lovely a voice, who was a mem- the store she was fondest of. The decorated were carefully wrap- ber of the community and whose same money would have gone ped and given to the missionary singing people had many times almost directly into the smallspeaker to take home with him. heard, could not have had much business world of grocers and One of the members of the attendance pull. So far as the clothing stores and dairy farms church drove him clear across suitability of her singing, so far of the community had she given the large city to the place he was as her adding to the program, it away. On the way it would staying at. the value might have been the have fed and clothed those in same. But probably not one dire need. The bit of beauty the Let us look at this experience single extra person would have money purchased is as dead tofor a moment, from the point of turned out more than would day as on the day it was purview of promoting attendance. have come for the address alone. chased. The gift of money to It was the missionary society relieve suffering would have which sponsored the church To add something in the na- brought life and health to a child service. They wanted not only ture of a variety stunt might who died for lack of proper food pull a crowd there, but to at- and shelter. their own members there, but tempt that is not worth the ruin also the rest of the congregation. it brings to the program. It To buy things for ourselves They felt that the particular mis- cheapens and debases it. Those instead of serving others with sionary they had secured was who are brought by it are quite the money that is ours is not true sure to give an address worthy likely to get up and walk out stewardship. of being heard by others in the during the address, or to form community besides the members the sort of unsympathetic audi- As church members face the of his own denominational ence which every speaker dreads. days of winter ahead, it is well group. for them to have this gently Consider then, what you may stern reminder always before What supplement to his ad- add to a program which will them, that to buy more clothes dress could they provide which build up the right atmosphere, for oneself when one already has would attract the groups they be of value in itself, and have more than one can wear, is the wanted present? They looked the right effect in bringing into tendency which is the most effecaround and decided that the a the meeting a much greater tive preventative of our being cappella choir of the eighth grade number of people than might able to "clothe the naked, and of the neighboring public school have come for an address alone. feed the hungry." would do that. Furthermore they could be counted on to pro- Our Money for Others We cannot squander our revide a musical accompaniment sources on ourselves and still in keeping with the address. The following thought-pro- have them to serve a needy world Parents of the children would voking and lovely poem by Alice with. come whether they were to sing Ferrin Hensey may be used in at school or in church. several ways in your church. A Here is the poem: poster, in the center panel of Please note that there was which it is beautifully lettered I have more food than I can eatnothing in the way of trying to in, and in the two outer panels They faint with hunger in the street. of which are pictures of those attract by false pretenses to whom we may serve, may be ar- I have more clothes than I can wearsomething which people would ranged. Or the poem might be Their head, and hands, and feet are not want to hear. They were given as a reading in the devosure of their missionary's hav- tional part of your service. bare. ing something people would find Where it is possible it should be made available to every member My walls are thick, and warm, and very worth having come to listen of the church, missionary so- dryto. The music was simply a sec- ciety, or other group. ond feature of equal worth in its Their walls are rain, and wind, and own field. During days of bitter need, sky. not so long ago, a woman ap- The problem of attendance at proached by the church for relief My heart knows love of noble soulsmissionary programs and meet- funds refused on the ground that Their hearts are hungry, thirsty ings is often not that of having it was more important to keep a worthwhile program. It is that bowls. of securing a hearing for that program from those who for These things let me remember when various reasons ordinarily fail to give it any attention. Cries of the needy rise again.* • Alice Ferrin Hensey. By permission of the author and of The New York Times.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Why Not Have a Church Library?
By MARY F. FOLGER A few years ago the Literature Committee with the pastor of the First Friends Church in In- dianapolis, Indiana, decided the time had come for the revival and enlargement of the church library. One of the Sunday school classes loaned their own furnished classroom for this pur- pose. Two bookcases were moved in and all the religious education, c h u r c h history, Quaker and missionary books were assembled. The Literature Committee chairman, with his wife, gave some and loaned many new and up-to-date books .
for circulation among our mem- bers. A number of desired books CHILDREN MAKE GOOD USE OF A GOOD LIBRARY were donated by other indi- viduals. for adults' and one for children's a suggested given list. These are From time to time throughout books. The name of borrower under various headings, some of the years the revision of the lit- and the date taken and returned which are: Biblical Literature, erature work of Friends has is noted on the card filed for that Friends History and Principles, been made, to meet and use new particular book. Evangelism, Pas tor a I and opportunities for usefulness. Two instances we want to Church Extension, Christian Thus the work of the church mention, occurring two years Education, Stewardship, Peace, library was begun in recognition apart-unknown to either child. Temperance, etc. of a wider avenue for service. One of our boy's mother was The Literature Committee has, Since the beginning of our reading to him at home, from for many years, been allowed a "revival," more cases and books our "Bible Story Book" and he certain amount in the yearly have been given. And our col- wanted to take it to school. She budget of our meeting. This lection has grown until now we gave permission and his teacher amount has been increased three have books for every department read this book to his class. A times since 1935 and is used exin the church and church school. little girl this year so thoroughly clusively for purchasing books We also have books on family enjoyed one of our "Stories of for the library. We feel the life, fiction with a Christian em- Jesus and the Children" that she greatest mission of the Church phasis, etc. Many books have took it to school and her teacher is to help the home furnish the been given by individuals as a read a chapter each day to her Christian foundation in charmemorial to a member of the pupils until she finished the acter building. And one of the family or meeting. These donors book. best ways to do this is through feel that there is an everlasting A number of children have furnishing and helping to select inspiration and living influence given, in the public schools, re- the best of reading material, and in this kind of memorial. A views of books they have read build through books higher number of the various commit- from our church library. Many ideals of personal conduct. Durtees of the meeting have given others have given book reviews ing the last several years we new and desired books, in this in Sunday school. The books for have placed church papers, peace way, not only cooperating with, children consist of the best and temperance literature, and but proving their consciousnes8 recognized Bible stories, mission- other reading material, in public of the need, and realization of ary and story books with em- places and in homes, where they the Christian influence of the phasis on world friendship, etc. supplied a timely need. Church through its own library. A number of adult books are We strive to be of service to One sectional bookcase is full used for reference and research any and all individuals desiring of children's books and this work. help or information, and in sev- corner, with little tables and For several years our yearly eral instances have been able to chairs, is used for, and by, the meeting – composed of sixteen supply or procure materials children. Two girls, each eleven quarterly meetings, and within needed on a number of subjects years old, assist with the whole these eighty-one local meetings for papers and talks outside of library and have complete charge -gives special recognition to regular church work. Our liof the children's section. members reading a certain num- brary is being used more and There are two card files-one ber of books during the year, in more all the time by all ages.
A Story for the
In the Hall of Fame made the difference, for her fa- "Did the people love her ?" ther had no more money than said little Lois. By VIOLET WOOD, Missionary the other men." Education Movement Mr. Wright smiled. "They "Frances Willard's father certainly did.. Many of them Phyllis Wright was visiting didn't drink, did he?" piped up traveled on foot from outlying Washington with her family. Janet. farms to hear her speak in the But she seemed disappointed as towns she visited. She wrote she studied the faces of the stat- "No," Mr. Wright shook his books and edited magazines ues of America's heroes, war- head, "and that was the diff-er- which thousands of people bought riors and statesmen. ence. Her family also prayed to and read and passed on to God and kept the Sabbath while friends. But that was not all she "Father," she said, "are there many other pioneers did not. did. Phyllis, you will be twentyno girls in the Hall of Fame?" Frances Willard decided to try one years old in nine years. Can to bring a new way of life to you tell me one of the things you Mr. Wright smiled as he re- people whose children were poor will be able to do then that you plied: "Let's get mother and and miserable because of evil can't do now?" Janet and Lois and I'll tell you ways. But first she must get an about the only woman whose education. In those days it was "I'll be able to vote," said statue is found here." an unusual thing for a woman to Phyllis proudly. go to college, but Frances did it. "What state is she from ?" Soon after her graduation a "Exactly," Mr. Wright said. asked Phyllis. "I'll be searching stranger thing happened; she "Frances Willard started the for her." was the first woman in America idea that women should vote, to become a college president." just the same as men. That was "She's from Illinois." a brave stand to take in those Phyllis scampered off, and "That's a very important job," days, for even good Christian when her father, mother and sis- murmured Phyllis. men were against the idea at ters caught up they found her first." gazing intently into the earnest "Yes, indeed," Mr. Wright face of Frances Willard. nodded, "but she gave it up after "I read a story once," said "I found her," she beamed. a while because she felt it did Mrs. Wright. It told how Fran- "Now father is going to tell us not give her time to carry out ces Willard always carried two about the only woman in the Hall her ambition to help the poor favorite books with her wherof Fame in Washington." Then mothers and children. She be- ever she went: the Bible and she read from the tablet" 'Fran- gan to lead bands of women 'Pilgrim's Progress.' " ces Willard was born September through the streets. The y 28th, 1839.' Why that's exactly marched to saloons, where men "I've read 'Pilgrim's Progone hundred years ago!" wasted their time and health and ress'," cried Phyllis. "It's great!" "That's right," said Mr. money, and there she prayed Wright. "Frances came of pio- and sang Christian songs. Hun- "Now, what would you call neering folks and as a little girl dreds were so affected by her Frances Willard?" asked Mr. she traveled in a covered wagon Christ-like spirit that they prom- Wright: "a heroine? a warrior? through the wilderness." ised to give up strong drink and a statesman?" "A wagon like our trailer?" to lead better lives." asked Janet. "I know what I'd call her," "Oh, no, much different," an- "Did they keep their prom- said Phyllis. "Our Sunday swered Mr. Wright. "In those ises?" questioned Janet. school teacher told us that misdays it took months to drive 500 sionaries had to be combinations miles, and we've only taken a "Many of them did," contin- of many things sometimes. I'd few days to do that with our ued Mr. Wright, "and many be- call her a missionary, a real automobile." came good fathers and estab- home missionary." "What did she do to make her lished Christian homes. Women famous ?" Phyllis asked impa- in other states formed similar Making Use of This Story tiently. bands and carried on the work, "Like all people who win so that her organization grew In connection with the celebration fame," Mr. Wright began, "she until it became the Women's of Frances Willard's Centennial read loved other people and wanted to Christian Temperance Union. to or encourage the child to read some be of some good in the world. Frances Willard was its presi- of the following books: She lived in prairie towns in Illi- dent for many years. During nois and as a little girl she saw twelve years she went all over Pionee'r Girl, the Early Life of men spending their money in the United States holding meet- Frances Willard, by Clara Ingram saloons, while their families ings every evening, traveling Judson, Illustrated by Genevieve were hungry and dirty. When 35,000 miles by means of wheezy Foster. New York, Rand McNalshe compared them with her own locomotives and in old stage ly & Company, 1939. 50 cents.
family she tried to find out what coaches." Frances Willard of Evanston, by Lydia Jones Trowbridge. Chica- [ 416 ] go, Willet, Clark and Co., 1938. $2.00.
Point out the fact that the Chris- tian motive was responsible for Fran- ces Willard's contribution to the bet- terment of the American home.
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~,= NEW STEPS TOWARD Church, nearly every group was rep- in making plans beforehand. A CHRISTIAN ONE-NESS Pennsylvania city reports: resented in some way on the program "Twenty-five Catholic women helped . . . wonderful spirit of Christian us plan and ten Jewish women en- joyed our fellowship. The atmosphere "Now I am to be in this world no fellowship." Florida. of the meeting was deeply spiritual. longer, but they are still to be in the The singing of spirituals by two womworld, and I am to come to thee. Holy "We truly feel that there is a bet- en from each of our three Negro Father, keep them by that revelation churches was a high point in the of thy Name which thou hast given ter and closer understanding between service." me, that they may be one as we are . . . But it is not only for them that church women than there was pre- From a town in New York I am interceding, but also for those State comes this: who believe in me through their mes- vious to this meeting." Idaho. sage, that they all may be one-that "The village priest loaned us the as thou, Father, art in union with "Weare looking forward to an or- chairs and tables and wrote me a me and I with thee, so they also may beautiful note afterward praising our be in union with us-and so the world ganized group or federation of church effort and saying that he prays every may believe that thou hast sent me day for church unity." as thy Messenger."-Christ's prayer women growing out of this first May the night of the Last Supper. The effect of such gatherings luncheon." Indiana. may be far-reaching. Many groups made plans to undertake The observance of the Day of The May Luncheon idea origi- cooperatively s 0 me practical Prayer since its inception twenty project for the good of the com- nated with the Council of Wom- munity. Several gatherings. deyears ago, has been a patent in- en for Home Missions, the first cided to organize interdenominafluence in creating a greater one being held May 1, 1933 in tional groups that would funcsense of unity among women of New York City. In 1937 the tion through the year with the the Christian churches. There other national Protestant Wom- World Day of Prayer and the is now another special day which en's groups joined in the New May Luncheon as high spots. gives promise of binding still York luncheon. Nation-wide Perhaps in time many communi- participation in the "May Party" ties will be able to say, as one closer the bonds of Christian idea began in 1938. Over 400 woman did in reporting on the fellowship. communities reported holding May Luncheon in Dawn, Mis- luncheons. souri : Possibly there are those who would raise questioning eye- This year, 1939, there were "We have a Federated Church brows at the claim that May about 650 requests for program here and all the little country material. Reports have come churches and all the little ones Luncheons can help accelerate in town have been torn down the trend towards Christian un- from 33 states and Hawaii. and we all worship in one big ity but in reading reports of the Groups varied in size from one church." gatherings all over the country, of seven to that of 647 in New one finds striking evidence that York, which, however, included "Dawn"-what a significant it is true. Quotations from some name! If more of our comof them will answer. any skep- many from places outside of the munities would follow the examtics: ple set by this town, in spirit if metropolis. Oakland, California, not in deed, would there not be "This was the first meeting of its the second largest group, report- in truth the dawn of a new day?
kind in Preble County, eight churches ed 350. Meetings varied in type EASTERN SETTING-UP CONFERENCE OF taking an active part. Anyone could to suit local needs. Though the majority had luncheons, some COUNCIL WORKERS sense a feeling of fellowship and co- groups had teas, a few had din- What is a Council Setting-up operation. We hope to organize a ners, one a breakfast and others, Conference? It is a gathering of those who are to have charge working group soon." Ohio. just meetings without anything of the activities in the Centers for migratory groups which har- "This is a small town but we have to eat! vest and can the crops. They In many instances, all the nine church denominations and they churches in towns cooperated. all cooperated with the exception of The largest number of denomi- nations reported in one gathertwo. A real Christian non-denomina- ing was nine-there were doubttional spirit prevailed during the less twice as many in the New day." Oklahoma. York gathering, but statistics are not available. A number of "If all the nation-wide luncheons of May 4 proved to be as successful and reports mentioned the cooperaimportant as the one held in Gaines- tion of Catholic and Jewish womville, Fla., a forward stride has been taken toward Christian unity and en. In some places they attended friendly feeling. Jews and Catholics only or brought "greetings" as well as Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and members of the Christian from their groups, but in sev- eral instances they had a share [417 ]
meet for fellowship, for training, lights furnished by two rather members, one from the Southern for a better understanding of the weak flash lights. The migrant group, and one from the New magnitude of the migrant prob- workers at Hamilton are Italian. York group, everyone had a feellem and the part which the In return for the entertainment ing of the power and strength Church is taking in helping to they sang many Italian folk that come through unity, fellowrelieve a desperate situation. songs. It was generally agreed ship and service for Christ. that this was the right ending to Under the able leadership of a very interesting and valuable From many expressions of Miss Marie Gaertner, supervisor day. gratitude and enthusiasm to of Migrant work in the eastern Miss Marie Gaertner, it is very area of the United States, a very On July 5th activities started evident that the conference was profitable conference was held at 5: 30. Breakfast was eaten a big success. The only regret in Hamilton, New York, July 3d in a hurry, and then everyone was the absence of Miss Lowry, through the 6th. This is the lo- was off to the farms to "gather Executive Secretary of the cation of one of the Council Cen- up" the children. Many new Council. ters which served as a practice families had moved in over that school and demonstration. week-end and so several new FIFTEENTH CONFERENCE little faces were seen, including The program was divided so some six months' old babies. The on the that each worker majored in success of this day was in large the type of work that he or she measure owing to the extreme CAUSE AND CURE OF WAR would do on the field. This was efficiency of the Hamilton taff very practical giving a clear pic- who worked nobly in the face of To be held at Hotel Washington ture of the work to be done. surprising and terrific odds. A great sigh of relief greeted Miss Washington, D. C. Recreation Program. – The Stella Jenkins, R.N., Director leader for this was Mr. Stanley of Home Hygiene and Care of JANUARY 22-25, 1940 R. Kendig, of the Connecticut the Sick, Utica Chapter, Ameri- Council. On the field now are can Red Cross, for the situation This fifteenth conference will young people directing recrea- was beginning to tell on six endeavor to face more realisticaltional work, each putting into babies and their new "mothers." ly than ever before the problems practice what they learned from Miss Jenkins very kindly offered of the grim world in which we him. Mr. Francis Nothrop, her time in an exceedingly live. There will be a minimum Chairman of the Fairfield Coun':' crowded schedule to spend the of formal addresses and much ty Youth Committee was very day with the group giving advice active discussion of our own successful in teaching games. on the care and feeding of ba- problems aided by experts. One bies and the proper procedure important session of the Con- Other leaders were Miss Hel- in first aid. This is the first ference will be built around the en White, supervisor of migrant time live babies have been used report of our Commission on a work, Gulf to Great Lakes area, as models for demonstrating Permanent World Society. An- Miss Alicia Fisher who directed child care to Council workers! other session will be devoted to the new Center in Florida last After dinner a very beautiful pending legislation in Congress winter, Mrs. Patricia E. Man- and helpful devotional service in which we are especially interchester, Executive Secretary, by Mr. Winham was held on the ested. Here, of course, we shall Consumer's League of Wilming- hill, back of the dormitories at seek expert guidance to help us ton, Delaware, and the Rev. Al- Colgate University. As we sat determine our own position befred R. Winham, Pastor, First overlooking the surrounding val- fore our annual visit to Capitol Reformed Church of Astoria, ley and mountains beyond, we Hill. Long Island. Each made a val- felt a true fellowship of love and uable and significant contribu- readiness to go out among those A new emphasis will be laid tion to the conference. less fortunate with a clear mes- upon the necessity of social jus- sage of Christ. Even the heav- tice as a basis for peace and upon The Conference convened on ens conspired to make the occa- the steps which must be taken the evening of July third. After sion memorable and sent a small to insure social justice both the group had dinner together view of Aurora Borealis. within our own country and talks were given by Miss White among nations. The theme of and Miss Fisher, then Mr. Win- The most impressive moment the banquet will be "Our Reham spoke on "Renewing Pow- of the conference was on the last sponsibilities in a New World er." evening when communion was Order." served to the group by the Rev. The children who were to be FRANCES A. THOMAS, at the Center were not brought Paul F. Swarthout, Pastor of in from surrounding farms un- Chairman, Program til July fifth. The Fourth was First Baptist Church, Hamilton, Committee spent in group instruction, picnic lunch under the trees, a peri- New York. As the group gath- Those desiring to attend as od for swimming or tennis and delegates of the Protestant a party in an old barn, the illu- ered at the church and stood in Church group should apply mination for which was provided to the National Committee of by two oil lanterns and spot silence before Mr. Swarthout Church Women, Rm. 63, 297 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y. who was assisted by two of our Registration Fee: $5.00.
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Our World,wide Outlook A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO CHINA care of livestock and a variety tion. The mission staff on the The Heart of the World of trades. island now numbers twenty-five, -China Information Service. working not only among the Sympathy for China is being Hainanese but among fQur abor- expressed in a growing stream Relief Expenditure iginal tribes.
of gifts from all parts of the GQvernment and p r i vat e Jewish Remnant in Szechwan world. These gifts include a sources in China have already package of clothes frQm North spent over $45,000,000 (Chinese It is said that many centuries Africa; a check from a sanatori- currency) for civilian relief. By ago a group of Jews settled in um in Sweden; other donations the end of 1938, according to western Szechwan bringing with frQm Basutoland, Pennsylvania, the NatiQnal Relief Commis- them their monotheistic faith NQrway, India, the West Indies, sion, 15,000,000 war refugees and Mosaic customs. Today SQuth Africa and other lands, had been assisted by either gov- there are many survivors who have recently reached the head- ernment, public or private .or- publicly worship God on mounquarters of the British Fund for ganizations, and 150,000,000 tain tops. A "lamb without the Relief of Distress in China. people (one-third of the popu- blemish" is slain and its blood Nearly seven tons .of soap, .over lation in China) had been forced sprinkled, with the "paying of sixty gallons of disinfectant- by the war to leave their home- vows." The Chiang-Min is the urgent necessities with over steads. Relief authorities are name given to these Jews, who 100,000 refugees packed into a shifting their activities from for more than 2,000 years have narrow strip .of city one and a supporting refugee camps to ab- met to worship God in West half miles long, as they are in sorbing the inmates into indus- China. Hankow-have been promised. try. The Chinese Government Ten cases of surgical dressings has already allocated $5,000,000 Converts from the Chiangand a large quantity of elastic for the development .of indus- Min meet every winter with bandage cloth have come from trial cooperatives which aimed Rev. T. Torrance, author of the north of England. particularly to benefit war refu- "China's First Missionaries," gees. The needs increase every for Bible stUdy. A favorite Child Welfare Work day, and the peak of suffering course of study is how the Old Coordinated has not been reached. Testament survivals in Chiang worship have become realized To attain greater efficiency in Importance of Hainan in the New Testament. These the care of war-afflicted children, people were at .one time very the National Relief Commission The Presbyterian Bulletin of numerous in Shensi alsQ, but has invited all child welfare Foreign Affairs notes that of all have been absorbed by the Chiassociations and institutions Japan's seizures in China the nese in that prQvince. throughout the country to co- island of Hainan is the one least ordinate their efforts for service likely to be given up, since the -Sunday School Times. to these children, and has form- Japanese Navy has long had its New BuildinR' for St. Elizabeth's Hospital ulated a set of principles. eye .on this. as a stepping stQne A new building for the Epis- There are now 100,000 war in its southward drive. With copal Hospital in Shanghai is orphans being taken care of in Hainan in Japanese hands HQng- made PQssible by a legacy left by 71 government, provincial, local kong is virtually surrounded by a daughter of the first Chinese and private institutions in Chi- a ring of air and sea bases. clergyman of the Episcopal na. Approximately $60, Chinese This little island is thickly set- Church in China. On June 27, currency, is required to support tled by about tWQ million rural 1868, a Chinese baby, Ah Mei one child for one year. It is folk. There are still a good many WQng, was born in the home of generally acknowledged that it aboriginal tribes in the interior. this clergyman and grew up to is nQt enough to supply fQod, Presbyterian mission work was make history. After attending clothing and shelter; there must begun there in 1881, with head- St. Mary's Hall Church School be elementary, health and voca- quarters at Hoihow and in 1884 for girls in Shanghai, she trained tional education, and training in a station was .opened at Nodoa. as a nurse, a piQneer step in citizenship. The waifs must al- Later medical work was started those days, and then decided tQ SQ be taught manual work, such at Hoihow, and in 1900, Kachek enter the Toronto University as sewing, weaving, gardening, was opened as a mission sta- Medical School.
[419 ]
From 1906 until her death in causes 'Of his 'Own success or fail- ated 115 students: 11 have died 1933, she devel'Oped a private ure. or are incapacitated by illness, practice in Shanghai, where she Serious thought about the cor- two have been drafted into the became highly respected. After porate life of each church. army; 79 are serving as pastors bequests to other Christian in- Careful thought as to the fu- or evangelists in Japan, F'Ormosa stituti'Ons, she left the residue of ture development of the work. or Korea; 19 are teaching or in her estate to St. Elizabeth's, for Thought about the future fi- social service and four are study- maternity w'Ork. nancial independence of each ing abroad. At a recent service, The new maternity unit and c'Ongregation. students talked or sang in their nurses' home is designed ulti- The purpose of the conference native tongue; it is interesting mately to combine St. Luke's and was: to note that in addition to J apa- St. Elizabeth's hospitals. To deepen corporate life; to nese, the following languages -The Living Church. evaluate w'Ork for Christ and were heard: Korean, Manchu- His Church; to endeavor to real- rian, Formosan, Chinese, Malay- Open Doors in Tibet ize the unity of all the work; to an, Spanish (Philippine Islands) Numerous lamaseries are make plans for the future devel- and French (French Indofound in Tibet where missi'Onar- opment and expansion of the China) .-Monday Morning. work.-The Living Church. ies may find a night's lodging. "Salvation Army in Chosen Many priests have visited the United Christian Movement Gospel Inn in Sining, 'Or have Korea is one of the 97 coun- Kagawa took the lead in an tries and colonies in which the he"ard about it from friends. At evangelistic campaign, in which Salvation Army is at work. It certain times of the year there the first meeting was attended employs 104 languages in preachare religious festivals in con- by 3,000 people who heard Bish- ing the Gospel at 17,567 outnection with the lamaseries, and op Naide 'Of the Episcopal posts. The Army has. recently those at Kumbum and Komangs- Church plead for a united spir- celebrated its thirtieth anniverzu, bring pilgrims from all parts itual front to meet the present sary in" Korea, when special of northeast Tibet. The crowds crisis in Japan's national and meetings were convened in Seoul come to worship; the Chinese international affairs; Miss Ka- and seven district centers. In come on holidays or on business, wai urged a deeper reliance on connection with the celebration and perchance to worship as God in the trying days ahead, was a campaign for a 30ro inwell, f'Or "better gods too many and Toyohiko Kagawa boldly crease in all branches of the than too few," they argue, even assert that only repentance and work. The Army has always if some of them are Tibetan conversion of Japan's leaders, recognized that a country's own gods. The crowds may be too her masses, her youth and even people should be the ones to dense, or too intent on business her Christians can save the na- spread the message. Accordingor pleasure to listen to preach- ti'On from the moral degradation ly, the work in Korea is conducting, but a printed message in to which she, along with 'Other ed by married couples who have their own language finds ready people in the world, has fallen. passed the courses in the Train- "Military force can never save ing Garrison. acceptance. The Tibetan will a people from moral debauchtuck his copy into his fox skin ery," said Kagawa; "only spirit- -Korea Mission Field. hat for later perusal alld per- ual and moral regeneration will haps to be carried far into the suffice to purge away individual interior.-China's Millions. "Two Hour Folks"
JAPAN -CHOSEN and national sins, and the Gospel When the superintendent of Calling All Workers of Jesus is the only force capa- the Soonchun Leper Colony in ble of transforming personal Korea was asked whether police control of the patients was nec- The Bishop of Tohoku, the Rt. and social life. Rev. Dr. N. S. Binsted, called a Mass meetings are to be held essary, he smiled and replied: meeting 'Of all w'Orkers, both men in various parts of Tokyo and "Where the principal occupation and women, in Sendai June 19 other cities during the next few of people is to get together sevand 20, and asked that prepara- months, and for a period of three eral hours a day and quote the tion for this conference should years all the churches are thus Bible, police are not needed. "By to cooperate in what promises the way," he added, "how would include: Private and public prayers for to be Japan's greatest united you like to hear one of our two the guidance of God's Holy Spir- Christian movement to date. Ka- hour folks?" "Two hour folks? gawa has agreed to give almost What's that?" the visitor init during the conference. Prayers for God's blessing full time to the pr'Osecution of quired. It was explained that upon each pers'On's 'Own work as the campaign throughout the these were patients who could well as upon the work of the dis- land.-Christian Century. quote the Scriptures for two trict and the whole Nippon Sei- Graduate Activities Listed hours at a time without making kokwai. any appreciable mistakes.
An examination by each indi- Since its formal organization At a recent Scripture recita- vidual of his own life and w'Ork, in 1930, the Japan Theological tion contest at Soonchun, hun- with an effort to realize the Seminary in Tokyo has gradu- dreds of contestants appeared,
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
representing all ages. An old ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC army officers dropped from the and sightless man repeated the service for lying. He took adentire book of Matthew without Evangelism among the vantage of this opportunity to stopping. He had committed it Batanese say that with the exception of to memory by hearing it read treason or cowardice there is no aloud. The Batanese Islands are the crime in the military code so most northerly part of the Phil- unpardonable as lying, and that -Evangelical Christian. ippines. Until March, 1937, there the foundation of every army is had been no evangelical work the honor and integrity of its Promoting Stewardship in there, but at that time Dr. and officers. "Lacking these virtues," Korea Mrs. Paul Culley, with two Fili- he said, "no army can succeed in pino preachers established a per- peace or war. An armed force Rev. H. E. Blair, in the United manent work there. There are with untrustworthy officers be- good reports coming from these comes a menace to the state Church Review, tells how the Islands: a total of 215 con- rather than a support . . . If principle of stewardship has versions, with government offi- executive clemency were exerbeen promoted in the Korean cials and school teachers friend- cised in this or any similar case, Church. Individual missionar- ly. A permit reading, "Any it would set a standard of integies had taught stewardship from place, any time" opens the way rity in the Army of the Philipthe beginning; it remained to for preaching at all points. Vio- pines so low that it would disoutline a plan fQr systematic lence and opposition instigated credit not only the Army, but giving. Pamphlets giving prac- by priests there have been, but even the Government itself, and tical methods and stewardship without much result. Two young deliver a death-blow to the develsermon themes were supplied to men from the Batanes are now opment of the high type of offithe churches, then each church stUdying in the Manila Evange- cer personnel which we must was urged to print their own en- lists' Institute preparing for have." velopes and supplies. The most work there later. satisfactory is a 52 page pad Three other officers are menwith a given number, to be hung -So S. Times. tioned in Lanao Progress as exon the wall at home. Each Sun- pressing the same sentimenits, day, a member tears off a page "Keswick" in New Zealand and all three, as well as Presiand folds it around a coin with dent Quezon, practice their own the pad number in view; the The missionary rally was one preaching. They know that little folded parcels to be depos- of the high lights of the annual their country must be made ited, with both hands, in the col- Convention Camp at Ngaruawa- strong, and that it takes upright lection bag. hia, N. Z., this year. On the men to make it so. speakers' platform were 30 mis- Most Korean women have no sionaries, representing Africa, Christianity Applied to money to give and one of the India, China, South America, Business tQuching scenes in many a Ko- Solomon Islands, Central Asia, rean Church is the gathering up New Guinea, Egypt, Russia and The largest shoe factory in the of little rice bags. The rice is the Maori of New Zealand. Each Philippines is owned by a Chrisput into the bags a spoonful at speaker was limited to six min- tian, Mr. T. Teodoro. He ema time as meals are being pre- utes. Those present noted that ploys 500 workers and turns out pared. the interest of the audience did twelve to fifteen hundred pairs of nOit lag for a moment. The chair- shoes a day. He provides for his Year by year some new pam- man announced that the mission- employees low-rent living quarphlet is issued to teach and re- ary fund had realized £3,725 ters, a low-priced restaurant, teach various phases of steward- during the past year, and the complete medical care, physical ship. Special men are sent 'Out goa] for the forth-coming year examination and clinical service, whenever possible to deepen in- was set at £4,000. A pledge and rest and recreation facilities. terest. There are also special cash offering was taken, when His factory is a model for light courses on systematic giving in an amount in advance of that of and air. Not only this, but each the Theological Seminary and last year was promised, and a morning his 21 foremen meet Bible Institutes. As the pas- cash offering of £180 received. with him and start the day by tors go from house to house they repeating together Psalm 19: 14 talk about the family and its -Life of Faith. -"Let the words of my mouth spiritual progress. They talk and the meditations of my heart crops. They talk church bud- Quezon Works for Integrity be acceptable in thy sight, 0 get. After prayer they layout Lord, my strength and my rethe record of the family as to Lanao Progress observes that deemer." Then, after a period of church contribution during the President Quezon and other Phil- silent meditation, they discuss past year and secure a new and, ippine government leaders are the day's work, closing their if possible, better pledge from making a determined effort to meeting with the Lord's Prayer. each member of the family for bring about a moral revitaliza- At one corner of this room is the year to come. Thus the tion among their people. A re- a door which opens on a steep churches have grown in power cent evidence of this was the President's action in ordering and effectiveness.
and narrow winding staircase in the Holy Land. It was kin- Today there are in America over which leads to a prayer room. dled on Easter morning by a 4,300,000 criminals actively at work, It is a long room with a prayer member of the Jewish National plundering and murdering. There is rail, a picture of Christ at Geth- Council, at an elaborate service an aggregate of 1,330,000 serious semane, and Scripture verses in before the historic Wailing Wall, crimes and a national crime bill of Tagalog. No one is invited into attended by representatives of $15,000,000 a year. this room who cannot also be practically all Jewish organizainvited to pray, and shoes are tions in Palestine. Prison-Mission Field left behind at the foot of the stairs. The idea is to have the light Eighty~seven American pris- burn in the Memorial Hall of the ons are now using the "Bible -Philippine Presbyterian. Pavilion not only as a memorial Course for New Christians," and to those who died in the struggle 189 prisoners have received cer- NORTH AMERICA to establish a Jewish national tificates for completing the work. home in Palestine, but also to These students become personal Bible Society Day at the symbolize the undying faith of workers. A man urider sentence World's Fair the Jews in the future of their in the Los Angeles County jail people in the Holy Land. led fifty-one souls to Christ. An- June 25th was American Bi- other teaches a class of thirtyble Society Day at the New York -World Outlook. five fellow prisoners and has World's Fair. Following the won ten. Art Marron, a Filipino dedication of the Society's exhib- Growing Intolerance who spent five years in San it in the Communications Build- Quentin Prison, received his ening, which included a long list To "make America safe for tire religious, education through of book titles chosen from the differences" is becoming an ur- the Bib I e Correspondence Bible, such as "The Promised gent task for all Christian peo- Courses. He is now preaching Land," "Green Pastures," etc., ple in the United States. This day and night in the smaller the group of men, women and was emphasized by the Church towns of the Philippine Islands children went to the Temple of Peace Union at their semi-an- and establishing Bible classes Religion, where Dr. John H. Fin- nual meeting in Atlantic City in wherever he goes. On his last ley and William Lyon Phelps June, when the following resolu- trip to a little town in the mounwere the principal speakers. tion was passed: tains, which he reached by a cart drawn by a water buffalo, 18 Dr. Finley spoke of the devo- We protest against the rise of anti- souls accepted Christ and were tion to the Bible of earlier gen- Semitism in the United States. It baptized. erations. To this, he attributed expresses an attitude and policy which not only their genuine piety but are contrary to our American insti- He has started Bible classes in also the richness of their lan- tutions and particularly to our spirit nearly every little town of eastguage. He declared that no oth- of freedom. ern Pangasinan, and twentyer book in the world could be seven Bible women, or Sunday compared with the Bible. Any Anti-Semitism also threatens the school teachers, have completed other book the human race might basic ideals of all religions. Intoler- the course.-S. S. Times. do without, but not the Bible: ance expressing itself in prejudice that, he said, is a necessity of and hatred for the Jew will not end Students Wanted life. there; in fact, it threatens the very structure of democracy and religious A call issued in June to enroll Dr. Phelps aroused much ex- liberty. in the "Ambassador Training pectation when he said that the Corps" introduced something de- Bible contained the best prayer, We condemn the organized cam- cidedly new in student Christian the best sermon, and the best paigns of hatred, and we particularly work, and is in contrast with all poetry in the whole world. The condemn the reckless and inflamma- previous efforts to meet the re- Sermon on the Mount was, of tory statements that have been made ligious needs of the student course, the best sermon; and before the Congressional committee world. It was a call to students the Lord's Prayer, the best in Washington and that are constant- to enroll in an intensive sumprayer. The best poem was the ly being made over the radio as con- mer training course in prepara- Twenty-third Psalm. trary to the fundamentals of our tion for definite, aggressive, American Government and the spirit evangelistic service on the cam- Symbol of "Eternal Light" of all religions. pus of American colleges during 1939-1940. Emphasis is upon The Ner Ha-Tamid, or "eter- We urge all religious leaders and training individual volunteers nal light," was brought from the people of their respective congre- in personal Bible study, so that Palestine last April to burn in gations to take active steps toward they wiH not be dependent upon the Jewish Pavilion at the New the development of that understand- adult leadership. To attain to York World's Fair. According ing, cooperation and goodwill which the rating of "ambassador," the to the Director of the Pavilion, will unite them more deeply in over- student engages in a thirty-two this light will burn continuously coming this evil with good. weeks' training course in active as a memorial to those who gave Christian living and service. their lives seeking the establish- -Church Peace Union. ment of a Jewish national home -So S. Times. Crime in the U. S. A. The crime situation is not im- proving, if the figures of J. Ed- gar Hoover are to be taken as evidence. Says Mr. Hoover: The records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that crime is increasing; that murders, manslaugh- ters, robberies, sex crimes, automobile thefts are greater than ever before.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Moral Rearmament Conference Moslems who make the pilgrimage considered are health, govern- ment relief, etc. This does not Before a crowd of nearly to Los Angeles should also make that tell the whole story. Special 25,000 in Hollywood Bowl, Cal- services for Indian girls grew ifornia representatives of the to Mecca. BISMILA. into a Sunday school. Ten of "Oxford Groups" from 25 coun- these girls now sing in the tries launched a drive for unity Negro Advance church choir. and Christian harmony in this unsettled world-a unity based The United Presbyterian says -Spirit of Missions.· on the four points of honesty, that the greatest improvements unselfishness, purity and love. in the Negro race have come Stand on the Liquor Problem Three objectives were listed: 1. since the beginning of the World Permanent peace between indi- War, and offers the following Prospective students of Illividuals and nations; 2. The facts as proof. There are now nois State Normal School need world's wealth made available to over 120 Negro institutions of not enroll there in ignorance of all, but for exploitation by none; higher learning with 35,000 stu- that institution's attitude toward 3. Create a new culture and alcohol, for its latest catalogue bring in the advent of "the gold- dents of college grade, 2,457 of contains the following stateen age." collegiate professional grade, ment: and twice the entire number It is said that new hope has studying college subjects. The Since ability to consume intoxicatbeen generated by this plan. Chi- number of Negroes now holding ing beverages, regardless of nature nese and Japanese representa- or quantity, is not a par~ of teachertives shook hands there; labor academic and professional de- training program, and Slllce emplo~ union leaders greeted officials grees is 32,478. About 63.8 per- ers of teachers, regardless of theIr of employers' organizations. cent are men and 36.2 per cent personal a~titude toward the liguor Among the messages read from are women. The largest numer- question, WIll not employ or contll~ue well known leaders was one ical group comes from parents in service teachers who use such lllfrom Henry Ford which ex- neither of whom could read. The toxicants, Illinois State Normal Unipressed a profound truth. Said bulk of these graduates enter the versity very emphatically states that Mr. Ford: "There is enough professional field. Nearly 200 the use of intoxicants on or off the good will in the people to over- have incomes of $5,000 or more; campus will not be permitted, and come all war, all class dissension the median high school salary deviation from this regulation calls and all economic stagnation, for severance of connections with the when that good will shall be of teachers is $1,300. The call school. Because the institution feels hitched to the affairs of men and for Negro college graduates is justified in the interests of its reputanations."-Dayton News. tion and that of its students and grad- more imperative than ever. uates in having such a regulation, it Los Angeles as a "Mecca" There is one white physician to is hoped that persons who cannot live every 728 white people, but only within both the letter and spirit of Strange sects are not confined one Negro physician to every this procedure will not apply for adto Iraq. The Moslem World 3,125 Negroes. There is one mission to the university. quotes the following notice white teacher for every 110 posted in Los Angeles: white children, one Negro teach- -United Presbyterian. er for every 218 of the Negro KALIFAT-NEBI JEFFERSON. group. LATIN AMERICA Yearly pilgrimage of Moslems of Civic Leadership in Oklahoma Christian School in Cuba Kalifat No.5, known as North Ame,rican Kalifat, shall be concluded m St. Philip's Episcopal Church La Progressivu, Presbyterian Civic Center, Los Angeles, during the in Ardmore, Oklahoma, believes school at Cardenas', Cuba, has 30 days of the month of Muaram. that it must take a leading part been signally honored by Cuba's in community life. With this Secretary of Education, who The purpose shall be educat~onal. in view, the rector and others awarded it special recognition This pilgrimage should part~cularly decided upon a number of proj- for its whole curriculum, from remind Moslems of the teachmgs of ects, of which the following are first grade through High School. America's fist Karajite leader, Thom- afew: as Jefferson, loyal successor of George When a new government high Washington, tried-and-true founder of A garden inspection committee school was established in Carthe Republic. which brought about self-help to many denas, La Progressiva empha- Terminating the pilgrimage; Mos- needy families. sized its boarding department, lems should make the circuit of the thus affording greater oppor- Los Angeles Federal Building which A canning plant growing out of the tunity to young people from suis situated in what is henceforth to garden committee. gar plantations and small towns. be known by Moslems as Jefferson Square. They may make the circuit A plan for milk distribution to The Christian influence of as many as seven times, but it is not needy. the school has been of far reachtheir duty to make it even once, since ing value; many of its graduthey should make it only of their A Milk and Ice Fund. ates continue their training in own free will and according to their An amateur boxing tournament to normal schools and later teach ability. support the Milk and Ice Fund. in Presbyterian institutions on Moslems who make the pilgrimage An Open Forum at which com- the Island; others attend the to Mecca should make that to Los munity problems ar~ d~scussed. . theological Seminary in Puerto Angeles also. A community samtatIOn campaIgn. Rico. Six Presbyterian pastors A mobile health clinic. in Cuba are graduates of La Promotion of two summer camps.
The open forum proved to be especially valuable. Subjects
Progressiva and there are two of widely different types, yet Three factors made the occa- sion memorable: this is the candidates for the ministry in common to all is a form of ani- first modern church building in Colombia; there was a new visthe present graduating class. mistic religion. There is now, ion afforded those who came from i sol ate d communities Four pastors' wives also gradu- as a result of this Mission's ac- where life is one long struggle against persecution and immorated from the school. tivities, a vigorous church, made ality; and there were present -Monday Morning. up not merely of passive Chris- representatives of nearly all de- nominations or groups working tians but of those eager to pass in interior Colombia-Presby- terians, Independent National Ice Breaking in Guatemala on the Gospel message. A short Church, the Scandinavian Alli- ance, Worldwide Evangelistic Tourists and modern life have time ago, when a member of one Crusade, Pentecostals, Luther- ans, Cumberland Presbyterians not yet penetrated the western of the most degraded tribes was and some independent mission- aries.-Colombian Clippings. highlands of Guatemala, so con- ordained a minister, the "im- EUROPE siderable persuasion was re- possible" was achieved. The Crisis Grows No Less quired on the part of Rev. H. D. One tribe of 500 Indians of Peck, Presbyterian missionary, North Argentina has 400 pro- Dr. Adolph Keller, Director of the Central Bureau for Relief of to convince the mayor of a very fessed Christians. The past Evangelical Churches, reports on the present outlook. When needy village that he should ad- thirty-five years have seen this Bureau was established in 1922 it was thought that a few mit aclinic unit from the Amer- marked advance in Chile also. years' effort would be sufficient ican Hospital at Guatemala City. Boarding schools and medical for reconstruction after the So far as the mayor was con- work have been of great value. World War. This estimate has been found to be too optimistic. cerned, witch doctors were good -Life of Faith. Totalitarianism and the almost incredible fury of anti-Semitism enough, but finally permission have so deeply affected the eco- nomic situation of the churches, was grudgingly granted. School Uses Radio their liberty of conscience and Although relief from their ail- their spiritualIife that the prob- One of the mission schools lems have multiplied. Here are ments was welcomed, there was which uses the radio to develop a few of them: Feeding the degeneral suspicion on the part of interest in its program is Cole- pendents of evangelicals who those helped: there was endless gio Episcopal de San Pablo, bet- have been sent to Siberia, includbeating of drums, offerings of ter known in the United States ing the few Russian Protestant chickens and flowers by the vil- as St. Paul's School, Camaguey, pastors that are still alive, relagers, who were taking no Cuba. The School has bought lieving Protestant pastors in chances on offending the moun- the time for the broadcast over Rumania, many of whom are tain deities. Station COJK, short wave. The trying to maintain homes on Principal, Rev. Paul Tate, from 12 to 15 dollars a month, -Monday Morning. helping to finance theological students, for the need for an en- Baptist Mission in Vera Cruz writes that the idea is to keep lightened Christian ministry is ahead of other schools in all acute. Rev. Donata Ramirez, a Mexi- sorts of activities that may add to the school's prestige. As the Even the very hopeful evancan of Kansas City who was broadcasts become better known gelical movement in the Ukraine trained for the ministry at Col- ,and accepted, real evangelistic is threatened with financial gate-Rochester Divinity School, . material will be used. straits and all manner of petty is the first resident pastor at persecution; every pastor must Tierra Blanca in the state of -The Living Chu.rch. get a permit for every sermon Vera Cruz. He began work in he preaches, whether in his own parish or elsewhere. Then there June, 1938; without a church New Church in Bogota is the staggering refugee probbuilding, but with a gift of $300 lem; also the heavy blow dealt the Czech Church of the Brethfrom the Rochester student The dedication on March 12th body and $200 from the Baptist of the new Presbyterian Church Home Mission Society, he began in Bogota, Colombia, was an to build and since then small epoch-making event. The site sums have made it possible to go was secured and the building on with the undertaking. The erected with the proceeds from membership of this young church the sale of the former church is 58, the average attendance 70 ; property. Representatives 0 f each week end at least 12 various Presbyterian churches members hold special services in and other missions throughout the surrounding area. The Colombia crowded the auditorichurch has three outstations, all um. Some had journeyed a day of which indicates that a strong or two on horseback, over diffichurch is arising in Tierra cult mountain trails, others Blanca. -Watchman-Examiner. came by auto and one flew over from Medellin. The theme of Primitive Indians in South the dedicatory sermon, deliv- America ered by Rev. A. M. Allan, a for- mer pastor, was "Past, Present The South American Mission- and Future." This was followed ary Society ministers to Indians by a communion service.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ren (Hussite), and the unfavor- ship allowed, and only in private by er subsidize pUblications; these able developments that are special agreement and favor of the must pay for themselves. facing the Waldensians in Italy. state; (4) All Romanist laws and jurisdiction included organically in Germany has also banned ra- Once more the Christian dio broadcasts of religious serv- the state's statutes; (5) The Roman ices. Such orders as the radio ban, and that on the sale of Bi- Church is producing martyrs. Church given the supervision over ed- bles are not published, but ucation, press and printing "in dog- transmitted secretly by the Min- Churches are packed where emp- matic matters"; (6) Church property istry of Propaganda. Church ty benches had become the rule. taken from the Church by the former officials have urged that broad- casts of religious services be re- government to be ceded to the state, sumed for the benefit of invalids, but all such requests have found Friends Oenter in Paris in return for which the state will sup- deaf ears.-New York Times. port the Church; (7) The relations In Hungary and Poland An attempt is being made to to be legaliZed by a Concordat. There is news of a great rebring about contacts between the It is added, however, that fif- vival movement in Hungary, not Society of Friends in France and teen of the world's greatest re- only in Budapest, the capital, but outstanding intellectuals in that ligious leaders have petitioned in other centers. Evangelistic country who are thinking along Franco to investigate the reli- meetings are being held many gious situation and to ensure times a day, and at some of them the same lines as the Friends, freedom of worship, and he has from four to seven thousand peothough not connected with any agreed to look into the matter. ple are present, many of whom religious movement. Two vis- have never heard the Gospel be- -Alliance Weekly. fore. Special editions of the its have been paid to Jacques Gospel of John and the Epistle Maritain, distinguished Catholic to the Romans have been placed in the hands of inquirers; while scholar who is deeply interested Methodists Meet in Denmark Christians are urged to take five in the Friends, both because of copies and, after prayer for guidance, to seek out five relatheir international activity and "The Methodist Church in tives or acquaintances to whom they may give them, at the same their emphasis on religion. Con- Europe" was the theme for the time witnessing to what the Lord has done for them. tact has also been established Conference of Met hod i s t As the eyes of the world are with Prof. Emery of Lyons, out- Churches and Missions in the focussed on Poland's political problem, it should not be overstanding liberal thinker of various countries in Europe, looked that while the State has fenced out Communism it re- France. Jean Giono, well known held in Copenhagen, Denmark, mains for the Christian Church to fence out atheism. Evangel- French writer, has also ex- August 2-6. The purp.ose of the ical Churches are taking the lead in this (the prime minister is a pressed his desire to cooperate gathering was to provide an op- Protestant) , and they are with the Friends in any project portunity for fellowship, inspir- backed up by the World's Evan- gelical Alliance. that will promote peace. ation and education to groups of -Baptist Missionary Review.
At the French Yearly Meet- ministers, laymen, laywomen The Army and Ohristianity in Germany ing in Paris, the largest in his- and youth of the new Methodist A short time ago a German tory, there were delegates from Church in Europe. The former army officer, a devout Christian, published a book called "The Of- S wed en, England, America, Methodist Episcopal Church is ficers' Hour." It was favorably reviewed in The Millitary Week- Switzerland and Germany. It established in Denmark, Sweden ly News and subsequently at- tacked in the same paper. Bewas generally felt that the meet- and Norway; there are over 250 tween the appearance of these contradictory views, the book ing had attained a higher level churches and 30,000 members. was bitterly denounced in the Schwartze Korps. The author's than in previous years not only These Scandinavian Methodists in numbers, but in spiritual are not only self-supporting but ways as well. maintain nineteen foreign mis- -American Friend. sionaries. There are also church- es and missions in Finland, Religion in Spain Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Jugoslavia, Bulgaria and Many are wondering what Hungary. In Germany there are will be the outlook for religion five self-supporting Conferell(~es. in Spain under Franco's regime. Jose Pemartin, spokesman for -Christian Advocate.
the Spanish Nationalists, is Bible Sales Bring Reaction in quoted as saying that Spain is Nazidom now to become the most fascist country in Europe; that a pro- The fact that sales of Bibles gram for the Catholic Church is in Germany have outnumbered to be established which will be- those of ~'Mein Kampf" by "more papist than the pope," 200,000 copies the past year has and will serve the political ends apparently angered Nazi authorof the state. Here is the program ities, for an order has gone out as outlined by Senor Pemartin: that Bible and religious tracts (1) The Roman Catholic religion may be sold only in Confessionis the official religion of the state; al Book stores. In general book (2) The prohibition of all teaching that opposes or denies the Roman stores Bibles may be sold only Catholic faith, either officially or in when specifically ordered. Bible private; (3) No other public wor- and Tract Societies may no long-
"sin" consisted in declaring that riously hesitant. Finally the widespread unemployment. The there can be no true fighting reason came out! They were Society was told it would be im- spirit and no military oath of thinking about the hot summer possible to start a boy's club loyalty without a Christian ba- days to come when they would here, because the people were sis. He therefore reasons that be toiling in the fields all day, fanatically Moslem. However, soldiers should be educated to a and were afraid the heavy per- such a club was opened in 1925, belief in God, and demands from spiration would ruin their Tes- and persistent kindness finally -the officers an acceptance of taments, as, true to their pledge, overcame opposition. The mem- Christianity. they carried them in their pock- bership is now from fifty to ets. At last they decided to risk sixty. Boxing, wrestling, weight The newspaper attack of the it, and 28 of them joined the lifting and other physical exerbook admits that such a book League. cises are practised. Lessons are might have been acceptable forty given in English and Arabic, in years ago, but not today, because AFRICA reading, writing and other ele- the question of a soldier and his mentary subjects. On the spir- religion can now only be dis- Farouk Leads in Friday itual side by friendship, by percussed from a single standpoint Prayers sonal talks, by Bible study -that of national socialism, groups and occasional lantern which unites all the beliefs and This is the heading of an arti- lectures and addresses, the work- philosophies of the German peo- cle that appeared in a Cairo ers strive to demonstrate Chris- ple. Christianity is thus defi- daily recently. tianity in action. In addition nitely placed on the same level there is a Blind School, where with paganism. In its issue of Last Friday was a notable day men are taught reading and March 16th, the Schwartze which revealed a pleasant surprise writing in Arabic Braille. It Korps stated: such as had never occurred to any has a Braille library of over one's mind. Probably it is the first 1,500 books, all Christian, which "It is true there is political strife in surprise of the sort in a thousand are lent up and down the coun- Germany arising out of religious dif- years. His Majesty the King went try to blind Moslem readers. ferences. But it is equally true that to the Quasin Mosque to perform the these differences will not be allowed Friday prayers, to which some illus- Ethiopia Is No More to impair our military strength. The trious guests of Egypt had preceded religious life of the German soldier is him, from among the delegations of The Council of the League of so closely bound up with the concep- sister Arab nations which had come Nations on May 12th tacitly ac- tions of People, Fuehrer, Country as to take part in the Palestine Con- knowledged that Abyssinia (or the revelation of the Divine Will," that ference. Chief among these were two Ethiopia) is now to be called a the tenets of any particular religious princes from Hejaz. No sooner had "Province of Italian East Af- sect will be able to exert no influence the preacher finished the Friday ser- rica." An annex to the Anglo- whatsoever. mon than- King Farouk was seen by Italian agreement, signed in those present for the prayers to leave Rome on April 16th, expressed -Kulturkampf. his place in the front rank and make in somewhat ambiguous terms his way to the Mihrab (prayer niche the !Italian Government's will- Testaments for Italy which indicates the direction of Mec- ingness to consider favorably the ca), where he led the prayers as the work of British missions "in hu- In the P. T. L. Quarterly we imam (leader of public prayers). manitarian and benevolent read that in Italy membership in That was a very great surprise, which spheres." This mayor may not the League has steadily in- caused the thousands gathered in the mean tolerance of Christian creased until the number is now mosque and along the streets lead- evangelism. over 4,000, a remarkable record ing to the mosque to raise shouts of for ten years' effort in a land supplication to God that He would The British and Foreign Bi- where Protestant work is car- preserve the "righteous King" the ble Society has kept open its ried on with 'such difficulty. The "prince of believers" and the "imam depot at Addis Ababa, but the Italian League President, Rev. of the Moslems." future is uncertain. The Her- H. H. Pullen, has many oppor- mannsburg Mission has been altunities in his journeys to Western newspapers co m- lowed to continue its work in promote this work. He has ap- mented that this innovation will Addis Ababa, and partially to pointed a young assistant to hold tend to unite Arab-speaking resume itineration in the inte- meetings for young people in Moslem peoples. It has always rior. The United Presbyterian Liguria, Piedmond and Lom- been customary for a caliph, or mission hospital remains open, bardy. He found that members one aspiring to the caliphate, to and the Sudan Interior Mission in Genoa were joining forces lead these public prayers, and a continued till last August. with the Scripture Union, and number of Moslems are express- When compensation for mission were holding regular meetings ing a desire to make the young property, expropriated by the of their own. In Turin, a new king of Egypt Caliph of the Italian Government was paid group of sixty members was whole Moslem world. and the mission was refused per- formed. In many other towns mission to take up other sites, there was a happy response to -Woman's Missionary the seven remaining missionar- appeals. At an evening meeting Magazine. for adults in an out-of-the-way village, several young men Boy's Club in Cairo wished to join, yet seemed cu- The Church Missionary Soci- ety is doing an eifeotive piece of social work in a slum of Cairo, a filthy, crowded section, with
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ies were forced to return home. of the Africa Inland Mission was Last year was a serious fam- The whole future of Protestant climaxed with the baptism of ine year; food prices soared or work in Italian East Mrica eighty men and women. Except the food was not obtainable; must depend largely upon the for the fact that the Church is people were hungrier than they Waldensians and other Italian very rigid in its examination of had ever been. Money formerly Protestants. It is hoped that candidates for baptism, the num- spent on clothes had to be spent work along the border may ber could easily have been 200. for food. Women with tiny reach some Ethiopians. Even so, this is the largest num- babies on their arms go through ber baptized, so far, at one time. the grass catching tiny grass- -International Review of hoppers in order to have meat to Missions. Later in the day about 600 met eat. around the Lord's Table, which Danish Mission in the Sudan meant that the church building Foreign Magic was almost filled with communi- The eastern part of northern cants alone. If this continues, There are more ways than one Nigeria is alloted to the Danish the building will have to be en- of exploiting the superstitious, branch of the Sudan United Mis- larged. At a recent Sunday half-educated Africans, and here sion, which has worked there for service there were 3,230 in at- is one reported by The Chronia quarter of a century. For a tendance.-Life of Faith. cle, of London. Thousands of adtime growth was so rapid that vertising circulars have poured the home church in Denmark Women Leaders in Kenya into the Congo, introducing forcould not keep up with it; eign "charms," talismen and workers and funds were not A missionary from East Afri- magic. In one packet discovforthcoming. But recently con- ca says that regular evangelistic ered by a missionary and sent ditions in Denmark began to meetings for women have a qual- to the Congo Protestant Counchange; a revival is spreading ity that has been absent hereto- cil, were some pills, a piece of over the country, public opinion fore, because for the past few cheap, red substance with signs towards Christianity and Chris- years the women themselves scratched on it, encased in a red tian work is undergoing a have conducted them. One Afri- silk bag, with leaflets of instrucchange; the means are coming can woman expressed it thus: tion and a "prayer." "Take this forth, the quota allotted has been "Our hearts are warm." These between the thumb and first finraised, and new workers for the meetings are the women's own. ger of your left hand," said one field are volunteering. A doctor They run them, decide where of the leaflets, "look at it kindly, and his wife, a nurse and two they shaH be held, and make all sympathetically, as one regards men, one of them ordained, have the arrangements. To be sure, a person from whom one looks to been accepted for service during there are mistakes made, but receive a favor, and say the folthe past year. some of the gains the missionar- lowing prayer: 'Dear and good ies have been praying for have talisman, in whom I have all con- This change is reflected in the come through the efforts of the fidence, I pray you to aid me by African field. Direct evangelism women themselves. Speakers are all your occult powers to realize is being undertaken by African chosen a week in advance to en- all my projects and desires.' Christians-about 35 at present sure time for prayer and study. (Here you ask for the things -of whom several have wit- you yourself want to obtain.)" nessed so fai.thfully that con- -C. M. S. Outlook. In the effort to stop this traffic gregations of baptized Chris- that trades on the credulity of tians have sprung up in the Sharing Joys at Bibanga the African, the Governor-Genbush. The missionaries depend eral asked the Commission for more and more on their sound Miss Virginia Allen is a the Protection of Natives to conjudgment, learning from them fourth-term missionary at Bi- sider the question of authorizing the best way to present the Gos- banga. She writes in Congo the Postal Service to intercept pel to the African mind. A spe- Mission News of the ever deep- some of this dangerous correscial training course for evange- ening Christian joy of women pondence. But much of it is lists has now been established, and girls, builders of Christian smuggled into the country by which is intended to last three homes. Each Sunday groups of many different routes. years with intervals of one year nine-year-old girls make a point spent in practical work in the of paying her a visit to sing the WESTERN ASIA districts. The Christian Church new songs that Mrs. Kellersbergin this field has about 1,000 bap- er teaches them. Their first vis- Sunday Schools in Bible Lands tized members, with several it surprised her, and in token of hundred more who are being her appreciation she gave each The Sunday school movement prepared for baptism. girl six peanuts and taught them continues to be one of the most Proverbs 3: 5, 6. They came powerful influences in Bible -Life of Faith. every Sunday thereafter, when lands in bringing together in fel- they learnt a few more verses, lowship and cooperation men, Eighty Converts in the Congo ate a few more peanuts, and women and children of different later, the one who knew the most denominations and points of A week's Bible Conference verse~ received a picture. held this year at the Adi Station
view. Last April a rally was type of reading matter in its INDIA AND SIAM held in an ArmeniaI1i Protestant own area. Church in Beirut, Syria, ar- Another Hindu Tribute ranged by the Armenian Sunday Religious Situation in Turkey School Union and to which invi- Several retired judges of tations were sent to children of The death of Ataturk and the Travancore have acknowledged all Arabic-speaking schools and installation of Ismet Inonii have in The Hindu, a daily paper, that of the Anglo-American commun- apparently not altered the reli- Christian missionaries h a v e ity. It took nearly fifteen min- gious situation in Turkey, though played a great part in the progutes for the one thousand chil- it is too soon to know accurately. ress of the Travancore State, dren and their teachers to march There may be a feeling of great- while the Travancore States into the auditorium. The wor- er liberty in the expression of Manual points out that it was ship program consisted of hymns religious sentiments now than English missionaries who initiwith tunes and words familiar during the past few years, and ated English education in that in the three languages, the repe- it is perhaps more common to State, and to them is due the tition of Psalm 23 in the differ- recognize religion as a force; in emancipation of slaves, the up- 'ent languages and prayer offered fact the funeral of the late ruler lift of the depressed classes, the in Arabic~ A tableau presented revealed a passion for dedication opening of hospitals and the by a group of Armenian children to an ideal, and that is essential- spread of education for both represented Christ, the Friend ly religious. men and women. of the children of the world. There has been no change in In the Tranvancore Census -Bible Lands Union. the policies and methods of the Report for 1931, we read: mission institutions, and more What Are Moslems Reading? and more there is a sense among As a result of the philanthropic many leaders that education labor of the missionaries a perceptible Realizing that what Christian does not seem to be enough, and improvement has been effected in the societies publish must be partly that some way of building char- moral and social condition of Dedetermined by what people like acter must be found if the coun- pressed Classes who have come under to read, the Near East Christian try is to continue to go forward. their influence. Their mode of liv- Council asked groups in each ing has changed, their standard of country they serve just what is -Near East Christian living has improved, they are giving being read; just what students CounciL up insanitary habits, are learning were reading aside from text cleanliness and thrift, and are bebooks. The answer was the Iranian Youth ing weaned from the drink evil. same: stories, the great majority being translations. It is be- The annual National Chris- All these opinions are conlieved that Christian publishing tian Youth Conference of Iran firmed by a writer in the Poona houses should take note of this had a spread of almost a thou- Mahratta who said that today and supply good, cheap stories. sand miles, with representatives "25 per cent of the population Next to stories, a lively interest of the Anglican Church, the Ar- are Christians. Out of 11 lakhs in biographies was revealed, menian Protestant Church, and of rupees paid as Government particularly of Moslem heroes the Evangelical (Presbyterian) gran, 9 lakhs are paid to Chrisand Western dictators. Church, meeting together with t ian educational institutions. no thought of denominational The number of churches which As for Christian students, it distinctions. All were Christians, was 300 in 1820 had increased to was found they were devouring although coming from a wide 2700 in 1930." rationalistic works, mostly non- variety of religious b a c k – Christian. The World's Student grounds: Shi'a and Sunni Mos- Preaching to Mohammedans Christian Federation has accord- lem, Jewish, Assyrian, Armeningly formed a committee to ian, Baha'i, Anglican, American, Rev. H. Reynhout, in the Life undertake the publication of lit- Presbyterian, and even Swiss of Faith, describes the method of erature with the Christian view- Evangelical. There were 68 reaching Mohammedans at the point. leaders from seven countries, in- reading room of the Ceylon and cluding two from Shiraz, 534 India General Mission, in My- Inquiries in Cairo revealed miles away, and one from Yezd, sore City, where a weekly lecture that along with the inevitable the first time that this remote is given especially for Mohamnewspaper there is a growing desert city had been represented medans. "An hour before the output of monthly magazines of at the Conference. The program lecture begins the missionaries good standing, with literary in- consisted of addresses and dis- take up their stand on the street terests definitely Arabic and cussions on the theme "The in front of the reading room: it Moslem. There is a large as- Kingdom of God," Bible study is a very busy street, and hunsortment of picture magazines, and recreation. It was inter- dreds of people pass by, of indicating the value of a Chris- esting to hear boys, gesturing whom every fourth or fifth is a vigorously, talk about ways of Mohammedan. tian picture paper. The Council making Christianity effective in intends to ask each Inter-mission various walks of life. "We are well supplied with Council to help in a study of the -Bulletin of Foreign Affairs. Gospels and literature in Urdu, Kanarese and English, and gen- erally offer a tract to our Mo- hammedan friends as they pass.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK 429'
"As the time for the lecture interest to me. His advice, "Render are violent" and that there is approaches, Mohammedans are therefore unto Caesar the things "no need to drink vitamin Band invited to attend. Most of them which are Caesar's, and unto God the beat your wife." pass on with the excuse of busi- things that are God's," is the doctrine ness urgency or a flimsy promise of non-resistance, nonviolence. Gandhi Hindus, Moslems, Christians. to return in five minutes. Usu- is not the originator of non-violence; and the various provincial govally, the lecture begins with only Jesus Christ is. ernments are of one mind in refour or five in attendance, but a gard to exterminating the drink worker remains outside in the What is non-violence? It means evil. However, a Bombay weekhope of attracting others. Some that everything is sacred and all life ly, while heartily commending are busy with tracts, and seeing must be treated with reverence. Let all these efforts to push the camus with literature the crowd no man deal roughly with even the paign against liquor in the same swells, an argument is started weakest and meekest of living crea- issue advertises "high class port, and after considerable urging tures. I look at Jesus not from the brandy and beer." Such adverthe group consents to enter the standpoint of theology but of society. tisements are illegal sin c e reading room. The evangelist If taken seriously, Jesus' unique mes- August 1. has probably finished his lecture, sage could not only save my people but begins a new one for the ben- but it could build the Kingdom of The Church at Chakwal efit of the late-comers. His God on earth. theme is a whole race lost in sin; Chakwal is just a tiny dot on only Jesus Christ, the Son of -Bulletin of Foreign the map of Northern India, but God, can and does save. Mos- Affairs. on the British Empire's map it lems hate the very mention of is a very black dot, having the this; some of the bolder ones Model for U. S. Christians reputation of being the most viojump to their feet and denounce lently criminal spot in Britain's the speaker, others try to silence The Naini Community Church world wide dominions. About him. Finally, the crowd dis- of Allahabad is self-supporting, twenty years ago, the United perses in disorder, some to ar- pays its assessments in advance Presbyterian .Church :proposed gue among themselves outside, and all other obligations prompt- to establish a mission there; some to remain to question the ly. Not only that; it has accu- land was purchased, building missionaries further about the mulated a building fund, with no plans were drawn up. Along Gospel." outside help. It is to some de- came the depression, and the gree self-propagating also, as land remained merely open Ambedkar Interprets Christ baptisms during the past year fields, growing just enough to have included some from non- pay the taxes. The champion of India's de- Christian families. The church pressed classes is not a Chris- supports a worker who sells More than a dozen years later, tian, but he was one of the guest Christian literature. All this is Emma Dean Anderson, after speakers at the annual meeting accomplished by Indian Chris- half a century of mission servof the West India Presbyterian tians, with a very little over- ice in India, chose Chakwal as Mission. Almost apologetically sight on the part of an evange- her retirement home. There, he announced his subject: "The listic missionary. without any European 0 r Bible and the Message of American companion within Christ," adding that his person- -Monday Morning. 60 miles, she settled in, to al interest in the subject led him spend the last three years to speak upon it, and that his No Drinks After Midnight of her seventh decade of life. conclusions were the result of From then on the Church in his own research. Said Dr. One thousand prohibition en- America began to hear about Ambedkar: forcement officers who describe Chakwal, but in her 80th year themselves as "harder than dia- Miss Anderson had to retire The greatness of Jesus can be monds, yet softer than flowers," from her Chakwal retirement proved in two ways: His power to were mobilized July 31 to help and return to America, leaving perform miracles and the uniqueness police shut off Bombay's drink- only a handful of Christians, of His message. Miracles cannot save ing at midnight. In addition to with an Indian pastor conduct- me and my people. But the message this guard an extra 1100 police ing regular services but with no can. Therefore I am not interested in were enrolled, 300 volunteer or- organized congregation. When Jesus' miracles but in His message. ganizations and 200 physical cul- Miss Anderson left she made it Religion to help me must have a social ture institutions offered their her chief responsibility to secure origin and a social purport because services toward making the ex- funds to construct the buildings the burning question before me is, periment a success. planned in the early vision; this "How can I rebuild a doomed society?" promise has been fulfilled, and Is there anything unique in Jesus' The government decree, is- all the buildings planned are message? That is what I want to sued last Feb. 14, advanced a now completed. In addition to know. step further the campaign of church and parsonage there is a Gandhi for national prohibition library and reading room, open The Jews to whom Christ came within three years. to the public. The building op- were an oppressed group. My peo- erations were entirely under ple are an oppressed group; there- There has been an intensive fore Jesus' advice to the multitudes fight over the Bombay edict. The who followed Him becomes of vital wets contended the Indian-fer- mented liquor contains vitamin B and makes for healthier ba- bies. Countering, the prohibi- tionists argued that "drunkards
Christian supervision, and most- them to read, but not giving should know nothing of theologly Christian labor. The man in them anything to read." In ical difIerences. charge of all the work is a re- contrast, he pointed out, "irrece1lt convert from Islam. ligious forces are far ahead of Christians and Refugees the churches on that score, in -United Presbyterian. that they are putting quantities More and more it is being rec- of material in the hands of peo- ognized that the problem of refu- Siam Now Thailand ple they are seeking to convert gees is a Christian, as well as a to their views." Jewish responsibility; and the When we see the names "Thai- -National Lutheran Council. American Committee for Chrisland," and "Thai," in State De- tian German Refugees, 287 partment documents from now Read This Fourth Ave., New York, is findon we are to think of Siam and ing a more generous response to Siamese, for the Department It was brought out at the its appeal. Several churches has decided to adhere to the re- Madras Conference that the in- are assuming direct responsibilcent decision of the Siamese crease in size of the Christian ity in the matter. The Quakers Government to change the name community in the twentieth cen- are opening a haven for refugees of their country. Thailand tury is unparalleled in any sim- -Jewish and Christian – in means land of the Thai (pro- ilar length of time in all Chris- Iowa, and are forming plans to nounced tie); and Thai is the tian history. Not including care for 20,000 refugee children ancient name of the Siamese Roman Catholics, Christian com- if the necessary legislation is people. municants in Negro Africa have enacted by Congress. The Pres- multiplied five-fold; in India byterian Board of National Mis- MISCELLANEOUS three-fold; in parts of Latin sions is appealing to its constit- America seven-fold; in Japan uency for funds and has a rep- Growth Abroad, Decline at five-fold, and doubled in the past resentative rendering personal Home decade; in China five-fold; in service to individual refugees. Chosen seventy-fold; in the The National Council of the It was revealed at the mid- Philippine Islands, where the Protestant Episcopal Church is year meeting of the Foreign Evangelical Church was non- undertaking a similar program. Missions Conference of North existent at the beginning of the America, held in Swarthmore, century, the communicants now Dissent most frequently heard Pa., that Protestant missions number about 200,000, the num- is based on the fear that a have grown rapidly in foreign bers having trebled in the last "horde" of aliens will displace countries, but have fallen off at thirteen years. our own workers, and add to OUr home. According to figures economic ills. It must be requoted, there were, in 1925, However, satisfaction over membered that the refugees 3,565,443 Protestant communi- these figures is tempered by the seeking admission to this country cants in mission lands, and knowledge that population in- are, in the main, people of exslightly more than eight million crease reveals that there are ac- ceptional ability who will build baptized. In 1938, the number tually today far more non- up industries that will furnish of communicants had jumped to Christians in the world than employment to many American six million, and there were thir- there were when the modern workers; and will also increase teen million baptized Protes- missionary enterprise began. the demand for our products of tants. In 1911, there were 351 farm and factory: all this is more ordained missionaries in Medical Council for Missions aside from the Christian considforeign service than there were eration of the emergency. ordained nationals. Last year, After twelve years of effort, there were 10,271 more ordained the Christian Medical Council Testaments for Jews national Christians than mis- for Overseas Work came into besionaries. ing on June 3, 1938. To date, A campaign is under way to about twenty different mission- provide a quarter million New There is one Christian for ary bodies have joined it. The Testaments for Jews in various every 184 people in Asia, one office of this associated mission lands. Efforts are being made for every twenty-eight in Africa, in New York is under the direc- to enlist intercessory prayer on and one for every four in Oce- tion of Dr. J. G. Vaughan, for- the part of 50,000 interested ania. merly a medical missionary to persons. A special Testament is China under the Northern Meth- being prepared in which verses In commenting on the situa- odists, and Dr. E. M. Dodd, once that signify. the fulfilment of tion, Dr. John R. Mott said: a missionary to Persia under Old Testament prophecies ap- the Presbyterian Board. The pear in bold-faced type, making "Less than 30 % of the Protes- Northern Baptist representative plain to the Jews that the New is Dr. P. H. J. Lerrigo, who be- Testament is the completion and tants in the U. S. A. and Canada gan his career as a medical mis- fulfilment of Old Testament revare giving anything at all to for- sionary. He has for many years elation, and that Jesus is the eign missions. There must be been a prime mover in interde- true Messiah and Saviour of an expansion in the financial re- nominational collaboration, be- Jew and Gentile alike. sources." Dr. Mott further de- lieving that medical service clared that "churches are edu- – Watchman-Examiner. cating people in the missionary field but failing to provide them with enough matter to apply this education. They are teaching
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Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information I.L~I~I==~========~==========~ The Faith We Declare. By Edwin deals with pursuits which the suggestive pages. The wide use Lewis. $2.00. 236 pp. Cokesbury Press. Nashville. 1939. author is pleased to term "cre- of classical and historical allu- This is a notable book. The ative guests of the ages," consid- sion will appeal to the scholarly, able professor of theology in Dew Theological Seminary has ered in the light of their influ-. and the rather militant social written others of high value, but ence upon the development. of outlook will interest those whose this one impresses us as the best Christianity. The philosophIcal views follow this modern trend. of all. Its chapters were deliv- €red as a series of lectures on the character of the discussion add- It is in its spiritual implication Fondren Foundation at the ed to a rhetorical style, makes that the book is most disappoint- School of Theology of the South- it difficult at points to follow the ing. Absence of the affirmative €rn Methodist University, Dallas. His central theme is that author's reasoning, but there is note is marked. The informed Christianity is not primarily an €thic or a form of social organ- no mistaking the fact that he evangelical will regard the auization, altho'ugh it involves both of these. It is primarily a reli- finds a consistent forward trend thor's thesis as untenable; those gion not developed by man, but revealed by God. It is therefore in thought and morals from the of a speculative cast of mind not to be viewed as a system of philosophy or something to be Babylonian period to the pres- may find interest, but will scarcelogically proved or mathematically demonstrated, but as di- ent. In tracing this evolutionary ly be inspired. For the casual vinely imparted truth to be received by faith and "declared" movement there is little apparent reader, there will be some beas a message from God incarnated in Christ as Redeemer and distinction between the Baby- wilderment over a sentence like Lord. Dr. Lewis is neither a "Fundamentalist" nor a "Mod- lonian sages, the Hebrew proph- this: "If we seek to give to life ernist," although his book will give more satisfaction to the ets and the Greek and Roman and its enterprises, meanings former than to the latter, for he is soundly and conservatively philosophers: Hammurabi, Ja- worthy for humanity, its endowevangelical. There are a few criticisms of the modern church cob, Moses, Isaiah, Socrates, ments, its advisements, its inherwhich we think are too severe; but the volume as a whole is a Marcus Aurelius, Paul and Au- itances, and its hopes; then stubclarion call to the followers of Christ to emphasize "The Faith gustine each make their contri- born ineluctable as the contem- We Declare" as the only hope of a distracted world. bution. It is not that the prophets poraneous world is, it is not be- ARTHUR J. BROWN. are lightly esteemed or the Baby- yond our power to charge with Christianity and the Creative Quests. lonian inscriptions elevated to noble and fructifying meaning." By Gaius Glenn Atkins. 232 pp. $2.00. Cokesbury Press, Nashville, equality with the Scriptures, but HUGH R. MONRO. Tenn. 1939. the unique and inspired charac- The Missionary Significance of the The author, a well known ter of the Hebrew record is ap- Lord's Prayer. By Dr. Lee S. Huipreacher and professor of theol- parently not taken into account. zenga. 85 pp. 75 cents. Wm. B. ogy, gave these Cole Lectures at Vanderbilt University in 1938. There is insistence upon intel- Eerdmans Co., Grand Rapids. 1939. The title provides an accurate guide to its contents for the book lectual integrity in dealing with Dr. Huizenga has been a med- ical missionary in China during the Scriptures, but an implica- a long life; and he writes from tion that reason shall determine his own experience. This is not how much of the record is wor- an attempt to force a well-worn thy of acceptance. Quite as in- passage of Scripture into a novel conclusive is the extended dis- pattern for novelty's sake; it is cussion of moral and spiritual rather the ripened meditation of authority, where again we are a man who has for years offered left to conclude that the sole the Lord's Prayer from a mis- norm is that of human judgment. sionary's heart. In this prayer The possibility that the Biblical the doctor finds (1) the basis of record may have an inherent au- our missionary expansion; (2) thority, real and demonstrable, is nowhere suggested; it is im- the method of our missionary ex- pansion; (3) the way to keep fit plied that those who adhere to such a view are credulous and for missionary work; and (4) lacking in perspective. By these the ultimate aim of missions. The basis of missions is the fa- standards faith in the authority therhood of God, the family life of the Bible and intellectual in- of all believers. The method is tegrity are apparently consid- found to be adoration, recogni- ered incompatible.
The book, however, has many tion of God and His Kingdom, [431 ]
and obedience to His sovereign trays. The author is peculiarly the world today for the frightwill. Keeping fit is accomplished fitted for his task by intimate ful results of the transgression through God's providing for, knowledge, by deep devotion, by of the law of God. The book is pardoning and keeping us. The patience in research and by lit- worth reading, especially if read ultimate aim is of course the erary skill. He shows the late in the light of the New Testaglory of God. Not only mission- distinguished president of Un- ment Gospel of love, mercy, and aries but others may find in this ion Seminary, Virginia, to have forgiveness. little devotional book much that been eminent as a scholar, inis spiritually illuminating. spiring as a teacher, impressive Lucy W. PEABODY. as a preacher and wise as an KENNETH J. FOREMAN. administrator. Dr. Moore will The Christian Faith in a Day of long be remembered as one of Crisis. By Charles S. Macfarland. The Story of Chung Mei. By Charles the most dignified, beloved and 226 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell R. Shepherd. Illus. 264 pp. $2.00. influential leaders in the Ameri- Co. New York. The Judson Press, Philadelphia. can Presbyterian Church. This 1938. sympathetic, careful and com- If one is unable to read the prehensive biography will aid numerous volumes pouring from Here is a thrilling story of immeasurably in making this the press interpreting the relipersonal heroism, faith overcom- memory as abiding as it is pre- gious situation, this book will ing obstacles, and consecration cious. give a helpful sense of direction of life to the service of needy toward understanding the curboys. It is a graphic .portrayal CHARLES R. ERDMAN. rent trends in religious life and written in the first person, of the theological thinking. The mounhistory of Chung Mei Home in The Meaning of War. By James W. tain peaks on the horizon stand San Francisco, California. Johnson. 60 pp. 75c. Fleming H. out so prominently that one can Revell Co. 1939. discern them readily without In the early days of Charles being lost in the less important Shepherd's service among the This brief statement, in five aspects of the scene. Chinese on the Pacific Coast he chapters, written in part after discovered that one of the un- the World War by a Christian Among the speciaL interests met needs of the people was for business man, will be read with which have enlisted Dr. Macfara boys' home to care for orphans, interest by those who are watch- land's attention are the Barthian half-orphans, foundlings, and ing the threats of war which theology and the reaction to it in boys from broken homes. Lim- now confront the world. "liberal" circles; the movement ited financial resources, racial for Christian unity; the social prejudice, lack of suitable physi- With much of the author's outreach of the Church; the curcal equipment for such an enter- vivid statement, all will agree. rent expressions of mysticism; prise, presented serious obsta- Chapter Two–"The Reason for and the significance and inadecles. Confident in his faith "that War" presents not only the well quacy of humanism. God never calls an individual to known reasons from the human a task which is impossible" the side, but presents them as only S. M. CAVERT. author persisted, overcoming reasons in part. He states his disappointment aft e r disap- own theory that war is the re- The Acts of the Apostles. Outline pointment, until finally his sult of sin and carries on this Studies in Primitive Christianity. dream was realized in the thesis to Chapter Three-"True By W. H. Griffith Thomas. 93 pp. Chung Mei Home. Basis for Enduring Peace." The 30 cents. Moody Bible Institute fourth chapter presents "Wrath Colportage Assn. Chicago. 1939. Under the able leadership of of Man-Love of God" and the Dr. Shepherd, the boys succeed- fifth "The Signs of Promise." An outstanding, conservative ed in raising money to purchase The book closes with an earnest Bible scholar and teacher gave a beautiful building site in EI prayer for the nations. us before his death this compact Cerrito, but the "depression" outline of the Acts in a series of made it impossible for mission- There can be no question as to fifty-eight studies. Richly sugary organizations to appropriate the argument that war is the gestive but not exhaustive, each the money necessary for the result of sin and that the only study includes an analytical outnew building. The story of how basis for enduring peace is the line of the passage, a topical outfaith enabled them to overcome conversion of mankind. But line of the principles involved, their disappointment is thrilling. those who believe that the wages and the practical application of Its reward is seen in Chung of sin is death under the law these principles in the life of to- Mei's new home at EI Cerrito. of God may not accept the au- day. The student is thus guided thor's statement that war is to a knowledge of the divine JOHN N. THOMAS. God's direct infliction of pun- record. In Bible study classes ishment, like a father's chastise- and as the basis of prayer meet- Life and Letters of Walter W. ment of a wayward son. The ing talks, these studies in Apos- Moore. By J. Gray McAllister. fact that those who suffer most tolic church history, historical pp. 576. $2.50. Union Theologi- extension, and spiritual expan- cal Seminary, Richmond, Virginia. in war are innocent would pre- sion should bring new life, spir- 1939. clude this theory, though none itual quickening and a mission- ary zeal to the church of today. It is enough to affirm that this could deny the responsibility of biography is worthy of the pure GORDON A. CURTIS. and princely character it por-
Books Moslem station they were transferred Children Successfally Educated ••• AT
to Urumia, to take eharge of the Believers and Builders in Europe. evangelistic work of all of the Calvert School world..famoul home 8tudy plan rive. Emma Parker Maddry. 167 pp. 50 churches in Urumia and Kurdistan, cents. Broadman Press. Nash- extending west to the Tigris River t .uperior education to thousands of children not near l'ood ville. and including Mosul. They served there for about 18 years then Mr. echoola or unable to attend IChooL Complete COUIles The Coming Great Northern Confed- Coan was placed in charge of the edu- for each era"de. All books. materials and eracy. L. Sale-Harrison. 88 pp. cational work of the Mission, and was teacher euidance included. Enthusiasticallyen- lB. Pickering & Inglis. London. made President of Urumia College. dorsed by educators and parents. Low cost. Write today for free catalor. State c:hild~1!I Il'e" Cycle of Prayer and Praise. 100 pp. Dr. William*H.* Ph*elps, editor of 6d. S. P. G. London. CALVERT SCHOOL. 189 E. T….II1Id., Balmre, Mol. the Michigan Christian Advocate for The Good Seed. Report of the Meth- 19 years, died June 23 in Detroit. He Home Missions Day at the odist Church of Australia. 72 pp. is succeeded by Rev. John E. Marvin, World's Fair, Epworth Printing and Publishing for three years associate editor of the House. Sydney, Australia. Advocate. September 1, 1939 Heralds of Salvation. Frank Gren- The Rev. Ge*org*e P*. Pierson, D.D., To dramatize for the public ville Beardsley. 218 pp. $1.25. the Home Mission work of the American Tract Soc. New York. for forty years a Presbyterian mis- present day, the Council of Wom- sionary to Japan, died in Philadelphia en for Home Missions and Home An Hour with Jonathan' Goforth, on August 1st at the age of seventy- Missions Council will cooperate Adoniram Judson, J. Hudson Tay- eight. Dr. and Mrs. Pierson, who was in presenting three ,programs at lor. 17 pp. 10 cents each. Zon- formerly Miss Ida Goepp, returned the World's Fair on September dervan Pub. House. Grand Rapids. from Japan ten years ago and were first. honorably retired. Mrs. Pierson died Pueblo Indian Religion. Vol. I and in 1937. He was the son of the late The critical national problem II. Elsie Clews Parsons. 1275 Rev. David H. Pierson and Caroline of the Migrant laborerS who pp. $7.00. University of Chicago Peck Pierson of Elizabeth. Dr. Pier- h a r v est the crops will be Press. Chicago. son was a greatly loved and honored stressed i-a prominent pIa c e missionary who was engaged in effec- will also be given to the coopera- The Qur'an. Vol. II. Richard Bell. tive evangelistic work in the Island of tive Christian work for Indian $6.00. 698 pp. Scribner. New Kokkaido, Northern Japan. Americans; the story of the in- York. terdenominational enterprises in Dr. O. C. C*raw*for*d, Presbyterian communities where the great A Quiver of Sunbeams. Alfred H. government dams have been C. Morse. $1.50. 183 pp. Cokes- missionary since 1900 in Soochow, built and the religious needs of bury Press. New York. China, died on July 22nd. He was rural and city underprivileged. born in Brownsville, Pa., fifty-nine The Resurrection of the Old Roman years ago, attended Waynesburg Col- Music, addresses and dramatic Empire. L. Sale-Harrison. 128 lege and the Western Theological sketches will emphasize the pp. lB. 6d. Pickering & Inglis. Seminary. Dr. Crawford translated Christian life-conserving work London. the Gospel of St. Mark into phonetic throughout the United States. Chinese script, and was on the com- Refugee Facts. 24 pp. American mittee which revised the New Tes- The program for the day includes Friends Service Council. Phila. tament into Soochow dialect. the following: Redemptive Purpose. (Report of the The Rev. H*erm* an* Carl Weber, Moving Pictures – General Motors Mission to Lepers, 1938). 32 pp. Auditorium-10: 30 to 12 A.,M. 6d. Mission to Lepers. London. editor of the "Year Book of American Churches," died on July 25th of a 1. The Church Ministers to Indian Die Religiose Lage Japans in Der heart ailment at East Orange, New Americans. (First showing.) Gegenwart. Gerhard Rosenkranz. Jersey. Dr. Weber was born at Mina, 2. Uncle Sam Builds Dama-Inter- 19 pp. Ostasien Mission. Berlin- Chautauqua County, N. Y., on Feb- denominational work in com- Steglitz. ruary 9, 1873, the son of Jacob and munities where government Sarah Phifer Weber. He took his dams have been built. (First Salt Streak. Florance Walton Taylor. A. B. degree from Rutgers College, showing.) : 280 pp. $2.00. Revell. New York. studied at the New Brunswick (N. J.) 3. Gipsies of the Crops-Life of the Theological Seminary. Albany Col- Migrant laborers. ' Through Other People's Eyes- lege, Oregon, made him a Doctor of A Play. Margaret Crowe. 15 pp. Divinity. 4. Even in this Day and. Age- 2d. S. P. G. London. Need for the Church to reach Dr. Weber began his ministry as the unreached millions of a Von Japan Will Ich Euch Erzahlen. pastor of the Reformed Church of great city. (Harmon Founda- Gerhard Rosenkranz. Illus. 28 West Farms, in the Bronx (1898 to tion film.) pp. Ostasien Mission. Berlin-Steg- 1902); for four years was an assist- litz. ant pastor in the Collegiate (Dutch) 2: 00-4: 00 P. M.-Court of Peace. Reformed Church and became pastor Address by Dr. Mark A. Dawber, Wings and Sky. Martha Snell Nich- of the Edgewood Reformed Church, olson. 28 pp. H. W. Nicholson. Brooklyn. From 1912 to 1918 he was "New Tasks for Old." Problems Wilmington, Calif. pastor of the Park Branch of the of rural life and plight of share- First Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn. croppers. Das Wunder der Kirche Under den Mayor La Guardia is expected to Volkern der Erde. (Report of From 1919 to 1925, he was associate speak on, "Religion as a Solution Tambaram Conference). Various director of field work of the New Era for Some of our City Problems." Authors. R. M. 1. Evangelische Movement of the Presbyterian Church Special musical numbers. Missionsverlag. Stuttgart. and later director of the Mobilization Department of the General Council. 7: 00-9: 30 P. M.-Court of Peace. Zonya-Daughter of Abraham. Ag- He was president of the United Stew- Young Indian Americans will fur- nes Scott Kent. 313 pp. $1.50. ardship Council of the United States nish music and Dr. Thomas Jesse Evangelical Publishers. Toronto. and Canada in 1936 and 1937. Jones, of the Phelps-Stokes Fund will speak on, "Sharing American Obituary Notes Dr. Weber was the author of "Pres- Progress with American In- byterian Statistics Through One Hun- dians." (Concluded from second cover.) dred Years," "Evangelism-A Graph- ic Survey" and "The Every Member Mrs. Frederick G. Coan, retired Canvass, Pocket Books' or People." missionary of the Presbyterian Mission in Iran, died in Claremont, Calif., June 24. Following her marriage to Rev. F. G. Coan in 1885, she sailed with him for Persia. After a brief period of service at an Armenian-
the quarter, including July, August, and Sep-
tember, THE UPPER ROOM showed a gain of 75,000 in circulation over the same period last ),ellJ".
+ ldUch to us is conclusive proof that + tbe Room r. Upptr tiltall" -essential 'to 'the aevotional ana spiritualli/e 0/ America Prom the beginning THE UPPER ROOM has im- pressed its users with the fact that it is the best year tlro.,,4 daily devotional guide. Meditations are planned and prepared for special seasons and occasions, but the material for er1ery 4ay i" the year is maintained at th~ highest standard of spiritual value.
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The Missionary Review of the World — June 1939
1939
What Is New in Home Missions?
Mark A. Dawber Experiences Among Ozark Mountaineers Paul A. Wobus The South's Number One Problem Archie C. Smith Berea's Work for Mountaineers William J. Hutchins New Frontiers in Home Missions Edward D. Kohlstedt American Indians' Work for Indians G. E. E. Lindquist A Christian Philosophy for Rural Work Frank W. Price 2S Cents a Copy $2.50 a YeaI'
to Remember elected one of the secretaries of the THE
Board of Foreign Missions of the June 7-13 – Ann u a I Conference, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., to take <- The only weekly in the Church of the Brethren, Anderson, the place of Dr. Webster E. Browning Presbyterian Church. Ind. who has been honorably retired. Dr. Anderson is a Canadian by birth, a <- Its message is based upon June 8 – General Synod of the Re- graduate of McGill University, Mon- the Revealed Word of God. formed Church in America, New treal, and of Princeton Theological York, N. Y. Seminary. He went to Cameroon, <- Goes into every state in West Africa, in 1926. On June 1, he the Union, U. S. possessions June 9-16-Annual Meeting, Foreign will take up his official duties as Sec- and many foreign countries. Missions Conference. Swarthmore, retary but first expects to visit the Pa. South American fields this summer Subscription rate – $2.50 and autumn since he is to have re- Ministerial rate – – $2.00 June 16-24–Winona Summer School sponsibility for the Latin America of Missions, Winona Lake, Ind. and Africa portfolios. SOc. extra–Canadian postage Courses include Bible, Mission Text- $1.50 extra– Foreign postage books and addresses by missionaries. *** Write to Mrs. C. E. Ahrensfeld, 431 THE PRESBYTERIHn S. East Ave., Oak Park, Ill. Dr. Everett B. King, pastor of the Hemphill Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 121 7 Market Street June 20-25 – Northern Baptist Con- has been elected Secretary of the Philadelphia, Pa. vention, Los Angeles, Calif. Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. He theologian and professor for 20 years, june 21-2S-Sunday School and B. Y. has been assigned to responsibility for has been appointed to the FaCUlty of P. U. Congress of the National Bap- Sunday school missions and Alaska, the Graduate School of Applied Reli- tist Convention, U. S. A., (Inc.), to take the place of Dr. John M. gion in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Spiegel Tulsa, Okla. Somerndike, recently deceased. Dr. shared for a time the fate of Martin King is a native of Texas and was Niemoller in a concentration camp, June 24-July I-Eagles Mere Confer- educated at the University of Texas, and was recently "shipped" to Switzer- ence of Missions. Chairman, Mrs. Trinity University, and the Presby- land. Earl Breeding, 24 Rugby Lane, terian Theological Seminary at Chi- Scarsdale, N. Y. cago. Dean Alfredo* G*onz*alez, of Central July 3-10-Northfield Missionary Con- *** Philippine College, has written a book ference for Women and Girls. East e~t!tled "The 9a11 of the Heights," Northfield, Mass. For information, Dr. Albert ,schweitzer founded his VIrIle and umrustakably religious in address Mrs. Warren C. Taylor, 38 hospital in Africa twenty-five years its appeal. The book has just been Union Ave., Schenectady, N. Y. ago. On the 25th anniversary the selected by the Philippine Government children of the Mission presented him Department 01; Education, as the text july 6-11 – International Christian with a beautiful piece of furniture, for character instruction in the public Endeavor Convention, Cleveland, made by themselves. One of them schools of the Islands. Ohio. made a presentation speech to "our dear, grand docteur." Dr. Schweitzer *** July 11-August 16 – Winona Lake refused an electric organ because of School of Theology. Winona Lake, the difficulty of keeping the compli- Rev. Myron Terry, of the Christian Ind. Dean, Dr. J. A. Huffman, 302 cated machinery in order in that cli- Litera;ture Society in ~hanghai, is Morton Blvd., Marion, Ind. mate. Instead, he was given the price spendmg some. mont~s m Kunming, of an X-ray for the hospital. Yunnan, supermtendmg the erection July 22-28-Baptist World Congress. of a small building and getting a new Atlanta, Ga. *** branch of the Christian Literature So- ciety started. July 24-August 2-World Conference Dr. Walter Spiegel, member of the of Christian Youth, Amsterdam, ConfC'ssional Church in Germany, a Rev. George*W*. Sh*epherd, of Au- Holland. J}pmn~ burndale, Mass., went to China 18 Aug. SolO-Ninth Quadrennial Con- y~ars ago as a Congregational mis- vention of the Woman's Home and of tbe SIOnary. Ten years later, the National Foreign Missionary Society of Af- Council of China detailed him to as- rican Methodist Episcopal Zion ctbri~tian sist Generalissimo and Madame Church, Detroit, Mich. Chiang in their "New Life Move- lLift ment," fight~ng supersti~ion and politi- August 13-20-Geneva Summer School cal corruptIOn, promoting education of Missions, Lake Geneva, Wis. cA BOOK of worship in song, com- and public health. Along came the For information write to Mrs. Paul bining a hymnal for general war and the Movement's energies H. Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey church use, and a song book for evan- ~ere diyerted to :relief. Mr. Shepherd Ave., Oak Park, Ill. gelistic purposes. onty songs sound IS now m the Uruted States, ostensibly in the faith and inspirationaf in char- on furlough, but using his time to Personal Item. acter induded—emphasizing Evangel- raise funds for the "Church Commit- ism, Missions, and the Deeper Life. tee for China Relief." Dr. Francis S. Hutchins, of the Many of the new—the best of the old. Yale-in-China Mission School at (Co'Mluded. em page 273.) Changsha, has been elected President 504 Songs Responsive Readings of Berea College, Kentucky, to succeed his father, Dr. William J. Topical Index Gold Embossed Hutchins, who is resigning after nineteen years of service. Published in round notes and Roxite cloth edition only at $65.00 per 100—an especiall~ Dr. Francis Hutchins is 38 years of low price. Single copy, 8Se postpaid. age. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., educated at Oberlin and Yale and Write today for returnable sample co,", went out fourteen years ago to work in the Yale Mission. His brother, Dr. CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS, Inc. Robert M. Hutchins, is President of the University of Chicago. 1502 NORTH THIRD STREET HARRISBURG. PA. *** The Rev. Llewellyn K. Anderson, Ph.D., recently a Presbyterian missionary in West Africa, has been
MISSIONARY I have taken the magazine for years WHEN THE CALL LEADS
and would feel quite lost without it." REVIEW OF THE WORLD II EAST 0F SUE Z" Long BeaMchIS-,SCSaAlRifA. L. HAMILTON. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor The Jain Temple, Calcutta * .. … VOL. LXII JUNE, 1939 NO.6 I'OR OVBR 100 YBARS "We always enjoy greatly reading THB WAY HAS BBBN Publication and Busines" Olllce- Third and Reily St•. , Harri£burg, Pa. THE MISSIONARY REVIEW. I wish Editorial and Executive UlIlce– every minister could take it." 156 Firth Avenue, New York City. Entered as second-ciass matter at REV. FREDERICK G. COAN. Claremont, Calif. Post Olllce, Harrisburg. Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. * .. * 25 cellts a copy-$2.50 a year. "Your magazine fills a place which Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. no other missionary magazine quite All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. British agents – Marshall, Morgan fills." F. A. GOETSCH, and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London. E. C 1 shilling per copy, Executive Secretary of the 10 sh!Jlings a year. Board of Foreign Missions, Evangelical Synod of N. A. MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- LISHING CO., INC. … * …
BOARD OF DIRECTORS A CORRECTION ROBERT Eo SPEER, President Rev. E. E. Elder, the author of the A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-Pre.•idcnt article in our December (1938) num- WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer ber: "What is the Koran?" is a mem- DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary ber of the United Presbyterian PAUL J. BRAISTED Mission in Cairo, Egypt, from Meshed, SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT Persia. The Rev. John Elder. of Ham- D. J. FANT adan, Iran, is a missionary of the MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH Obituary Notes SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Dr. Dan B. Brummitt, editor of the PaO Editorial Chat Central and Northwestern editions of The Christian Advocate, died April 5 Let the comfort of mOclern liners and the secur- This is our Home Mission Number. in Kansas City, almost on the eve of ity of British seamanship enhance your voy· The field is so large and varied and the uniting conference. Dr. Brummitt age. Whenever you are called to the other we have so recently devoted special was an outstanding religious editor side of the world, choose this traditional reute. numbers to the City (June, 1938), of our time, and ardently upheld Cross to England by a modern transatlantic Rural Problems, The Negro, Orientals Christian democracy in journalism. liner and then embark in a great liner of the and Spanish – Speaking Americans, Few knew that the weekly column of p & 0 and British India fleets, led by the new that some of these important topics wit and wisdom, filled with the spirit 23,500-ton Strathallan. StrathmoHl, and Strathare not treated here. Other articles of Christ, and signed "Justus Timber- eden carrying First and Tourist Classes. Airthat have appeared in recent issues line," was written by the editor. conditioned dining saloons in First Class, hot deal with and cold running water throughout, built-in Rev. John A*. Si*lsb*y, retired Pres- out-door swimming pools. children's play- A Cathedral on Wheels (April, rooms! Regular service to Egypt. Sudan. Iran- 1938) byterian missionary to East China, ian Gulf. India. Burma. Ceylonl& Straits Settle- ments, China. Japan, Australia. East and Migrant Workers (April, 1938) died in Hayward, California, March 4. South Africa. Mauritius. Special reductions The Whole Community (July, 1938) In 1890 he became principal of Lowrie and generous baggage allowance for American Indians (February, 1939) missionaries. Missions in Alaska (April, 1939) Institute for Boys, the oldest school Problems of a Midwest City (Sep- in Shanghai and one of the oldest in tember, 1938) China. * .. * Other articles on Home Missions Mr. Frank A. Horne, Vice-President will appear later. of the Board of Foreign Missions of *** the Methodist Church for twenty-two If you are leaving your present mailing address for the summer, years and chairman of the Methodist Convenient throuqh bookinqs can kindly send word as soon as possible be arranqed by your travel aqent. with the address to which you wish Book Committee, died March 22 at the to have your C!}py of THE REVIEW age of seventy. He had been a mem- Or apply at 25 Broadway. 638 Fit~h forwarded. Please mention dates of Ave.• N. Y. . . . or any ottice of your absence from home and mail to ber of six consecutive General Con- Subscription Department, MISSl()NARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, 3rd & Reily ferences since 1916 and a member of , Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. There will be the Board of Foreign Missions since no August number of THE REVIEW 1906. CUNARD WHllf. ~lAR printed. Person.I Item. ,. ents for 'T A. Among the c*om*men*ts on THE RE- General 9 (Concluded from 2d cover.) VIEW received recently from readers ANO OR,eN are the following: In the war zone, missionaries and New Life workers give first aid to fleN'NSU.AR. S:teAt" "I used THE REVIEW a great deal victims of Japanese guns and bru- . t 'NO'A with my recent review of 'The Amer- tality. Then refugees get clothing, ",G ANO BRl'T'S COMflAN,eS ican City and Its Church,' and found food and transportation away from it exceedingly helpful to make the danger zones. Refugees must find NA A'T,ON mission study book more interesting. new farms, jobs, homes. Even in "free China" there is the perenl'lial problem of famine.-NeW8week.
[273]
B. D. WEEKS AND MRS . ROBERTA CAMPBELL, WITH INDIAN STUDENTS OF BACONE COLLEGE (Baptist
INDIAN PILLARS OF ST. PETER'S CHURCH ( Congregational), REV. AND MRS. W. DAVID OWJ~, SENE CA, N. Y. MR. OWL ELTON, LOUISIANA IS THE' INDIAN PASTOR ON THE RESERVATION REV. AND MRS. SILAS, OJIBWAY REV. ROBT, PAUL CHAAT THREE I NDIAN RECTORS IN TRIBE (Reformed Church) SOUTH DAKOTA SOME AMERICAN INDIAN CHRISTIAN LEADERS (see page 299) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 6 JUNE, 1939 Topics of the Times RELIGION IN THE WORLD TOMORROW Gospel messages are not excluded. A very defi- nite Christian note in the "WorId of Tomorrow"
The New York World's Fair, which opened on is sounded in a small concession paid for by the Sunday, April 30, is an impressive spectacle. It "Gideons," where they can exhibit Bibles and lit- covers 1,216 acres, or nearly two square miles, erature relating their work of Bible distribution on the Flushing Meadows – ~ormer marsh land in hotels and elsewhere. Other attempts to secure commonly called "Corona Dumps." The reclaim- space for the presentation of Christian activities ing of the land, planting thousands of trees, con- and achievements have failed to produce results. structing roads, lagoons. and fountains, and erect- The message and work of Jesus Christ, as the reving buildings, has cost nearly $160,000,000. The elation of God and His Way of Life for the "World exhibits include many interests related to art and of Tomorrow," are not exhibited there, even as education, transportation, housing, manufactures they have not been at other national expositions.
and inventions, various national, state and foreign The Fair is devoted to the humanistic ideals, to buildings, as well as areas devoted to amusements, the strictly material and temporal hopes. and sports and restaurants. achievements, rather than to things that relate to The Fair is being visited daily by from 100,000 God, to spiritual ideals and Eternal Life. to 300,000 persons who are expected to spend This is, perhaps, not surprising. Men today do from two to twenty-five dollars each (from May not agree in their conception of God and His Way to November), making a total of perhaps of Life. Any attempt to present Christ, and all $500,000,000 to be spent during the season. The for which He stands, unfortunately often provokes Fair thus provides much that is of interest and oontroversy. But there are naturally many who value. Most people can find there what they are would present what they believe to be the vital most interested to see – beautiful flowers and truths and most dynamic forces in the world of tofoliage, human nature of all sorts and conditions, day and for the World of Tomorrow. The Temple the wonders of modern science and industry, the of Religion has been severely criticized as a weak beauties of music and art, amusements for every attempt to recognize an "unknown God" to whom, taste-high and low. in some way, men may have some responsibility.
It is in the realm of religion that the Fair is Dr. George W. Arms, a pastor in Brooklyn, New lacking. If the "World of Tomorrow" can offer York, calls the Temple of Religion "the devil's nothing more than is here provided there is no smokescreen to hide from the people the Cross outlook for more than a very vague worship of of Jesus Christ and the true issues at stake in the some "unknown God" and a faint hope for the pro- foundation of democracy, and to blind them with motion of peace, brotherly kindness and social serv- a false sense of security."
ice. The Jews have a Hebrew Temple and a Pal- No doubt this is an extreme view, but is it not estine exhibit; Christian Science is represented true that in this presentation of the "World of by a building with a reading room and literature; Tomorrow" there is no recognition of the God who the Y. M. C. A. building includes a restroom and has created the wonderful world in which we live, restaurant; there is a "Temple of Religion," has loved the world of mankind enough to give where music and pageants are presented. The Himself that men might have life, and to whom atmosphere is restful and dignified. Distinctly the world of yesterday and today owes everything [275 ]
worth knowing, doing or possessing? After all union was effected in Great Britain, two hundred the American nation was established by men who years after John Wesley began his work that rebelieved in God and who desired a home where sulted in Methodism. There are still several they could worship Him and could live in the way Methodist churches outside the union-the Free that Jesus Christ made possible. The Bible, as Methodist, Wesleyan Methodist, the African the Word of God, the Sabbath as the Lord's Day M. E., the African M. E. Zion, and the Colored and Christ as the Son of God and Saviour, cannot Methodist Episcopal, numbering in all about safely be ignored in the "World of Tomorrow." 1,600,000 more American Methodists.
What can be done to make up in some degree This large body of Christians, now organically for what is lacking in Christian emphasis in the united into one Methodist Church, can accomplish World's Fair? At the Columbian Exposition in great things for the Kingdom of God, under wise, Chicago in 1893, the most potent Christian in- consecrated leadership, if they are truly motifluence was the series of great evangelistic meet- vated, instructed and empowered by the ideals and ings conducted by Dwight L. Moody, where there spirit of Christ. As Dr. John R. Mott, a promwere addresses day and night by outstanding inent Methodist, said at Kansas City: "We have Christian teachers from many lands. In these united to accomplish together things that we canmeetings it is estimated a million people heard not do separately. We must not be satisfied with the Gospel and thousands of them were won to past achievements or with the present situation. Christ. In New York City and its suburbs there An increase in our aggressive missionary work is is a similar opportunity. There is no limit to the one of the tasks which we must now undertake personal work that may be done among visitors to with new vigor." the Fair. Gospels and other literature may be given out to the crowds in hotels, in subways and The new Methodist Church has been divided terat the entrances to the grounds. Parents can ritorially into seven sections or "Jurisdictions"- interpret the exhibits to children from a Christian the Northern, North Central, Western, South point of view. The Calvary Bapti.st Church of Central, Central, South Eastern and Foreign- New York and other churches are kept open all with thirty-six bishops, located at different cenday and some are holding special services where ters. There are also seven missionary Bishops the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be presented. In appointed by the Central Conference. all this there is the ministry of prayer in which all Christians can engage day and night. Christ- The Uniting Conference took a strong stand like lives and friendly service by those who con- against intoxicants and war and adopted the exfess His name will mean much more to visitors cellent "Social Creed" of the Methodist Church, to the Fair than any material exhibits could pos- South. The educational work will be conducted sibly mean. A truly Christian exhibit, presenting under a single board with two divisions, one carthe results of Christian teaching and work in ing for institutions and the other directing reli- America and in all other lands would be a con- gious education in local churches. The confervincing evidence that, if the world is to advance ence was unable to settle the question of a church today and tomorrow, men must .accept God as He periodical-whether it is to be one great national is revealed in Jesus Christ and must follow His paper or several jurisdictional papers with one Way of sacrificial love and eternal life, if they purpose and plan and under one general editor. are to live joyously and victoriously. A commission was appointed to study the question and report. AMERICAN METHODISTS AND THEIR MISSIONS The missionary work of these three uniting churches, which have formerly been conducted The union of the three Methodist Churches in under a number of boards-Home and Foreign, the United States – the Methodist Episcopal General and Women's-will henceforth be under Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, one General Board that will have charge of misand the Methodist Protestant Church, as finally sionary policy and program; the details of adcompleted at Kansas City, brings together into ministration, the choice of fields, the selection of one organic body the largest number of Protes- personnel and the administration of funds, will tants in anyone Church. The total membership be in charge of three administrative divisionsof this united church is approximately 8,000,000, Foreign Missions, Home Missions and Church distributed all over the United States and all over Extension, and Woman's Work-each with its the world, from Alaska in the North to Chile in own executive secretaries. The General Board the South, and from East to West around the will consist of twenty-four men and twenty-four globe. It will be called "The Methodist Church." women, with the bishops.
:r.hi~ ~nion takes place in America, as .a si.roiJar The missionary work of the new Methodist Church will be world-wide, with 1,400 foreign missionaries, 13,500 on their native staff, com- .m~J).i~a,nt§l Jl1 eleven forei~n ~oU.I).tri~t'I ,lUmbering
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
over 270,000 and total annual budgets of ing possible journeys in a day that formerly took a $3,000,000. The Methodist Episcopal Church has month; the telephone, telegraph and radio have had the largest work, conducted in forty-two mis- practically obliterated distance and have united sion areas; the Methodist, South, has worked in the country; the pr'omotion of literacy by the nine of the same areas and Methodist Protestants phonetic method and the increase of general modin three of these fields. Many of the Methodist ern education have set new standards of life and missIon churches are already united where they thought; newspapers and other literature have have work in the same areas. linked China to the outside world and have helped to break down barriers; many foolish and harm-' The first General Conference of the Methodist ful taxes have been abolished and public revenues Church is set for April, 1940. Ecumenical or have been used to meet public need rather than to world-wide Methodism is explained by Bishop fill private purses; before the Japanese invasion Frederick D. Leete as follows: the external credit of China increased with grow- ing export and import trade; mines and other nat- "The purposes of the ecumenical Methodist ural resources have been developed where for- Church are three. One is to catholicize and frater- merly important areas were reserved for burial nalize Methodists everywhere by correspondence, grounds of ancestors; the sta;bilizing of the curvisitation, and world meetings, bringing far-flung rency with a new coinage system and banking reorganizations of the same faith nearer to the fact forms have improved the financial structure of as well as to the concept and ideal of unity. An- the country; the New Life Movement, fostered by other is to encourage and report on the Methodist Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-shek, has mission and its achievements, extending its mu- spread new ideas for public and private life; the tual evangelistic and reformatory movements new leaders in the government have proved themwhich minister to all human needs. The third is selves patriotic,courageous, intelligent, highto assist and advance the total Christian program minded, strong and unselfish-and many of them attempted by all Christian bodies in the name and are Christians. spirit of Christ. All this was being accomplished and was on the "The world alliance of Methodist churches has way for more complete fulfilment when the Japtwo branches. The Western branch represents anese military party (in 1937) undertook to "come the Methodist denominations of the Americas and to the rescue of Chinese," to make their neighbor of the Orient. The Eastern represents Methodist "more friendly," to "put down communism" and bodies of the British Empire in various parts of extend Japanese civilization and control! the world and of the countries of continental Europe." The Japanese have done what a century had not accomplished in unifying China. The unmistak- CHINA'S VICTORIES OF PEACE able evidences of Christianity, as seen in the lives of the Christian missionaries, have abolished the The progress made in great slow-moving, con- anti-Christian spirit in China. servative China since the founding of the Republic in 1911, is unparalleled in history. This is espe- The judgment of many intelligent observers is cially remarkable when we consider the immense that China today, in the midst of her tribulations, extent of the territory (ten times the size of Japan offers the greatest opportunity for Christian adproper); the huge population (over ten times vance anywhere in the world, while Japan is probthat of the British Isles); the former lack of ably one of the most difficult fields for sowing and political, linguistic and cultural unity in its eight- reaping spiritual harvests. The reasons are not een provinces; the scarcity of newspapers, rail- hard to discover. The Chinese realize more and roads and other means of communication; the more the uncertainty of this life and the passing prevalence of graft among officials and the pov- values of material possessions. In their distress erty of the masses. All this and more was true and extremity they turn to God, as their only hope. thirty years ago. He is manifested to them in the lives and sacrifi- cial service of missionaries and Chinese followers Since the Boxer Rebellion, and especially in the of Christ. God is proving to be a very present past fifteen years, new China has become united help in trouble and Jesus Christ is a true friend under one central government; graft has been dis- and Saviour. The Chinese leaders also set an explaced by patriotism; warlords and bandits have ample of Christian faith and courage that appeals given place to intelligent and trained officials and to the people. Idols and false gods are recognized an organized national army; economic reconstruc- as powerless. The one hope for humanity is in tion has made great strides; railroads and good the one True God, as revealed in Christ; the God highways have been built across the country link- of love, of righteousness and of power. ing all important cities; motor bus service has taken the place of "the wheelbarrow and mule-lit- The Japanese on the other hand are turning ter i public airplane lines have been extendedl mak-
more to temporal power, and put their faith and is the convincing evidence of the Living Christ as hope in material things, in armaments and armies, the Saviour of men. in stern discipline and a human program. Their national leaders turn back to the Sun Goddess, to Spirit-filled missionaries in every land agree in national heroes, to Shinto Shrines and emperor their testimony that, while methods of missionary worship. National ambition, laws and standards work may vary in different lands and under diftake precedence over the eternal laws of God and fering conditions, the one essential is a true pres- .His standards of truth, righteousness and love as entation of Christ by consecrated witness. revealed in Jesus Christ. VELLORE MEDICAL COLLEGE, INDIA WITNESSING TO PILGRIMS IN INDIA Dr. William Decker, a Baptist missionary, formerly in China, who has recently sej:!n the VeI- In India, says Dr. E. Stanley Jones, a time of lore Medical School in action, reports: a greater Christian harvest seems to be coming. "I saw Dr. Ida Scudder's hospital, the indus- Old superstitions and prejudices are gradually trial work, as well as a new departure in agricul- breaking down, and thinking Indians are more tural missions which is a most promising venture.
and more seeking truth and liberty, such as can Perhaps .outstanding, however, was two or three be found only in Christ. On the other hand, na- hours with a roadside medical unit doing dispen- tional ambition, economic needs, and intellectual sary work, and making injections for leprosy- contacts with other nations, lead many to empha- from an ambulance drawn up at the roadside." size political power, materialism, and skepticism. The Christians in India are awake to the situa- Dr. Scudder and her staff have treated as many tion and are emphasizing evangelism, not only as a thousand lepers in one day in these roadside among depressed classes, but among pilgrims, clinics. VeIlore combines a medical college, a students and caste Hindus. nurses training school, and X-ray and radium de- partment, an out-patient clinic, four roadside clin- A special retreat and conference, held at Be- ics and Gudiyattam Hospital; a maternity hospinares, in April, brought together Christian work- tal, a children's hospital, and an operating theater. ers from different centers to consider work among The hospital has 250 beds. All these are operated Hindu pilgrims, Sadhus and Sanyasies. The on annual gifts of about $48,000, .of which Amerievangelists came from Puri, where the temple of ca contributes $25,000. Does any institution in Janannath draws thousands of pilgrims to wor- the United States operate as many departmentsship; from Calcutta, Patna, Behar, Ayodhya medical, surgery, pathology, bacteriology, anat- (birthplace of Sita and Ram) and from !tarsi, omy, biology, eye, ear, nose and throat, maternity, Muttra, Brindaban and Benares. These repre- ante-natal clinic and gynecology-treating in one sentatives met for prayer and conference and to year 3,398 in-patients, 44,484 out-patients, 20,060 report on methods and results in their work. An roadside patients. and 1,321 in the maternity ward organization was formed to promote work among -at such a small expense? the pilgrims. Jesus Christ, where faithfully presented by teaching and life, appeals strongly to The decree has now gone forth that, by 1942 Hindus, even if they are not ready to break away at the latest, the school must be raised to a college from their old religions. The following points standard of M. B. B. S. which is equivalent to an were emphasized in the discussions: American M.D. That will require an endowment of $700,000 to support ten more doctors, and pro- 1. Hinduism should be studied so as to develop vide for medical research, public health work and understanding and to equip the messenger to medicine; also $300,000 is needed for extra buildpreach the Gospel. ings and equipment. Here is a great oPP.ortunity 2. The truth and sufficiency of Christ and His to strengthen this great interden.ominati.onal hos- teaching should be stressed and exemplified more pital, medical college and nurses training school than the weakness and deficiencies of Hinduism. in South India.
A "full and positive Gospel of the Living Christ" *** is the need of the hour. Dr. Scudder expects to be in America next year, after 3. Only simple, sincere and practical conse- completing her forty years of service in India. The pro- crated Christianity of the apostolic type is effec- gram of Jesus Christ given in the doctor's Gospel (Luke tive to meet the vital needs of Hindus. 4: 22) is being carried out today at Vellore. Dr. Scudder asks Christians to pray that this great work into which 4. Collective witness and cooperative Christian she and other American, British and Indian women have work is necessary to offset the influences of the put their lives, may be continued.
united forces of Hinduism.
5. The guidance and power of the Spirit of God Miss Hilda Olson, of Rockport, Massachusetts, is the American Treasurer of the Veilore Medical College.
Is New in Home Missions?
By the REV. MARK. A. DAWBER, New York Executive Secretary of the Home Missions Council How many, many times I have been asked strong centers of support for the Christian cause. this question during the past years, and Others have passed through the settling down now I am requested to write an article on process and, due to the disintegrating forces of the subject! The answer in a word is that there land erosion, land speculation and exploitation, is nothing that is basically new in Home Missions. the people again need missionary aid. To make the Gospel available to the disadvantaged people or to those who, for various reasons, have Many descendants of the early settlers, who not been reached with the ministry of the Church, became farm tenants in the agricultural depresis still the primary task of the Home Missions sion immediately following the World War, are now being displaced by the all-purpose tractor enterprise. and large-scale agriculture. An outstanding illus- But in another sense, everything is new. The tration is that of a Mississippi Delta planter who question raised is symbolic of the age in which formerly had 160 tenant farmers. He purchased we live; it anticipates change, it suggests that the 22 tractors and now he needs to employ only 30 thinking person is conscious that something is families to work by the day. happening to human life in America, and that new demands are being made upon institutions, such Family Life and Migrant Workers as Home Missions, that· are engaged in the task of ministering to people who, because of chang- Thousands of American families must now ing situations, are unable to support a church, or travel to find employment. The family continues who are no longer accessible to the religious min- to sleep as a unit, to consume as a unit, but it no istry of the normal established church in more longer is able to produce wealth as a unit from settled communities. its own property. Because the family has lost this basis of productive property the American Old Americans and Old Frontiers family, as a fundamental natural productive unit, is well-nigh destroyed. Food, clothing and shelter, Home Missions was the child of the frontier. the basic essentials for living and the sources from That thrilling episode of American history that whence they come, are now gathered up into huge records the daring and heroism of the early interlocking hands of incorporated commercial pioneers, who crossed the Rockies and blazed the owners and distributors. With this centralization trail into what was then the American wilderness, and industrialization of food, clothing and shelter, was also the record of the first organized Home the last vestiges of American freedom and security Mission work. This frontier is no longer with us are wiped out. For many of these people there in the sense in which it obtained a hundred years is no available land upon which to build and own ago. There are still geographical frontiers, but better homes; there is no land for the production they are not the challenge to the population move- and consumption at home-the only efficient and ments such as obtained in the days of the early conserving land economy. This is something new Home Mission era. in our American life and brings with it new prob- But the frontier ideal has always dominated the lems for Home Missions. Home Mission enterprise. People seeking new This situation raises some interesting and peropportunities to secure their democratic heritage as American citizens, ever pressing on to what plexing questions. What is happening to this would provide a better opportunity to earn a live- land of opportunity, democracy, freedom and se- curity? What is happening to the millions of lihood, build a home and bring up a family-these acres of homestead land? What is happening to ever made their appeal to the Home Mission this. land where it was once possible for the poor- agencies. est to build homes for their children? Weare A century has passed and many old frontier being reduced to slavish workers in the homes communities have become established centers of and fields that once we owned. This process of culture and religion. They no longer need the dispossession is having a serious effect upon thouministrations of Home Missions but have become sands of American citizens.
[279 ]
Others have accepted a wage in place of owner- of certain types of industry from the North to the ship, a tenant shack for a home, a city street for South, in order to take advantage of cheap labor, a few acres of land; some have substituted the has had an adverse effect on many towns.
faint promise of a quick fortune for a permanent Communities that for years have sustained a home and a family on a few acres that would, self-supporting church with a full-time ministry under careful management, have provided secu- are now obliged to seek aid from their denomina- rity. This transition from the farm family to the tional mission board. The demands now made urban tenement industrialist is creating new upon these agencies are far beyond their ability problems for the church that place a heavy re- or finances; they can help only a small number sponsibility upon Home Mission agencies. of the churches in these areas of recent distress.
There is nothing new to America in a migrant The fact that many members of these churches population. Always we have had them. But our are receiving aid from federal and state relief distinctive migrant groups today present some agencies does not help very much. The conscious- new and difficult problems. ness that they are the recipients of relief has Twenty-five years ago the migrants. were drawn sapped the morale of many of these people, and in the main from a few of the racial groups, par- as a result their religious need is greater than ticularly the Mexicans, Italians and Filipinos. ever. This also is new in Home Missions.
Now the majority of these groups are thedescend- The Southern Highlands ants of the older American families. They are to be found in various sections of the country, but There i~ great danger that the emphasis upon the bulk of this migrant group is on the Pacific the plight of the sharecroppers and the low- Coast. wage industrial workers will overshadow the A ten-year depression, together with droughts equally great needs of other groups, such as the and dust-bowl conditions, has created a new millions who live in the Southern Highlands. The exodus of impoverished farm people who have conditions of the sharecropper, the industrial continued to press their way to the Pacific Coast. worker and the migrant, have been publicized, They have swamped California and are making but not so the Southern Highlanders. Fiction and that state aware of their existence in a way that romance have been written about these people the Mexican and Oriental farm laborers could (and there is much to be written), but the socio- never do. The state is struggling desperately logical story has not been told. The romantic with the problem, seeking to prevent any further story of the Anglo-Saxon rugged mountaineer inroads of these people from Arkansas and Okla- with his quaint language and colonial customs has homa. But this alone doesl not solve the problem. obscured the poverty of the coves, the mountain It is easy for people who are remote from the farms, and the thin soil of the plateaus.
scene of this human tragedy to indulge in moral Drastic changes are taking place among these criticism, but it is not easy for a state, already people. As recently as fifty years ago the High- burdened with relief, to accept a sudden inrush lander with his log cabin, his rifle and his spin- of 100,000 needy people. Driven off the cotton ning wheel was on a par as to standard of living lands by the tractor, driven off the wheat lands with the other pioneers of the prairie cabin, the by the drought and the combine, drawn by the log hut, or sod house. The wooded hillsides fur- strange tide which pulls. the white race westward, nished timber and game. Now the timber is gone the impoverished people have been pouring into and the game with it; also, it should be said, the the West, dogged by disease and hunger, too proud meagre income is gone that was once provided.
to accept charity, willing to work for any wages. The mountaineers have multiplied so that they The result is a condition that calls for action by have been compelled to cultivate the steep moun- the Nation, State and the Church. The Church, tain sides in a desperate effort to make a living.
through the Council of Women for Home Mis- The following summary of conditions will help sions, with very limited finances, is struggling to us to understand the modern needs of these people.
grapple with a herculean task. The size and the (The teachers of some 13,232 children in moun- character of this migrant group present many tain schools supplied the information.) Children new problems for Home Missions. needing clothing, 38%; shoes 32'10; milk 27'10 ; New Distressed Areas soap 42 %; hot lunches 45 %; school supplies 26 %; library books 80 '10. Any consideration of With the coming of new materials, new tech- the changing needs and demands in Home Mis- niques, mass production and the machine, there sions must take cognizance of the Southern High- has developed a new type of distress. Towns and lands. Dr. Odum of the University of North Car- villages, and some cities, have been seriously af- olina has well said that these "retarded frontiers"
fected by the recent innovations of science and will have to pass through several stages of devel- labor-saving devices, Furthermore, the movement opment, not only in improved economic conditions,
WHAT IS NEW IN HOME MISSIONS?
but development as it applies to the human ele- vantaged groups in America during the days of ment. Moreover, we are dealing with a very the "New Deal" administration have also created different type of mountain youth today than we new problems for the home mission agencies. were twenty-five years ago. They too are creating new demands upon State and school and Church. The resettlement projects, like Arthurdale and Cumberland Homesteads, present an opportunity The depression years have also brought great for religious work. Here some 250 families are changes among the people of other countries, reestablished on what amounts to subsistence groups who have anticipated coming to America, levels of living. The people will have little cash and among the immigrants who have come to this with which to support a church, so that the miscountry in recent years. Immediately following sion boards are under pressure to provide a minthe World War a different attitude developed to- istry. This is also true of many of the rehousing ward these foreign countries. No longer was projects in the cities where slum clearance has America to remain the "open door" to the peoples taken place. It is well-nigh impossible to reach of the world. Before the World War, European these people with the established churches in nearimmigration to the United States reached a high by territory. The approach must be made on an peak and as many as 1,285,000 immigrant aliens interdenominational basis, so that agencies like were received in a single year. The revised im- the Home Missions Council have an important migration law of 1921 limited the number of aliens function to perform in arranging the program and coming to this country in a single year to 3'70 of providing a Christian ministry to such commua given nationality already in the country. This nities. reduced the number to 358,000 in a year. In 1924 the immigration act was again revised to limit By its very nature the Church finds these changes more difficult than most other instituthe quotas to 2 '70 of the resident population of tions. It is identified with values that are time- less, and these values are often conceived of as not any nationality, based upon the earlier census of being affected by these matter-of-fact changes in 1890 as against 1920. our human and material universe. Rooted in the past and sanctified by age, the Chur·ch finds It is hardly necessary to say that this restric- change necessarily a painful process. Yet those tion has wide implications for Home Missions. who really love Christ and the Church, and are Add to it the further fact that, in many cases, alive to the facts that confront us in modern life, more of some nationalities were leaving America will gladly sacrifice the outmoded in order that the for their native land than were coming in under Kingdom of God may be advanced. A living the new restrictions, and it is readily seen that the Church is one that will make the adjustment in Home Missions program to these groups would its program and equipment in order to fit it for undergo drastic changes. These adjustments are the ministry to which it is called at a given time. now in process-consolidation of foreign language The home mission agencies are alive to these churches, the assimilation of the second and third changes that are taking place. They are far generation by the English-speaking church, ex- ahead of their general ecclesiastical bodies in their periments with interdenominational work among insight into these problems and in their willingthese groups-these and other movements mark ness to make the necessary adjustments. They the changes that must be made by the mission are hindered only by the lack of morat and finanboards in their ministry to New Americans. cial support.
The various programs of rehabilitation, resettlement and rehousing of depressed and disad- AS PROF. EINSTEIN NOW SEES THE OHUROH "Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany, I looked to the univer- sities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but no, the universities were immediately silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks. Then I looked to the individual writers, who, as literary guides of Germany had written much and often con- cerning the place of freedom in modern life; but they, too, were mute.
"Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing the truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly." ALBERT EINSTEIN; quoted in The Living Church.
Among Ozark
By PAUL A. WOBUS, Manchester, Missouri Director of Mountain Work in the Ozarks "you ought to go to Vichy if you're looking "You ought to go to Short Bend," said a man for a spiritually-neglected place," said a on the road. "No church there at all; virgin ter- friend when he heard that I had been dele- ritory. No opposition-no prejudices."
gated to find an opening in the Ozarks for work I went to all four points-and many others. I to be sponsored by what was then the Evangelical had been asked to select any area where no other Synod. "It seems to be quite a center, judging church was effectively serving. "Of course,"
from the number of people who gather there for added the genial chairman of the committee, "you the Saturday night when the fiddlers sway to need not go all the way down to the Arkansas line.
More than likely you'll find a field nearer to your home on the outskirts of St. Louis."
My observations revealed several typical Ozark church situations.
Vichy is truly a center. It boasts a population of 210, which, in the sparsely settled rural sec- tions of the Ozarks, is not small. I happened to come to this town on a Friday, and found there a large gathering of some kind. Inquiry brought out that the banker was a member of the official board of the church which was still intact. He said that he was interested in having an active church. The town needed it and he would give his support.
"May we use the building for services tomor- row night and Sunday morning?" I asked.
"Why-er-that is, the time is so short. The house needs cleaning up, there is no oil in the lamps, and a window pane is out. And [this was the real hitch] we'd have to see the district super- intendent about it. What denomination did you say you are connected with?"
We were face to face with one of those tragic DIFFICULTIES OF CHURCH GOING IN SHANN'ON COUNTY cases, where a dead organization is an obstacle in the way of any live effort. Cobwebs and dust yield their tunes for the old-time square dances. Dur- readily to an energetic arm ; window panes can ing my two weeks' vacation there I found that the be replaced; but ecclesiastical machinery, always village church has been closed for some time." cumbersome, may block the path to progress. In rural areas this is felt even more than in cities. "You, ought to go to Lesterville," said an Ozarkian. "Yes, I know they have a church there, *** but it does not serve the community. It is practically dead." Lesterville's sole church organization was functioning after a fashion. Of the strict immer- "You ought to go to Antioch," s,aid a druggist sionist type, it had about fifty members, six or in an Ozark county seat. "It's the very place for eight of whom were said to be active. The pasthe work you have in mind. Two churches at tor, a man of more than average ability, came once Antioch, both defunct; one at Gill and a fourth a month from another church 121 miles south, at Stone Hill, in the same state. Unite these four over roads which a decade and a half ago were into one strong church at a logical center. An- none too good. _ tioch is ready for you~the people are tired of It was not difficult to get a good attendance for divisive sectarianism." the monthly services we conducted at Lesterville.
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EXPERIENCES AMONG OZARK MOUNTAINEERS
Of much help was a devout Presbyterian, whose and which then is open to anyone and everyone family belonged to the local church, he himself who cares to use it. We had early come to know could not feel at home in its atmosphere of exclu- of several such churches, but they were standing siveness. He dreamed with us of a community idle most of the time for want of an organization church where people of all creeds could worship or a responsible group to make sure of a definite, our common Master, Christ. The postmistress, continuous program of worship, service and study. also a member of the church, rendered friendly Short Bend still does not have a church, but all help. THE' SHANNONDALE COMMUNITY HOUSE Not many months elapsed before the seemingly defunct organization took on a new lease on life. manner of sects have put forth spasmodic efforts Giving them credit for being sincere in their efforts, and consistent with our ideals of a united there. *** Christendom, we slackened our own pace lest we divide the community. When we ceased to be Eminence, a county seat town, is an example aggressive the ardor of the local church rapidly of yet another type of sectarian sniping. At one cooled. time there had been four church organizations- two of them of the immersionist persuasion. After some years of this sort of procedure, the These four used the union church building in a immersionists had thawed out to such a degree peaceful way-one Sunday every month for each. that we withdrew altogether. The local church In time one of the immersionistchurches, and made some gains, increased its active member- one of the other kind, died. The other two were ship, and improved the property, which originally of about equal strength. Voices were raised in had been intended as a community building. We favor of a community church, but we were undid not feel inclined to open a dispute over its pos- able to enter this field. session, but a number of people,among them some of the very best citizens, did not, and perhaps Then there came to the non-immersionist group never will, affiliate with a church of this type. a young minister with a determination to climb. Their dream of a community church is unrealized He won the ecclesiastical approval he courted by because they want to be generous with those of whipping up the enthusiasm of his congregation their friends and neighbors whose church life to the point of erecting their own church building. makes them narrow-minded. There are many His frie.nds predicted that with such "success" to Lestervilles in the Ozarks! his "credit" he would rise high among the clergy of the land. They prophesied that he would be *** called to the pulpit of a large city church. He did not get such a call before he had widened the Rather against our own judgment, but in re- breach in this little Ozark town which now has sponse to a very definite call, we entered the An- two church buildings where one would suffice. tioch-Stone Hill neighborhood. The four churches of that locality belonged to two sects. The natives *** asked us to merge the two of one kind which still had some life in them. The other two seemed The Ozarkian is by nature deeply religious.. He beyond the possibility of revival, even to the is the descendant of a people who not only were preacher who had hastily organized them, yet the well-grounded on the Bible but who reserved for old organization had some adherents whose te- themselves the right to interpret it. Jealously nacity was worthy of a noble cause. guarding their liberty, they freely grant it to others. A relatively small percentage are mem- *** bers of a church and these are scattered among many sects. Our difficulty lies not, with those At Short Bend, where we held a number of services as we were forming contacts throughout this section of the Ozarks, there was no debris of any existing organization to clear away. An obstacle was the cityward exodus on the part of those whose enthusiasm welded the community together. There was also a misconception of the community church.
We had held two services in the schoolhouse at Short Bend and then somebody spoke of building a church. The entire group seemed to fall in line and, being very new in the Ozark work at that time, we hailed this suggestion with delight. Many Ozarkians speak of a union church, meaning one which the entire community helps to build
outside the Church, but with those church mem- agencies trained and equipped for guiding the bers who fail to act like Christians. physical, cultural, social, economic and religious development of the region. We must also remember that overchurching is really underchurching and leads to spiritual de- *** pression. It is easy to effect a new organization and to erect another church building-lumber be- After several years of orientation and reconing cheap. There is a smug satisfaction in cling- noitering we began to concentrate at Stone Hill, ing tenaciously to a creed and in thinking that all Bixby, and in northern Shannon County, Misthat religion means is to defend it with great zeal. souri.
This sectarian zeal has wrought untold havoc in At Stone Hill we did succeed in merging two the Ozarks. As soon as one responsible group decadent churches. Some years later, in response undertakes an adequate ministry, an astonishingly to desire of the people, a community church was large number of self-appointed preachers comes organized. The wounds caused by old-time diforth to complicate the work. "There is a visive sectarianism have by no means been healed; preacher behind .every stump," in the picturesque the preachers of other sects do not always refrain language of an Ozarkian. If somebody would hold from interference with the good work that is be- ing done; but we go on, preaching and teaching AT A COMMUNITY GATHERING IN THE OZARKS the unifying power of Christian love. One handi- cap is. that the denomination which relinquished the preachers in check, we would feel competent the field to us fifteen years ago still owns the to deal with the laity! church building and makes an effort now and then to come back. The Sunday school has gone on Villages and small towns are the worst suffer- uninterruptedly for 61 years. ers from over-churching in the Ozarks. Hamlets and the open country have fewer churches for *** their population. At Bixby we entered a field in which no reli- What is it, then, that we set out to accomplish gious work had ever been done until our native in our ministry to the Ozarks? Briefly this, to Ozarkian evangelist, the Rev. Zenith F. Yount, bring the Gospel of God's redemptive love to all, preached the first sermon there. One month later, regardless of man-made barriers and creedal di- when I accompanied him to Bixby for what I visions. We seek to unite in indigenous churches thought would be the second sermon, a man said those who already profess faith in the Lord Jesus to us, "This will be the third service here. Brother Christ and to win others to Him. We aim to Clark slipped in ahead of you, but the place is minister to those who have hitherto been passed yours anyway by squatter's rights." by, and to lift the natives out of their tendency toward an ingrown religion; we want to give A church was organized after a revival which them a consciousness of and a share in, the com- resulted in a most amazing transformation of munion of saints; we would like to make the what was once known as the toughest little spot Church the institution from which radiate whole- in the Ozarks. The work is going forward in some influences on all of life, by cooperating with spite of occasional inroads by various types of "Holiness groups" who like to meet at just the time of Pastor Yount's bi-monthly appointments. When they asked for the use of the building- which is a remodeled store, purchased from funds raised by the sale of used clothing-a real prob- lem arose. Some of the church members were quick to refuse, while others felt that they should be hospitable. Showers of rain one Sunday set- tled the question-nobody had the heart to turn anyone out. Such revivals stir up great enthu- siasm for the time, but after it dies down our work continues as before. At Bixby the Sunday school carries on under native leadership.
*** In Shannon County, south of Salem, Missouri, we discovered a large area in which no church of any kind was functioning. It is one of the most rugged sections of the Ozarks, with narrow val- leys along the many streams. The population is sparse, and there were but few people to count on at the start. The community lacked cohesion, yet
THE WORLD NEEDS THE CHURCH
a united church came as the natural result of one More and more calls are coming in from other of the greatest revivals ever held in the Ozarks, communities for a united church. The Ozarkian, conducted by Pastor Yount. Since we wanted keen and alert student of life, is giving this type to serve an extensive parish, the welding together his approval. We believe that by helping the of a number of rural school districts, we worked towards the purchase of a tract on the main high- GOING TO CHURCH IN THE OZARK MOUNTAINS way running through the center of the county from north to south, and named it Shannondale. Ozarks to make a contribution to the spirituality In 1932 a community house was built of native of the world, the efforts of the Evangelical and stone. The Rev. Vincent W. Bucher, who had en- Reformed Church are bearing rich fruit. deared himself to the people of this region as a teacher in Vacation Church Schools, became resident pastor of Shannondale in 1934. Last year the thank-offering of the women of the Evangelical and Reformed Church was used for the erection of a modern manse for the Bucher family.
A group of natives, under the guidance of Mr. Bucher, formed the Shannondale Cooperative Association and operate a store in a building they erected on the same tract. A Folk School, held for three weeks. each year, seeks to enrich life. Weekly recreation and play nights, with also some opportunity for study, are very popular. Besides holding church school and services at the center, Mr. Bucher preaches at a number of isolated schoolhouses.
The World Needs the Church The Commentator has this to say about the na- no freedom is secure. Close the Bible, and what tions and the Church: becomes of a free press? Silence the pulpit, and what is left of free speech? Many of us have vague ideas of religion. We care little for creeds and ceremonies. We leave The value of a church to society-the sermons, the churches to the clergy and spend our time else- the sacraments, the music, the missions, the hospiwhere. Some of us, however, have been startled talities and the pastoral services of the clergy beout of our indifference. We are not as sure as we hind the scenes-is to be measured by a twofold used to be that a world without churches is the standard. A church does good: a church preworld in which we want to live. We feel a need, vents evil. Churches remind us of the weak who and wonder whether churches might not meet this are apt to be trampled under foot, of the sufferers need. who yearn for sympathy, of the bereaved who cry out for consolation, of strangers against whom What arouses us is a contrast. In some coun- prejudice is apt to be fomented, of failures in life tries churches are respected. In other countries who want to make a fresh start. . . . churches are humiliated. Whatever may be our beliefs or unbeliefs, we know which kind of coun- Children within a church form friendships .with try we prefer. Millions are eager to enter coun- other children, similarly situated, and are less tries where churches are active. Millions· are liable to drift into the no-man's-land where eager to escape from countries where churches juvenile delinquency is a danger. . . . are suppressed. . . . After three centuries of experience, this nation still believes in churches. They who condemn churches as obsolete, con- They may differ widely from one another in faiths demn themselves. For churches are not only diand forms of worship. But, jointly and severally, vine. They are human. They are what men and they justify their existence. women enable them to be.
In the fight for democracy against dictatorship This Year of Grace, 1939, challenges civilization. throughout the world, churches and synagogues To uphold civilization is the urgent task. It is not are in the forefront of the hottest battle. They wholly a matter for surprise that churches should stand for freedom of conscience without which be appraised afresh as an ally of society in its hour of grave uncertainty.
South's Number One
The Tenant Farmer – Whence and Whither?
-~ I By the REV. ARCHIE C. SMITH, De Queen, Arkansas I)ae– I N THE fertile river valleys of the Southland posses,sed little or no capital, no land and no tools is found some of the best alluvial land in the with which to farm. Legal emancipation was not world. The God of nature has there provided enough to enable him to establish himself on a man with the means of producing abundant har- self-supporting basis. With only his bare hands vests. Yet it is here, in this land of plenW, that and a willingness to work at the only trade he we find conditions which challenge the social, edu- knew, the Negro turned to the planter for employ- cational and religious institutions of North Amer- ment.
ica. For it is here that we encounter the South's On the other hand the planter possessed large number one economic problem, the share-cropper, tracts of land the cultivation of which required a or more correctly the tenant farmer. As Chris- . tremendous amount of manuallahor. Out of their tians focus their attention upon this problem it is mutual need was born the sharecropper system important to look at the underlying causes as well in which the planter agreed to rent a certain as at the results,. number of acres of farm land in return for a Too frequently have the efforts of Christian share of the crop at harvest. The planter also forces proven futile because they have approached supplied a house, seed, garden patch, farm ani- a solution without understanding the economic mals, and money for food during the time of grow- and social background. An historical inquiry as ing and harvesting the crop. This money with to the South's "Number One Problem" shows the interest was charged to the tenant's account and condition of the tenant farmer to be largely de- deducted from his share of the proceeds from the termined by social and economic factors as well sale of the year's harvest.
as by the use of unchristian ethics on the part of Under this arrangement the rent usually re- both the tenant farmer and the landlord. quired half the year's crop. This system has re- The history of the tenant farmer reaches back mained virtually unchanged until today. Its into the early history of the South. The great greatest weakness is that at best it furnishes to tlie waves of settlers who came from the eastern sea- average tenant but a mere living. Any emergency board were of two sorts, the wealthy planter who that may arise from sickness or crop failure will settled on large tracts of land in the river valleys, often throw the tenant in debt so deep that he is and the poorer farmer who settled on the less fer- always in arrears to the landlord.
tile farms in the hills. The romantic pictures of In this way the tenant was virtually bound to plantation life in the South before the War are the land. His only escape has been to go to another not a true graph of its social structure. Every planter, with whom he eventually found himself river bottom plantation operated: with slave labor, in the same predicament. The development of the was matched by numerous dirt farmers who lived industries of the North and East brought an ave- and labored in the hills. nue of escape. .Labor agents came South and The Civil War brought about the emancip~tion thousands of N~ro tenants went with them to of the slave but it wrought little change in the the North, thus es~aping from their debt burdened social structure of the South. ThehiU farmer status in the farm tenant system.
continued his way earning a living' from·n.is few acres. He chose one of his sons as his successor The Hill Farmer's Troubles on the farm and equipped the others for the trades Meanwhile things were happening to the hill or professions. The planter and his former slaves farmer. Unscientific farming led to the erosion succeeded in effecting an adjustment that enabled and the depletion of the fertility of his land. Year the fertile river valleys to continue to produce a after year decreases in his crop yields lowered his major portion of the world's supply of cotton. To status in the economic scale of the South's agri- supplant the old system of slavery a new system cultural system. His tribe was increasing with was evoIved which was to become known as the each generation and, with his decreasing income, sharecropper plan. The N e gr 0 "freed-man" he was finding it impossible to maintain his posi- [286] . tion in the social order. He was no longer able by every trait of temperament and personality to to educate his sons for the trades and professions enter into an economy which called for the closest therefore his already overburdened acres were cooperation between planter and tenant. He re- called on to support even greater numbers. Lack- belled against the close supervision exercised by ing capital to move to more fertile land his only the planter and friction was inevitable.
recourse was to remain on and eke out an exist- Owing to the inherent weakness of the farm ence of a sort. With his economic strength van- tenant system (tenant indebtedness) the worker's ishing he naturally began to deteriorate socially. meager capital was soon exhausted and his eco- The triune ravages of the South, hookworm, ma- nomic existence came to depend wholly upon his laria and pellagra, were exacting their toll from employer. Unfortunately for many tenants this his physical body, leaving him without energy. attitude was none too favorable. Frequently the The one-room public school was doing its best tenant was fractious and the planter soon tired to provide an education but it seldom did more of the strife that was continuously creeping into than to teach him to read and write and lead him their relationships. Since many tenants were to feel that he had all the educational world had unreliable the planter learned to regard them as to offer. His reaction to conditions beyond the a bad economic risk. Under such conditions realm of his understanding grew to be one of planters felt justified in getting rid of them as stupid suspicion. His personality, locked in the soon as possible. They passed from plantation to vaults of superstition and. ignorance, became a plantation until finally no one would have them.
dwarfed and distorted image of his forbears. Thus hundreds of white tenant families found Religious Decadence themselves thrown on their own pitifully inade- quate resources. They usually found some aban- In his religious life we find the same pitiful doned house and eked out an existence as best story of decadence. The clergy were recruited they could, doing odd jobs. Other white tenants from his. own ranks and made the transition from however succeeded in making the adjustment to the laity to the ministry by the simple expedient the system, until the depression made their posiof swapping the plow and the furrow for the Bible tion insecure. and the pulpit. About all this type of ministry has had to offerits. parishioners. is a very narrow A new factor, in the way of farm management, and limited conception of the broad principles of entered the field. Insurance companies were Christianity. The tenant farmer's faith came to forced to take over and operate many plantations consist of an extreme denominational conscious- to protect investments in southern farm lands ness; it was decidedly negative in character, pos- and established corporations. for the purpose of sessing little of the vital qualities of true Chris- carrying on farming operations. These business tianity. As a rule the average minister rose or organizations soon realized the economic weakfell in the estimation of his congregation with his ness of the tenant farmer and the mule and supability to vanquish his denominational foes in an planted them with the tractor and wage hand. ecclesiastical debate. Sometimes these theological Thus many more tenants passed out of the farm tenant system.
arguments grew so tempestuous that the police The Negro Tenant had to be called to enforce the peace. The position of the Negro tenant was also threatened. Tmnsition from the "share" method As generations came and went the stronger to a daily wage was disastrous to both the Negro sons succeeded in escaping from the farm, leav- and white tenant. Neither was able, by training ing the weaker to usher in a new generation a or ability, to manage his own economic affairs. little further down on the social scale. Like his They were forced to establish an entirely new impoverished acres the tenant farmer's character basis of economic existence on a low wage scale. has been depleted in moral, spiritual, intellectual The only time the cultivation of cotton demands and physical strength. The chief characteristic a great deal of manual labor is during the hoeing that remains from his pioneering forbears is a and harvest seasons. But these Negroes simply fierce pride; but unlike his forbears he has little do not possess. the economic sagacity to be able justification in his character for such a pride.
With the planters of the South looking for labor to manage a small seasonal income so that it will to replace Negro tenants who had gone North, cover the needs of an entire year. Thus many came an opportunity for the poor white man to more tenant families were added to the homeless escape from his impoverished land. He therefore and unemployed.
sold his holdings. for whatever they would bring With the arrival of the cotton control program and with this limited capital moved to the planta- many more will be forced into this group. The tions to take the place of the departed Negro. planter has been forced to reduce his acreage This was a terrible mistake. He was ill suited planted to cotton. If he is forced to reduce his
acreage one-third it is only a matter of simple a conference on the problem, but little was accomfractions to make him realize that he can get along plished other than the realization of the immensity with two-thirds of his tenants. Thus the farmless of the difficulty. group is threatened with a large increase in its numbers. Once this primary need has been met the next step must be to establish and carry out a South- There is yet another Damoclesian sword hang- wide program of human rehabilitation which will ing over the head of the hapless farm tenant. restore in the individuals of the farm tenant group The rules under which the government subsidizes the material and spiritual ability to fend for themits soil conservation program require that the selves in the rapidly changing economy of the rent paid the planter for acres planted with soil South. No such program has been formulated, conservation crops shall be shared with the tenant. but a hint as to its character may he found in the Here is an opportunity for the planter to profit success of the various social and educational by exchanging the rent system for the daily wage. agencies laboring in areas inhabited by large num- If he is not renting the land to the farm tenant, bers of tenants. In the regular course of their but merely working him by the day, he will receive duties they have touched the life of the individual the entire subsidy check. In the writer's experi- tenant and have brought about some very encourence he has known of no planters. resorting to this aging results. The Agricultural Extension Servunjust means of augmenting their income, but it ice has brought to the mind of the farmer a knowlis a possibility that must be considered by the edge of scientific farming and to his wife the farm tenant. advantages of agood home and home environment. The Public Health Service is teaching them the The Situation Today rudiments of simple hygiene and the value of diet in health. The displacing of the one-room school As the situation is today the Southern tenant by the consolidated school has wrought a wonderfarmer falls into two classes; the farmless tenant, ful change in the social and educational outlook who in reality is no longer a sharecropper but of their children. The children of the average is generally regarded as such; and the tenant tenant farmer today have a much broader and farmer who has succeeded in remaining in the more intelligent view of life than their parents. "system." It is imperative that the former re- If the more promising of these children could seceive attention at once. One cannot but be cure the advantages of a higher education they shocked at the thought of helpless people sitting could extricate themselves from the toils of the beside the road with no place to go. Here are sharecropping system and in a generation or two step-children of an economy which is rapidly would become normal Americans. As it is they changing and, in its change, can find no place for know that college is for them in the realm of the its unwanted wards. Very little is being done to improbable, if not impossible. With this barren meet the needs of this group. A few have found outlook before them they marry at an early age, refuge in the Farm Security Administration, a start to farming on shares, bring a large family federal agency, which is carrying out a national into the world, go in debt and remain so until program of rural rehabilitation. Others have death settles the account with the landlord. been brave enough to endeavor to homestead lands in the poorly drained swamp areas. They cannot While the work of reclamation, wrought by these hope for much success for they are without cap- social agencies, is merely a dent in the surface, "ital to carry them through the lean years before the success of their limited operations shows that their newly acquired acres can be brought to pro- the Southern tenant farmer is able to make a reduction. If their venture is successful this outlet sponse to efforts in his behalf. will serve only a small proportion of those in need. Some are finding a refuge in the homes of rela- The Christian Aspects tives who have succeeded in retaining their position as tenants on the plantations still using the What are the Christian aspects of the situation? share-cropping system. Unfortunately they are few for little Christianity has been exercised by the principals involved. The most immediate and urgent need in the The religious and moral life of the tenant farmer whole Southern tenant farmer problem is to find is only a dim shadow of the Christ-inspired life. a means of economic existence for those who are Gradually through the generations, the farmer in the army of farmless tenants. Other than the has come to look upon the Bible as containing limited amount of work heing done by the Farm proof texts for his denominational position rather Security Administmtion, and a single project be- than as a rule of faith and life. But the planter ing conducted by a group of socially minded has had many of his generous impulses shattered American Christians, there have been no con- by treachery and unreliability on the part of some structive efforts made toward the remedying of of his tenants. The Christian forces working in this situation of homeless people. One state held their midst have failed to realize that the tenant
THE SOUTH'S NUMBER ONE PROBLEM
farmer needs to. have evidences Qf their mission- farmers find that it is virtually impossible to effect ary interest. any radical change in the outlook of the older gen- eration. The young people, however, readily re- None of the Home Mission authorities of the spond to influences which are brQught to bear on more prominent churches of the South have thus their lives. If they can be reached befQre their far come to look upon the farm tenant group as environment has warped their cQnception of life, one which needs a well planned prQgram Qf mis- they will make as much progress as any group of sionary effort in their behalf. Only here and there average young Americans. in an isolated case does one find such a missionary project. The experience gained from these The promotiQn of a missionary project for a activities teach us that the tenant is not only the community of tenant farmers in southeast Ar- South's number one economic and social pro.blem, kansas has shown the writer that the task of but that this group also represents Southern effecting the spiritual rehabilitation of the tenant Christianity's numberQne spiritual problem. Ef- farmer will be a IQng hard struggle, filled with forts are being made by the State to effect the bitter experiences. The work began in an abaneconomic and social rehabilitation Qf the tenant doned one-room school house. The tenants posfarmer, and it is essential that the Church under- sessed no. means with which to erect a church gird this work with a well-planned program of building and refused to believe that funds CQuid Christian activity. It is 'a tremendous task which be secured. During the period of raising funds will require the wholehearted effort of every home from outside sources, the purchas.ing of materials mission agency in the Church. and the erection of the building, every conceivable obstacle was thrown in the way Qf the project by First of all effeotive work in this field will re- the tenants themselves. The pastor's character quire a ministry that is "wise as serpents and was assailed and his motives questioned at every harmless as doves." Men of ability must be will- turn; it was not until after four years of someing to devote their ministry to. sacrifice on the times heart-breaking service that his ministry altar of Christian service. The minister will be was vindicated in their sight. By the exercising called upon to work with people who will questiQn of patience and understanding, refusing to allow his motives. His every move will be subject to himself the luxury Qf righteous indignation, he scrutiny to. see if there is some flaw in his char- finally won their confidence and the tenant farmacter. In his presence the tenant farmers will ers with their families became loyal friends. express appreciation for his services, but to each When the church building was a reality large other they will be apt to speak of him with SCQrn crowds began to attend the services and the light and will ridicule his ministry. The minister to the of the Gospel was shed over the community. A tenant farmer must be a man of preaching ability. sound program Qf religious education was adopted It is no easy task to preach acceptably to thQse and Christian influences began to be revealed in who require the simplest of thoughts cQuched in daily lives. This work was correlated with the the simplest of language. The peQple instinctively program of the social agencies in the community resent anything they do not understand. and the program of rehabilitation there, today, is well balanced and wholesome. If organized Christianity ever recognizes the challenge presented to. it in the Southern tenant Under the inspiration of this church and its farmer and decides on some prQgram of missiQn- activities, several young men and women, who ary activity, there must be adequate financial had dropped out Qf school, have been induced to backing. In Qrder that his work may have an air resume their high school studies and one young of permanence the missionary must have a build- man is in college today, literally lifting himself by ing in which to. carry out a program of Christian his own efforts toward a higher education. The activity. There is little permanence abo.ut a brush social life has undergone a gradual change. The arbor and an abandoned one-room school house, weekly community dance, which generally ended such as are the abode of itinerant preachers who in a drunken brawl, has disappeared and the gento.o often exploit the peQple rather than render a eral moral tone of the community life has taken religious service. Anyone utilizing such places. as on an entirely different hue. Truly the power of houses of worship is classed in the itinerant group this church is being felt in the economic, social for which the tenant farmer has little respect. If and religious life Qf this community and is pointthe missionary's work is to be at all successful ing the way to higher and nobler conceptiQns. We it must be housed in a respectable building; then believe that some day the social agencies of Amerthe tenant farmer, who is naturally a church ica will find a solution to the social and economic goer, will fill it to capacity. problems of the sharecro.Pper. When that day comes the church in a community will be able A good program of religiQus. educatiQn will en- to lend its help toward making that solution efable the tenant farmer to apply mQral and spir- fective. itual truth to the sQcial and economic prQblems of his life. Those who have labored among tenant
Berea's Work for
Some Impressions Gathered from Revisiting the College After Thirty-five Years r~"- -'1l!;;1====;;o;;B;;o;;Y;;o;;D;;o;;E;;o;;L;;o;;A;;o;;V;;o;;A_N=L;;o;;';;o;;PI;;o;;E;;o;;R;;o;;SO;;o;;N====-=l..I, T HE true value of every factory or institution and in other parts of the nation and in foreign is to be judged by its products. In America lands. A new era has been ushered into the moun- the name of Berea has become synonymous tains of the South by what Berea has taught and with effective, practical Christian education. Here done. At comparatively small expense, the colgood raw material is received in the form of boys lege has shown how to accomplish wonders in and girls from the Southern Mountains and is practical education by new methods of farming shaped into strong, intelligent, useful Christian and stock raising, by courses in home-making, citizens. Many' other schools and colleges are en- nursing and child training, by modern business deavoring to do the same kind of work but most methods, by industries such as baking, weaving, of them with much less evidence of success. They printing, and furniture making. Students not only would like to know Berea's secret in order that help to earn their way by these industries but they they too may achieve as satisfactory results; but are taught the dignity of labor and learn to be exthey are, in too many cases, handicapped by tra- perts in one or more of these lines. Their products dition, by too much money, by indulgent parents, are works of art with high commercial value. or perhaps even by a lack of the highest ideals, Each student is required to payor earn $150.00 and true sacrificial service on the part of faculty a year to cover his or her expenses for room and and trustees. board, but most of them are able to earn a large part of these expenses by work in the industries, One reason why Berea is a truly great institu- on the farm or elsewhere. The results are seen tion is because it is not so handicapped. The col- in the wide-awake, industrious, fine spirited stulege is rather enriched by tradition, by its ideals, by the necessity for economy and hard work, by dent body.
the quality of the student body, and by the char- What are some of the secrets of Berea's success acter and spirit of its faculty and trustees. Berea in making strong, self-reliant men and women out has a high aim and a noble history and seeks to of the comparatively raw, untrained and underbe true to them today. This unique college, which privileged boys and girls of the mountains?
has today 1700 students, has grown out of a dis- First. Berea gives hope to the students. Many trict school, with a very few pupils, which was of them come from homes where poverty has opened at Berea, Kentucky, by John G. Fee in brought discouragement, where the "upright" 1855. mountain farms offer little possibility for earning a livelihood to support a growing family of chil- The equipment has grown from a small frame building unm it now.comprises a large and beau- dren; where poor roads and lack of schools give tiful campus and forest of 6,284 acres and little opportunity for economic or intellectual rriany fine buildings with all the necessary equip- progress; where churches cannot support a ment for physical, industrial, intellectual and spir- trained minister. Berea teaches these boys and itual education. In the early days Berea sought girls to look forward not back; to be dissatisfied to promote understanding between the white and with past achievements and with things as they Negro races by co-education, but when the Ken- are; to look ahead hopefully to something better tucky Legislature made this illegal, the college -in education, in the economic situation, in Christurned its attention wholly to the neglected and tian service, and in life as a whole. They learn underprivileged mountaineers of the South. Now to look forward to something better than the old 90 per cent of the students must be from the cabins such as are common in the mountains and mountains; no more than 10 per cent can be re- are inspired and taught to build new homes that ceived from outside this region, although many cost little; they learn how to make these attractive apply. The product of Berea has made the college and clean through the science of home-making. famous., for many of its former students have be- Berea students are given a vision of life that is come honored teachers, lawyers, physicians, truly worth living here and that looks forward to Christian preachers, legislators, business men and the Life beyond. home-makers in their own mountain communities Second. Berea gives its students courage and [290 ] inspires them with ambition and energy to do the strictly "cultural" work, is the labor system, a seemingly impossible. They are taught never to be discouraged by handicaps; not to complain be- dominant emphasis of the institution. Each dorcause of what they lack but to use thankfully and effectively what they have. They are taught never mitory student labors ten hours a week or more to accept defeat in any ambition that is high and useful and to realize that nothing good is impos- and for this he is paid in labor credits which are sible to those who have faith, courage and perseverance. There are multitudes of examples in available toward the payment of college bills. The Berea's history from the days of John G. Fee to those of William J. Hutchins. purpose of the labor system is to make it possible Third. Berea teaches its students the value for a student who otherwise would not be able to and joy of unselfish service. They are not encouraged to come to Berea merely for what they can procure an adequate education to win the special do for themselves but because there they can prepare better to serve their fellow men. This is the advantages of Berea. In no one of our campus spirit of the college from the president down to the first year student-and it makes them unusu- schools do we charge tuition. ally cheerful and attractive. Ability to earn money, or to achieve fame of personal comfort, is A student may labor in the dairy, on the farm, not the goal set before them; it is the ideal of making their homes, their community and the in the garden, in the broom industry, in the bakworld a better place in which to live. It is the same ambition that actuated Sir Wilfred Grenfell ery, in the laundry, in the heat and power plant, of Labrador and Dwight L. Moody of Northfield in their life service. Godlike love is the ideal and in the several weaving industries, in some janitor motive that sets the standard of service. service, in Boone Tavern, in one of the offices of Fourth. Berea teaches its students to look to God their Heavenly Father for power to attain the institution. Work for which a student receives these ideals. Youth must not only look forward hopefully and within courageously as they take educational credit, yields him no money; labor stock of their assets, but they must look around lovingly to meet the needs of others and they must which yields him financial credit, gives him no edlook up to receive the guidance and strength of God. Berea is assured that this higher source of ucational credit. Much of the labor is highly eduhelp is provided in Jesus Christ and the Bible. Students are not expected to fight the battle of life cational. A student janitor in one of our buildalone. Prayer, Bible study, church services and student organizations are used to promote spir- ings, a man recently from the mountains, reitual life. These growing young people learn what many great men and women have learned-that marked the other day, "Me and cobwebs are not true success is attained by putting God first and others second; and that putting self first and God congenial any more." No registrar's card can second courts failure. capture that type of education; but that is edu- *** cation. . As President Hutchins Looks at Berea Some years ago we, at Berea College, sponsored (Excerpts from an address by President William J. Hutchins, given before the Rural Life As- a County Achievement contest. This contest, sociation of Lexington, Kentucky, and printed in their periodical.) originating in the mind of our one time secretary, Berea College is now eighty-four years old. Mr. Marshall Vaughn, which may be tried in vari- Many efforts have been made to label or to classify Berea. It teaches cultural subjects, but ous sections. Judge Bingham offered $5,000 in it is not a "cultural" school; it teaches agriculture, but it is not an "agricultural" school; it prizes, to be divided between the two counties teaches the industries, but it is not an "industrial" school. which should win the largest number of points in Quite separate, whether from the vocational or a County Contest. Nine counties participated. If any man in a county put screens on his house, built a toilet, or painted his house; if any man cooperated in mending the steps of the church house, or in painting a schoolhouse, he did not win a prize himself, but he helped his county win a prize. The friendly emulation of mountain counties in a revamping, redeeming enterprise means a great advance. A man who has once caught a vision of his county with decent roads, and schools, and churches, and toilets, a man who has worked with fellow citizens for a Cause, is not going to be satisfied with shrubbiness and squalor and walrus-like isolation. The County Achievement Contest proved that there are forces in our mountain communities that lead our people toward a high and holy civilization.
A second emphasis of Berea College is the Home. We rest in the belief long ago expressed by Francis Peabody that "the home holds the key to the salvation of the state."
We went into the mountains and found a typical house of the poorer sort; it had no windows in the sides or in the lean-to; it had no foundations.; the hens and hogs of earth, and the winds of heav- en, could find their way beneath it. This house we bought, took down, and moved in sections so
that we could place it in a quiet but central site and women, in a health program, supervised by upon our campus. Next to this house we erected, with the aid of our own construction department, Dr. Joel E. Goldthwait, of Boston. and under the guidance of our Home Economics Department, a "contrast house," the material cost- Each autumn twenty or twenty-five doctors, exing us only $650. The result is a house into which I should be proud to have anyone of our alumni amine our students ; after the examination a sillive with his bride. Within a little mo~e than a year we sold more than eighty-five blueprints of houette is taken of each student. A girl looks at this house. her silhouette and says: "That isn't my picture, Aside from the class and laboratory work done in our Home Economics building, there are five is it ?" "Yes., that's your photograph." As a recountry or "practice homes." In each of these is an expert teacher of Home Economics, who lives sult the girl changes her posture almost as quickly with her girls, eats with them three times a day, guides them as they fashion their menus and their as she changes the way she dresses her hair. Thus meals, as they keep their food expenses within two dollars and sixty-five cents, a week for each a better physical breed of men and women are goperson. In one of these country homes is a baby. ing back into the mountains, whence 90 % of our I had supposed that the girls would kill the baby with love, but I learned better. One day a visitor 2,QOO students come. from Boone Tavern came to see the baby. It was at a time of influenza. A modest mountain girl A fourth emphasis .at Berea is the Ancient came to the door, and asked the visitor, "Have you a cold?" "No." "Then I will see if the baby Simplidties and the Fine Arts. Some students is asleep." In other words, if you haven't had a cold, and if the baby is not as,leep, then you may have not money enough to pay for stamps to send see the baby. That is education. letters home. We are doing our best to inculcate *** a democracy which makes it possible for the boy, There is a new and strange shop on the Berea campus. A man ninety years old, but shrewd and who on Sunday presses his blue jeans, to go to keen, came to tell me of the futility of a college education. He said that college men broke down church and not be embarrassed by the boy next to in the time of depression; that a college man did not know even how to change a fuse in his own him, with white collar and better clothes. At the house if he used electricity. He went on to say that every American ought to be able to till his same time there is emphasis on the Fine Arts. own ground, and to build his own house. Finally he gave us money enough to pay for the part sal- Music and art, we insist, are not the monoply of ary of a high class "Jack of all Trades,," and to build a shop, in which five girls this past year the financially elect. "All of God's, chillen have made their own looms, and in which an average of 150 boys worked each week. Here the boys may wings." Through the window of our "House of study the framing of a house, the wiring of a house, the plumbing of a house, and so on. the People," we seek to prove to our students that The Council on Economic Conditions of the the mountains are beautiful, and that mountain South report that 4,000,000 Southern families should be rehoused. This is one-half of all the life is potentially beautiful. families in the South. And yet, "The home holds the key to the salvation of the state." The fifth emphasis of Berea is religion. While A third emphasis of Berea College is health. we grant that there is no such thing as compUlsory We have a hospital with fifty beds and a contagious ward with 75 beds. Four doctors, two religion, we insist that our students shall be exdentists, four trained nurses, a dietitian and a technician are members of the staff. On the posed to the noblest thoughts which men have ground at one time we have 'approximately fifty student nurses. All join with the Department of cherished, whether they be thoughts concerning Physical Edu~atio;n, with its gymnasia for me)). mathematics, political science or religion.
We do our best to build a golden bridge by which a student may pass. from an impossible theology, and an erroneous Biblical interpretation, to thoughts and convictions about God and Christ which will enable him to fight fearlessly and win in the arena of modern life.
We do not expect our mountain people to be rich, nor shall we lightly endure their hideous destitution. If we Americans have a modicum of communal character and good will, such destitu- tion is absolutely needless.
We who serve the mountains are trying to teach the boys and girls that they can play without per- verting the most sacred instincts of mankind, that they can hear the golden trumpets sound while great sacrifices are being offered; that they may live a life of external hardship, and at the same time find their way, straight and clean, to the per- renial sources of joy which are not destroyed by the ravages of time and circumstance. We are trying to teach the boys and girls how to take their share, their full share, in the economic and spir- itual redemption of the South and in the cosmic redemption of which the great dreamers have dreamed and for which the prophets and apostle.$ .and martyrs h.ave died. . . –
A Challenge for Advance in
–<!III By REV. W. A. ROSS, D.O. Ill>- C APTAIN JIMENEZ, an officer iIi the med- have ministered in the Name of Christ to the sick, ical department of the aviation corps of the has completely changed the attitude of the people Mexican Government, a Protestant and one toward Protestant work. The schools during the of my former students, was remarking on the years they were being carried on, created a friend- tendency in the government toward a more lib- liness and called forth cordial support and elicited eral attitude to religion and a more· spiritual warm praise from all classes of the people.
philosophy. This tendency is more marked in A Nation in the Making some sections than in others. It is a challenge to the evangelical forces to take advantage of the if Mexico prides herself on being one toofbtehgeinfirtsht~ present situation, and at the same time a call from not the first, of the modern States Christ to present His claims upon all. The times and conditions are favorable. struggle for a larger freedom, and that was less We do not mean that all is friendliness toward than thirty years ago. As a nation that is being the Gospel, or that there are no forces of evil, no radical elements opposed to religion, no hearts in made over, she is very young. The people are Mexico that have no room for Christ. We refer to conditions in general. formulating new policies, they are working out At the Congress of the American Republics· in new systems of statecraft, they are facing the Peru, the dominant note was friendliness. The "good neighbor" policy is bearing fruit. It is in edcaownonm. I.CT, hseoyciaarle avnedrycusletnusriatlivecotnoditthioenspoolifticthale' this atmosphere we are working in Mexico but there come at times breaks in the friendly trend. present-day neighborhood world and are receiving Three or four years ago the church in Cuerna- ideas and patterns of behavior which are stirring vaca was closed for some months and the State government was making plans t~ take it as a cul- and moulding the minds and confusing or directtural center. It was saved, and in recent years we have not been in the least molested. Later ing the thoughts of multitudes. These new curthere was a heavy tax put on all ministers of religion. In some cases it amounted to more than rents are uprooting the foundations of their forhalf the salary. That also has been removed, and the ministers go about their duties as freely and mer simpler life, are affecting not only the outer openly and actively as in the United States. In another capital city about four years ago the forms, but also the inner contents and are shaplargest Protestant church was taken over by a semi-official labor group and used as headquarters ing the framework of a new civilization. until recently when it was turned back to the people for religious services. There is a tenacity in the old conditions and The liberal elements have always been favor- conceptions of life which do not yield easily, and able to the Protestant cause. Juarez said eighty years ago: "We need the Protestants in Mexico." there is much that should not yield, but no one And liberal-minded men of affairs in all walks of life have often expressed similar sentiments. can deny that this new structure moves with irre- Their knowledge of history teaches them that in countries where the Protestant faith predominates sistible force. The danger is that the good will there is liberty, progress, and a larger degree of happiness. There is also the missionary work go with the bad, and that sinister elements will that is being done before their own eyes. The work of the hospitals where the doctors and nurses come in. There is danger that, as they are pro- gressing through outer forms and organizations and are mastering the material, they wil not learn self-mastery or will not give a place for God who controls and masters life.
Here is the opportunity for the Evangelicals.
Just at a time when a nation is casting off the old faith there is the opportunity to press· the claims of the new; when hearts are open to the new it is a challenge to present Christ whose coming makes all things new.
A good number of those who have pretended to be the saviors of the people and guardians of their interests during the years of revolution have been selfish and unscrupulous men. This accompanies all revolutionary movements. We must also re- member that the efforts made to uplift the masses of the people take the form of material uplift.
• Reprinted from The Christian Ol1'8erver. This is needed and when rightly and wisely [293 ]
guided has its value; we can rejoice in everything The Religious Qualities of the Mexican People that is done to help in any way. The Mexican people are breaking away from But during the whole of the revolutionary pe- the dominant religion of the country, but this does not mean that they are irreligious or are losing riod there have been men and women who not their inherent religious qualities. Jose Vascononly have given themselves unselfishly for the selos, one-time Secretary of Education, speaking material welfare, but also have sought to bring to for his own people said: "We are Indian blood the masses larger cultural opportunities in the and soul; the language and civilization are Spanthings of the mind and the heart. There have ish"; and the Indian is by nature religious. His been enough of these to give continuity to the religion as a pagan before the conquest with its movement and under their leadership it has gone priesthood, its religious communities, its penances forward. and a host of deities, was the center of his life. His religion as a Roman Catholic, with its very Twenty-five years ago some of the men at the similar priesthood, with its pilgrimages and the head of the then very young revolutionary party attendant community life, its penances, its muloutlined. their plans for making available to titude of images and saints, was until recently, the masses a larger portion of the resources and and still is for many, the center of life. Those products of the country, for the education of all who have come into the Protestant faith with its the people and for the enlargement of their intel- ministry, sacraments and ordinances of New Teslectual and spiritual outlook on life. As we have tament type, with its fellowship with Christ and watched the progress throughout the years, in with those who love Him, with its repentance spite of many things to oppose and many un- from sin and pardon in Christ, with the free acworthy elements which have crept in, we have cess of all believers to God our Father through the observed that they have, generally speaking, held merits of His Son our Saviour, find joy and peace true to these ideals. At the heart of their pro- in this life of faith. grams there has been an earnest desire to help the people and to lift them up. With some, as in the There are many inherent qualities in the Mexcase of President Cardenas, it is a life passion. ican people, brought in through the Indian strain There are now, and have been from the beginning, and fostered by the dominance of the Roman Cathmen of like mind. One young thirty-five-year-old olic faith for centuries, which when captured by governor put on a vigorous anti-alcoholic cam- Christ go to make up well-rounded Christian charpaign, and is giving especial attention to the edu- acters. Their patient and sympathetic natures cation of all children of school age. when touched by Christ become genuine Chris- tian virtues. Their fidelity and endurance, re- This earnest desire on the part of the present vealed in the hundreds who have died rather than rulers to help the submerged of Mexico may help deny their faith, are qualities. which add much to us to understand better some of their acts. In the the building up of stability in the family, church, exchange of notes between our State Department community and national life. Their mysticism at Washington and the Foreign Relations Depart- and contemplativeness have full playas they mediment of Mexico, Secretary Hull called attention to tate on Christ in the night watches. Their social the apparent, if not real, weakening of a sense of nature and spirit of comradeship, when the Spirit moral obligations. One cannot justify a break- of God purifies. and elevates, make the communion down in national honor and a weakening of a of the saints a high privilege. ~ense of national obligations, but one can find perhaps an explanation for some of the things. done Much of the old order is going and the new by the Mexican Government in the passion of the philosophies of life, the economic and social theleaders for the sharing of the masses of the people ories which have all the characteristics of religion in the resources and products of the country. along with nationalism, also elevated to a religious passion, are seeking entrance into Mexico. Many in the Government, from President Cardenas down, have indicated their appreciation of a feeling of obligation to the Protestant cause for what they are doing and have looked upon them Here again lies the peril for Mexico; here again in many cases as allies. We were one day discuss- lies the opportunity for the Evangelical Church.
ing with the Under-Secretary of Education the The Church itself must recapture the vision that rural school system and the plan of the Govern- God in Christ meant the Christian community to ment for the training of rural teachers. Mr. be a fellowship of believers, rooted in God and Saenz said that they could give the intellectual, His divine redemptive order and therefore com- technical and practical training to the teachers, mitted to the service and salvation of the world.
but that when they were sent out to the rural Then going out in His Name the Church must communities to teach, too many of them broke capture for Christ those religious qualities in the morally, adding that here is a great field of serv- Mexican people which make them His joyous and ice for the Protestant Church. consecrated servants.
Frontiers in Home
By the REV. EDWARD DELOR KOHLSTEDT, D.D., Philadelphia Executive Secretary of the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, Methodist Episcopal Church BASIC backgrounds and ideals are fateful States on April 30, 1789, George Washington was factors in the unfolding life and destiny of visited by a special delegation from the recently men and nations. Material and moral as- organized Methodist Episcopal Church (Baltisets, undergirded by a consciousness of the real- more Christmas Conference, 1784), the first in ity of spiritual values, determine the character the history o.f our country to bestow an official and quality of their economic, civic and social blessing upon the Chief Executive and other adactivities. No nation can hope to endure the tests ministrative officers of America's infant republic. of time without at least three imperatives to per- On October 3, 1789, President George Washingpetuity: an adequate fo.undation of race; a high ton's first national Thanksgiving Day Proclamastandard of private and public morals; and a tion pledged this nation's gratitude and loyalty to spirit of fidelity <to tested and well-established in- God: "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge stitutions. the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to Expanding Frontiers implore His protection and favor." The coin of the realm still bears this suggestive inscription: The geographical growth of the United States 'Tn God we trust." of America constitutes an amazing chapter in the story of nations. Our early American colonies American missionary history stirs the souls of only fringed the Atlantic seaboard. When this those who trace the trails and sense the spirit of New World Republic was launched upon its no- the hardy pioneers. and heroic "circuit riders," table career in 1789, the Mis<sissippi River had patriots and preachers, whose joint services to become its western boundary. Later a sixty-year God and country were so effective during the series of rapidly receding western frontiers es- formative period of our national life. The most tablished the territorial unity o.f the United States substantial achievements which have blessed this between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf world were conceived in the hearts and fostered of Mexico. and Dominion of Canada. The years by the faith of missionary-minded men and 1867 and 1898, respectively, witnessed the pur- women. We are indebted to their initiative, darchase of Alaska and the voluntary annexation of ing and self-sacrifice for humanity's material, Hawaii. Sho.rtly after, acquisitio.n of the Philip- social and spiritual progress. Challenged by the pines, Puerto Rico, a number of other islands that spirit of adventure, stimulated by the desire to dot the seas, and a permanent lease on the serve, and responsive to an inner spiritual urge, Panama Canal Zone completed the composite area they were able, out of a forbidding wilderness which embraces Uncle Sam's present political hitherto untrod by the feet of white men, to wrest domain. a civilization that was dominated by a Christian Our governmental superstructure rests upon purpose. A dynamic conscience characterized the foundations furnished by organized Christianity. colonization of America. The United States is The first representative assembly in this Western "a nation that was born Christian." Hemisphere was housed in a Christian church at old Jamestown, Virginia, where a monument now Is America Becoming Pagan? marks that historic spot. When the Plymouth What has happened during the century and a colonists were threatened with starvation, the . half of our national life, so startling in its impli- day designated for fasting and prayer was sud- cations that a level-headed leader and seasoned denly transformed into a time of feasting and re- Christian statesman like William Adams Brown joicing, hence Governor William Bradford pro- is prompted to voice the fear that "America is acclaimed the observance of America's first general tually in danger of becoming progressively pa- Thanksgiving Day on February 22, 1631. At his gan"? Constantly changing conditions, shifting first inauguration as President of the United economic and social situations; the influx of mil- [295 ]
lions of people from all parts of the world, with prime importance of personal salvation should not their own continental traditions, prejudices and be content with anything short of collective comracial animosities; the propagation of pagan fort as well as individual security. The spectacle philosophies of life; and the development of crime of absurd extremes between plenty and poverty, cultures of appalling proportions – these all surfeit and starvation in the richest country on threaten the foundations of our governmental earth, is an anomaly which has no place in a prosuperstructure and tax the resources of Chris- fessedly Christian commonwealth. This must be tianity. America's slump in ethical ideals is evi- corrected and its recurrence made impossible or denced by: the unsavory -revelations of our the manhood of tomorrow may curse the present United States Senate Committee hearings, in the generation for its stupidity. Significant trends in field of finance; the subtle trickery of dress-suit the current life of our day challenge the Church racketeers as well as the brazen effrontery of of Christ to arouse itself; to enlarge its vision, machine-gun gangsters; the perversion of public expand its horizon, revamp its program, and reoffice to propaganda methods that clash with the fire the zeal of evangelical Christianity so genuine principles of constructive statesmanship; strangely tempted, during these fateful days, to exploitation of the masses, for the sake of a selfish yield to the spirit of smug complacency and a surplus and the satisfaction of corporate greed; false sense of security. As Dr. H. E. Woolever rancor-breeding racial discriminations, that coun- wisely insists, "The Church of Christ must press tenance economic and social inj ustice. These and her spiritual ideals more effectively to the fore in kindred developments. undermine sacred institu- legislative halls and public life, or the increasing tions, hinder human welfare, and challenge the forces of greed and materialism will smother the Christian constituency of this country with a far economic and social rights of the masses." In more intricate and exacting task than that of our this or any other country, human happiness and pioneer fathers. national welfare can become a full reality only when those entrusted with governmental and so- An unwholesome industrial and social system cial responsibilities. are dominated by spiritual that breeds iniquities and haI1dships; ignores ra- incentives; when our national superstructure is cial discriminations and persecutions; tolerates buttressed by the fundamental doctrines of Chrisslum and dumping-ground residence areas; bar- tianity: the Fatherhood of God; the Saviourhood ters with beer barons and liquor lords for the of Christ; the Brotherhood of Man; the infinite privileges of physical and moral debauchery; value of human life, regardless of racial antecedwinks at broadcasts and cinemas that deliberately ents or backgrounds. distort ideals and magnify the worst features of American life, at home and abroad; and cheapens The Social Creed of the Churches, endorsed by itself by acknowledging the validity of alien di- the Home Missions Council and the Federal Counvorce laws that ridicule the sanctity of marriage cil of the Churches of Christ in America (to which and disrupt home life – these conditions deeply nearly all of our major Christian communions susconcern an awakened national conscience. The tain constituent relationships) embraces the follargest military budget in the history of the lowing clearly defined declarations: United States; crime and relief bills that require many billions to finance; fifty per cent of our (1) Equal rights and justice for all men, in population and a minimum of 15,000,000 of our all stations of life. children and young people under twenty-five years of age unrelated to the Church of Christ so that (2) Family protection by the single standard even a United States Senator voices the plea, of purity, regulation of marriage, and proper "Save the youth of the land or America is lost"- housing. all these stir our souls; indifference or silence on the part of Christian leaders would be treason to (3) Adequate physical and moral safeguards both the Cross and the Flag. for women toilers.
Social and Religious Frontiers (4) An unhampered development opportunity for every child, and the abolition of child labor. The totality of human welfare is Christianity's central concern. In the technical sense, geograph- (5) The right of employees and employers ical frontiers gradually fade from the national alike to organize, adequate means of arbitration scene, but modern home missionary agencies. must and conciliation during industdal disputes. reckon with functional frontiers of even greater urgency. In America, as elsewhere, vast areas (6) Application of Christian principles to the of under-privileged rural and urban life demand acquisition and use of property. conscientious com'l,ideration and action on the part of both Church and State. A passion for the Calvin Coolidge well said: "I do not know of any adequate support for our form of government, except that which comes from religion. The mere sharpening of the wits, the bare training of the intellect, the naked acquisition of science, while they greatly increase the power for good, likewise
NEW FRONTIERS IN HOME MISSIONS
increase the power for eviL Intellectual growth, service calls for a sound sociological basis for unaccompanied by moral and spiritual growth, missionary method and procedure, buttressed by will only add to our confusion." a valid humanitarian as well as genuine evange- Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes of the Methodist listic urge. A composite task requires, a composite Church emphasizes individual and social gospel program.
mutualities, as follows: The major task of Home Missions has always Any contest between the two seems to be a quarrel be- been to meet the demands of expanding geographtween the inner and outer life. Despite its individualistic ical and functional frontiers, with their changing emphases, the Wesleyan movement made most efficient economic and social situations; to aid in the esbeginnings in social reforms that later shone so beauti- tablishment of churches and the maintenance of fully in the expressions of Christian life. Wesley met missionaries; to explore and seek the solution of the standards of his own social gospel, did not dwell in community problems. that have been created by elegance, shared all he had, died poor. While the Church exploitation, poverty, ignorance, intolerance, dishas not usually protested where the main question de- manded economic expertness rather than moral judgment, ease and death. Modern Home Missions must she has spoken with boldness on starvation wages, child reckon with the basic needs of human hearts and labor, the liquor problem, the gambling evil, personal minister to those who, menaced by fOI'ces which purity, divorce, etc. Earnest men who plead that Christ are destructive to all that makes life worth while, is the ruler of the market place, that His spirit and prin- ciples should be applied to industrial life, should not be find their unaided strength unequal to the strugclassified as Soviets, Socialists or Communists. This whole gle for moral and spiritual victory. It is not task of creating a redeemed society calls for both regen- enough to tarry at the foot of the precipice, waiteration and education. ing with stretchers to catch the falling victims of sin and selfishness; Home Missions must major The CUn'ent Challenge Modern social situations in the United States in preventive rather than curative policies and of America, neware:as of activity created by programs in order to lift the whole of life to changing conditions and modified modes of living, loftier levels.
must be met and served by Home Missions with America's Salvation an adequate program adapted to the demands of these times. It is 'a far cry from the comparative Freedom of worship, lawful liberty, equality of simplicity of pioneer life to the confusing com- economic and social opportunity, and the sacredplexities of America's twentieth-century commu- ness of personality were the objectives of the Pilnities; from the program of a missionary move- grim Fathers who laid the foundations of this ment across expanding geographical frontiers, to New WorId Republic. Their ideals were crystalthe intricate and intensive task of providing an lized in the Constitution of the United States of adequate Christian ministry to modern communi- America, the separation of Churoh and State, the ties, threatened by destructive forces and fre- Emancipation Proclamation; they developed a quently abetted by "spiritual wickedness in high sturdy type of character which became the pride places." Home Missions must continue an un- of American citizensbi.p, until the finer sensibilifaltering' commitment to the supreme purpose of ties of our people became blunted by sordid sobringing the constructive and Ufe-enriohing serv- cial, commercial and political ambitions, when ices of the Gospel of Christ, not only to the SQ- license and lawlessness began to displace liberty called under-privileged areas of humanity, but and law. America's material, scientific and social also to any and all rural and urban communities achievements have been phenomenal, unsurpassed which, for whatever reason, would not otherwise by other nations, but her current spiritual situabenefit by them. It is the task of the Home Mis- tion is a cause for grave concern on the part of sion enterprise to serve isolated villages of reli- thoughtful Christian statesmen. Dr. Mark A. giously and socially forgotten men, women and Dawber, Secretary of the Home Missions Council children; to spiritualize sparsely settled rural of America, warns us that regions, pocketed mountain communities, and congested city centers; to brother bilingual Es- When wealth becomes an end in itself; when education kimo, Indian, Latin American, Migrant, Negro, leads to a deification of the intellect; when industry de- velops into a selfish struggle between capital and labor; when statesmen degenerate into petty politicians; and Oriental, and polyglot peoples from every part of when social life takes on the characteristics of the jungle, the planet now resident in and potential citizens the soul of the nation is lost. When lawmakers lose their of this country. The Christian attitude toward, spiritual ideals and sense of God; when the Lord's Day interest in, love for and ministry to these national is commercialized and secularized; when moral standards are lowered and a materialistic order becomes the major and family racial groups who have come here from motive of men, the supremacy of God is ignored and gov- ernment, education, industry and society, as well as relieverywhither, to make this their home, their flag, gion itself are in peril. their country, is bound to determine both the char- acter and the quality of future American citizen- The Christian Church and her Home Missions ship. In order to be effective and fruitful such agencies must save the soul and enrich the inner
life of America. A truly Christian democracy, sis, it is the same historic and heroic warfare according to our most seasoned statesmen, is the against the world, the flesh and the devil. Now, only constructive procedure in society, economics, as then, we wrestle not only with flesh and blood, education and government that ultimately can sur- but with principalities and powers. Home Misvive. America's greatest possible contribution sions faces an exceedingly exacting task in the toward world welfare, hence the most urgent re- new frontiers which now tax the mental, material sponsibility of Home Missions, is a reestablish- and spiritual resources of organized Christianity. ment of America's basic ideals of liberty and law, Shall we join Wycoff of Yale '84, in the following prayer: buttressed by a functioning faith in the God of our Fathers. Experience has demonstrated that Fronting my task, these things I ask: this is best for the physical, moral, social and To be tn.e, this whole day through; spiritual good of mankind. Present problems a.p- To be content with honest work, pear to be new and intricate, owing to the complexities of our modern life but, in the last analy- Fearing only, lest I shirk; To see, and know, and do what's right; To come, unsullied, home at night.
A Roman Catholic Challenges Rome By EULA KENNEDY LONG FROM earliest days until now, ignorance of the people to read the Bible. The accusation is not Bible has been widespread and notorious in correct, stated thus bluntly. We do not prohibit Brazil. the reading of the Bible (the Catholic version, be It was only a few months ago that a stu- it understood); but its almost general neglect, dent in Brazil said to a missionary who had given and the little attention given to teaching Catholics him a Bible : "You do not know how grateful I the supreme beauties of Divine Revelation, are am for this. All my life I have wanted a copy of practically equivalent to prohibition. . . . How the Bible; but this is the first time I have seen or can Catholic Action prosper when Catholics do not touched one." Missionaries could tell of having know the soul of the movement; when Jesus consearched the bookstores in some large cities of tinues ignored or unknown-the unknown God of Brazil, without finding one copy of the Bible for whom Paul preached to the Athenians?" sale – unless, perchance, there might be one or two of ancient pulpit Hize, .offered at the prohibi- It is a cause for rejoicing that concern is felt tive price of the salary of a workman for one over such a situation. Then came the good news month. -welcome to all sincere Christians, whether Roman Catholics or Protestants – that Father The Roman Catholic Church, which has been Rohden had completed a remarkably fine transladominant in Brazil for four hundred years, has tion of the New Testament, issued under ecclemade no practical attempt to provide the Scrip- siastical Imprimatur. It is a mere coincidence, tures or any portions for the people and many perhaps, but one is struck by the fact that this priests have forbidden the reading of what it calls new launching of God's Word, under Church the "Protestant" Bible, on the grounds that it is sanction, came in the same year that the Englishheretical. This is in spite of the fact that transla- speaking peoples celebrated the fourth centenary tions have been made by their own priests. of the transJation of the Bible into the language of the English people. Over a year ago, Evangelical (Protestant) church papers reprinted, with unfeigned joy, an The significance of this translation by a Roman editorial by a Roman Catholic priest, in which he Catholic priest cannot be overestimated when one voiced deep concern about this widespread igno- remembers that Brazil is a great Roman Catholic rance of God's Word. After relating experiences country, and the nation of greatest size, populain three hundred cities of BrazH, Father Hum- tion and potentialities in South America. The berto Rohden wrote: value of the achievement will be practically lost, however, if Father Rohden's New Testament is "Everywhere I found a profound and shameful not printed in a popular edition, put on sale at ignorance of the Divine ReveJ.ation. . . . It has secular bookstores, and its careful reading inreached such an extreme among us that Biblical sistently recommended by the priests. and Protestant are considered synonymous. . . . Ignorance of the sacred text is an open door to Will Rome accept the challenge of one of her the most horrible religious fetishism, to the detest- own priests? If so, then Father Rohden's work able superstition that exists among our people. of love and courage will prove to be, as he says, . . . The Protestants. accuse us of forbidding the "the breath of a promising spiritual springtime."
American Indians Are Doing
Evangelize Their Own People By G. E. E. LINDQUIST, Lawrence, Kansas I ~.- I Missionary-at-Large to the North American Indians ~==============================~t "EVERY race in the end must be elevated by These are only a few of th0'se wh0' have labored its own educated leadership," said a wise to bring the Gospel to their own people, either by leader 0'f his people. He would have been means of the translated word or as interpreters of the Message. They have all entered into their wiser had he said "Christian leadership," for in reward but their g00'd deeds follow them. Much the final analysis any elevation worthy of the of the work of Indian evangelization today is carname must be inspired and permeated by the ried on by native leaders. This does not mean Christian motive. The Indian race is no exception to this dictum. Historically, the most successful that the number of Indian pastors. and evangelists missions are those in which Indians have actively exceeds that of white missionaries, but when we participated in the evangelizati0'n of their own include interpreters, catechists, helpers and lay people. This is true in both Americas, north· as Indian leaders, young and old-in Sunday schools, well as south of the Rio Grande. women's societies, young people's organizations, such as Christian Endeav0'r, B. Y. P. U., Epworth As the North American tribes pass in review, League, Y. M. and Y. W. C. A., St. Andrew's certain notable names are associated with them, Brotherhood, Girls' Friendly Society, D. V. B. S., not as warriors and statesmen only but rather as evangels 0'f the Cross of Christ, messengers of the etc.-the total figure is impressive. G00'd News to those "sitting in darkness and the True, there are Indian communities today, an shadow of death." increasing number of them, where English is One calls to mind among the Cherokees, for ex- practically the only language spoken, whether on ample, such a spiritual leader in the person of the street, shop, school or church. Here the na- Elias B0'udinot, associated with Samuel A. Wor- tive tongue is used only 0'n special occasions when cester in translating the Scriptures and numerous old people are present, for example, at a tribal hymns, still used by present-day tribesmen; council or a funeral. On a recent field trip the Frank H. Wright, Choctaw evangelist and singer, writer visited the Yumas where this holds true. whose ministry was by no means limited to his However, among the neighboring Cocopahs, who own people; Joseph Islands, apostle to the Creeks; drifted across the border from Mexico several Frank Mt. Pleasant, for over forty years among decades ago, the white missionary must still use his own Tuscaroras ; James Hayes, a prophetic an interpreter at all services. To the north, voice among the Nez Perces, pr0'bably the first am0'ng the Mojaves, there is a native pastor min- Indian of the N0'rthwest to be hon0'red by the istering to his own people both at Needles, Cali- Doctor of Divinity degree; Artemas Ehnamani, fornia, and at Parker, Arizona. In a maj ority first native pastor to the Sioux, with the third of services English is the accepted medium of generation in his line serving at present; Charles expression although the pastor is a member of the Wright and Mark Hart among the 0hippewas, tribe and uses his mother tongue freely. who received much of their early training under One should not, however, draw the conclusion Bishop Whipple; Philip Deloria among the Da- that the work of Indian evangelization is no longer kotas, a disciple of the beloved Bishop Hare; dependent on the translated Word. Great has Isaac McCoy, a name-sake of the great Baptist been the contribution of those who have devoted missionary; Lucius Aitsan among the Kiowas, years of lab0'r in translating the Christian Scripa c0'nvert under Isabelle Crawford's ministry to tures into Indian languages. The story of the the blanket Indians in western Oklahoma; Horace Cherokee Bible, using Sequoyah's famous alpha- Williams among the Pima, who received his in- bet, reads like a romance; S0' also that of the spiration for evangelizing from Charles H. Cook, Sioux (Dakota) and the Chippewa (Ojibway).
pioneer missionary to the Southwest; Sherman Who can read of Dr. Rudolphe Petter's painstak- Coolidge, an Arapahoe, who also ministered to ing eff0'rts in making the Bible available to the other needy tribes. Cheyennes without unbounded admiration. In [299 ]
addition to these, the Scriptures, either in whole faith. One of the high spots of the church year or in part, may be found in the following: Choc- are the evangelistic services, usually held in J antaw, Muskokee (Creek), Shawnee, Arapahoe, uary and conducted by the deacons, more often Winnebago, Nez Perces, Seneca, Delaware, Tewa than not in the homes, but sometimes in the (Pueblo), and is some of the Canadian Indian church. The neighboring Tuscaroras as well as languages, such as the Cree, Miconac, Tinne and the Tonawandas frequently join in these meet- Maliseet. More recently some books of the Bible ings. It is the testimony of the leaders that the have been put into print in the Navajo tongue, church work receives a spiritual lift from these as well as in the Hopi and Apache. services which is felt throughout the entire year.
The Navajoes Among the Chippewas, especially those in Mich- igan, the annual camp meetings are looked for- Since the Navajoes constitute the largest tribe ward to as the big event of the year. Whether numerically in the United States and since these the camp meeting, as conducted by these people, people have often been referred to as "the last is an outgrowth of the old Indian councils which stronghold of paganism" it is reasonable to sup- were called by the chiefs, or whether they hark pose that the translated Word will have an im- back to early day Methodism, is a mooted question. portant place in their evangelization for years to The point to be noted here is that the Indians feel come. But what is of even g.reater importance instinctively that they are indigenous and belong to the Navajo is the development of an indigenous to them. Ever since the days of Rev. Peter church, under Indian leaders. Twenty years ago, Marksman (the name of Marksman is. writ large following a field survey, the writer urged that "at in the missionary history of the Chippewas), every mission station a small group of promising brought into the Christian life by Rev. John Clark native leaders should be trained for missionary of the Oneida Mission some time about 1840, the service in the future." Wherever these conditions Ojibway Camp Meetings. have been largely conhave been met certain encouraging results in the ducted by native Christians in which their own work of evangelization have followed. But alas, hymns and Scriptures loom large. The writer has after fifty years of missionary effort among these often heard the Indian preachers exhorting their people, one can count on the fingers of one hand people, sometimes far into the night. When the the number of full-time Indian Christian leaders. sinners and backsliders come to the front, the ex- hortation gives way to united prayer on the part The Hopis, a sedentary and agricultural people, of the faithful who are on their knees.. When the who unfortunately are widely advertised because penitent has "come through" there is exuberant of their annual snake dances now rapidly becom- singing as they rise to their feet in glad acclaim. ing commercialized, have had (until the recent One of the exhorters who has recently gone to passing of Pliny Adams) three native workers- his reward, J,ames Keshick, rarely missed a camp at Polacca, Toreva and Moencopi. Only those who meeting; he also served as local preacher at Hanhave first-hand knowledge of how the minds of nahville community for many years. these people "have been shackled by pantheism and idolatry," and how "within our own day men The Oklahoma Indians have lived and died in Hopiland without knowing that there is a redeeming Christ"-only those can Oklahoma Indians, especially the so-called understand what the lone workers must face as blanket tribes, still observe annual camp meetthey seek to bring the Gospel of the Cross to their ings, generally held in August or September, with fellow tribesmen. duly appointed committees in charge and careful preparations. made, sometimes months in advance The Senecas and Cherokees in order that such necessary items as food, equip- ment and shelter may be in readiness. A large On a recent trip to the Tonawanda Senecas in meeting tent, capable of holding hundreds of wor- New York the writer renewed acquaintance with shipers, is provided. Formerly a maj ority of the Peter Doctor, an Indian elder who for nearly attendants sat on the ground or on a piece of cantwenty-five years has kept the fires going in the vas spread for the occasion. Now practically all little Presbyterian Church, situated in the heart prefer camp chairs or benches, some of the nonof the pagan district, in the hope of evangelizing Christians choosing the cushioned seats from that element. During all these years he has near-by automobiles. Often as many as five or preached the Gospel faithfully and has made pro- six tribes gather for this annual event and a colorhibition speeches around the country. He is still ful assembly and picturesque congregation prewaiting for the Presbytery to appoint a successor sents itself. Beginning with a sunrise prayer to the late Mr. Tripp. meeting, called by the camp-crier, these people are rarely satisfied with less than four services a On the near-by Cattaraugus Reservation, Rev. day. They believe in and practice prayer, song David o,wl, a. Cherokee, has for twelve years led the Seneca people into the truths of the Christian
£9391 WHAT AMERICAN INDIANS ARE
and testimony. The climax comes when after the nual camp meetings and evangelistic s'ervices at exhortation by Indian leaders – in the old days Talmaks, Idaho, usually around Independence Nahwats, Poafpybitty, Saneco and Wautan-at Day, under the aegis of such native leaders as present by such younger recruits as George Hunt, Mark Arthurf James Dickson, Joseph Cook and Robert Chaat, White Parker, James Ottipoby and Harry Moffett. Robert Atchavit, when "the net is cast" and the converts and backsliders are brought in. The In the old Indian Territory (now east~rn Okla:.- elos.ing Sunday often witnesses baptisms, restora- homa) where dwell the Five Civilized Tribes, one tions and new members added to the church rolls. naturally expects. to find Indian workers dedi- cated to the cause of evangelization of their own Among the Sioux there are annual convocations people. Notable names are connected with their and mis8ion meetings. The latter, knolWn as past missionary history, but not all are written in l?taya Owohdake, have been held each autumn the past tense. Such institutions as. Bacone Colsince 1874 by the Congregational and Presby- lege, Dwight, Old Goodland, Oklahoma Presbyterian Indian churches of which there are 24 and terian College, Oklahoma Baptist Univ~r:rity a:.nd 30, respectively. They are manned by Indian the American Indian Institute have all had a part pastors, and the states of Nebraska, North and in preparing and sending forth many of the preS'- South Dakota and Montana are represented. ent generation of Christian leaders, lay and cler- While these do not have the distinctive revival ical. Among the Cherokees the list includes such emphasis of the usual camp meeting, they consti- preachers as Richard Glory, John Acorn and Jim tute a very significant link in the work of evan- Pickup, with Aaron Hancock, Johnson Bobb, gelization among the Dakotas. Here,' among Oscar Gardner and Grady James among the other items, may be heard thrilling reports from Choctaws; Sam Hawkins and Mose Wesley with the "Wotanin Waste," the Indian women's mis- the Chickasaws and Ben Haikey, John Smith and sionary societies, recounting their efforts to raise William King among the Creeks and Seminoles. funds to send the Gospel to needy groups. Here The last-mentioned, together with his wife, has such present-day leaders. as Truby Iron Mocassin, carried on work among the Florida Seminoles Thomas Blueyes, Clayton Hold, Philip Frazier, near Lake Okeechobee for a number of years, the Homer Redlightning, George Firecloud and Wal- support of which comes from the Muskogee-Creek lace Runningeagle sound the Gospel trumpet. Baptist Indian Association.
The Dakotas and Chippewas While the primary objective of all Indian mis- sionary work is to make known Christ and His In the Protestant Episcopal groups. the annual Gospel, to do this most effectively the ultimate meetings are called convocations. Last year the 67th annual gathering was held at Pine Ridge aim is to develop alid use Indian leadership. A Agency, South Dakota. A missionary who was trusted missionary of long experience once said, present writes: "The Dakotas crowded the separate meetings for men, women and young people "The constant testimony of the Indian preacher and demonstrated the depth of their religion with to Christian teaching and Christian things, just their interest and seriousness of purpose. Each group, from our grasshopper and drought-stricken because it is from an Indian, is worth more than prairies, came with larger gifts. of money for the any amount of preaching from a white man." promotion of Christ's work than they had brought Other things being equal, the white missionary the year before. Everywhere the keynote of the should work. himself out of a job. He must not convocation 'Forward with Christ and my hesitate to give responsibility to those most im- Brother' was sounded." Here the Indian clergy, mediately concerned, the Indians themselves, derepresented by such trusted leaders as Paul spite possible mistakes and failures. He must be Chekpa, Vine Deloria, Dallas Shaw and the Rouil- willing to trust God with the souls of people, lard brothers, voice the preeminent thoughts and whether they be clothed with red skins or not. aspirations of the assembled hundreds in worship, as expressed in faith in God, love for their fellow :. In the above somewhafcursory review it must men and courage for the future. be kept in mind that Indian participation is still somewhat sporadic and far from. being sufficient The Minnesota Chippewas also stress such an- or satisfactory. Great pressure is being brought nual gatherings as the summer convocation when to bear on Indian youth to enter other secular practically every locality and mission station is callings, especially from Governmental agencies represented, Rev. W. K. Boyle, archdeacon and and notably so in recent years. Progress in raisnative leader, being the forceful present-day ing up qualified Indian Christian leaders will conleader. On the Pacific Coast Region of the North- tinue to be slow unless missionaries with greater west the Nez Perces, Umatillas, Makahs, Spokanes earnestness continue to recruit, train and release and the Shoshones have for years conducted an- an increasingly large number of Indian workers for the evangelization of their own people. (See Frontispiece.)
Days in
By ELLEN H. BERGREN, Kermit Mission, Cassard, Virginia .nA .FTER completing my course in the Moody The meetings were well attended, but the peo- Bible Institute, and spending two years in ple did not seem to feel their need of salvation. Albany as pastor's assistant, I learned of The thought of "furrin" folks coming with new the great need in the mountains of the South and methods was something strange. To the moun- offered myself for service there. My best expecta- taineers preaching consisted in the loud singsong tion for a future home in the Appalachian Moun- exhortation of the so-called "Hard Shell" mountains was possibly a log hut, or a dug-out. I knew tain preacher. And women! They had never that I was apt to find myself in a place where star- heard of such a thing as women taking part in a vation and violence would be my lot. After much meeting. By way of introduction we visited every struggle I finally arrived in Bristol, Tennessee. home and gathered the children for a summer school. Rich indeed were the experiences encoun- I asked for a needy field, no matter how hard. tered. We spoke to the parents about sending In a few days, Rev. J. H. Little of Bristol took their children but one grandmother let us know his daughter, a singer, and myself to Appalachia, in no uncertain terms that she was not going to Virginia. On the way, near Big Stone Gap three let her grandson be injured by "book larnin." miles from Appalachia, the conductor aroused a Her only son was in the penitentiary at Richmond, drunken man whose destination was Big Stone and "If he had never known how to write enough Gap with the words, to forge a check," she said, he would be at home right now helping her. She was going to see that "Wake up! Where are you going?" his son escaped such a calamity.
"I'm going to hell," the man drawled out. Is it any wonder that ignorance prevailed, when "Well," said the conductor, "pay me ten cents ~he "Hard Shell" preachers fight it? One man more and get off at Appalachia." used this argument against learning: Mr. Little turned to me and said, "Is that "We'll say, here are two barrels; one is empty tough enough to suit you?" Such was my first and the other is jammed full of books. When the introduction to my new home! Lord wants to get in one of them barrels, and I axe you which one can He get into." During the following ten days, while Mr. Little held meetings, Miss Little and I did personal work The people will see the impossibility of the Lord in a little church, built by a former Christian getting into a heart that is full of learning. Sunsuperintendent in a near-by mine. After his death day schools seem to them a thing of Satan, and to the services were discontinued and the House of be preached against at every turn. It is a wonder God became a loafing place and gambling joint. that we had as many children in our Sunday The floor was carpeted with torn-up cards and schools those early days, as well as older ones who the windows were broken. flocked to our meetings.
First we gave this place a good scrubbing, many Many of the Primitive Baptists, or "Soft children and young folks helping to carry water, Shells," declare that they are not opposed to Sunsweep down cobwebs, and clean the few panes of day schools, but one of them remarked: "The glass remaining in the windows. Mr. and Miss Little and I had rooms in, the primitive hotel, young uns might just as well be in Sunday school which was kept by my future benefactors, the as in any other deviltry." The difference in Hales. In the lobby was a wooden sink, with a "Hard" and "Soft Shells" (or Primitives) is that bucket and dipper, for drinking and washing pur- the "Hard Shells" believe that only the "elect" are poses. Miss Little and I washed there, and, as saved, and God will see to them without any interthe roller towel had been much used, we used our ference from preachers. The sinner who is not handkerchiefs to wipe our hands. Mr. -Little face- "elect" cannot be saved, so that the preachers tiously remarked, "Well, ladies; hundreds have have no message for them. The Primitives believe wiped their hands on this towel and you are the that salvation is for all who will accept. Many fir,st ones to complain." have real revivals where people are saved. The [302 ]
• PIONEERING DAYS IN APPALACHIA
"Hard Shells" class believe in dreams and visions, mons arid others who do not believe in the Word as giving their call to the ministry of which many of God. They fear any deviation from the simple ludicrous instances are told. One preacher tells life. In some parts of the mountains are stretches how he heard three distinct "calls from heaven" of country sparsely settled, where there are no when he was going home from a meeting. He churches or schools. In one isolated section located the very place where each call was heard, lived an old woman who had been to church but with the words repeated three times: once as a child, and had not heard-or at least did "Lige, you go and preach the Gospel." not remember that she ever heard the Gospel Three young pranksters still laugh at their story. This woman told the missionary that she climbing up trees and calling out the "heavenly had not seen a preacher for thirty years. She had a Bible once, but lost it when she moved to Trou- blesome Bend. She could not read, but the book had been good to put under the pmow in sickness.
She wi,shed she had another. The missionary told her the story of the Lord Jesus, and when he came to His suffering and death, tears came to her eyes and she s,aid, "I reckon 'tain't true-let's hope it ain't."
When he finished with the resurrection story and the Great Commission to His disciples this darkened soul believed and walked miles to her scattered neighbors to tell them the story. She said: "How could I know all this and keep still?"
MISS BERGREN (at left) AND FELLOW-WORKERS When the missionary returned to Troublesome TWENTY YEARS AGO Bend, she had gone to be with her Lord but her command" to the future prophet as he passed faithful witnessing had turned many to the Lord.
their hiding places. Noone ever informed him Alone in Appalachia as to the truth. After one month of school, Miss Little returned These preachers are not required to know how home. We had about twenty children who wanted the school to continue, but a county school was to to read, or how to preach. Their belief is that the begin August 1st, so I decided to give my time to Lord will tell them what He wants them to speak. One of them remarked to a preacher who p~e pared his sermons, "Now brother, you are wrong preparing your text; the devil will look over your shoulder and read it too, and then go to your con- gregation and lock their hearts agin it; so it does them no good. When I preach, neither me nor the devil knows what I am going to say."
This ignorance still prevails in this class of preachers, who believe that a little whiskey helps them to preach with "spirit" and power, but there are, thank God, many true servants of Christ in the mountains, who are preaching the Word, so that many are saved under their ministry. There are also many true men of prayer among these people. One who prayed that God would remove A MINING CAMP IN THE APPALACHIANS a still from his neighborhood, and that very night a cloudburst drove a mighty wave against it and visiting and meetings. The old church had a bell, tore it down. God has not left the beautiful and I announced a meeting for each afternoon.
Southern mountains without His witness, even Night services were only possible when people though its ministers present the Gospel in ways brought lamps or lanterns. I invited the women peculiar to those who are accustomed to decorum out for afternoons and rang that bell, whose jerky in the House of God. tongue seemed to say, "Come and hear me talk!
The mountain people readily recognize a Come and hear me talk!" The women came, and preacher with wrong doctrine. A "no hell" professed conversion. Alas, they were only my preacher will not be received in any church, if converts, but I did personal work with the zeal of they know him as such; nor will they admit Mor- a Moody Institute student. When the newness of
my meetingS! had WQrn .off, the women lost their the Lord sent tWD yellQw dogs who drDve away the pigs and were fine protectors against other curiosity and the attendance waned. intruders.
One day, I noticed a woman whQ hardly took When my first helper came she remarked, when she was ushered into my first home in the mounher eyes .off me during the meeting. But after- tains: "Oh, how lovely! I thought you lived in a shack, and here is a chapel with four large winwards when I asked if she would accept the LDrd dows and a glass door."
as her Saviour, she shook her head and said, Miss Church was very happy with me, and a truer friend and helper I could nDt ask. This "No, but I want the pattern of that thar dress chapel, seating fifty persons, was often packed to .overflowing. Many ministers came here to preach you got on." . and true conversions were witnessed in this room. I learned a great lesson-not to try to force any- Only the Lord knows the many mistakes I made one to be saved, but to let the Spirit .of God work. Many of the children professed to accept the Lord during thDse early days. As there was nD .organ, as .their persQnal Saviour and even the smaller ones took part in .our early morning devotions by I used a guitar as accompaniment t.o .our singing. praying and testifying. Only the older children could read, and very few had books, so teaching I know now that it was a hindrance, as guitars, was a problem. Our "reader" was the New Tes- tament. It was a time of rich reward to see the banjos and fiddles were considered Satan's tools, development of their minds. Bible stories were part .of their daily lessons. As I told the story, being used by Negroes fQr dances. Never had they were to tell what lesson they could get from it for themselves. One girl, in telling the story of they heard of hymns being played on either. When Jacob and Rachel, said, "This lesson teaches us to always ask the Lord for sweethearts." my organ came, it was a wonder t.o all and the The following story of the loaves and fishes is guitar was not used for years. as it was retold by a boy: After I had been in Appalachia about three ~'One day a little boy went fishing and his mother had put up a little lunch for him. He saw m.onths, Mrs. Charles Hale was sent home from a a big crDwd on the hillside and he heard Jesus speak. After a while, Jesus asked if they had anytuberculosis sanitarium to die, and her husband thing to eat, but they hadn't. So the little boy brought his little lunch to Jesus. Jesus looked at asked me to come and care for her and their little it and said, 'There is mighty little .of it, but I will use it.' He broke the bread and little fishes, and ones. I could not believe that she had tuberculosis there was plenty for all. This lesson teaches that, if we give what we have to Jesus, He will let it but she said, feed many thousand." "Yes, I have it; I am g.oing to die and I want The st.ory of the triumphal entry was quaintly to be with my children to the end." written: "One day Jesus came from heaven to Jerusalem, on a borrowed mule, to be king. The I began to pray that God would reward this people didn't like Him, but the children did for they put flQwers on the rQad for the mule to walk family with the life of the m.other and as I nursed on, and sang a pretty song to Jesus. The other people got mad and said, 'Did yQU hear that?' her and cared for the little girls, I saw strength 'Yes.' 'Well, make them stop that noise.' 'No, I wDn't. If they would hush, the stones would return. God lengthened her life until her children holler.' This teaches us that we .shDuld sing, no matter who gets mad." were grown, when she died .of sunstroke. The story of the flood was told as follows: As I needed all the time for my work, I rented "God made Noah make a big boat to hold all the animals and people, but only eight people were an old storehDuse, and the .owners dug in the saved. The .others drowned because they would nDt listen, as the animals did. This teaches that mountainside eight feet for a living rODm which we should listen to good people always."
he divided intD a tiny kitchen and bedroDm. I fDund a brDken stove with .one leg, and supplied bricks for the others. The bedrDom had a cot, some chairs and a small table. Noone could feel richer than I, and nD one eQuId be happier. Little by little the walls .of my hDme were covered with pretty wallpa.per and the flDor with mDuntain rugs. My tiny kitchen acquired a small sink and table combined. The seats in the chapel were a combinatiDn of benches and school desks, and made so that a bDard at the back .of each seat cDuld be raised, forming a long table fQr school pur- poses. I had tWD large closed-in benches with immense drawers, wherein to bestow my go.ods, clothing and other things which came from friends of the work and which were sent fDr the pODrer people and the children, as well as for myself- things both to eat and to wear.
As the public school .only lasted three months, the need .of schooling was ,sad. This little chapel stood upon a hillside, the front being high above the road, while my floor in the dUgDut was on the ground. As cold weather came .on, the pigs came from the village and slept under the chapel.
Their noise and stench could nDt be endured, so
PIONEERING DAYS IN APPALACHIA
At the end of the six months, I offered a reward mmmg companies had built churches. In one for the most Bible stories they could repeat. One camp, one mile from Appalachia, we started a girl handed in forty from the Old and New Tes- Sunday school in an unfinished house and the first taments. year I had services in three places – Imboden, Preacher Creek, and Appalachia, making a walk Reciting verses was first on the program every of six miles every Sunday. morning. In six months the older children memorized fourteen chapters of the Bible and fifteen After two years, I thought that some people in Psalms, beside a verse each morning' at roll-call. Appalachia could carryon the Sunday school with I have the privilege now of teaching their children the help of preachers, so I decided to move to a in the Appalachia Daily Vacation Bible School; near-by community within walking distance, and in some cases, I have their grandchildren. open a school. I moved to what is now Andover, During the first year I was entirely alone and MY FIRST EASTER IN APPALACHIA it was a year rich in experiences. The customs were new and strange, but when one becomes rented a house and taught classes that met in the used to them, they no longer seem so quaint. In largest room. It was rather crowded, with thirty calling one day on an old lady, she asked first of children, but with the help of Miss Church, we all where I was from. got along by letting the children recite in the din- ing room. These dear children were religiously "Albany, N. Y.," I answered. inclined, and it was not long till all with two ex- "That's a right smart piece, ain't it? Come by ceptions, accepted the Lord. One morning, after train ?" our usual song and Bible period, I asked (feeling "Yes." a strong working of the Spirit) : "How old are you?" I gave some answer. "Children, shall we take up our arithmetic?" "Well, have you store teeth?" "No ma'am," all answered. "No." "Well, what shall we do then?" "Make your own dress?" "Let us pray," was the almost unanimous re- "No." sponse. "How much did it cost. Are you married?" Then those dear children began to pray for a "No." revival, which shortly came. God sent His true "Never been married?" servant, a rather unique old man, Mr. Bassett, "No." "Got any children?" "N0, I am not married." "Well, too bad, but you can be yet, I reckon. You are not so old looking." I asked if she was a Christian. "Law yes, honey, I was baptized a right smart while ago."
Then she asked me about my religious faith, and said she heard someone say I belonged to the Roman Catholics. When I denied this, she seemed to draw the conclusion that I belonged to some other strange cult. But when I told her that I believed the Bible from cover to cover, this seemed to satisfy her. Later, we became fast friendsa friendship which lasted until her death.
The first weeks in Appalachia will never be forgotten. Every Saturday night there were shootings or stabbings, and for several Saturday nights in succession someone was killed. A man was shot one Sunday morning while we were having Sunday school, and someone called out, "Silas is killed." Everyone in the church ran out, leaving me entirely alone.
The surrounding mining camps were much upon my heart as few had any Sunday school or religious service of any kind. Within a radius of ten miles there were only three camps in which the
who went wherever God sent him. During that with me. Her mother gave me daily the choicest milk, called "strippings," and when I told her not meeting, every home was touched, and I have yet to, she said, "The children like the plain milk without the cream, and since I give you milk and to see a place so stirred, in answer to the chil- butter, we never have to hunt our cow-she al- ways comes home." Cow-hunting was the most dren's prayers. . hopeless task we could imagine. All the mountains around us were pastures, and no one knew which From Andover, I moved to Blackwood, a mining way a cow would roam. I don't wonder that the Holy Spirit recorded Saul's mules lost and found, camp six miles away. By this time, three other as it was really a daily miracle to me that the children found the cows. Some cows would reworkers had come and they stayed at Andover spond to the call, "Sook, heifer," but many would not stir. until I could leave Blackwood in the hands of Miss In those early days, an amusing incident oc- Jennie Henry. Workers were also located at other curred in the mining camp where Miss McPhee- ters worked. She was a teacher who assisted mining camps-Stonega, Osaka, Roda, West Nor- (unremunerated) the public school teacher. While I was visiting her one day, a young minister asked ton, Sutherhind, Roaring Fork, Pardee, Inman, us to be witnesses to a marriage ceremony. The young man came in with a red bandana tied Imboden and Upper Imboden. As the camps around his neck, and on his head a hat which did not fit. The bride, who had not thought much opened for us, we had students come from Nyack about a wedding outfit, was a shy girl about eight- een or twenty. The minister plaeed a chair in Institute and Moody Bible Institute, until we have front of him in place of a marriage stool, and the groom thought this an invitation to sit down. had over one hundred workers at different times. When asked if he wanted a ring ceremony, the young man was at a loss and, turning to a boy Some were there only during vacation but others with him who wore a large gaudy ring, said, "Here, Sam, loan me your ring for a minute. I'll remained longer, and some are still in Virginia, give it right back."
though not in the camps. Miss Collins has lived When the minister asked: "John, will you take this woman to be your wedded wife?" he answered in one camp, Roda, for more than thirty years. lustily, "You bet." The minister turned to the After Miss Henry came to Blackwood I returned bride with a similar question but she could not speak, and said, "Uh huh." to Appalachia, where a new mission was being After the ceremony was over, the groom caught built. We moved into the unfinished rooms and hold of his wife's hand and started for the door when the boy with the ring said, "pay the different preachers came to hold services in the preacher." The groom turned and asked, "How much do you charge?" When told that he could chapel, part of which was completed. give what he wished, according to how much he thought of his wife, the groom smiled and said, It would read like a fairy tale, should I tell of "I sure do think a heap of her. Here is a quarter" -with the air of a millionaire. the many evidences of the Lord's care. Friends As time passed, our number of workers grew sent things to us, so that we never really lacked, until several camps were occupied and this work was called "The Appalachia Mining Camp Misthough at times our faith was tested. sion." We had no demands for reports which, personally, I had found superficial in my former While living in Preacher Creek, Miss Church work. But at our monthly workers' meetings, a secretary wrote down testimonies as to how the had typhoid fever, and the friends there were un- Lord had led and blessed – each one – also the trials and failures. These records are kept as retiring in their assistance. We seldom had to cook minders of God's faithfulness.
a meal, as everything was sent in already cooked. An Archdeacon of the Episcopal Church in Big Stone Gap, Dr. Lloyd, a fine Christian and a Our workers took turns in helping to nurse her, and it taxed everyone's strength, as she was bed- fast seventy-two days. It proved to us the un- tiring devotion of workers and people.
Preacher Creek was, in someways, different from the other places where I have lived. The revival there touched every home and made us all seem like a large loving family. All came to church and there seemed to be no division among the peo- pIe-all lived in harmony and love. Three orphan children came to live in my home. One little darling girl, Milford, would often beg me to adopt her, though she scarcely knew the meaning of the word.
"Why Milford," I would say, "your father and mother could not do without you."
"Oh, yes," she said, "they have Gertrude, and Maggie, and Edith, and two dead. They have enough."
"Well," I replied, "you have two dead you say, so you can't be ,spared."
"Oh," she said, "they were little boys. Mama never had much luck with boys."
She lived with me a long while and the dear memory lingers. She is now mother of a large family, to whom she tells about the time she lived
PIONEERING DAYS IN APPALACHIA
true missionary, invited our band of workers to monthly for conference and prayer so that we his home. He had a wonderful ancestry of for- often had thirty at our table for two days as they eign missionaries, and his son was a missionary could not return the same day on our little interin Japan. He assisted us in every way that he state train. These were times of rich blessings could. He had· already begun to place Episcopal and refreshment. deaconesses in a few needy places, but when he saw that the church dress was a hindrance, he The reports, which are very rich in experiences, show how wonderfully the Lord fulfils His prom- THE ~'IRST SUNDAY SCHOOL AT KERMIT ises. Some testimonies were quaint and mirthful, showing the crude initiation into the strange ways urged them to use ordinary clothing, which he did of camp life. Some workers learned quickly the also, except in his own church. .In this way he ways of our people but even at that there were won the love and esteem of all. some misunderstandings and mistakes.
Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd gave us a delightful time of Once I was asked to take a little girl eight years fellowship. When he asked me how we were sup- old. I went up to Roda Camp to see her and deported, I told him that I asked of each mine su- cided to adopt this little darling and gave her my perintendent for a rent-free house, electric lights mother's name, Elsa. After six months another and coal, but for salary the workers trusted the little g~rl was added to our family. She was one Lord, who always supplied our needs in wonder- of our Sunday school scholars, and after the ful ways. "How can you maintain love and har- funeral of her step-mother, the motherless little mony among them all on this basis?" he asked. one, Olive, ran up to the Mission and her father It never had occurred to me to look for trouble finally gave her to me. Two years later, I also ,along this line and I said, "Why, the ones who adopted her little sister so that my home was come here are willing to put up with some diffi- blessed with three little girls. They were dearly culties as their invitation to the work includes loved by all our workers. All three grew to sweet hardships, poverty, dirt, misunderstandings, and womanhood, and married.. It pays to invest in the winning of souls. In not one case has the chidren, and if my health ,allowed, I would gladly applicant been discouraged." open my home for more of God's little ones.
In all the years the Mining Camp Mission One day in school, the children were told to existed, there was little trouble among the work- write the full names of their parents. Little Olive ers. Of course, at times there were disagree- wrote, "My mama's name is Miss Ellen Bergren, ments, but our workers were most untiring and and my papa's name is Mr. James Skidmore." It never once was a reprimand necessary for neglect never occurred to her that anything could be of duty; instead, necessary lines were drawn to wrong with it. The teacher, who was also one of prevent their overdoing. our Sunday school teachers, handed me the slip laughing. Nursing was necessary and many nights were spent by sick beds. There is a mountain custom, Another time, during presidential election, all whenever anyone dies, for neighbors to sit up the children were having a mock election. When with the dead all night; in some cases they sing Olive's name was not among them, she was asked hymns. One of the few laws enforced was that, when tired out with the living, the workers must THE KERMIT CHURCH AND "PARSONAGE" let the people of the place "wake" with the dead. why she did not vote. "Well," she said, "I am As new mining camps opened for workers, our what mama is." family increased until fourteen camps were manned. From these our workers gathered "Well, what is that?" "I can't spell it but she is a perditionist (mean- ing prohibitionist)." The other children thought that must be all right if Olive's mother was that. A child asked Elsa one day where her father
was. She answered that she did not need any A little later a little boy was brought to the father. Mission. Next day he came down with the measles, and Nancy caught them too. Everything in the "Well," insisted the child, "who gets the 'vittles' Mission was new and strange to' Louis. He had for you?" never heard the name of Jesus except in swearing, and our Mission was like a new world to him. The "Oh," said Elsa, "we just pray and God sends little girls were his teachers, and we could often us all we need. We don't need any daddy." hear them say, "Louis, you must not say that, it isn't nice," or "Louis, Mama don't let anybody As this was a new way of support to this child, talk like that here." He learned the stO'ries in the she wanted to know more about it. So Elsa, hav- children's Bible and the little missionaries truly ing witnessed the almost numberless answers to began in virgin soil. Louis loved to sing and prayers both for food and clothing, spread the learned quickly. Like Faith, he used his own truth among her schoolmates about a life of de- words and tunes, and as he sat in a swing on the pendence on God. porch he would sing with all his might: There was nothing too hard for these children, Jesus is good, He wants all the people to come to Him and I often feared that their faith would have a and be good. severe test. But today, I cannot remember more than once when the waiting for an answer seemed The people don't want to come; no they want to be bad, to be so long that they would ask, "Why don't God poor little Jesus. answer? We have asked Him." They were told that God sometimes answers in the negative.
Out of their small weekly allowance the chil- The children often played Sunday school, and dren tithed faithfully. It was made a rule that Louis liked to be preacher. each unkind word was to cost the speaker a penny. This started a turn for the better as it put an end Other children were brought to the Mission, but to petty quarreling. with the work of the mining camps and incoming workers to place, we could not keep them all. For One day Olive came to me very much wrought a time we had seven and a worker volunteered to up, and 'said, "Mama, I've got to lose some money. be their teacher. I have to tell Elsa a few things." She told me the trouble and that was the last I heard of it. Per- In my earliest years in Appalachia, I had many haps she did not feel that the few words she would opportunities to visit other oommunities and assay would be worth the loss of her pennies. sist in meetings. With a little baby organ (a great wonder to many) I led the singing, and When little Faith was five years old, she began many were helped to trust in GO'd for their salto go to the chapel part of the Mission, and con- vation, rather than trust in good deeds, good feelduct services alone. It was touching to listen as ings, in something imaginary, such as a vision of she prayed, gave out hymns, and sang lustily to light or hearing some voke, or in emotion created an improvised accompaniment of her own. Her by a song. These are often accepted as tokens of keen musical ear would not allow any discord, and the New Birth, without the person knowing anyat six she had made up several compositions en- thing of God's promises and the way of life in tirely herself. The older girls taught her some Christ. The greater number of backslidings can easy tunes and to these she put her own words. be traced to the lack of knowledge of the Bible. One, which she was always asked to play for visitor,s, ran like this: The first mission building soon became too small for our large family, so, little by little, the Jesus comes; Jesus goes. addition of rooms began. The last was built when When He comes He stays a little while; it seemed best to put the growing work in the caore When He comes, He goes. of stronger hands.
One day a little girl of six was left on,our front Everything was clear to both parties. The understanding was that these four rooms were to porch aWndhewnasw, etolfdoutnod stay there until someone be built for me, as the first money of $500 was came. her there, she said that given for a rent-free home, so the givers would still wish to have it so. They would not hear to she had come to Istay with Miss Bergren." She was any other arrangement, and the gentleman with whom I dealt said that there would be no trouble. a robust little one and said that she could work So we began building the rooms, but, alas, when we were half finished a letter came from his well, and that at Elly's she did "every lick of headquarters that I must sign over the whole without any clause as to my reservation of rooms. work." I asked why Elly did not work and she The readjustments came asa remarkable answer to prayer s.o that the work then continued until answered, "Oh, she was sick and lazy till she died." regular minis,ters and nurses were stationed in We tried to find out who Elly was, but no one knew; we only learned that Jim brought the child to us and told her to stay. We could not find out who either Jim or Elly were. So the child re- mained. All she knew was that her own name was Nancy.
PIONEERING DAYS IN APPALACHIA
the mining camps. The spiritual workers left the lamps were ruined, chairs were broken, and all field and so-clalled trained social workers replaced was in a pitiable condition. It seemed impossible the Gospel with classes for domestic science, to bring back the former life. nursing, and other good projects that are still not up to the highest standard of a missionary who One day, in late summer, I stood on our front seeks to lead souls to God. porch. I was tired and worried, and my heart cried out: "0 God, take me away from here. I When it se~med wise to leave the Mining Camp can't do any more here, my people love excitement work we moved to Kermit, Virginia, where we more than reality, and some other place needs us built a house and chapel used for school and more." An answer came so real as to be nearly church work. Since a county s,chool has been audible: "Child, do you want to leave now? I built here, the chapel is used for church services have none to stand in The Gap for me. They have only. It was a needy place, seven miles from any not gone back on you but on Me. Will you still other chur·ches and schools to which no one could go away?" walk on the impossible clay roads in the winter. It was sad to leave so many wonderful friends I fell down on my knees, crying out, "0 my behind in Appalachia but as churches of three Lord, if you wish me to stay here, I will never denominations were there it seemed right to go again ask to be moved. I am ready to stand in where there were none. The Gap if it is Thy will, as long as I live."
The first years· here were constructive in the As a shower refreshes the parched earth, so like beginnings of many kinds of classes for grown- a miracle God began to move. The preacher got ups as well as children. A tabernacle was built In trouble with a member of his former followers, in a shady place where services were held in sum- and the church in an adjoining community asked mer, and little rustic cabins were built for classes. him to resign. A shame-faced people came back In all the schools conducted by our workets the to Kermit church, and in a most miraculous way, Bible has a large place, and hundreds of verses things began to be normal again. have been committed to memory by the children. There were very few Sundays. when we did not About two years after this experience, when have from one to three preaching services-morn- some had forgotten that this preacher was still ing, after Sunday school, afternoon and at night. abroad, reports came that he was in jail. One day there was a knock on the door and there stood An unknown preacher, who had had a marvel- the same man. I cried to God for wisdom to ous success in his last revival in a neighboring handle the situation. Then I told him plainly community, came to hold revival services in Ker- that he had stirred up confusion, and scattered mit and filled the church to overflowing every our people to such an extent that some were night. He swayed the people with a hypnotic worse than ever before. He wanted to gather the power, and all our folks were converted over people in Kermit, so as to draw the members from again. Then he wanted to build a church, but as Cowan's Branch (the church in the next commulong as he could have the church free, the people nity where they asked him to resign). But since decided not to build. For six months or more, his motives were wrong I could not allow him to they followed him wherever he preached, going preach anymore. in trucks to distant places. Religiously, Kermit was ruined. Noone knows the anguish we en- I have only touched the borders of the years. dured during this time. It seemed that everybody A veil has been drawn over many sad experiences, was running after the man except a few who did and I have touched only a few of the many which not believe in him or his ways. have been true miracles. May the work go on and on in different ways and places, doing the The large crowds had caused much damage to true s'ervice through many of our missionaries the church building which had settled over six who are claiming the promise that they will bring inches so that every window was tilting. Our forth fruit even in old age. May the Lord who pipeless furnace had to be cut off several inches has done so much for this work in these thirty-six as the register projected above the floor. The years still carry on the work after He has called us. Home.
A Christian Philasapy far Rural Wark*
By FRANK w. PRICE, Nanking, China Head of Department of the Rural Church, Nanking Theological Seminary A PHILOSOPHY of Christian rural work is villages in the rural community. Governments now needed. Interest in rural reconstruc- are meeting some of these needs; non-Christian tion and the betterment of rural life is ris- agencies are meeting others. But unmet needs ing like a. mighty tide all over the world. The are legion. The Christian group should study its Christian Church is aware of its opportunity and community, select the greatest needs, and do what responsibility in meeting the needs of the "rural it can to meet them through promotion of good billion," especially in less privileged lands. Gov- causes, pioneering in new fields, holding up Chris- ernment and social agencies are promoting large': tian aims and ideals in social change, or through scale programs. What should the Church do that the leadership which the church contributes. It will be unique and fruitful? should seek, above all, to meet the deeper moral Many Christian missionary institutions are add- and spiritual needs of individuals and in society.
ing departments of rural service and are begin- 3. We must see the rural man or woman as a ning new rural experiments. Small groups of complete personality; we must see village life as Christians are answering calls of need from rural a whole. In the words of the Jerusalem declara- areas. Special types of training are given to those tion: "Man is a unity, and his spiritual life is preparing for rural service. In some countries indivisibly rooted in all his conditions, physical, governments are looking to Christian organiza- mental and social." The Christian Church should tions for special assistance. Agricultural missions reach men, women and children and seek to in- and the rural church are an essential part of the fluence them in all their family and social rela- world Christian movement. Christian individuals ti.ons. We want to make better citizens, citizens and groups must have a clear vision of aims, defi- of the community and of the nation, Christian nite guiding principles, a firm underlying phi- citizens. The various aspects of rural service losophy of Christian rural service, and a faith in must be integrated so that the whole life of the their cause, if the Christian Church is to make community is improved. Rural Christian leaders any distinctive contribution to the remaking of should see more clearly the relation between the village life in harmony with Christ's ideals in the many factors in rural betterment – health im- twentieth century. provement, higher standards of living, richer in- Ten guiding principles must be vital elements tellectual life, better community organization, the of this philosophy. These may stimulate thought development of stronger character and more un- among Christian rural workers, especially in the selfish leadership, and more vital Christian ex- lands of the younger churches. perience, because they see each person as a whole 1. We should be openly Christian. Christians and rural life as a whole. Our task is to arouse or groups of Christians engaging in rural service the desire and the will for a better life, and to should be openly and fearlessly Christian. As show the way to wholeness of life-in the Chris- Christians we have a distinctive faith and mission tian sense, salvation.
and our work should reveal a distinctive spirit of 4. We should attempt a limited program of high a fellowship and a unique power because of their quality. The program which a Christian group allegiance to Christ and His cause. We should not or a church in a rural community should attempt hesitate to express our Christian purpos.e, to seek will be determined by the leadership and member- opportunities for witnessing to our faith and ex- ship available; by the method of organization and perience, and to work unreservedly for the build- financial resources, by the opportunities presented ing up of a Christian fellowship in the community. for service, and by the faith and spirit of the 2. We should help to rr/,eet rural needs. The group. The aim should be to work intensively Christian gIloup should be seriously concerned rather than extensively. It is better to become with the needs of individuals, of families, and of intimately acquainted with one small rural com- • From a paper Issued by the Agricultural Missions Foundation, munity of fifty to a hundred villages and to do a Inc., 156 Fifth Avenue, New York. fruitful and lasting work than to spread in a [310 ] superficial way over many hundreds or thousands 7. We should make large use of local resources. of villages. Good, intensive work, done intelli- The ordinary Christian institution or group cangently and effectively, will be in the eD.d the best not command the financial resources which govkind of extensive work. We should aim at quality ernments and some non-official .agencies can comrather than quantity of service. We must resist mand. The Christian group must make large use the temptation to promote the kind of work that of local resources and develop local initiative and can be "shown off" to visitors.. We must see the leadership as much as possible. The village peovalue of little things well done and of unpreten- ple themselves must have a large and growing tious service with results that may not be imme- part in the working out of local programs. Any diately apparent but that are of lasting value. No help from outside should be used to stimulate and matter how limited the area of work or how simple encourage local planning and effort. Only thus the program, we should combine scientific knowl- can the rural church hope to become rooted in the edge, the best educational methods, and Christian rural community. devotion and sacrifice in realizing our aim of essentially good and permanent work. 8. We should cooperate as much as possible with other agencies and groups. Churches and all 5. We should go into the villages and live among Christian groups should cooperate in every way the people. Christian rural workers should con- possible with government and other agencies tinually go among the people and not wait for working for rural welfare, but must not sacrifice them to come to the workers and their institutions. or compromise their Christian faith and prin- Christian work in a rural community must be ciples. Following the inspiring example of Bishop deeply rooted in homes and village groups. The Grundtwig of Denmark, the Church should help central institution, service center or church build- the government to "revive the national spirit" by ing may be a me"eting place, training school or teaching Christian ideals of patriotism and by house of worship, but it should draw p€ople out building up the morale of the people. Where other of their homes and villages only to send them back organizations in the community are meeting a to serve and to transform their homes and their need, we may cooperate or support their work; communities. We must go "deep into the villages" where a vital need is not being met, we may help (to use the Chinese phrase); spend days and to arouse government attention or community innights in the villages, live among the rural people, terest and to organize the people to help themshare their joys and their sorrows, sacrifice and selves; frequently we may introduce outside agenendure with them. The ordinary rural worker cies and institutions for rural betterment to the will not do this, or he will attempt it for a short local community or bring groups in the commuperiod and then want to return to the more com- nity in touch with outside agencies which might fortable life of the market-town, the county seat assist them. We should do all in our power to deor the metropolitan center. The constant tempta- velop a community spirit, and community cooperation is to do rural work from an office or by occa- tion. At the same time, we must stand upon sional trips into the villages. Followers of Christ, Christian ground and never deny our Christian our Master, should be willing not only to go among purpose and principles. the rural people but to stay among them. If we can do this, we shall have an assured place in the 9. We should constantly stress the moral basis remaking of rural life. of rural reconstruction which is hindered by powerful forces of selfishness and greed. The 6. We should stress personal relationships and Christian group should be united and daring in small group organizations. What is the Chris- its opposition to all evils which it sees in individtian approach to the villages? First of all, through ual and community life. It should openly proclaim genuine friendship; then through unselfish forms Christian teachings in the face of any wrong and of service, and finally but exceedingly important, injustice even though such a stand may cost perthrough the organization of small, voluntary, co- secution and suffering. It should strive continoperating groups. These groups should aim to ually to strengthen and to organize effectively pubmeet some definite need of the group itself or of lic opinion and common effort against community community life. They should be self-helping and evils and against all forces in and out of the comself-directing from the beginning with such inti- munity which are hindering the fullest developmate and expert counsel and training from the ment of community life. It should preserve and outside as may be available. They' should not be strengthen the best traditions and customs in the mere formal organizations but should be warm villages and build upon the worthy spiritual elewith the spirit of friendship and should give a ments in the cultural inheritance of .the people. broader and deeper meaning to those p€rsonal re- It should call the rural communities to moral and lationships in family and social life which are spiritual life and ideals as well as to material adessential to the preservation of rural society. vance and, through the teaching and the power of
Christ, seek to regenerate as well as to recon- tribute something vital and unique to all the rural struct the lives of rural peoples. reconstruction in the community.
10. We should build up the church, which is the We look forward to the day when there will be permanent ex;pression of the Christian faith and in every rural community throughout the world a spirit in rural rebuilding. Hence we seek to bring strong rural Christian Church, deeply rooted in together in group worship, group study, group rural culture, serving community needs and transfellowship and group service, all Christians and forming community life, united in prayer and in all seekers. for Christian truth in the rural com- fellowsMp, teaching a real love of country and munity. The guiding, teaching and building up releasing the spiritual possibilities of the villages, of such a group becomes an essential task in Chris- indigenous but also vitally connected with the tian rural work. It is not enough to live and to Church of Christ-historic and universal. In a serve as Christians in rural communities; we fellowship of rural churches around the world, a must also find and win comrades in the Christian fellowship of Christian farmers and their famfaith and life and bind these together into a strong ilies, a brotherhood of men and women who are brotherhood. Ministers and lay workers must be helping to feed and to clothe the world and who found and trained to serve in such a church. A worship God and serve His Son, the Galilean Carchurch-centered program; broadly conceived and penter-Farmer, lies one of the greatest hopes of wisely carried out, will not divide the rural neigh- world peace. We must build up the rural church borhood but will help to unite it, and will con- in all lands, among ,all peoples.
The New Urgency in the Congo* -'I~I========~B~Y~R~E~V~.~M~O~TT==E==M~A~R~T~IN========~II~ DR. JOHN R. MOTT, after personal investi- ance of those thus studying our Bible is about gation, has declared that a dollar goes fur- 40,00.0 pupils! Hundreds and hundreds of our ther and accomplishes more in Africa than converts are coming out of these schools yearly, in any other field which he has visited-and he and as we wish to have a "self-supporting, selfhas visited them all! Of all the fields I know, governing, and self-propagating Church," this is. there is none more seriously menaced and which our hope for deacons and elders and pastors, for so urgently demands your sacrificial interest and all such must be intelligent and have clerical abilprayers as the Congo! ity to qualify.
The Southern Presbyterian mission during the The theological seminary at Mutoto is the first five years of this last decade (1928-1932) largest in the Southern Presbyterian Church, with received into the communion 9,455 carefully in- the snudents all married, thus giving the wives an structed and probation-tested converts-but dur- opportunity for special training, and through reing the last five years (1933-1937) received 19,205 quired plantations and gardens able to be largely communicants! Note the astounding rate of in- self-supporting. All must teach the village (or crease-and know that we have over 35,000 now "bush") schools; they must speak some French under preparation, already enrolled in the cate- to pass government inspection; they must know chumen clas·ses, also being tested. Open doors how to lead and instruct their congregations in wide open-thronged with needy supplicants beg- singing; they must be adepts as soul-winners; as ging to be taught! Over 2,000 preaching points well as able expositors of God's Holy Word. All daily trying to tell of the Way, the Truth and the applicants must have had their station (high Life – with yet hundreds of other villages and school) diploma of nine years schooling as a pregroups still on our waiting list begging and plead- requisite for entrance! ing for teachers. The mission:s medical work is also indispen- In addition to direct evangelistic work, we are sable, in that it breaks up inherited superstitions cooperating with the Colonial Government in their of the Voodoo and of animism; it continually wins nine-year educational program which permits us the loyalty of entire villages; and affords countto use. the Bible throughout. The average attend- less opportunities for personal soul-winning. The five hospitals have over 300,000 native visits • Reprinted from Th,e Chffi8tian 01/8eTWr.
THE NEW URGENCY IN THE CONGO
yearly; they perform hundreds of operations; if you had to care for large expansion and incare for all epidemics and scourges; besides car- creased needs? ing for over 2,000 lepers. The health of the missionaries and of our thousands of workers is de- Belgium has, launched a new educational propendent upon them and answered prayers; and gram for the Congo, which provides for nine years neither priest nor pauper ever calls upon them in of education, but sub.divided into three-year perivain. ods. For the first three-year period, the law looks forward to the establishing of little chapel-schools The mission is now attempting to minister to in every small community or tribal group, and the over 45,000 communicants, all of whom were not law further provides that any cult or confession, only received into the church after long instruc- whose teachers are qualified to teach the first tion and probation, but are statedly tested and three-year part of their curriculum, shall have the approved at each communion season, as to whether full protection of their laws; and furthermore, they are "doers of the doctrine." Using the old that the people of that group or village shall be Scotch "token" system, we give a ticket only to protected in their choice of such religious teacher. those whose lives are dedicated and obedient to Even previous to the promulgation of this law, Him. every station had scores and hundreds of such vil- lages on their "waiting lists," for whom we had "How then," you may ask with others, "can it no money in our budget nor prepared "preacherbe true that our mission is seriously menaced, as teachers" well enough trained for such positions. was stated in the opening paragraph of this letter?" The answer is that the mission is both The priests and nuns, who are now encountered under-staffed and under-financed! The average everywhere, have made the situation far more age of the present missionary group is past fifty, acute still, for on arriving in a village where no without any younger men being trained to take Protestant work is manifest, they call the village our places, and with an actual decrease in num- head men, demanding in the name of the law that bers. More pertinently, the mission has succeeded all the children be turned over to them for inand expanded, so that at least twenty more work- struction. The people, loyal to us whom they have ers are needed to maintain the previous degree of learned to love, protest that they are Protestants, efficiency. Among other extensions the mission and that they are looking to us 'and our Church has been forced to open up two more stations for instruction. So the priest departs, threaten- (there are seven now), thus withdrawing mis- ing that when he returns some weeks hence to find sionaries from already over-worked stations to that no Protestant teacher has been installed, he man the new ones. The scattered 'Tillage groups will establish his own school and chapel, or else which we control have increased from 1,100 indict the chief for lying and obstructing the (1928) to over 2,000 now, and we must visit and colonial Program by leaving his children uneducare for these regularly. Every department of cated. Alarmed, distressed, the chief and his peoour work has been enlarged, improved, extended, ple, scorning inconvenience or season, rush into increased in our attempt to hold our own; so that the mission station demanding the teacher for each missionary has far more tasks than either whom they have, awaited so long. Alas, and alas! his health, or the good of the work, can justify. Our little remnant of a budget has already been stretched beyond the breaking point, we can do As to financial support-the peril is even more nothing. So the priest enters, propaganda begins grave, but I trust not more hopeless! The facts against the heretic foreigners, gifts and school speak for themselves, for we have less than one- supplies are lavishly given, and even threats and half of our previous budget, and just a little more blows and unbelievable ruthlessness are employed than one-third. The actual figures in Belgian to prevent the people from visiting us or hearing francs, the currency of Congo, are as follows: the Gospel message. Before the depression the American Church gave us $65,212 which dropped to $25,000 during the Nevertheles,s, the people are remaining loyal to depression. Simultaneously, the exchange rate the Evangelical mission, and many are enduring fell from thirty-five and one-half francs per dollar great sacrifice and poverty and suffering in those to twenty and one-half francs, so that the actual places where we do not desert them. But in the amount in francs dropped from 2,315,026 francs rapidly growing number of those villages which before the depression to 512,500 francs-less than we cannot "occupy," the priests are locking and one-fourth of what we needed! This lowest figure barring the doors, against us and religious freehas been raised little by little until, with the ad- dom, so that in areas dominated by the priests for dition of two new stations, we now receive francs ten years, the children have even hooted the pass- 861,097 ($29,693 at 29 francs to the dollar). If ing missionary, an almost unheard of rudeness for your church budget, or your business, or house- the native Congolese. My conviction is that if keeping budget, were suddenly to be cut down to our Church does not awaken and soon, God will one-third, how would you get along, especially not hold open the doors another ten years.
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I Effective Ways of Working Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, 5718 OAK AVE•• INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA Do Personal Work with Christian teaching and fel- magazine is not suitable for a lowship those people have. With boy in reform school, is it suit- A state Communist leader once able on your own library table? came to talk to a group who at the pastor and his wife, go sevthe time included members of eral other members of a town *** the national staff of a Missions congregation to "help with the and Christian Education Board. singing," to give an increased In one of our smaller cities sense of fellowship, to make a lives a young woman with a love I remember clearly his state- hard trip easier. of music and ability as a direcment that a member of the party tor of singing. The paid music in good standing, working full There are services within leadership of her own church time at a job, was required to reach of most of us, where our leaves no room for her to use give four full evenings a week lJresence might mean the differ- that ability, but she does not find to Communist activities, meet- ence between success and failure. that any excuse for leaving her ings., propaganda, or other work Search out one such piece of talent unused. She found that for the party. Christian work and give an eve- a group of children in a mission ning a week to it. It will in- church in the same city were At the time it struck me that crease your worth to your own eager for a children's choir and if Christian church membershilp church. It will encourage your one evening a week finds her involved that, our active mem- worker-in-charge. It will carry busy training her sweet-voiced bership would hardly be worth forward the missionary task of group. Sunday evenings they counting. And yet-would it not your church. form the choir for the service of be a minority as effective in the church. Anyone who has its contagion as Communism? *** had much to do with a choir More so, because of its s.piritual knows the number of hours she life, light and reality! Over in Boston lives a mis- must put in outside of timesl of sionary woman, retired from In- actual contact with the children; There are people who are giv- dia.. She is hard of hearing and planning their work, choosing ing such service for Christ's music suitable for various occacause. If we note some of them, the possibilities of active service sions, solving problems. She is it may help suggest some ave- semed at an end. Yet she pluck- doing far more than training a nues of personal service for our- children's choir. She is leading selves – personal missionary ily undertook to learn to write a group of underprivileged chilservice. dren along a path of beauty; she Braille. With painstaking care is enlisting and developing their North of Sault Ste. Marie, On- she has worked at translating abilities fOir Christian service, tario, Canada, runs a gravelled she is giving them a warm, vital road due north. Twenty-five into the familiar Hindi of the contact with her own Christian miles out it ends. From there to field of her labors, stories being personali ty. Hudson Bay there is nothing. It used in Christian education. is still pioneer country up there. Then with meticulous care she There are children from coast The "bush," which has grown has pricked into the raised dots up after logging, is forest again the story or the Bible pass1age or to coast, from northern border and here and there iSi a little log to south, who are crying out for cabin. Small farms are being mess·age for the blind to read. cleared. Russian, Finn, French, Hindi Braille! Her days of serv- Christian leadership. Children English stnck-they are pushing ice over? Retired? She is open- in city, in village, in country and the wilderness back. Along that ing the eyes of the blind as mountains, needing a contact, if road every Thursday evening, only once a week, to guide their while the road is not blocked surely as she did in the days of activities along worthwhile lines with snow, there goes the cir- her medical service in India. and to give them definite contact cuit pasitor and his wife, to hold with Christian personality. You a service for all who will come There are services you can can render vital service if you to the tiny chapel in a little set- render in preparing materials are willing to give an evening or tlement. It is the only contact for use in mission fields at home two a week to it. and abroad. There is that ever- present implement-the needle. There is the hammer and the paint brush and the saw. There are books to be collected, maga- zines to be gathered for use in prisons. And by the way, if a [ 314 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
What, you say, has local To feed these children at the move out. The woman telling about it, said that she and her church work to do with mis- Center one nourishing lunch a family were utterly ashamed of belonging to a community which sions? Who said local church day, the churches of the county could do such a thing. She spoke very feelingly about the sense work? Whenever you step out -one church each week-under- of contrition which comes to one in the face of circumstances like of your own local church en- took to collect what was needed. that.
vironment, to go to the aid of a But at this point came a fail- First, let us rej oice in the growing number of people who group not able to provide its , ure which, to the visitor, seemed have a deep sense of shame and contrition at the possibility of own leadership, you are in a rather embittering. In spite of such action.
sense engaging in missionary ac- all the wealth and all the power- Second, let us see what we can do about it. There is a tivity. We have left too much ful modern automobiles owned deeper problem than that of bringing 'Public opinion to bear home missions work to the over- in those churches, not one per- upon the agent and the dwellers in that apartment house. The worked members of our home son could be found willing to de- editor of these pages was aching to ask in that conference, how missions s,taffs. Too many of liver thoee supplies to the Cen- many persons there pres,ent had ever entertained a Negro person us fail to see, that beyond our ter. After a week of exhausting as a guest in their homes.
financial support of home and work, heartbreaking in some of For after all, there lies the root of that particular trouble. foreign missions which provides its revelations, those three girls To entertain a Negro guest wa's such an unusual thing in that the continuity of work and had to collect and carry to the community that when an apart- ment house dweller attempted it, workers, we s,till owe the gift Center, unload and store away, she had to give up her apart- ment. The next step for all that is more difficult to make— all the food supplies for the fol- those who feel contrition, is to make the entertaining of Negro the gift of our own time and lowing week. guests such a common observ- ance in their neighborhood that talents in direct personal serv- Can you not imagine the it will cease to draw attention ice. When we render such serv- women of those churches saying and to cause unfavorable comice, we grow in understanding as too many of us say on similar ment. and in power. We speak with occasions, "We've collected the authority as we seek to enlist the things needed. It seems that There are few of us who can members of our local church in the least they can do is to come make our voices heard in breaka deep concern for the work of after them!" It would have been ing down racial prejudice. But the church at home and abroad. a little thing to those church peo- as has been the case since time began, What you do speaks Our cause is not to be com- ple, taking long drives to cool louder than what you say.
pared with the Communist cause. off in the hot summer evenings, Why not plan during this next year to take a person of an un- Shall we, then, give it a lesser to load the car and drive in the accepted racial minority in your community to at least one of devotion? direction of the Center. A heavy your miss,ionary meetings as a guest. That is one of the easiest Give Full Measure – burden they put upon those tired steps, for there at least you find workers by their failure to do so. some persons theoretically if Running Over! not in actual practice believing Many of us will be involved in in racial equality.
A visitor to a Christian Cen- projects of one sort and another, Why not have as a dinner ter' in Ohio, where children of collecting that which we would guest at least once, the most inmigrant onion – field workers share, and getting it to those teresting person of another race were being kept and cared for with whom it is to be shared. whom you can secure. Make it during the day, found three In planning such enterprises, a real occasion. Invite your let us remember that full meas- guest because of a common inyoung .women doing a tremen- ure – running over – involves terest, or because of some dous piece of work. Faced with finishing u~ the project our- accomplishment along lines inappalling need on every side they were reaching out to the selves" not leaving part of it to full limit of their time and weary workers who are glad to strength to bring health and have our gifts to distribute but Christian teaching – the touch whose joy would be the greater of it that was possible – to as to have full measure of help.
many children as they could in Creating Public Opinion the weeks during which the Cen- ter was maintained. At a recent conference on Children, utterly worn out missionary education in Chi- with the attempt to sleep on cago, one woman got up and told hard boards in bare shacks with about an experience a friend of no netting to keep out the hordes hers had. The friend, a lover of of mosquitoes, were put to bed music, had invited one of the under mosquito-netting on a mat most famous, singers of today, a in the grass, and were allowed Negro woman, to be her guest at to sleep as long as they would. dinner in her apartment in a Children suffering from the ail- northern city. The other occu- ments that come from lack of pants of the apartment house food, no milk, and few of the had combined to force the agent nutritive elements needed, were to refuse to re-lease her the served a hot lunch at noon. apartment. The friend had to
teresting to some member of for following an address. Can during the address, questions, your family, or because the one we do anything about it? small or great which occurred invited is a stranger in this We certainly can. In the first to them. These were collected country, or because you are' place we can recognize the fact at the close and given to the working together on a commit- that most subjects presented by speaker. As they were answered tee and want to spend the eve- most speakers do not stimulate by her, other questions began to ning working together. The discussion. Unless we are sure be hastily written and passed invitation must rise out of a real that discussion will be stimu- forward. The question period desire to have that person in the lated, we should not plan for it had to be brought forcibly to a midst of your family and must or announce it. It is often a lazy close. Another method is pribe a happy experience for all in- idea on our part, for by it we vately to ask several clear-thinkvolved. have avoided having to build up ers among the listeners to jot Why not have as your house the program in line with the down questions during the adguest at summer camp someone speaker's theme. First then, do dress or presentation, and to be of another race? Students in not plan for discussion unless ready to ask them. It stimulates this country might find that a you are sure it will be spon- attentive listening to do this and real experience. A boy inter- taneous and valuable. if the group is merely shy about ested in the same hobby as your In the second place, there is starting questions a number of son's might bring more than questions like this to begin with pleasure in doing things to- the subject or address or speaker often sets things off to a good gether. which should stimulate discus- start. Still another and very sion under ordinary circum- good way is to have, either in Why not help your young peo- stances. Plan for discussion in the preceding open meeting or in the officer's meeting a preple to take with them to summer that case and announce it. But discussion of the speaker's be alert. If the speaker fails to theme. Some definite things the conference as a member of their group would like to find out may own group, some young person stimulate discussion, if the ad- be determined and thus quesof another race or nation whose dress has a tone such that its tions prepared. Or for those own church will not be sending message will be lost if followed who read a great deal, stimua group and who would be lonely by discussion, if circumstances lating questions regarding the going just as an individual? prove such that the audience point of view of some author cannot enjoy spontaneous dis- who writes on the subject may It is through the doing of cussion, if the majority will not be proposed. Avoid like poison these things that you are really want discuss,ion although a few the trite and banal question. creating public opinion. To are eager for it, rise gracefully There is nothing sends a speaker make the desirable so common into a fatal "spin" more easny in actual experience that it will to the occasion with a statement than a question like, "Do they be "the thing to do," will be which reverses the proposed pro- eat with their fingers?" after more effective in creating a gram arrangement. For in- she has p,resented a picture of friendly world than any amount stance, "We had planned for dis- the terrific problems faced by of mere talking about it. cussion, but I think we all agree the women of India in emerging that we s,hould prefer to close on from centuries of ignorance, Best Use of Question Periods superstition and binding custom. the note Miss Jones has sounded. Third then, where discussion is Who has not been at some Some of us will want to talk to legitimately planned, decide defimeeting or other upon whose her further,' quite informally nitely on the way in which quesprogram appears "Address, by tions are to rise and make some So-and-So" followed immediately after our meeting." Or, "Miss suggestion as to the type of below by that fatal line, "Discus- Jones has answered in a remark- questions which will be helpful. sion." The pres,iding officer able way the questions we had Bring questions or discussions rises, bright-faced, and turning thought of asking. Suppose we to a prompt close when time is on her charm like a lamp, pro- just omit the discussion period up or when desire for further poses, "Now I am sure we all questioning seems about to lag. have many questions we want to and have an informal chat with It is a good principle in question ask Miss Jones." Dead silence. her after we close." Second, "I have one myself," seys the then, be alert to eliminate a dis- periods, as in recreation, to stop officer smiling. One wonders cussion or question period you how much of the period of the short just before people are address she spent in trying to had planned but which you come formulate it! Miss Jones an- to feel will not be wise or effec- ready to quit. swers it with enthusiasm. Dead silence again. tive. Question and discussion peri- The "Discussion" on this pro- In the third place, develop a ods rightly used are excellent. gram was a flat failure. It technique for drawing questions. An interdenominational confer- ence of children's w 0 r k e rs, where each was a stranger to the other, had a most lively question couldn't have been worse. Yet period. At the outset of the You can become more expert in that is exactly what happens presentation the group listening using them helpfully if you study ninety-nine times out of a hun- was asked to keep paper and the reasons for your success or dred when questions are called pencil in hand and to jot down failure and try again. BULLETIN Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~,==================~ TAMBARAM SPEAKS FOR for action to an ecumenical con- that the pulse of the Christian ference, those delegates hold in Church is to be found in the HOME MISSIONS their hands the deciding votes throbbing life of its evangelistic By REV. HILDA L. IVES that can establish their inter- fervor. Here is the test of the The third International Mis- pretations of spiritual truth and reality of the Christian religion. sionary Council which met at that can express their spiritual Any church or any individual Tambaram, India, in December, ideals in Christ. I do not know Christian who lacks missionary 1938, made history. For the that there was any time at Tam- zeal is as a burnt-out coal on the first time in the record of ecu- baram when the colored dele- altar of the Living God, for a menical religious councils the gates as a whole were in opposi- transforming religious experimajority of the appointed dele- tion to the white delegates or ence brings the propulsive love gates were representatives of when the representatives of the and power of the Living Christ the colored races. To be exact, younger churches were in dis- and with this inflow of the Holy there were eight more colored agreement with the delegates of Spirit comes a sense of Divine delegates than there were white the older churches. But if acute Mission. In the words of the delegates. This fact has far- differences had existed, victory Tambaram findings, "There is a reaching implications for the was always possible for the sure indication that evangelism missionary cause. In the first younger churches. Such decid- is not due merely to the zeal of place, it means that the Chris- ing power will be increasingly Christian people, but rather is tian Church is now so deeply in the hands of the colored races the outcome of a Divine initiarooted throughout the world in the years to come. tive. The task can never be that it has taken on the sem- In the third place, this world- achieved wit h 0 u t :sacrifice. blance in color and in dignity of wide establishment of the Chris- Churches as well as individuals the family of nations as God tian Church means that the term are summoned to die unto themcreated them. God is an artist. "home missions" has new conno- selves and unto their own par- With the dawning of a new morn tations for all Christians. The ticular interests that the world He paints His skies with irrides- work of the Christian Church may be saved. Worship must cent hues. With the flaming can no longer be divided into lead to witness and spiritual rays of His dying sun, He sets "foreign missions" and "home growth to self-giving." These His heavens aglow with glorious missions," with the meaning words can well be a stimulus to color. Such a God would nat- that has existed in the past. the work of home missions.
urally create His children, His Every country now has its Tambaram laid an emphasis, family of nations, a colorful peo- strong indigenous C h r i s t ian as did the ecumenical conference ple. His Church is a colorful Church. Every country now has at Jerusalem, upon the strategic church, beautiful in the warm its home missions, consisting of importance of the Rural Church shades of brown, yellow, black all areas where Jesus Christ is in the stabilization of a chaotic an"d red, with enough white to not known. From the discus- world. This means, of course, make a perfect harmonious sions at Tambaram, it was the strategic importance of whole. This was shown to all brought out that all churches home missions in every nation.
Christian leaders who saw the are now considering the sending Tambaram emphasized the need Universal Church assembled in of Christian leaders to other of experts and specialists for all the beautiful new auditorium of lands as foreign missionaries. It the different phases of village the Madras Christian College at was suggested that India might life where human needs are the Tambaram. The Ecumenical well send from her Indian Chris- most pressing. This need was Church which represents Chris- tian Church foreign missionaries expressed in the findings in the tendom fairly in the future will to Africa, even as it was sug- following words, "Increasing the consist of inspired harmonious gested that America might con- fruitfulness of the land, raising leaders blended into a colorful sider the appointment of a fine the level of literacy and intelli- Negro Christian missionary to gence, providing wholesome unity of faith. In the second place, the pre- India. Such suggestions have recreation, turning slums to dominance of colored Christians tremendous import in the re- homes, rescuing people from meaus that at any time there is va1uation of the whole mission- financial exploitation or trying unanimity of opinion upon the ary cause. Tambaram asserted to prevent such sin, directing the r~solutions of findings presented again and again in its findings energies and the social instincts [317 J of youth into channels of whole- is right, who still feel the clasping sage of the mystic, Kahlil Gibsomeness and service-all these hands of love even when they go ran, but the period of directed are the blessed touch of the hand through pain and trial and loss, this prayer which followed its readof Christ when done by men and seed-spirit will spread, this nucleus ing was one of the high moments women filled with the love of will enlarge and create a society. of the conference. Christ and equipped with special knowledge for the task. . . . This excerpt from "Inner The commission group meet- Wherever possible the Church Life" by Rufus M. Jones ap- ings were held at Riverside should cooperate with govern- peared on the cover of the pro- Church, and in Hamilton and mental agencies contributing gram of the Metropolitan Chris- Business Halls at Columbia Uniher Christian spirit, her trained tian youth Conference held in versity. The unique feature of workers, her volunteer assist- New York City on March 3, 4, these commission groups was the ance and her deep interest to and 5, 1939. setting up of booths to resemble lift the level of the community's the World's Fair, called "The way of life." The committee of ten young World's Fair of Social Chal- people headed by the general lenges." In these booths were In conclusion, I would say that chairman, Mr. Oliver Powell of displayed the contributions of the message from Tambaram to the Metropolitan C h r i s t ian various racial groups and rehome missions is that home mis- Youth Council sought in their source materials on outstanding sions are thrilling opportunities arduous planning for this con- social questions. for service and for evangeliza- ference to spread this "seedtion within national boundaries. spirit" among the youth of the The subjects covered were: Foreign missions are the thrill- Metropolitan area. Their months Peace, Economic Problems, Race ing opportunities for service and of thoughtful, prayerful en- Relations, Jewish-Christian Refor evangelization within inter- deavor resulted in a well-bal- lations, Housing, Unemployment, national boundaries. Interest in anced program. both home and foreign missions Home and Marriage, Leisure will exist in the same person if The conference speakers were Time, Labor Problems and he is a true follower of the Mas- Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, World Christianity. ter. Home missions gives a minister host to the delegates, Christian an opportunity for Rev. Abraham J. Muste of the Some dealt with personal relimore direct practical concern Labor Temple, Dr. John Suther- gion, as, for instance questions and service to needy parts of his land Bonnell, pastor of the Fifth such as these: own nation, for a more intimate Avenue Presbyterian Church, knowledge· of many groups of and Mr. Oliver Powell. Anyone Is religion personal or social, or is underprivileged people and for doubting that youth is inter- religion personal and social? a definite part in the develop- ested in a pulpit message need ment of a constructive, vital pro- only to have witnessed the rapt Can I save myself without saving gram for the building of the attention given these conference others? Kingdom of God. The needs of speakers to be convinced that the home mission fields, close at youth will give ear to a message Can I be religious and not go to hand and sacrificially met, can of worth. church? open the heart to the needs of far-distant lands. Home mis- One of the outstanding mo- What would happen if young peosions is a spiritual and necessary ments in the services of worship ple really believed in Jesus? preparation for foreign mis- was that in which the words of sions. "Such movements are "The Prophet" were read. Does God have a purpose for every the urge of the Spirit to the life? If so, does the individual have Church to fulfil its great com- And an old priest said, "Speak to a definite part to play in carrying out mission, relying not merely upon us of religion." And he said: "Have that purpose or does he just find for human resources, but upon the I spoken this day of aught else?" himself something to do in advancing power of God. . . . The Church's the purpose? message to the world is the Lord Is not religion all deeds and all re- Jesus Christ Himself in all His flections, and that which is neither These young people faced honmanifold grace and power." deed nor reflection, but a wonder and estly and frankly these and many surprise ever springing in the soul, other problems. that confront YOUTHFUL BUILDERS even while the hands hew the stone youth today. or tend the loom? OF THE KINGDOM Naturally there was a diver- Who can separate his faith from sity of opinion, and both con- The Seed his actions, or his belief from his oc- servative and progressive poi~ts cupation? of view were presented. Our It was Jesus' faith that, if you get young people live in a world in into the world a seed of the Kingdom, Who can spread his hours before which they themselves must a nucleus of persons who exhibit the him, saying, "This for God and this choose what they shall believe blessed life, who are dedicated to ex- for myself; this for my soul, and this concerning the essential facts of panding goodness, who rely implicitly for my body? . . ." life and only as they think for on love and sympathy, who try in themselves can they grow into meek patience the slow method that He to whom worshipping is a win- men and women of principle and dow to open but also to shut, has not stable Christian character. yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn. Earnestness of purpose and youthful enthusiasms character- Your daily life is your temple and ized all sessions of this gather- your religion. ing of youth and one could not but feel that these youthful Whenever you enter into it take builders of God's Kingdom had with you your all. come a little nearer Christ's dream for the world Space does not permit a full quotation of this beautiful mes-
A Story for the
KEEP OFF THE GRASS Norman and the policeman the boys all laughed and told him turned round to look ata young to forget it. They said that all By VIOLET WOOD man who had come over to them. reporters were crazy. As the long summer days passed, Nor- Norman was burning up. His "And who may you be?" bel- man still dreamed of sailing in a clothes stuck to him. It was the lowed the policeman. boat up and down the Hudson hottest day of 1875. None of River. the gang were around for they "George H. Williams of the had all gone s.wimming in the New York Times." One afternoon he was sitting East River where his mother on the curbstone outside of his wouldn't let him go. "A smart alec reporter, huh?" tenement under the shade of the "Look here, officer, I don't in- elevated trains when he noticed All along the road, carts and tend to get into a brawl. I'd a man evidently looking for horses were tied to hitching just like to ask you a civil ques- someone as he consulted the posts or were moving fretfully tion. How many times a day do house numbers. The boy's heart through the narrow city streets. you kick little boys like this one skipped a beat. It was Mr. Wil- Up on the fire escapes of out of the city parks?" liams. Norman rushed over to crowded tenement blocks babies The policeman pushed back greet the reporter. He was so lay in cradles made out of old his hat, the better to see the re- excited he scarcely heard right. orange boxes. Many of them porter. What he saw evidently He was to have a gang of boys cried incessantly. pleased him for he changed his at Battery Marsh on Sat.urday. surly tone. "More than I care Norman felt like crying, too. to think of, young fellow. I Saturday came too slowly, but He had never disobeyed his know that there's no place for then Norman, his friends and mother, but the impulse to go these kids in New York City to hundreds of newspaper boys with the gang was strong. He play but in the gutters. But from all over New York City had only a vague idea where the what can I do? If I let this kid went sailing on the ferry boat. East River was. Street after stay here, tomorrow there'd be Best of all, was the news that street he crossed in the blazing hundreds tramping around here for the rest of the summer they sun, with the horses and car- and what would become of the could spend the long, hot days riages ambling in every direc- park?" on the boat. tion. After much walking he came to a park. The cool, green Mr. Williams turned to Nor- Mr. Williams had told Norgrass stretched all around. The man who had been crouched man's story in the newspaper, as sight of it thrilled him. Al- down between the. two men, well as that of other little boys though it was carefully foot wondering whether he should whom he had seen compelled to wired and bore signs warning, run or stay. "How would you "Keep off the grass." People "Keep off the grass," Norman like to spend some of your sum- had sent in money to hire a ferry jumped the small fence, picked boat to take the children sailing out a choice spot beneath a mer days on a ferry boat, sailing every morning and bring them shady maple tree and lay down. up and down the H u d son back at night. The idea seemed River?" so wonderful that one of the big The lovely tree swayed, caus- New York churches took it up ing a slight breeze and making Norman looked at the re- and for many years made this the sunlight fall in patterns porter. "You're making fun of one of their home missionary upon him. He lay thinking, "I'm me, mister. I ain't never been tasks. going to bring mama and papa on a boat in my life." and the baby here." Reverently Making Use of This Story he felt the grass. Although "No," said the reporter, "I'm parched and dry, it was delight- not kidding you." He whipped "Keep off the grass" is the fully cool to the hands of this out a notebook. "What's your true story of the beginning of little boy who knew the feel of name? Where do you live?" He The Floating Hospital of St. cement sidewalks better. John's Guild that still carries on wrote down what Norman halt- the work. "Come on, get up out of ingly told him. there!" Many children have no idea as "Who do you think you are, a to what "home missions" are. Norman started up, his heart See how many aspects of work beating wildly as he looked at a millionaire? Getting ferry boats among underprivileged children policeman towering above him. for kids-don't make me laugh!" in metropolitan and rural sec- tions the child knows. Tell of "Get a move on, you !" The policeman swung his stick. your denomination's work in Norman was too frightened to "Just watch the pages of the various fields. move. "Why don't you pick on some- New York Times, brother," anbody your size, brother?" Both swered the reporter. To Nor- man he s.aid, "And you, sonny, I'll be round to see you real soon."
When Norman got home, and told his adventure to the gang, [319 ]
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO "
~~~~=====================================================================~ NORTH AMERICA life; the Church and marriage. five cents each for bricks in the Family participation in commu- edifice. The upper part was paid One Hundred Year Split Ended nity activities. Education for for by royalties on the Moody- world citizenship. Old age and Sankey song books sold in Great The three great divisions of its place in family life. Britain-money which the evan- Methodism are closing the books gelists would not accept for their on more than a century of schism It is a common mistake to as- personal use. The ministry of to form the largest Protestant sume that Christian education is this good-will gift has extended group in the United States. The for children only. The whole over more than seventy years. union will give the Methodist work cannot be done by the When the Chicago Avenue Church nearly 8,000,000 mem- Church School, so that a pro- Church organization moved one bers, 50,0'0'0 churches and $800,- gram must be developed which mile to the north, the Moody 0'0'0,0'0'0 worth of property. The will include men and women, as Bible Institute purchased the old Articles of Religion will be those well as the youth. An adequate building and has since used it historically held in common by program is necessary in order for classes and conferences. the three uniting bodies. Two to make the Church ineffective. differences had led to the split: Another Survey on Beliefs theNegro question divided North -The Church in Action. and South in 1844, and lay rep- The ·Survey Gra.phic for April resentation in church affairs in Bibles from the Dumps published the results of a study 1828. made by Prof. James H. Leuba Not all hotel managers like to of Bryn Mawr, in which he The publishing interests of the have Bibles in their rooms. For sought to find out the proportion unified Methodist Church are to example, when a hotel in western of Americans who believe in God be under a Board of Publication, Canada changed ownership the and a future life. Sixty-four per which replaces the book commit- new proprietor had all the Gid- cent of the prominent bankers tee of the Southern church and eon Bibles thrown out on the believe in God, but only half the board of the Northern. dump. Later, a poor girl went that many writers do. Figures to the dump hoping to find SOme- for a belief in immortality were One weekly paper, with re- thing of value that she could sell. somewhat higher than for a begional editions, to be called The Noticing the books, she picked lief in God. About 25 per cent Methodist, will serve the entire up one and took it home. had not made up their minds Church. Editors will be drawn Through reading it she found about immortality while only 7 from the staffs of papers which Christ, and this led to the forma- per cent were undecided about the new publication displaces. tion of a Sunday school class, the existence of God. Among whose members also went to the men of science the proportions Church Education dump and provided themselves of doubters in immortality was with Bibles, so that not one copy also much greater than that of The 19th Social Work Confer- was left unappropriated. doubters in the existence of God. ence of the Episcopal Church, which meets in Buffalo, June 16 -So S. Times. -The Churchman. and 17, will have a wider appeal than in the past. It is to be a Moody Auditorium Replaced Home Missions' Outreach conference for all who are interested in education, as is evident The historic Moody Bible In- Dr. Antonio Mangano, an from the list of topics to be dis- stitute Church in Chicago was Italian Baptist min i s t e r in cussed: Family life and its ma- closed on May 6 on account of Brooklyn, makes this comment terial foundations; its legal and the widening of the street on on home missions: "Soon after social status; its spiritual pat- which it opens. This landmark, evangelical churches commenced terns. Youth problems; youth scarred by use and age, has been work among Italians in Amerconsultation service; youth's in- replaced by its successor one ica, the effects were seen in Italy. terest in social education and block to the north, called the The first missionary pastors social action. Preparation for "Torrey-Gray Auditorium." Fol- were converts who came from family life; mental hygiene of lowing the great fire of 1871 the Italy, but by their labors Amerinfancy and childhood; adoles- first story of the old structure ica soon began to repay Italy. cence and education for family was erected, thousands of Sun- day school children contributing [320 ] Here and there an Italian con- mountains supplied the idea for posed for the year 1939-40 in the verted in America returned to an experiment, and in 1934 an booklet "A Venture of Faith," Italy and did not hide his light Emergency Relief Administrator recently published by the Naunder a bushel, but faithfully with a vision collected a stack of tional Committee for Religion proclaimed his new-found faith old, nondescript books, maga- and Welfare Recovery. Among zines, and pamphlets, the latter the objectives are: in Jesus as his Saviour. Some- dealing mostly with religious times these humble messengers topics, hired an enthusiastic To educate the American public in were ostracized and persecuted young mountain woman, who the underlying principles of stewarduntil they returned to America. owned a white mule of dubious ship through conventions, regional In other places their townspeople age and a pair of saddlebags. conferences, national magazines, the listened, first with curiosity to With these bags crammed with daily press, motion pictures, radio and the American religion, and later miscellaneous literature, through other educational media. with such interest. that many creek bottoms, cane patches, and were converted. A peasant of over abandoned trails she rode, To broaden the base of giving by Calitri was converted anhe Bap- stopping at every mountain enlisting as nearly as practicable, tist mission in Hartford, Con- home to urge all who could read "every citizen as a steward of life and necticut, and became an earnest to read what she was giving property for the welfare of mankind." Christian. When he returned to them. Often she read aloud to his family in the little hilltown whole families, most of whom To develop more business-like methof southern Italy, he labored were illiterate. ods of systematic giving, proportiontirelessly to bring his townsmen ate to incomes. to Christ, with the result that a The Kentucky mountaineers grasped and clung to this pack To lift the present level of giving church was formed with a mem- horse service, which grew at from 2.033 per cent to the unprecebership of 50 which has since such a rate that today it is en- dented figure of 3 per cent of income, grown to several hundred." tirely out of hand-through lack and as far as practicable toward the of books. One by one, pack- biblical tithe and the 15 per cent -Watchman-Examiner. horse library carriers were which the government exempts from added, until, at the present time, income tax if given privately for pub- First Spanish Baptist Church, women ride horseback and walk lic welfare. New York City an average of 26,182 miles monthly to deliver 39,293 books To educate the public on the im- There were about twenty chil- to 36,293 Kentucky mountain portance of "Mbre and Better Wills," families anxious to learn, and to including annual review of wills with dren present, most of whom had know the doings. of the world due consideration of our personal in- outside. These libraries extend debtedness to religious, educational, never prayed in public before. over certain backwoods regions character-building and welfare insti- of thirty-one counties. tutions. We had a worship service, and The Federal Government pays To seek the religious, social and then I told them why we were the carriers – all from relief moral welfare of the donor as more rolls – a small wage. .once a important than the material value of assembled and asked all who week they hold conferences at the dollar. their centers, clip continued wished to lead in prayer to do so. stories from old magazines and In the Indian Field bind them into a unit; and fas- The children ranged in age from ten Sunday school lesson papers A glance at the year's work in cardboard covers, with a reli- among the Indians indicates 5-14 years. All those present led gious picture on the outside. progress both in extending evangelization and in strengthin prayer, and for so many it The "bookwomen," however, ening the groups of converts in are not without rebuff. One was forty-seven different t rib e s. was the first time in their lives, met on a mountain side by an There has been an increase in irate father who said he "wanted the number of accessions on proand so I was immensely proud no more sech goin's on." Said fession of faith. However, there he: "I cain't get my gal to do have been obstacles to Christianof them. There was no waiting nothin' but read. My cornfield izing efforts, such as violations needs hoein'''; and he declared of the law against the sale and because one little boy led in angrily, "sittin' in a corner with use of liquor; converts who have her nose in a book h'aint gonna earnestly tried to withstand prayer every time no one else get them weeds out!" temptation have been enticed by unscrupulous white men engaged spoke up. He is seven years of -Bible Society Record. in the traffic. Among the Sioux Indians, sales of peyote, unreage, and I was surprised at his Stewardship Promotion Plan stricted by the government, have been promoted. A bill introreligious experience. He came A nation-wide program of duced in Congress to prohibit stewardship education is pro- the traffic of this drug among very near crying many times the Indians was not reported out of the committee because of the while he led in the five prayers influences which were mar- shalled against it. he offered that day, one of them In certain reservations, Inbeing of about twenty minutes' dians have been encouraged to revive their ancient culturesduration. He wanted to pray so-called – which involve pagan for everyone he knew, because it was the Day of Prayer. He prayed for grandmothers and asked a blessing on all the bad people and the gang of boys who beat him up. -Selected.
Pack Horse Library Just what is a pack horse library? An expressed wish for reading material in the Kentucky
practices. The encouraging fact farmers; but Palmer Church says Dr. Johnson, are not antiis that many of the Indians are also serves the coal miners to Semitic. opposed to the return of these the north, the many gold miners primitive rites. It should be high in the mountains and iso- Palestine at the "Golden Gate" recorded that recently the gov- lated communities along the railernment has issued an order road, including the Eklutna Vo- An interesting exhibit at the prohibiting Indian dances for cational School to the south and San Francisco World's Fair is a commercial ends. All the Chris- fishing stations on Cook Inlet. "Holy Land Garden," containing tian, and most of the progressive more than a hundred trees, Indians are in hearty accord "The Vanishing Indian" shrubs and plants mentioned in with this order. the Bible: olives from Mount This common phrase does not Olivet, Lebanon and Galilee; -Presbyterian Board of hold up under scrutiny. When date palms, acacias, plane trees National Missions. the Pima Indians held their an- and pomegranates-the Eastern nual camp meeting in Arizona, symbol of life and fertility. Mexicans in Texas fifteen acres of desert were cov- There will be almonds, fig trees ered with wagons, horses, tents, and "bitter herbs," the latter Evangelization of the Mexi- and hundreds of children, young mentioned to Moses (Exodus cans in Texas is important be- people and white-haired Indians, 12: 8) in connection with the cause there are almost a million assembled for one of the largest Passover. Fragrant, pungent, of them who are ignorant of the evangelistic meetings ever held spicy plants with Biblical back- Gospel. Southern Baptists are by Indians. There was contin- ground will be here – hys,sop, grappling with the problem, and uous activity from sunrise until thy m e, rosemary, lavender, have marked out two lines of ten at night. Choirs from a anise, cummin, rue, cassia, musapproach, the first being evange- dozen villages, in training for tard, leeks, onions, garlic. The lism. To this end, six evangelis- months, took part in services carob, which is identified as "the tic conferences were held in Jan- conducted by Indian ministers. husks that the swine did eat," uary and February in various will also find place in the Garden. parts of the state. The second -Monday Morning. will he emphasis on stewardship Barley, wheat, flax and riceand tithing; teaching the funda- Anti-Semitism in U. S. the papyrus antiquorum, or bulmentals on which any Christian rush, that sheltered Moses in his forward movement must be built. Dr. Alvin Johnson, director of watery cradle, the arundo donax, the New School for Social Re- "the measuring reed" of Holy Efforts will be made also to search, New York City, confirms Writ, camphire, coriander, lilies, have an every-member canvass the estimate that there are 800 myrtle, and finally Christ's in every Mexican church early distinctly anti-Jewish organiza- Thorn (Paliurus aculeatus), and in the year. Goals will be sug- tions in the United States, claim- many another growing thing gested as a minimum for each ing 6,000,000 adherents. Some with definite line of identificachurch. The First Mexican Bap- of these organizations are na- tion back to Biblical times and tist Church of San Antonio has tionwide in their operation, some scenes, will be installed on voted a 33113% increase in their are regional; a few require pay- Treasure Island. budget for the present year, and ment of dues, and sell antiplans to make missions a definite Semitic literature. The most im- Interpretations will be given part of its program. portant are: the Silver Shirts, of the ancient uses of the plants Defenders of the Christian in the Garden. -SouthernBaptist Home Faith, Industrial Defense Asso- Missions. ciation, American Nationalist -Sunday School Times. Confederation, James True As- A Growing Parish sociates, Knights of the White The Gospel at Golden Gate Camellia, and the German- Exposition Not much has been heard re- American Bund. cently of the government's Ma- The Christian Business Men's tanuska Valley proj ect, but Dr. Johnson classifies their Committee of San Francisco has Monday Morning reports that propaganda appeal something planned an aggressive soul-savthe federated church at Palmer like this: for the average tim- ing program for the World's (in this valley) now has its own orous person, identification of Fair. Eight thousand square building, a membership of nearly Jews with "Reds"; for the so- feet of outside space in a choice, 75 and an average Sunday school ciety dame, the fake letter of central location has been purattendance of 112. This church, Franklin; for the anti-New chased, and an auditorium seatunder Rev. Bert Bingle, has Dealer, list of government jobs ing 250 people has been erected. withstood a number of reverses held by Jews; and for the small In addition to services in the in its three years of existence. business man, assertion that cor- auditorium, thousands of Bible porations are controlled by portions and tracts are being dis- Since the construction men Jews; nothing for the parlor tributed. and clerical forces required in anti-Semitic who hates the Jew the beginning have now with- on his own. Women, as a rule, Tom M. Olson, a well-known drawn, the church membership Bible teacher and personal is made up almost entirely of worker with wide exposition ex- perience, has been procured as
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
the manager of the project. request of the wife of an un- converts in the ocean at Port-de- "Sermons from Science" will be faithful drifter; another woman Paix. A member of the Mission presented by Irwin A. Moon, who had lost her son asked for a writes that it was necessary to who has had an unusual minis- sermon on death. The church is call three meetings in one week try for Christ during the past always filled to capacity. recently, to examine individually few years. His messages and fifty candidates for baptism. Not equipment will captivate and Mr. Pagan takes great pleas- only the testimony of the conarouse the curiosity of the un- verts was heard, but that of saved. Three messages daily He ure in the church organ, which their neighbors who knew at present the first century Gospel first hand about· their changed to this twentieth century. he practically built himself. life. Twenty-two of these con- would appreciate having victrola verts came from a distant part Tithe Reindeer and Walrus? records of religious music. of the Island. They traveled all night, some on donkeys and some Rev. Fred Klerekoper, a Pres- Unappropriated Ouba on foot. One was a well-known byterian missionary to the Eski- witch doctor, who, soon after his mos at Point Barrow, Alaska, In northeast Cuba is a tract of conversion, presented the Mishas not as yet reached a solution sion with a piece of ground in of this problem, but the church some 13,000 acres, known as his village on which to build a members of that community chapel. His wife and daughter (which includes almost all the Realengo 18, meaning "unap- were baptized with him. natives) have all agreed to tithe for the support of their church. propriated." This area which Women's Service League- There is almost no cash at all in Ohile the community. When an Es- includes both mountains and valkimo wants a sack of flour or a Manana (tomorrow will do) pound of coffee, he takes a fox leys is inhabited by 2,500 fam- may be the motto of some Latin or a polar bear skin from his re- Americans, but this does not go serve and makes for the trading ilies, very industrious folk in for the evangelical women of post. He does not receive cash. Valparaiso, Chile, who have or- When there is a surplus after he spite of their uncertainty of ganized a "League for Service." has completed his purchases, he Not only do they work in groups, is given credit on paper. tenure. In 1934, the Gospel knitting or sewing for the poor; they visit jails, orphanages, So, if an Eskimo has a walrus reached the southern part of asylums, hospitals and homesand ten seals, what will be his Realengo 18 through Senora del in fact few chances are lost to gift? What could the church do be of service somewhere. One with the meat? The community Valle; and another sec t ion member took into her own home reindeer herd contains some the small child of a woman who 12,000 of the animals, and how heard the Good News through must go to the hospital; another could one manage to use 1,200 prevented the marriage of a girl reindeer? some Haitian Christians harvest- of 14 to an old man; others clear up homes too filthy to live in, -Presbyterian News. ing coffee there. One of the first take sick children to the public health clinic, and teach mothers LATIN AMERIOA converts was a peddler of pins, the rudiments of health and sanitation. Radio Sermons in Puerto Rico who goes about and at each Good News from Brazil Radio station WPRA in Maya- house leaves a copy of one of the guez, P. R., has granted its fa- An interesting and heartening cilities for one hour every Sun- Gospels. This man has held piece of news, coming through day to Rev. Antonio Pagan, pas- the evangelical papers of Brazil, tor of one of the Presbyterian preaching services in many of says that in Ceara, the leading churches in the city. Results state in the north of Brazil, have been far-reaching. The the homes of the district. Few reading of the Gospels has been Sunday sermon is heard in Cen- adopted for public schools. tral, South and North America, families of Realengo 18 are with- Christians everywhere, knowing as well as in the Island. Mr. what ignorance of the Bible has Pagan does not claim to be a out at least a portion of the prevailed in Brazil, will share good preacher, "but," says he, the joy felt in evangelical circles "I receive many letters every Bible and many have accepted of that country. The editor of week thanking me for the ser- the Expositor Cristiio, official mon." Many of these sermons Christ. There are now three Methodist organ, writes: "This are prepared especially for those marks a gigantic stride in the who write of their spiritual regular preaching places and needs. A sermon on "Put· Your House in Order" answered the one Sunday school. In March last year, the believers started a fund for a church, school and parsonage. The first offering amounted to more than $60. A friend of the work in Homer, New York, added $60 and a house was, purchased.
The peddler preacher made his rounds on a horse, and when it died the group of Christians raised a fund to buy another.
They have a vision of one day being. able to support their preacher, so that he can devote all his time to the work of the church. They also have another idea; Friday has been selected as "missionary day," when every Christian is expected to call on some one not yet a be- liever. -Missions.
Oonverts in Haiti The Haitian Gospel Mission reports the baptism of forty-six
path of the re-Christianization standing in a new and rapidly Conference of Evangelical developing central business secof Brazil." Students tion of Rio de Janeiro. Cambridge University, more Bible Sunday in Brazil The Church in Colombia than any other in England, has been associated with evangelical Half a century ago Bible Sun- . day, as it is known today, had The establishment of a "self- movements and tradition. It is not been instituted. H. C. supporting, self-governing, self- therefore appropriate that the Tucker, writing in the World propagating" church in Colom- International Conference of Outlook, traces the development bia is a slow process, for poverty Evangelical Students should be of Bible distribution in Brazil and ignorance abound and con- held there (June 2:7 to July 3). during the past fifty years. The verts often face bitter persecu- It was there that Erasmus inpopulation in 1888 was approxi- tion. However, the beginnings troduced the study of the Greek mately 15,000,000, of which 85 oE an indigenous church are evi- Testament to those who became per cent were illiterate. There dent. leaders and'martyrs in the Engwere only a few miles of rail- Some years ago a land owner lish Revr:>lution, Latimer, Ridley road, travel and communication in the interior heard the Gospel and Cranmer. It includes among being by mule, oxcart, canoe and and accepted Christ. Through its alumni Oliver Cromwell and on foot. Brazilians not only had his testimony, and faithful ef- John Milton. no Bibles, but were told that the forts of missionaries, not to say Speakers at this conference Bible was not a book for the hardship and sacrifice, a group will come from several parts of common people. Many priests of beUevers was organized in Europe. The general theme will did not possess copies in Portu- 1935 and a board of five men be "Christ, Our Freedom." It is guese, some not even in Latin. placed in charge. A recent visi- open to undergraduate and post- But on Bible Sunday, 1938, tor to the district was impressed graduate students, and univerthe population of Brazil stood at by what he saw. Alone, or two- sity faculty members. 47,000,000 and illiteracy had by-two, these Christians go out been reduced by one – third. to preach Christ, while those at One Thousandth Anniversary home look after their small Means of communication had farms. The church has twice The Mis s ion Field, the been greatly extended; even air been enlarged, but even so there monthly magazine of the Society lines connect centers in many is not room for all who wish to directions. Educational facili- attend. Another group has been for the Propagation of the Gosties, cultural influences and organized a day's journey away, pel in Foreign Parts issued in measures of health and hygiene and nine have been baptized. April, 1939, its 1,000th number are spreading out into rural Schools have been opened in of this excellent magazine. The areas. During the half century, both places, with native teachers' first number was issued eighty- and young men and women are two years ago and it has since the American Bible Society re- being prepared for the Bible Inports the annual distribution of stitute, and later for service. been making known the needs of Bibles, Testaments and Scrip- people of non-Christian lands for ture portions has increased from EUROPE 7,286 to 221,034 copies, while the Gospel and the progress the British and Foreign Bible Youth Movement in England made especially through the Society report a similar increase. work of the S. P. G. The peri- Probably not less than 8,000,000 Young people and their inter- odical was begun by Earnest ests are coming to the front in copies of the Bible have been Great Britain. This was mani- Hawkins in 1856 but the Society placed in the hands of Brazilians fest in the Youth Assembly in was organized in 1701 and the in the half century. This would London early in the year. The 239th anniversary was celebe about one copy to every six Methodist Youth Service Council brated in Londo'n this year. Its people. is not only taking part in the work is being carried on in public inquiry as to youth condi- Japan, Korea, China, British It is significant that Bible tions, but has had a special in- Malaya, Siam, India, Burma, Sunday, 1938, records a marked Australasia, Africa, Central and change in the Roman Catholic attitude toward the popular use South America, the West Indies, Canada and Europe.
of the Bible, particularly the terest in the First National Par- England Bans Stage Profanity New Testament. At least four liament of Youth, held March attempts with ecclesiastical ap- 24-27, a parliament composed of A play that was shown 168 proval have been made in recent fourteen national youth or- times in New York was not alyears by priests of this church ganizations. lowed to finish the first perform- to translate, popularize and stim- Among the supporters of the ance in Chester, England, on ulate interest in the reading of Youth M 0 v e men t in Great account of its profanity. The the Gospels. and the entire New Britain are the Archbishop of theater manager rang the cur- Testament. An increasing vol- Canterbury, the Archbishop of tain down in the middle of the ume of the Scriptures and Bib- York, the President of the Meth- first act, and the orchestra lical literature is going out from odist Conference and other struck up "God Save the King."
the nine-story Bible H 0 use, leaders. Actors and producers were
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
called before the constable to an- tains that he is bound to preach ers, in very simple words, try swer the charge of allowing such and declare that a man is saved to persuade the reader to buy, profanity on the stage. by the blood of Jesus Christ and and read aNew Testament or not by Aryan blood, that the ex- Bible. Posters were also sold for On the same day on which this clusion of converted Jews from distribution in Tunisia, Belgium, incident occurred a court in the full privileges of Christian Switzerland, Great Britain and Montreal, Canada, sentenced the life is unchristian, that the Canada. author of a play called "The Church of Christ must be ruled Deluge" to two months' im- by God's Word alone, and not by In answer to prayer, permisprisonment and a fine of $250 the government, that the denial sion was given to open a stall at on a charge of blasphemous libel, of justice is the mark of an un- a market for second-hand things, because the play "offended God christian state, that political realistically called "The Flea and religion." One actor was movements cannot be regarded Market." Astonishment was also sentenced to serve time in as Divine revelations nor their plain on the faces of passers-by, jail, while six others received leaders be venerated as mes- one of whom exclaimed: "What! suspended sentences. sengers of God. Such books at the Flea Market!" Two young business men devote -World Outlook. Jews in Warsaw their only leisure half day on Saturday to sell the books. On Scandinavian Teachers For several years the Church one Saturday they sold 44 Tes- Abjure War Mission to the Jews in Warsaw taments in eleven languages. has held evening classes in the More than 130 representatives English language, which brings No More Jewish Converts of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian numbers of the younger element and Finnish teachers' organiza- of Polish Jewry to the Mission The Evangelical Church of tions, assembled for a conference House. Thuringia is one of those most in Finland, have adapted a state- completely under Nazi domment on war which makes scant Attendance during the past inance. This church has recently compromise with the trend to- winter has greatly increased, issued an order by which bapward increased armaments for and if premises and staff could tized Jews can no longer be defense. These teachers say: be enlarged would be still members of the regional church; "In line with the growing war greater. These classes serve as and by which the ministrations psychosis there is observable a means of breaking down the of the church can no longer be also in Scandinavian countries age-long prejudice of Jew s rendered to them. Since this an effort to adapt the schools to against Christianity in general order was issued, the example of the system of military defense. and missionaries in particular. the Church of Thuringia is be- We consider all such actions, The classes are uncompromis- ing followed by the regional whether involving outright mili- ingly evangelistic, yet this fact churches of Saxony, Mecklentary training, or education and does not diminish the attend- burg and Anhalt. In complying preparation for the defense of ance. Once a week the gather- with these new laws, the the population, as tending to be- ing combines evangelistic and churches mentioned have given cloud the spiritual life of the social activities; and while per- up the right to make converts, to child, and to counteract the spirit haps forty will occupy them- Christianity. -Kulturkampf. of confidence in the love of hu- selves with the games and manity that the school endeavors reading matter, a hundred or so Russian Bible Fund to inculcate in the young. We will listen to the Christian adare obliged, therefore, to regis- dress, lasting about an hour. About ten years ago, the Soter our determined opposition to Willingness to listen does not viet Government gave permissuch a violation of the school's imply acceptance of the Gospel, sion to a group of Russian Chrisrights – irrespective of the ex- but does indicate open-minded- tians to publish 50,000 Bibles ceptional difficulties of the times ness. About twenty young Jews and 50,000 New Testaments. An -to carryon its educational ac- are sufficiently interested in the appeal was sent out for funds, a tivity in accordance with its own Bible to meet every week to committee of Christian leaders aims, which are to develop hu- study it, both the Old and New was organized and contributions man beings sensitive to life's Testament. began to come in. Soon 5,000 highest values and prepared to New Testaments were published promote the development of con- The P. T. L. in Paris and distributed; the printing of cord and good-will in the world." 25,000 complete Bibles got under French workers of the Pocket way. Then the Soviet authori- Pastor Niemoller Testament League, not sure how ties discovered what those 5,000 long they may be free to spread Testaments were doing. Imme- Revelation claims to be the the Word of God, have placed diately they stopped the printing first to publish the real reason more than 1,200 posters. on Paris of the 25,000 Bibles and canfor the imprisonment of Pastor walls, near everyone of the 38 celled the permission previously Niemoller, despite the fact that Parisian cemeteries, and in 72' granted. the court declared him innocent. villages and towns. These post- NiemOller still steadfastly main- Although the collection of
funds had to cease, there was, found a job as sweeper and were busy far into. the night exhowever, a balance of $7,000 in cleaner, and after a few months the bank. The Committee then was employed as a nurse in the amining those who sought bapdecided, since there are millions men's ward. -Life of Faith. of Russians outside of Russia tism. -Life of Faith. and they, too, are hungry for D. V. B. S. in Egypt the Gospel, to distribute these African "Keswick" copies along the borders of The W 0 in en's Missionary Russia. With the cooperation of Magazine reports an increase in A convention for A f ric an Christians in seven countries, the number of Daily Vacation Christians has for some years 4,000 Bibles, 45,000 New Testa- Bible Schools in E.gypt. Also, been held in Kenya. It was orments and 7,000 Bible portions 500 more children were reached. ganized by missionaries for the have thus been distributed. Re- Out of the total number of 2,839 spiritual renewal o.f African cently, the $7,000 was reduced to pupils, 760 were Moslems. Mr. teachers and pastors. There has $17.71, and this was handed over Aig3iban, director of this work, been rapid growth in interest to the "Russian Missionary visited all of the 43 such schools until in 1938 some 200 Africans Service" which will add the dis- conducted by students of Assiut and a dozen Europeans gathered tribution of Bibles to its other College, and a number of other from all parts of the Colony, large activities. -So S. Times. schools as well. Some could only some also from Ruanda, Uganda be reached on donkeys. He says: and Tanganyika. As a direct re- AFRICA "It was very wonderful to hear sult o.f that. convention there boys giving Bible stories and have been many cases of a break- Potential Leader in Egypt Golden Texts. Not only this, but ing of the power of sin. to hear Moslem boys and girls Two or three years ago a giving Bible stories." The most During the 1938 Convention young Mohammedan was attend- popular hand work was crayon the question arose as to whether ing an Islamic school in prepara- coloring of Bible verses. Many the time was not now ripe for tion to become a sheikh. Instead, times children hid the bell, so the formation of a Convention, he is today a baptized Christian, that lessons would last longer. not only for pastors and teachand gives promise of becoming a One of the best schools in Upper ers, but also African Christians leader among Egyptian Chris- Egypt was conducted by a Mos- generally. The matter was tians. While this young Mad- lem boy named Yusef Moham- brought before the committee of booli was at the Islamic school, a med Suliman. It is the third Kenya "Keswick," and as a refriend asked him to join in a year that he has had a school. sult a committee was appointed study of the New Testament, This volunteer in Kom Ghareb to arrange, together with Afriwhich he did, and was so inter- worked all summer both morn- can leaders of the Church, for ested he went to a neighboring ing and afternoon. He declared the organization of the African village to ask some missionaries that he himself got most benefit Convention, under the title for other parts of the Bible. Not from the school. "Kenya Keswick." only was his request granted, he was introduced to the local evan- Revival Comes to Mompono -Life of Faith. gelist, with whom he spent many subsequent hours discussing the The "Regions Beyond Mission- Christian Center in Bible and having his difficulties ary Union" was discouraged Tanganyika explained. He also gathered up when one African teacher after a group of young men from his another proved unfaithful to his It is obviously difficult for a own village to join in this stUdy. trust; but continuance in prayer Christian African boy who goes resulted in enlisting forty keen- to work away from home to keep Of course, his interest did not minded boys in a training class, his balance and resist temptaescape the notice of his Moham- to go out later to the surround- tion. Realizing this, some years medan associates, and he had to ing villages. The number grew ago a number of African Chrisput up with the usual annoy- to sixty, and when all these go tians from different parts of ances. His father thought to out there will be a Christian Tanganyika launched a scheme, end the matter by bringing a evangelist for every village of under the leadership of Eurosheikh to "talk Madbooli out of importance in this dis t ric t. peans, to provide a home and this nonsense." But Madbooli About this time, the missionaries Christian fellowship for such was not to be moved, whereup felt an awakening around them. boys. As if in answer to prayer, his father refused to support Open-air workers reported a a well-to-do African business him, so he set out for Cairo to new interest; natives employed man who had been interested in earn his living. He secured a by traders at the State Po.st were the project willed his home, the job as a basket maker, but when asking for their own evangelist, newest and best house in the his employer found he was a and this spirit was not limited to community, to be used for this Christian he promptly dis- the vicinity of Mompono. Five purpose. The house provides accharged him, and refused to pay witch doctors yielded their commodation for a large recreahim what was due. This time hearts to Christ, and misionaries tion room, a reading and waithe went to Shebeen Hospital, ing room, and one for meetings, as well as a small chapel which gives opportunity for quiet and prayer. In connection with the
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
club is a hostel where rooms are tory church collections and, after pay- til they found a friendly chief at ing the allowances of over a hundred let to African Christians. village pastors and teachers, main- Bonginda. Here they settled, -Life of Faith. tained wholly by the indigenous 1,200 miles from the coast, and church, the church sent a gift of five established the Congo Balolo A Great Conference thousand francs toward the deficit of Mission. Eventually, the Re- gions Beyond Missionary Union The largest missionary confer- the Baptist Missionary Society and grew out of this work, and ence South Africa has ever two thousand francs to its largest today it controls work in two substation for church building.
known brought together this The Bible for Cape Verdians fields; in the Congo and in the year at Bloemfontein over 1,000 Bihar province of North India, ministers and laymen of Dutch On the Cape Verde Islands, off where there are seven stations. Reformed churches. The 150 the west coast of Africa, at least In the Congo, there are 20,000 mission congregations were each eighty out of every hundred per- church members, and at least represented by a European mis- sons can read and write; and 20,000 more have been won and sionary, and 400 European con- faith runs high among the mis- are now in "the Church Triumgregations were also repre- sionaries there that Scripture phant." -The Christian. sented. Since 1877 the church's distribution will have far-reachmissionaries h a v e increased from twenty-two to over three ing results. Their plan, they tell Fetish Bonfires Multiply hundred. During the South us, is to place a portion of the African war, 85 young men from Bible in every home. These peo- Public burnings of fetishes the military camps decided to ple are poor, but they have a real are becoming more common in hunger for the Gospel, and will the Belgian Congo; accomgive their lives to mission work. make almost any sacrifice to se- panied by public profession of It was 47 years ago that Rev. A. cure a copy. Proof of this faith in Christ. At Rethi more Louw trekked by ox-wagon to hunger is seen in the following than fifty families have given up Mashonaland, and in that center literal translation of a letter re- their spirit paraphernalia. A today his church numbers 5,000 ceived from one of the islanders: blind evangelist, Paulo, preaches members, with 22,00.0 young with power and he can quote people under instruction. The "I come very respectfully to many passages from the Bible Dutch Reformed Church has ask you this special favor about from memory. To the African, missions in all parts of the your religion. For a long time I the amazing thing is that one so Union of South Africa, in Rho- have lived without belief or fear despised as a blind man should desia, in Nyasaland, and in the of God. Since the first time I go a-bout helping others.-Life heard your words concerning the of Faith. Sudan. It is expected that, as a Gospel I have felt a strange fear result of this conference, every of God and a grand pleasure has WESTERN ASIA congregation will be directed to been in me as I come to this true carryon missionary work in its pathway which I do not know Ten Years to Graduate own area. -So S. Times. profoundly. Therefore I come Draw your own inference by this letter to ask you to loan from the fact that when nurses' Congoland After Fifty Years to me a copy of that book which training was undertaken at Ken- Dr. Holman Bentley, English I have heard you speak about, nedy Memorial Hospital in Trip- Baptist, was the pioneer of Prot- the book which is to guide me oli, Syria, ten years ago, the only estant missions in the Congo. A into 0 Caminho da Salvacao, promising students were girls native boy, Niemvo, helped him (The Way of Salvation}." who had been cared for in Near reduce the Congo language to -The Word of Life. East Relief Orphanages, and had writing, to make a grammar and had a measure of training in dictionary and translate the Regions Beyond Missionary orderliness and regard for the Scriptures. Fifty years ago in Union welfare of others – qualities February, Niemvo was baptized the first native Christian in It is 60 years since the first lacking in most of the others. It Congo; today, there are 250,000 missionary went from the East has taken ten years for the first Protestant church members and London Training Institute to group of girls to carry their a constituency of a million. Central Africa, in territory now training through to successful known as the Belgian Congo. completion. There were four The International Review of girls in this first class to be Missions makes this comment: The Mission at that time was graduated. called the Livingstone Inland Righteousness is beginning to flow Mission. In 1884, it was decided -Monday Morning.
as a mighty stream through the life to hand over the direction of this Long Range Christian Service of the community. Formerly no one Mission, with its seven welldared begin to protest against abuses equipped stations to the Ameri- The American Mission in but, with the revival, fear of man was can Baptists. They, however, Syria has set a goal for a new subdued. A new breath has blown through village life, clearing away the were not able to penetrate as type of missionary work; e.g., old, polluted air. Never has the liberality of our people been so mani- far inland as had been hoped, to reconstruct village life on the fested. Large sums of money have and an expeditionary force principles of the Kingdom of been raised over and above the statu- God as taught in the New Tes- pushed up the Congo River, un-
tament. Briefly, the following a filthy priest leading a tiny bull and so eager to assist their factors enter into the problem: with a crooked mouth and neighbor in her suffering that To follow the example of Christ women stroking its ears in wor- they responded heartily to the with a correlated program to re- ship; women picking up dust Bishop's suggestion that two deem both individual and group tha.t feet of naked priests had representatives of the Methodist life; by living the Gospel before trodden, and putting it on their Episcopal Church in India and preaching it, and by cooperative faces-some of it tied up to take Burma be sent with him to self-help as proclaimed by Jesus. home. However, many were en- China on a mission of fellowship No program is to be "put over," lightened enough to refrain from and help. As soon as arrangebut built around the needs recog- these things. Some were seen to ments could be made, the two nized by the villagers themselves. dip their hands in the river, let men appointed left by motor bus Full cooperation is sought with the water trickle through their over the newly opened road from every department of the Amer- fingers, while their faces were Burma into Yunnan and further ican Mission, with other mis- upturned toward the sky. Be- north in West China. At Runsions and with all national and hind all this, unquestionably, is ning they boarded a plane for government agencies. the search for God. Chengtu. These representatives from India have addressed many It is recognized that changing Caste and Christianity audiences, chiefly students, seekthe lives, thinking, attitudes and ing to aid by evangelistic mescustoms of a conservative vil- H. C. Mookerjie, Ph.D., writ- sages and Christian sympathy. lage community is a long and ing in The Indian Witness, has difficult task, that immediate re- this to say about the bearing of -The Indian Witness. sults must not be expooted. Christianity upon the caste system: A Burmese Woman Leader -Agricultural Mission Notes. Weare all aware that the Indian Dr. Daw Saw Sa, F.R.C.S., Christian community contains within D.P.H., of Rangoon, who ha.s the INDIA AND SIAM itself men and women coming from distinction of being the first nearly all the Indian races, tribes, Burmese woman physician, is The Great Mela castes and strata of society. Blue the first and only woman sena- blooded Brahmins and Syads, high tor under the new constitution, Once in twelve years the castes and scheduled castes, land- which on April 1, 1937, made greatest of all religious festivals owners and tenants, capitalists and Burma a Crown Colony in the is held at Hardwar, in April, laborers, farmers and landless culti- British Commonwealt<h of nawhere the sacred river Ganges vators, rich and poor jostle one an- tions. In 1932 the Rangoon emerges from the mountains. other within the Christian fold. Government conferred unique At that time the population honors upon her by making her swells from a few thousand to All over India, Christianity has sup- a member of the Rangoon Corabout a million, most of whom plied leadership in the revolt against poration, the first time in the are illiterate. For this reason, the rigors of the caste system, and political history of Burma that an announcer told people who specially against untouchability which a Burmese woman was admitted wanted tickets to this or that is a manifestation of the caste feeling as a member of either Corporaplace to go to a spot where they in its most objectionable form. The tion or the Legislative Council. saw a picture of an elephant, a acceptance of our faith has enabled Dr. Daw Saw Sa has long been snake, scissors, a wheel and so thousands of untouchables to shake off interested in politics, particuon. for all time to come the disgrace larly the section relating to wrongly attached to their birth, and physical, moral and mental de- Priests prepare for the wor- to rise in the social scale. The differ- velopment of women and chilship of the river by lighting ence between their position before and dren; and is a member of variwicks in little cups of oil. Wor- after conversion must have made ous societies and institutions, beshippers pass their han d s these men realize very keenly the dis- sides having her own nursing through the flame, then draw abilities under which they had been home and clinic modeled on the their hands across their faces, laboring in their pre-conversion days. most scientific ones in America. perhaps touching lips, eyes and The improvement in their social ears in order to be cleansed from status, always reflected in their be- -Missions. evil they have spoken, seen or havior, has tended to encourage furheard. It is at such times that ther conversions among non-Christian Building the Church in Siam evangelists. are busy with tracts members of the group to which they and Gospel portions, and it is had belonged. In the past, Hindu so- The Church of Christ in Siam not difficult to dispose of them. ciety had refused them all chances of is urging a Five-Year Plan of education, and all prospect of social Evangelism, and is asking each A writer in the Woman's Mis- advancement. Christian missionaries congregation to form a prayer siona1"Y Friend describes some offered both, group for special intercess,ion. of the sights that make one sad A committee was appointed at -make one long to have them India's Mission to China the last meeting of the General know Him who said: "Come Council to consider the possibilunto me." One was a man who At a meeting of the Central ity of a Bible Correspondence had held his arm upraised so Methodist Conference in J anlong he could not take it down; uary, Bishop Ralph A. Ward, of Chengtu, West China, was pres- ent and addressed the audience on conditions in China. Mem- bers of the Conference were so deeply stirred by the situation,
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Course being worked out that the Japanese sentries, helping finished just in time to aecommodate could be used throughout the the government care for its all these poor bombed and bayoneted wounded, and conveying money victims; that our staff was spunky whole Church, especially which to stranded communities where they serve. enough to stay; and just now-that furlough is coming in five months.
A Bureau of Evangelistic and the local mission staff is cut off Church Work has been formed from outside contacts. It's a World Movement to encourage all Christians to -The Church in Action. take responsibility for this plan. Japan's military campaign in It is hoped that eight Siamese Statement from Chiang China is destroying Ghina's inwill enter the Union Theological Kai-shek stitutions of higher education, School in Manila; ,two men have because they do not produce already taken this course. The following formal state- citizens that are friendly to ment was issued by Chiang Kai- Japan's imperial ambitions. In Another need is for an or- shek a few weeks ago, and is of the midst of Japan's bombing of dained man and his wife for special s,ignificance: Hunan University that institurural work, since the majority tion organized a Student Chrisof the Siamese are rural folk. At this hour of our national crisis, tian Association, and one of There is also need for'more work we, the Chinese people, are profoundly their first acts was to write the among the Chinese in Siam, be- moved by the earnest increase in the Christian students of Japan saycause of their numbers, and the many concrete expressions of sym- ing that they of Hunan Univerinfluential place they hold in the pathy which have been continuously sity were deeply aware of their business life of the country. coming to us for over 19 months from membership, through theWorld's our friends in other parts of the world. Student Christian Federation, in a world-wide fellowship of Chris- Chinese Evangelists in Siam Christians have left no stone un- tian students, and especially con- scious of their common partici- Some of the evangelists who turned to show their growing interest pation in that fellowship with have been driven out of China in the material as well as the spirhave gone to Siam, and are put- itual welfare of our suffering people. Missionaries, in particular, have never ting new life into Christians hesitated to make even the greatest there. They have conducted meetings through interpreters, personal sacrifices to heal the wounded Christian students of Japan. which have led to the formation and succor the distressed. They called Christian students of Japan, China and other counof bands for Bible study and I welcome this opportunity, there- tries to go in united prayer to a prayer. Dr. Song, an evangelist. fore, to reiterate the previously ex- pressed appreciation of myself and my educated in the United States, has succeeded in arousing many countrymen for the unqualified en- common Father with the plea of the Siamese to a realization of dorsement of the righteousness of our that His and not their will be their need and responsibility. resistance that has come to us so done-that peace based on jus- spontaneously, and in such unstinted tice come to their nations. In spite of the fact that the measure from the Christian world. Siamese have their own national -Intercollegian and Far church, there has been a tend- I believe that those of our people Horizons. who will survive the terrible holo- causts which have involved us all in Universities on the March so much loss of life. and human suf- fering will emerge victorious in spirit, ana more confirmed than ever in the ency to lean too much on the faith that right will always triumph Chinese educators have coined over might, whether in personal, na- the phrase "Universities on the missionary for the initiative. tional or international relations. March," to describe the condi- CHINA "Count Your Blessings" tion of China's higher institu- Redeeming the Time tions of learning after fighting Mrs. T. D. Stevenson, daugh- changed the educational map of Evangelism, tea chi n g and ter of Charles Ernest Scott, and China. Fifty-four of China's healing – the ministry of the Presbyterian missionary in Can- 114 colleges and universities ton, rut Hackett Medical Center, have been destroyed by bombs Christian Church-never more is able to find cause for thank- or incendiarism; and 82 have needed in China, was never more fulness. Writing home in Feb- been compelled to move just one active than now, in spite of ruary, she says: jump ahead of oncoming Japaterror, bloodshed, destitution nese invaders. To move some of and destruction. Whole popula- There are really so many things to these involved treks of from 500 be thankful for that I do not know to 1,000 miles, most of the jourtions often flee from cities and where to begin. The biggest item, of ney in small boats and on foot. with them the Church, to find course, is that we're reunited as a As much as possible of equipthemselves in some remote area family, and that we're all safe and ment was carried along. where, perhaps, their presence well; that we have so many children brings the first Christian mes- on the compound this year so that our An educational map of China sage. "New circumstances teach small son isn't lonely; that we hap- today would show a number of us new duties," say the mission- pened to have our car (which has been new universities and colleges in aries, who find themselves guard- Hackett's only link with the rest of the city, and has been invaluable for ing the gates of mission com- bringing patients who could not get Kwangsi, Kweichow, Yunnan, pounds, taking in foundling here otherwise, taking the servants to Szechuan and Shensi-provinces babies, preventing cholera, es- market, fetching coal or wood, fetchcorting coolies to market past ing our milk or letters or almost any- which before the war had no thing); that our new hospital was governmental supported univer-
sities – all established by stu- regions. However, there has to drop bombs near Christian dents and faculties. been a measure of success, even churches?" though workers are somewhat -Dayton News. apathetic toward these sparsely Japanese officer: "Certainly. populated areas. Finally, there Glad to cooperate. Let me see In the New Capital are the tent missions, chiefly in your mission maps and I will market towns. have our maps marked accord- To most people, Chungking, ingly. (Moment of silence while if it means anything, means a The South Shensi Mission officer studies map.) Why, you small town in a backward part seeks to create in the Chinese a have churches everywhere. We of China. As a matter of fact, sense of responsibility toward all could not bomb anything withit is a city whose population be- unevangelized districts. To this out hitting one. How many have fore the war was 400,000; since end, a prayer cycle suggests you, anyway?" the transfer of the capital, the items for special intercession. population has j u m p e d to Priest: "Thirteen hundred, 800,000, and is steadily mount- -China's Millions. and Protestants have 300 in the ing. It is far up the Yangtse same area." River, beyond the reach of Jap- How Shall We Pray? anese armies and battleships.; Officer: "I wish I knew what however, it expects bombing Dr. and Mrs. John R. Mott it is that keeps you Christians planes any day. It is a commen- formulated a statement for the working in such places as this." tary on modern civilization that guidance of their own prayer practically every house has its life, early in the conflict between The power of the Gospel is dug out, as much a necessity as China and Japan. Here it is: well illustrated by the following a kitchen. Three anti-aircraft story from Nanking. Bibles and guns are placed within a hun- 1. We should pray for both China Testaments were being distribdred yards of the home of the and Japan-for their rulers, their peo- uted among Japanese soldiers Methodist High School principal, ples, and, very especially, for all their who had a habit of looking in on a school with an enrolment of Christians; for the ending of the war, church services. For the most about 1,'000 boys. Sometimes and for a just and enduring peace. part, these soldiers accepted the the buildings are used by the Not to pray indicates that we believe copies readily. Later, a Japanese Government for official confer- that human wisdom, devisings, com- officer came to a member of the ences, and at such times the binations and power alone will suffice Church Council and urged that school is more like a military to effect these things; whereas, to no Bibles be given to his soldiers. camp, every entrance guarded pray indicates that we believe that No regard was paid to the reby riflemen with fingers on gun superhuman wisdom, love and power quest, and the officer came again triggers. are absolutely essential to the achieve- and again, ordering finally that ment of this wonder work. We should distribution of Bibles must be In South Shensi become alarmed if we find that in our stopped at once for said he, "the secret prayer life this tragic need New Testament talks of peace, The task of evangelizing does not have a large place; because and the chief business of our South Shensi is divided among we are what we are in the dark where soldiers is war." The Bibles had the Norwegian Alliance Mission, God only sees us, and by which He been passed around in the barthe Lutheran Free Church of judges us. racks, read by many, with the Norway and the China Inland result that they did not wish to Mission, the latter having fifteen 2. We should do all in our power to fight. counties under its supervision. relieve human suffering. The volume Five methods of reaching the of unrelieved suffering in areas af- Shanghai's 5,000 Jews people are employed, and of fected by this war in the Far East is these s t r e e t preaching has even greater than at anyone time in If Shanghai is the world's proved the most fruitful. Prob- the World War. Notwithstanding this most cosmopolitan city, this can ably fifty per cent of the con- alarming fact, it is tragic that, as indeed be said of its Jewish verts have been won by this yet, the efforts put forth by the Chris- community of 5,000. Here Jews means. tians and others in America to meet from every country of the world, this overwhelming and indescribable speaking a score of languages, Village evangelism is another need are relatively negligible. Our live, do business, and thrive in method. It is found that one sympathy and sacrificial action in general, despite the frightfulfaithful Christian family can be such a situation are a true test of ness of the Sino-Japanese war. most effective in winning others. our Christ-likeness. Perhaps nowhere else have they City witnescSing includes prison contributed so much to the visitation, distribution of tracts 3. We should, with true penitence, growth of a great city, and perand open air preaching. Evan- acknowledge the sins of our own coun- haps nowhere else is this service gelistic bands have been organ- try against both China and Japan, so little recognized, the reason ized to visit unoccupied towns. and bring forth fruits meet for re- being that emphasis there has This presents difficulties, inas- pentance. This will be difficult. It been laid on nationality, not race much as roads and communica- will involve real self-denying effort or religion; that is, the British tion facilities are poor in the and, it may be, very prolonged effort. Jew is considered a Briton, the mountainous, brigand – infested Russian Jew a Russian, and so 4. Let our Government know unmis- on. takably that the Christian forces will be solidly behind them as they put forth their full influence to secure a just settlement.
Conversation from the Front French priest to Japanese aviation officer: "When you en- ter new territory, would you be willing to instruct your men not
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
An interesting aspect of J ew- their future program; and that in Mongolia. One young man ish life in Shanghai is the new- furthermore, if they want the said to a missionary, "I can tell ness of the Jewish community support of the better class of a Christian now when I meet in contrast with the antiquity of Chinese the first step toward him on the street. I asked one China. Only for little more than securing it would be the instant man whom I met yesterday if a century have the Western na- stopping of this flood of nar- he wasn't a Christian; he smiled tions carried on organized trade cotics. and said, 'Yes, but how did you with China, and for decades the know?' I told him that I could trade was restricted to Canton. Importance of Hongkong see the evidence in his face." The opening of the treaty ports, of which Shanghai was one, the The British colony in Hong- The writer is at work in building up of foreign communi- kong holds a strategic position Hailar, a city 550 miles from ties, and the arrival of Jewish not only politically, but spir- Harbin, where few have learned traders with their non-Jewish itually. The city is at the thresh- of salvation through Christ. colleagues, have occurred during old of the greatest mission field Next door to the little chapel is the lifetime of many now living. on earth; a land of 450,000,000 a tin shop where a young Chris- Shanghai's senior Jewish resi- people of whom very few have tian makes kettles and stove dent has lived in the city sixty- understood, or even heard the pipes. The partition is of paper, nine years; her sister, born Gospel; among the Europeans, and the young tinner became a sixty-six years ago, was the first only a few acknowledge Christ Christian by what he heard Jewish native of the port. as Master. In view of this spir- through the partition. He ham- itual need, the coming of the mers away loudly most of the -International Committee evangelist, Mr. Edwin Orr, last day and night, but never while on Christian Approach October was prayerfully antici- services are in progress. He has to the Jews. pated. learned several Gospel hymns, and sings these lustily as he The Opium Campaign Two of the largest churches in works. Hongkong were. secured for the Much has been written about English services, and there were Hailar is notorious for gam- Japan's campaign to subdue the 250 to 300 people present at bling, opium dens, and other Chinese through opium, and the every meeting – which is to be wickedness, having, most likely, truth of the matter has been both regarded as wonderful, as co- the lowest percentage of Chrisaffirmed and denied. Dr. M. S. lonials are notoriously "tough." tians of any other provincial city Bates, an American missionary Mr. Orr began with the Chris- in Manchukuo. But many of the educator, has written "An Open tians, devoting the first four people are responsive to the Letter on the Narcotic Problem" nights to the need, the method Gospel. which has appeared in two lead- and the conditions for revival. ing Chinese papers. Dr. Bates The succeeding nights were Work in Tribal District says: "Fifty thousand people- given to the proclaiming of the one eighth of the population of Good News of God's grace to The China Inland Mission Nanking-are being slowly poi- sinners. In the first part of each finds a broad field for its minissoned today by heroin, supplied address Mr. Orr told of his ex- try in Yunnan. The capital of by Japanese – controlled d rug periences in different lands in the province, Kumming, is at an rings. Every month a minimum proving the faithfulness of God, altitude of 6,000 feet. Wuting, of $5,000,000 are being squeezed and how He answers prayer. fifty miles northwest, is in a from the impoverished Chinese The evangelistic appeals re- small plain. These two towns in the region by dope traffickers, sulted in conversions – some of are inhabited mostly by Chinese, belonging to or allied with, the them in the King's uniform. but in the surrounding hills are Japanese Army." Four groups thousands of Miao, Nosu, Lisu, are named as closely connected During the past two years, and other tribes. Several miswith this traffic: Hongkong has become a place of sionaries devote their whole time refuge for thousands of people, to these tribes with encouraging 1. The Special Service Section among them many Christians. results.. A little village 7,000 of the Japanese Army. feet high is the center of work -:-Life of Faith. among the Miao, and the average 2. The puppet administration attendance at Sunday service is of Nanking., Working on the Frontier from two to three hundred. Next to the chapel is a little room 3. "Independent" Japanese A missionary remarked that about eight by ten feet, which and Korean drug run- he never saw a smile or heard has been opened as a reading ners. joyful song in his field in India room and "place for discussing until people began to find Christ; the doctrine." Bibles and Tes- 4. Japanese business firms. now many both smile and sing. taments are on display and many At first, the minor key in every copies have been sold. Dr. Bates points out that a phase of life was almost more shorter-sighted greed cannot be than he could stand. In the A new avenue of service has imagined than that of destroy- Evangelical Christian is the tes- been opened among school boys ing a people on whom they must timony that the condition is true in the city of Wuting. In redepend for building up the kind of nation they expect to use in
sponse to a request, the mission 8.4 per cent. Eight years ago, volumes, besides tracts in great offers instruction in English on licensed prostitutes numbered number, of which more than condition that the Scriptures be 52,000; today, there are 45,000. 4,000,000 copies have been sold. used as a textbook. The class His most famous work is "The has an average attendance of Again, there is respect for Common People's Gospel," a twenty, and meets twice a week. labor. Manual labor was once simple but comprehensive man- for the outcast, but the position ual of the Christian faith. More -China's Millions. of laborers has been elevated. than 400,000 copies have been Another advance is a spirit of issued, and the annual sale stilI JAPAN-CHOSEN peace. The Japanese havanever averages 10,000. A Braille edi- been averse to war, but the pres- tion and a Korean translation "Business As Usual" ent war, they say, is a war for have also appeared. peace! It is at least a step in T. T. Brumbaugh has recently advance that they must find an Hundreds of Japanese owe returned to Japan after an ab- excuse for war. Finally, there is their conversion to the reading sence of nearly two years, and the spirit of service, introduced of this book-students, business reports in the Christian Century, by Protestant missionaries. Even men, and men of all classes. that an observer would see noth- the "Tendai Shu," a Buddhist Gamblers, drunkards, liquoring out of the ordinary. Jap- sect, has ordered every temple to dealers, criminals of all sorts anese passengers, bound for carryon art least one piece of so- owe to it their new life in Christ. home, had little to say about the cial service. A restaurant keeper of loose conflict in China. In religious morals studies it for a week and circles little difference was Control of Religious Bodies then in prayer receives forgivenoted. Ostensibly, Christians ness of sins. Such was the are loyal to their government, A bill to control religious or- change in his life that when he regardless of its leadership; ganizations is awaiting final ac- was later elected mayor of his prayers are offered for the tion, and seems likely to be town, no one called him by his preservation of the empire and passed. The bill provides that own name, but "Christ's mayor." the success of the army. They no religious body can be estab- To many of the dying this book urge that evangelization follow lished without the approva1 of has brought hope in last hours. the wake of the imperial army, the Minister of Education. In apparently not considering applying for approval, the doc- -Sunday School Times. whether conquest and mission- trine of the group must be subary endeavor are compatible. mitted, as well as a statement Missionary's Life Has Variety But with all this, the Christian covering its entire set-up, range groups are oases of brotherly of activities, etc. Any later al- Miss Virginia Mackenzie, of love. teration must have the govern- the Presbyterian Mission in ment's approval. Churches and Japan, has a new undertaking- There has been a falling off in pastors who violate the law are all in the day's work-teaching baptisms and even in Sunday subject to fine or imprisonment. English manners to a group of school enrolments during the eleven policemen, plain clothes past few years, but attendance The present bill does not pro- men in charge of investigating at divine services seem'l not to pose to deal with religion, per se, the foreigners that pass through have been affected except, pos- but with religious organizations. the city. They are a kindly sibly, for the better. Christian- in this it differs from previous group, anxious to do things i,ty is fundamentally contrary to efforts to regulate religion which pleasantly and correctly. On an the spirit of the age in this and were open to the charge of vio- average day they examine 160 other lands. Yet, deep down, lating the constitutional pro- non-Japanese travelers, most of most Japanese rejoice that "the vision, guaranteeing religious them either English – speaking, love of God is broader than the freedom. or able to use English. It is measure of man's mind." readily seen how mistakes, or Inasmuch as Christianity lack of politeness, even though Christian Achievements hitherto has had no legal status, unintentional, "can make for all all Christian communions and sorts of misunderstandings; and In his Fellowship Bulletin, local churches must take steps how important to have mis- Toyohiko Kagawa says that, to conform with the provisions understandings as few as poswhereas he was discouraged two of this law within two years sible, so that this effort becomes years ago, he now sees a brighter after its passage. Japanese a v e n t u rein international side and points to the following Christians feel that, on the friendship. achievements Cif the Christian whole, the bill is an advance for movement in Japan. He gives Christianity. Japanese-Korean Church first place to personal piety. Re- Union Discussed ligion was not taken seriously -The Living Church. until the missionaries came. The One of the mottoes of the day second is purity in home and so- Salvation Army Literature is "Japan-Chosen: one body," ciety, taught by the Christians. and its use is having the effect Forty years. ago the divorce rate Commissioner Yamamuro, Sal- of creating a willingness of the was 32 per cent i iu"1936, it was vation Army publicist and au- two Christian groups to unite. thor, has published over sixtY"
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The Japanese and Korean Y. M. thought to this question. "All ture book. In the manger a black C. A.'s have already united. At that Buddha offered," said he, Papuan baby gurgled.
least the Korean churches in "I found in greater measure in -So S. Times.
Japan proper are likely to unite Christ." Admitting that some with the Japanese Church; in of Korea's best national traits Natives As Museum Exhibits the Methodist Church commit- were the outgrowth of Budtees have been appointed to draw dhism, he summed up his double The Netherlands Committee up plans and union evangelistic experience in two religions with for International Nature Protecservices are being held. The gap a series of contrasts: tion at its annual meeting in of racial feeling will be hard to Amsterdam, Holland, considered bridge, and it is yet to be seen "Buddha is a lover of solitude; the problem of protecting the how much actual union will re- Christ seeks us in life's thorough- primitive people in New Guinea. suIt from the tendency to coop- fares." The recent opening up of Dutch erate; yet the tide seems to be toward a coalition. "Buddha sits imperturbably as New Guinea has proceeded so races go by; Christ agonized on the rapidly that it was felt that Koreans in Tokyo Cross that new life might be open to ne~essary measures must be men." taken without delay for the pro- "Buddha offers release from life and tection of the inhabitants. With its ills; Christ offers more abundant life, in spite of its ills."
The past year has seen the "Buddha calls to meditation; Christ no advance preparation, ideas calls to the service of God and fellow most modern are suddenly thrust withdrawal of Chosen from all men." upon people most primitive. international organizations.
Every effort is being made to ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC Two opposing opinions were preserve the evangelical Chris- disclosed at this meeting of the tian character of the Y. M. and Igorots Ordained Committee: one in favor of pre- Y. W. C. A., W. C. T. U., and The Igorot tribe in the Philip- serving a group of primitive peoother groups under Japanese di- pine mountains is barely two ple in their "stone age" culture, rection. generations removed from head- . shutting them off in a large re- hunting, and to large extent the serve from all foreign influences, Some 500 buildings prepared most primitive superstitions still including missions. In the interfor the Olympic Games that dominate their lives. It is neceswere to have been held in Tokyo sary to remember this in order est of science, a strictly limited have been bought by Koreans, to properly evaluate a recent contact would be allowed. On and ttre now filled mostly by low- event. After several years of the other hand, a group held that wage factory workers. A young training and experience in evan- the authorities had no right to Christian graduate was so ap- gelism, three young Igorots have deny to any people the right of palled by the neglected children been ordained to the ministry in making progress, and to conthat he started on Sundays to the cathedral at Manila. Hopes demn them to remain savages tell them stories of Jesus. At for a native-born ministry for and "museum-objects" for ever. first the parents objected, but these people have long been cher- The danger, it was argued, is soon appreciated the lessons in ished, but the mission staff has cleanliness and truth, so that been inadequate in numbers to not so much in civilization itself some 120 gathered in a vacant train the younger generation. as in abruptness of contact with lot each Sunday until snow and it. As for missions, it was cold made it impossible. Then agreed that their tribal religion six student helpers were en- should not be taken away from listed; paper, pencils and lesson helps were secured and classes Papuan Christmas these people without offering were started in both Korean and them a better one in its place.
An unusual celebration of -Aboriginees' Friend.
Christmas took place in Papua, Japanese. when five hundred Papuan men MISCELLANEOUS –Mrs. H. H. Underwood. and women gathered on the very American Tract Society hill where James Chalmers was Buddha or Christ? martyred half a century ago to Since 1825, the American sing Christmas carols and put Tract Society has been issuing Mr. Kim is a Korean who had on a pageant. The first time tracts, pamphlets, periodicals spent long years in patient pur- they came to a Christmas cele- and hymn books in many lan- suit of the Buddhist goal; then bration at this hill they were guages, and has been sending at last he found Jesus Christ, armed to the teeth; but now colporteurs to distribute them and put the same devotion into some of the world's most back- wmong neglected peoples of all his new faith as he had applied ward people, who could neither lands since 1840. Neglected to the old. A writer in Korean read nor write, were able to re- areas of our own country are de- Echoes tells of a conversation cite long passages of Scripture pendent upon this Society for lit- with Mr. Kim, when he asked and sing Christmas hymns. erature and colporteur service.
him what, in his experience, was Children on hands and knees Its Spanish periodical has a the difference between Buddhism represented a flock of sheep and weekly circulation of 19,000; its and Christianity. His answer a shepherd whose only idea of Polish periodical reaches 4,000 .~howed that he had given much his occupation came from a pic- hOmes.
~- '~
Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information The History of Christianity in Amer- own denomination as he sees it and church people or for any ica. ' By Frank Grenville Beardsley, who are honest and desire the Ph.D. 8vo. American Tract So- cast against the background of best for America – the best is ciety, New York. 1939. Christ and all for which He all the other denominations, as stands. The stories of many who Here is a great book. To call have been led into larger life and it history is hardly to do it jus- they have struggled together or service add to the interest and effectiveness of the volume. The tice. It is that, but it is no mere with each other to establish reli- book is a challenge to the dry factual statement of events Church. It is also a kaleidowith dates and places and gious opportunity in the life of scopic view of home missions, showing its beauties, but it deals names; rather it is an interest- America. MARK A. DAWBER. with so many phases, personaliing narrative, told in lucid and ties and elements that the piccharming style, of the develop- Homeland Harvest. By Arthur H. tures of various types of work Limouze. 211 pp. Index and bib- are not clear. The bibliography ment of religion and the Chris- liography. $1.00 cloth; 60 cents contains some books of doubtful tian church in America. paper. Friendship Press. New value from a Christian viewpoint York. 1939. and omits some of real value- Beginning with the Puritans particularly biographies and and the Pilgrims, the author Some pioneers went West for stories of pioneering. weaves his way through the the purpose of establishing thrilling experiences. that were homes for themselves; others Evangelism for the World Today. were drawn by a lust for gold; As Interpreted by Christian Leadso characteristic of men and re- others went in the spirit of ad- ers Throughout the World. Edited ligious movements in the settle- venture or to establish the by John R. Mott. 8vo. 295 pp. ment of the new world. The United States control over new Harper & Brothers, New York. founding of New England, the territory. But the greatest con- 1939. chartering of the colonies and tribution to the progress of the instigation of citizenship Christian civilization in Amer- The primary aim and the cenwere all an integral part of the ica was doubtless made by the tral task of the Christian Church religious enterprise. No one can missionaries who went with the is to "preach the Gospel to every distinct purpose to make friends creature" and to persuade all understand America, democracy, with the Indians and settlers and men to receive and obey Jesus or the American way of life who to win them to Christ and His Christ as their Saviour and is not familiar with the story of Way of Life. Without their Lord. the struggle to establish Chris- prayers, their faith, courage, tianity and freedom of religion vision and labors of love new Partly in preparation for the territory might have been con- recent Ecumenical Missionary on this continent. quered economically but the peo- Conference at Madras, Dr. John The rise and growth of the ple would have been generally R. Mott invited some 1~5 reli- lawless and godless. gious leaders throughout the Protestant denominations is world to answer three questions carefully but interestingly por- Dr. Limouze has written the on the meaning of evangelism. trayed. The development of the interesting and inspiring story Their replies, or the most relesects, the history of the great re- of what home missions have vant portions, have been made done for America-in establish- available in this attractive volvivals and their influence upon ing churches and schools, in giv- ume. American life, as also the vari- ing examples of Christian homes, ous allied movements and or- in helping to promote social wel- In his foreword, Dr. Mott arganizations-such as Boy Scouts, fare, and good government. He rests attention immediately by Lay men's Missionary Move- draws his illustrations from declaring that "nothing in the work with Indians and Orientals, religious realm is more evident ments, the Gideons, Y. M. C. A. the Negroes, mountaineers, and than the world-wide interest in and Y. W. C. A., Knights of others. He reports. results and evangelism, the world-wide con- shows the cost; he pictures pres- cern .regarding the need that Columbus, Jewish Associations, ent-day problems, difficulties, the the Salvation Army, to say noth- trends and the need for contining of the Ku Klux Klan – all uing and strengthening home have their niche in this religious mission work, all forces coopergallery of fame. ating. It is a book for pastors It is a great book that should [334 ] be read by every preacher. He will come from the reading of it with a better appreciation of his
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF SS5
only evangelism can meet, and the message. Some also seemed will shall be done in every area the world-wide manifestations to confuse the spirit of evan- of life. of evangelistic action." gelism with its essential content. Every missionary should be The attempt to define evan- In the section dealing with the equipped in life and message to gelism brought forth a variety "relevance of evangelism," the win men to a saving knowledge of conviction and expression. views of contributors were nat- of Jesus Christ. To win con- Many emphasize the presenta- urally colored by the environ- verts, however, is not enough; tion of the Gospel, the Word or ment in which they lived and the they must be gathered into a felthe Christ to individual man to characteristics of race, custom lowship, a Christian brotherhood the end that he may respond in or religion of the people whom and there learn how to be wittrust and obedience to Him as a they sought to evangelize or nesses and winners of souls. As Saviour and in the commitment Christianize. one said: "The most abiding of his whole life to doing God's evangelism is that which is the will. Others emphasize the Dr. Charles R. Erdman, Presi- expression of the life of the local presentation of the Go s pel dent of the Board of Foreign church." through example and deed, and Missions of the Presbyterian would include in evangelism any Church, U. S. A., declared: "In It is pointed out that some service that interpreted God's these days the aspects of the mission schools report few stumercy and love to man. Dr. Christian Gospel which are most dents won to Christ; other meth- Johannes Warneck of the Rhein- needed (and most neglected) are ods are ineffective; even direct isch Missionary Society, frankly those which are regarded as methods of evangelistic work declares that "evangelism is not supernatural and which have are ineffective unless the mesmerely an enlightenment. One been communicated by definite senger is on fire with love for cannot send away darkness first revelation. The great truths of souls, has a saving and positive and then bring light. . . . And the Incarnation and the Deity of message, gives it in the power it does not promise cultural Christ, of His atoning work, of of the Holy Spirit, and with tact, blessings. It is not our task to His regenerating power and of love and patience. Christ must make earthly living conditions His infallible teaching are of the be given His opportunity to win more favorable. . . . The mis- very essence of the Gospel." each person to Himself.
sion has no social mission. So- On the other hand, Dr. Doug- This volume may be used of cial uplift is according to our las Horton, General Secretary of God to put evangelism in its experience not a good prepara- the Congregational and Chris- place of primacy in the missiontion for the Gospel." tian churches said: "It seems to ary enterprise, and to inspire me that the psychological and Christian workers everywhere, On the other extreme we find sociological aspects of the Gos- through the faithful presenta- Dr. J. Leighton Stuart, Presi- pel are the most relevant in our tion of Him who is the only Redent of Yenching University, time." deemer of mankind, to seek and Peiping, calling attention to one to save those that are lost. aspect of evangelism out of his Others, while pointing out that own experience. "This," says the basic needs of men do not FRANCIS SHUNK DOWNS. he, "is the witness of institu- change, say that present world tions, educational, medical and conditions call for stressing the Christian Home Making. Edited by otherwise, in their corporate Christian message of hope, the Mrs. Robert E. Speer and Miss Concapacity. . . . The right attitude giving of Christian guidance to stance Hallock. A joint statement to current social, economical and intellectuals and business and prepared for the Madras Conferpolitical issues, and with the professional men, and for the ence of the International Missionquality of life which wins the ad- presentation of Christ as the ary Council. 141pp. $1.50. miration of the Chinese public, Prince of Peace. . . . is a form of evangelism." This small but important book In the section on the "Fruit- amplifies somewhat the report Probably the definition that fulness of Evangelism," empha- of the Committee on the Chrisgathers up the essentials of sis is laid on sending forth men tian Home which was prepared evangelism on the part of most and women who are "truly con- for presentation at the recent is expressed in the words of Dr. verted and deeply Spirit-filled," meeting of the International William Temple, Archbishop of on the "preaching of the Gospel Missionary Council at Madras. York: "To evangelize is to pre- in the power of the Holy Ghost," The central theme of the book sent Jesus Christ in the power a clear and intelligent grasp of of the Holy Spirit, that men the great essentials of evangeli- is~ shall come to put their trast in cal Christianity, a life that hides God through Him, to accept Him behind Christ when He is pre- To see the human home in the light as their Saviour, and serve Him sented as Saviour and Lord and of this fierce flame of perfection, to as their King in the fellowship yet which is so Christian and see where and how the leaven of of His Church." vital and genuine that it cannot Christ, working in our common life, be hidden; a presentation that has lifted us from one level to an- In some instances, the mean- not only secures a decision, but other, and to face these infinite reing of evangelism was confused an honest and intelligent desire sources of power that can enable us with the various methods em- to obey Christ, and that God's to go on steadfastly to higher and ployed in the interpretation of higher levels.
Written in careful collabora- tion by outstanding missionary workers at horne and abroad, the book presents the Essence of the
Christian Home, the RequisIte more consistently the colorful F. Ernest Johnson, L. Foster Training for Christian Home days when Dr. Coan resided in Wood, A. J. Muste, Benson Y. Making, and studies of homes the Near East. There might Landis, Allan Knight Chalin America, Africa, India, have been added a more com- mers, and Luman J. Shafer. The China, Japan, Brazil and Mos- plete and accurate statement of chapters are too short for adelem lands. In many instances the present situation. In his quate t rea t men t s of their and with vivid illustrations, non- excellent foreword Dr. Speer weighty themes, each one of Christian homes are des.cribed very properly calls attention to which might well require a sepand contrasted with "the new the fact that modern Iran is very arate volume. But the high things of today" which are different from Persia forty or competence of the writers and brought by the knowledge of fifty years ago. their skill in the condensed pres- Christ. The changing status of entation of their subjects have women, the influence of mission- The reader must be cautioned giV'en us a readable and very ary homes, the effect of Chris- not to accept this as a report of important contribution to the littian education and many other present-day missionary activity erature of one of the great probinfluences are carefully consid- in Iran and Kurdistan. The last lems of the modern Church. ered. Individuals and groups chapter unfortunately gives the will find this book offers an un- impression that the closing of ARTHUR J. BROWN. usual basis for the study of that the Urumia Station was an immost important subject-Chris- mediate result of the World War. Art of Conducting Public Worship. tian Home Making. No mention is made of the post- By Albert W. Palmer, D.D., LL.D. war reconstruction of Urumia 207 pp. $2.50. Macmillan, New MARY SCHAUFFLER PLATT. Station. We should remember York. 1939. that the Imperial Government Yesterdays in Persia and Kurdistan. of Iran paid the Presbyterian This is a book of deep interest By Frederick G. Coan. 284 pp. Board of Foreign Missions its to all ministers of non-Liturgi- $2.50. Saunders Studio Press, asking price for the property in cal churches, as well as to lay- Claremont, California. Urumia and has allowed the men who have the resiponsibility mission to continue employing of conducting devotional meet- In the preface Dr. Coan ex- native evangelists all through ings and public services of worplains that his object is "to give the Urumia plain since that date. ship. As President of Chicago an account of the human and ro- Theological S e min a r y after mantic aspects of the mission- Dr. Coan's stories of hair- years of experience as a pastor ary's life, to outline the experi- raising adventures of early mis- in Oakland California, Central ence of a life of service and a sionaries make exciting reading Union Church, Honolulu, and kind that, with a change of time, and give further evidence of the First Congregational Church of has become almost unique, and, courage and abiding faith of Oak Park, Ill. Dr. Palmer can above all, to present that side of these pioneers. The maps in the speak with authority and he the missionary's life that will end papers and the illustrations writes with enthusiasm and in a especially interest the young." are helpful but there is need for very practical way. He deals This purpose the author has ful- an index and a glossary explain- with the weaknesses and failfilled with a great degree of suc- ing the Near Eastern terms and ures in much public worship and cess. Certainly few modern phrases used throughout. clearly points out the causes. He volumes of fiction or travel de- treats the historical background scribe such rough and ready HERRICK B. YOUNG. of Christian worship and the existence and such hairbreadth primary significance of it, showescapes. The Church Faces the World. Edited ing what must happen if it is to by Samuel McCrea Cavert. 133 pp. remain worthy of the name. The early chapters are espe- $1.50. Round Table Press. New There is a chapter on the archicially valuable to the student of York. 1939. tectural setting. for worship, missionary activity in the Near which alone is worth the price East. Here Dr. Coan tells of the This small but important book of the book to any who are renotwenty-five years of pioneer was prepared for the Interna- vating, remodeling or building Rervice begun by his parents· in tional Missionary Council in new church edifices. There are 1851. The succeeding chapters Madras, India, last December. suggested patterns of worship deal chronologically with Dr. A commission of American services, and for special occa- Co-an's own colorful forty years Christians had been appointed sions. The two parts. 0'£ the among the Assyrians and min- to study the relation of the appendix are most helpful. "A" gling with the Kurds between Church to the changing social has a check list by which one Mosul, Tabriz, and the Turkish and economic order, and the re- may grade his own efforts. in frontier. Those who have had sults of the study are sum- conducting public worship, and the pleasure of knowing this vet- marized in the present volume. another check list for rating the eran missionary campaigner will The varied phases of the subject use of music in such services. read of his experiences with in- are discussed in ten chapters, "B" is an annotated book lis,t, terest. One could wish, however, by. John C. Bennett, H. Richthat the occasional references to ard Niebuhr, Samuel McCrea for those who wish to enhance modern Iran had been omitted Cavert (who, in addition, edited their skill in this art. so that the story would depict the volume and contributed the Introduction), John H. Reisner, R. C. WILLIAMSON.
List on Home Missions American Youth Commission of the The Red Man in the United
American Council on Education. By G. E. E. Lindquist. $3.50. GENERAL AND HISTORICAL $1.50. D. Appleton-Century Co. Doubleday, Doran. New York. New York. 1937. 1923. Christian Youth in Action. Frank W. Herriott. $1.00 cloth; 60 cents They Starve That We May Eat. MEXICANS AND ORIENTALS paper. Friendship Press. New Edith E. Lowry. 35 cents. Friend- IN AMERICA York. 1935. ship Press. New York. 1937. Mexican in the United States, The. God and the Census. Robert N. Mc- Races and Ethnic Groups in Amer- E. S. Bogardus. $1.60 cloth; $1.25 Lean. 50 cents cloth; 25 cents ican Life. T. J. Woofter. McGraw- paper. University of Southern Cali- paper. Friendship Press. New Hill Book Co. New York. 1932. fornia Press. Berkeley. 1934. York. 1931. THE CITY Orientals in American Life. Albert Homeland Harvest. Arthur H. W. Palmer. $1.00 cloth; 60 cents Limouze. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents City and Church in Transition. Mur- paper. Friendship Press. 1934. paper. Friendship Press. New ray H. Leiffer. $2.50. Willett, York. 1939. Clark & Co. Chicago. 1938. ALASKA AND THE WEST They Came Seeking. Coe S. Hayne. Urban Scene. Margueritte Harmon The Story of Alaska. Clarence L. $1.00. Judson Press. Philadelphia. Bro. 25 cents paper. Illustrated. Andrews. Enlarged edition, $4.00. 1935. Friendship Press. New York. 1938. Caxton Printers. Caldwell, Idaho. 1938. Toward a Christian America. Her- City Man. Charles Hatch Sears. mann N. Morse. $1.00. Friendship Special paper edition, 75 cents. Sheldon Jackson. Robert Laird Press. New York. 1935. Friendship Press. New York. 1938. Stewart. Revell. New York. 1908.
American Saga: The History of Lit- City Shadows. Robert W. Searle. Alaskan Adventures. L. Wirt. $1.50. erature of the American Dream of $1.00 cloth; 60 cents paper. Friend- Revell. New York. 1937. a Better Life. Marjorie Barstow ship Press. New York. 1938. Greenbie. $4.00. Whittlesey House. Henry Harmon Spalding: Pioneer of New York. 1939. RURAL LIFE Old Oregon. Clifford Merrill Drury. $3.00. Caxton Printers. Caldwell, Daniel Boone and the Wilderness Christ of the Countryside. Malcolm Idaho. 1936. Road. H. A. B. Bruce. $1.75. Mac- Dana. $1.00. Cokesbury Press. millan. New York. 1910. Nashville. 1937. Marcus Whitman. Clifford Merrill Drury. $5.00. Caxton Printers. Epic of America, The. J ames Tru- Christian Enterprise Among Rural Caldwell, Idaho. 1937. slow Adams. $1.29. Blue Ribbon People, The. Kenyon L. Butter- Books, Inc. New York. 1936. field. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Vanguard of the Caravans: A Life Nashville. 1928. Story of John Mason Peck. Coe Frontier Spirit in American Chris- Hayne. $1.00. Judson Press. tianity, The. Peter G. Mode. Mac- Rebuilding Rural America. Mark A. Philadelphia. 1931. millan. New York. 1923. Dawber. $1.00 cloth; 60 cents paper. Friendship Press. New York. 1937. AMERICAN CHURCH AND THE March of Faith, The: The Story of CHRISTIAN MESSAGE Religion in America Since 1865. America Begins Again. Katherine William E. Garrison. $2.50. Harper Glover. Illus. $2.75. Whittlesey Christianity-and Our World. John & Bros. New York. 1933. House. New York. 1939. C. Bennett. 50 cents. Association Press. New York. 1936. Right Here at Home. Frank S. Mead. THE NEGRO AND THE $1.00. Friendship Press. New AMERICAN INDIAN Church and State in Contemporary York. 1939. America. Williams Adams Brown. American Race Problems: A Study $2.75. Scribner's. New York. Story of Missions, The. Edwin E. of the Negro. Edward B. Reuter. 1936. White. $1.00. Friendship Press. 2nd. rev. ed. $3.00. Thomas Y. New York. 1926. Crowell Co. New York. 1938. Church Looks Ahead, The. American Protestant Christianity: an Analy- Wagons West: A Story of the Oregon Twelve Negro Americans. Mary sis and Forecast. Charles E. Scho- Trail. Elizabeth Page. Farrar & Jenness. $1.00. Friendship Press. field, Ed. $3.00. Macmillan. New Rinehart. New York. 1930. New York. 1937. York. 1933.
We Must March. Honore Willsie Brown America. Edwin R. Embree. Church Unity Movements in the Morrow. A. L. Burt Co. New $1.25. Special Friendship Press United States. H. Paul Douglass. York. 1927. Edition. New York. 1937. Institute of Social and Religious Re- search. New York. 1934. PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS Story of the American Negro, The. Ina Corinne Brown. $1.00 cloth, 60 Evangelism i,n a Changing W orId. Alien Americans: A Study of Race cents paper. Friendship Press. Ambrose M. Bailey. $1.50. Round Relations. Bertram J. O. Schrieke. New York. 1937. Table Press. New York. 1936. $21.50. Viking Press. New York. American Indian and Christian Mis- U. S. Looks at Its Churches, The. Christian F a i t h and Economic sons, The. George W. Hinman. C. Luther Fry. Institute of Social Change. Halford E. Luccock: $2.00. $1.50. Revell. New York. and Religious Research. New York. Abingdon Press. New York. 1936. 1930. Story of the Red Man, The. Flora Christianity and Industry in America. W. Seymour. $5.00. Longmans, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES OF Alva W. Taylor. Friendship Press. Green & Co. New York. 1929. HOME MISSIONS New York. 1933. Cry Dance. Coe Hayne. $2.00 (Fic- Christian Mission in America, The. Pioneering on Social Frontiers. tion). Harper & Bros. New York. Hugh T. Kerr. $1.00. Friendship Graham Taylor. $4.00. University 1939. Press. New York. 1933. of Chicago Press. Chicago. 1930. Facing the Future in Indian Missions. Home Missions Today and Tomor- Protestant Churches and the Indus- Lewis Meriam and George W. Hin- row: A Review and a Forecast. trial Crisis. E. B. Chaffee. Mac- man. $1.00. Friendship Press. Hermann N. Morse, Ed. 75 cents millan. New York. 1933. New York. 1932. paper. Home Missions Council. New York. 1934. How Fare American Youth? Homer Indian Americans. Winifred Hulbert. P. Rainey and others. Report to Friendship Press. New York. What Next in Home Missions? Wil- 1932. liam P. Shriver. 50 cents. Friend- ship Press. New York. 1928.
THE FAMILY ALTAR RETURN?
The increased use of a daily devotional guide among Protestants of all faiths gives hope and encouragement for the return of the family altar. By far, the largest circulated of these devotional guides is THE UPPER ROOM The World's Leading Devotional Periodical Read Daily in a Million Homes Are the homes represented in your church using it? . The issue for July, August, and September is now ready for distribution. Place an order today for as many copies as you need. Use our consignment plan. Ten or more copies, shipped to one address, to be sold at five cents per copy, with the< privilege of returning unsold copies at our expense. Yearly subscriptions, 30 cents postpaid; foreign, 40 cents. Send all orders to THE UPPER ROOM Doctors' Building, Nashville, Tennessee
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1939
1939
• A Mission in the Arctic Circle Henry W. Griest, M.D.
Outlook for Christianity in Europe-I Adolf Keller Murad and the Lost Feast Day v. Lane..Frimpole Adversaries and Open Doors in Missions C. Darby Fulton A Milestone in Missionary Progress H. Kerr Taylor "Now Concerning the Collection"
Samuel M. Zwemer Problems of Rural Life-at Madras G. Baez Camargo Toyohiko Kagawa Ira E. Gillet 2S Cents a Cop, $2.50 a Year
to Remember USED IN OVER ONE MILLION CHRISTIAN
April 26 – Uniting Conference of HURLBUT'S STORY OF THE BIBLE Amel'ican Methodism, Kansas City, BJ' .lESSE LYMAN HURLBUT. D.O. Md. Recommended by all denominations for Itsfreahness and aeeuracy forIt. simplicity of language. for Its freedom from doctrinal dleeu88lon. May 1-3 – Tenth Annual Missionary Education Institute. Third Chris- THE BEST GIFT FOR YOUNG AND OLD tian Church, Indianapolis, Ind. FOR TEACBER8-STUDENT8-POR THE HOME AND SCHOOL May 25 – General Assembly of the One hundred and sixty-eightstories. each complete in itself, yet form- Presbyterian Church in U. S. A., ing a contIDuous Darr.dye of the Bible from Genesis to Revelstion. Cleveland, Ohio. Each ofthe world-old storie. i. told by the noted author in a mannel' thati. vitaIly interesting and instructive to young and old alike. May 30-June 2-Third Biennial Insti- tute, A Movement for World Chris- Biggest _d Best mulr.ted Book EYer Sold lor tbe …..ce tianity, New York, N. Y. Beautifully illustrated with 281 pictures in colors and in black and white; over 100 famous Leinwebel' paintings. 759 pages. PrIce..f2.00 June 7-13 – Ann u a I Conference, Church of the Brethren, Anderson, At all6oolutore. or from the pu6Uahere Ind. …_THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Philadelphia _ _II June 8 – General Synod of the Re- formed Church in America, New mestic Missions of the National Dr. J. Arthur Funk, a member of York, N. Y. Council of the Protestant Episcopal the Iran Mission of the Presbyterian Ohurch. Church, U. S. A., since 1902, died from June 20-25 – Northern Baptist Con- a heart attack in Hamadan, Iran on vention, Los Angeles, O!lilif. Obituary Notes March 5th. He was born in Spring- field, Ohio June 17, 1873, and' after June 21-25-Sunday School and B. Y. Mrs. Charles W. Abel, the widow of being graduated from New York Uni- P. U. Congress of the National Bap- the famous pioneer missionary in versity and from the College of tist Convention, U. S. A., (Inc.), Papua, died in Kwato on February Physicians and Surgeons, sailed for Tulsa, Okla. 24 after a brief illness. Mrs. Abel Persia where he was in charge first of went out to Papua in 1892 when her the American Hospital in Teheran and June 24-July I-Eagles Mere Confer- husband was associated with the Rev. for the past 35 years in the American ence of Missions. Chairman, Mrs. James Chalmers in work among the Christian Hospital at Hamadan. He Earl Breeding, 24 Rugby Lane, cannibals of New Guinea. Mr. Abel did notable work in the training of Scarsdale, N. Y. died in 1930 while in England. Mrs. kbel and her four children have con- . . physicians who are recognized prac- July 3-10-Northfield Missionary Con- tinued the work and it has greatly en- ference for Women and Girls. East larged in the last eight years. The titioners in Iranian cities. Northfield, Mass. For information, Kwato Mission of Papua is an inde- address Mrs. Warren C. Taylor, 38 pendent, interdenominational w 0 r k '" Union Ave., Schenectady, N. Y. largely supported from the United States and Great Britain. Mrs. Abel Dr. Harold McAfee Robinson, Gen- July 6-11 – International Christian has seen the Papuans change from eral Secretary of the Board of Chris- Endeavor Convention, Cleveland, cannibals, murderers and sorcerers tian Education of the Presbyterian Ohio. into active and devoted Christians and Church, U. S. A., died on March 5th evangelists. at the age of 58. He was born in Shel- July 11-August 16 – Winona Lake byville, Mo., and after graduation School of Theology. Winona Lake, *** from Park College and from Prince- Ind. Dean, Dr. J. A. Huffman, 302 ton Theological Seminary he served Morton Blvd., Marion, Ind. Miss Jessie Maxwell, a missionary as pastor of the Market Square Pres- of the Woman's Missionary Society byterian Church, Germantown. In July 22-28-Baptist World Congress. of the United Church of Canada sta- 1919 he joined the Board of Christian Atlanta, Ga. tioned at Neemuch, Indi'a, died on re- Education and in 1923 was elected turning to her station from a fur- secretary of the division of education July 24-August 2-World Conference lough, early in February. Under her in the home church and community. of Christian Youth, Amsterdam, care the Girls' Boarding School at For the last four years he has been Holland. Neemuch developed into The School General Secretary of the Board.
August 13-20-Geneva Summer School . . of Home Making and was known as DO YOUR S.S.PAPERS of Missions, Lake Geneva, Wis. ~ For information write to Mrs. Paul "Sundar Ghar" (the house beautiful). BIBLE TBUTH~ H. Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey ~w Ave., Oak Park, Ill. '" ~ COUNCIL FIRES =~ Personal Items Dr. Clarence True Wilson, aged 66, for Young People international leader in the prohibition Dr. John R. Mott, the famous Meth- cause, died in Portland, Oregon, Feb- 1502 N. Third St. Harrisburg, Penna. odist layman, was re-elected Chair- ruary 17. Evangelical fervor and imman of the International Missionary passioned oratory made Dr. Wilson a Council at the meeting in Madras, spectacular figure in the fight for India, in December. Dr. Mott made a temperance. For more ,than 26 years condition of his acceptance the under- he was head of the Methodist Board st!l;nding that he would not hold the of Temperance and Public Morals. office longer than three years. For twenty years of this period he waged uncompromising war against '" '" '" liquor, gambling and vice, speaking in every part of the United States. President Francis Wei, of Central He frequently engaged in debate with China College, made history, when he Clarence Darrow, avowed agnostic returned to China from the United and anti-prohibitionist, on the liquor States, by preaching in Honolulu on issue, although the two were warm one Sunday and in Manilla on the fol- friends off the platform. Dr. Wilson lowing Sunday. Air travel made this maintained that Darrow would have possible. been a forcible preacher, if he had been converted. '" '" '"
The Rev. Dr. George A. Wieland, of Seattle, Wash., was elected, in February, Executive Secretary for Do-
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COLLEGE – EFFECT OF THE EARTHQUAKE. METHODIST CONGREGATION AT CONCEPCION, FIRST
THE TEACHERS NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE DESTRUCTION IN THE HEART OF CONCEPCION – WHERE FISSURES IN THE ROAD CAUSED BY THE EARTHQUAKE- PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST MISSIONS ARE LOCATED NEAR CONCEPCION THE CONCEPCION CHURCH AND PARSONAGE – BOTH THE REV. MOlSES TORREGOS AND FAMILY. HE IS PASTOR DESTROYED BY THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH SCENES CONNECTED WITH THE CHILE EARTHQUAKE REVIE ORLD VOLUME LXII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 4 APRIL, 1939 Topics of the Times EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE Rev. S. C. Henderson, of the Presbyterian mis- Letters from missionaries in Chile tell of some sion, wrote from Santiago on January 28th: remarkable escapes from death during the recent earthquake (January 24th) whioh caused wide- All lines and means of communication are cut off and spread destruction of life and property. The cen- we are desperate for information. Airplanes have brought ter of the earthquake was in the neighborhood of mail from Concepcion to some people but we have nothing Concepcion, Chillan and Coihueco-about 300 direct. This afternoon we have heard that all the congremiles south of Valparaiso and Santiago. Over gation in Concepcion are safe. The church building evififty cities and towns were destroyed. It is said dently did not suffer so much as many other buildings. to have been the worst earthquake that Chile has suffered since 1906 when Valparaiso was praoti- Chillan (with a population of 45,000) has suffered most. cally destroyed. It is estimated that one per cent The pastor, Rodolfo Vergara and all his family were in of the people of Chile perished. So far as is Santiago. We have ,practically no notice concerning the known no missionary life was lost in the earth- congregation and the properties. They say only four or quake and only one or two were silightly injured. five houses are left in Chillan which means the destruction The Evangelioal Christians also were wonder- of the church and the manse. fully spared personal inj ury but many lost all their property. According to the latest statistics, ,.The pastor in Talca, Olivero Maufras, says that all the 30,000 people lost their lives, 50,000 were wound- congregation are safe but the church building cracked and ed, many thousands disappeared, and the property the division wall out of plumb. From Curlco the pastor reports all sufe; the church walls cracked.
In Concepcion it will cost considerable to repair the church and manse; and in Chillan we will probably have to rebuild both church and manse.
Rev. Robert B. Elmore, another Presbyterian missionary, wrote from Angol on January 27th: loss has been estimated as high as $60,000,000.00 The force of the shock was felt most in Chillan and in U. S. currency. This is one of the major catas- Concepcion, where the loss of life has been great–10,000 trophesm modern times. in Chillan andi 2,000 in Concepcion. Buildings are down or badly cracked, so they can hardly be used. The railway The Presbyterian Church (North) has several service is cut, all telephone andi telegraph wires are down stations in the eal'lthquake territory, the Methodist and we depend on the radio for news. Episcopal mission is at work in Concepcion and Angol. The Southern Baptists have work in Con- The Methodist mission territory is next to the Presbycepcion and Seventh-Day Adventists in Chillan. terian field on the south, and overlaps in Concepcion (a There are a few independent missionaries-such city of 77,000). Their missionaries and national workers as those of the Soldiers and Gospel Mission. All are safe. The British and Foreign Bible Society reports workers on the field have rendered valiant s'ervice that one of their stations, Chillan in charge of a colporin giving food, shelter, medical care and other teur, suffered heavily. The whole city of 46,000 populaassistance to the earthquake sufferers. There is tion was leveled to the ground. The Baptist (Southern evidence that this physical disaster is caus1ing a Convention) missionaries are reported safe but their spiritual awakening among the people who have property at Chillan and Concepcion is either destroyed been brought face to face with death, many seeing or seriously damaged. their earthly possessions, destroyed, and as they note the loving and effective service given by the The Methodist missionaries report as· follows: missionaries in ithe name of Christ. In Coronel, churches and college in ruins; in Angol, church destroyed and many people home- less; in Concepcion college and church de- stroyed with 600 members destitute; in Chillan, [163 ]
two theaters cO'llapsed, whole audience killed, and pletion, is, however, in ruins-the work of many weeks all churches razed. Talcahuano (the port) prac- destroyed in forty seconds. tically destroyed including Methodist Church and parsonage. After the earthquake, bystanders observing the light on the face of one of our Evangelical Christians, re- Rev. Moises Torregrl()sa, a Methodist pastor marked: Miral la, calma de este gente de Dios/ ("See, in OO'ncepcion, wmte a wee~ after the earthquake: how calm these people of God are!") We hope that many may say "Let us go up with you for we see that God is Chillan is in ruins, 20,000 people dead! Concepcion with you." city, "the Pearl of the south of Chile," has been destroyed. Concepcion College is just a mass of debris and GOD WORKING IN MEXICO ashes. Church building and parsonage have been destroyed. This is a self-supporting church-600 members. Most of the daily newspaper dispatches from Today my people have no homes and have lost everything Mexico tell only of political conflicts and rumors they had. Weare all living like gypsies, sleeping in relalting to communist, fascist and other activicamps out of the city. I have no support but feel my duty ties:; of economic troubles in oil and mining disis to stay here and minister to the poor and the sick. It putes; and of the GO'vernment's restrictions on is time for a big and deep evangelistic campaign, but we religious activity. But there is another side to have no place for worship. How can we find the means the story of Mexico. Many Christians are prayto help our people who are in extreme poverty? F'ifteen ing and witnes:sing; God is working and giving Roman Catholic churches have been destroyed in the earth- signs of His power in the lives of Mexicans. Rev. quake in our city and the Vatican is helping to rebuild. W. M. Taylor of Mexico City, gives the following It is time for prayer and action. Thank God we have glimpses of quiet but effective evangelism. been saved from death. "The distribution of Chris:tian literature by mail Chile has a population of 4,287,445 (including has continued and over 15,000 Gospel portions and 98,703 Indians). Eighteen Protestant missions 45,000 Evangelical tracts have been sent to Mexare at work there, most of them north of Con- ican officials, school teachers, postmasters" telecepcion. The people of Chile, especially in the graph operators, railroad station agents and merrural regions, are very poor and in the small cities chants throughout the country. Thus 30,496 Gosand towns where this blow has fallen, will not be pels and 91,488 tracts have been distributed in able to rebuild their ruined churches and homes. this way since the work began a year and a half They need help. ago. Probably ,every village and town in the Re- public has received at least one Gospel portion. Mr. William M. Strong, director of the Soldiers Continue to pray that GO'd will fulfill His promise and Gospel Mission, with headquarters at Coihu- and will nOot allow His Word to return untO' Him eco, in the earthquake area, wrote from Ooncep- void. cion: "The results have been encouraging. FOor ex- An old historian of Chile, Daniel Riquelme, in writing ample, the secretary of an Indian village in the of the earthquake of Concepcion in 1757, when half the mountainsl of Guerrero received some Christian city was sunk beneath the waves, remarks that "the net literature, read it ·and wrote for more. He was moral result of that distressing time was that the blas- converted and began to have a burden fOor the spir:- phemy and immorality and drunkenness of the men, and itual needs of Ihis tribe. He spoke to his friends the indecency in the dress of the women was put away and. read the New Testament to them. On Aufor a long time and four hundred couples, who had been gust 7th he called a meeting of the Indians and living in sin, went to the priests to have a true marriage translated portions of the New Testament to the rite performed." We pray that a real God-given revival one hundred who attended. He reports that some may result from this, the greatest catastrophe of the West- cried out hecause of their spiritual darkness. The ern hemisphere of all time. Here in this same city of Con- Indian adds: 'Our Lord Jesus Ghrist will Slave us cepcion, there are from twenty-five hundred to three thou- by faith in Him; He will be merciful to us in sand dead. We expect to carry our Gospel tent to Chillan, these forgotten mountains.' where one half the entire population of forty-five thousand are dead and where not more than a dozen houses "Thi:s man is a Tlapaneco Indian in a region still remain standing. hitherto untouched by messengersi of the Gospel. In fact part of this district is marked 'unex- One of the remarkable phenomena of the whole tragic plored' on the Government maps. Now, as a reoccurrence is the fact that hardly one of God's children suit of this Indian's letter, two men have been sent has been touched, although some workers had most miracu- by one mislsion into that region to study the lanlous escapes. guage and translate the New Testament into Tlapaneco. Pray for this Indian, Cruz Avilez, The work, as a result of the earthquake, promises to that God may keep him faithful and use him be large. The soldiers will be in this area for months and among his own people." are already building winter quarters. We should build a regular center to take the place of the tent; it will be a place from which our workers can go out into the town to minister to the needs of the civilians.
At Coihueco, although the town is practically wiped out, our mission headquarters still stand a's a monument of God's grace–its chimneys, a few tiles on the roof, and a few broken dishes are the only reminders of the earthquake there. The new chapel which was nearing com-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
A special Christian literature campaign has same basis of age, report 21,322,688 members or also been conducted among Believers and over 15,492,016 over thirteen years old. Jewish con- 3,600 books and 14,000 tracts have been distrib- gregations report 2,930,332 members over thir- uted. These may help to bring about a revival. teen years; Eastern Christian sects have 1,014,663 There is a very important work among Mexican members and all other religious bodies 1,453,357. soldiers, and nearly five hundred of them have This seems to indicate that the nominally Prot- publicly declared their decision to follow Christ. estant population of the United States is approxi- New Testaments have been distributed among mately 71,000,000 (or double the total church officers and in the outposts, barracks, headquar- membership), while Roman Catholics number ters and military prisons. Many converts have 30,000,000 and Eastern Christian sects 2,000,000. remained faithful and one whom I had not seen The total number of Christians in America, more for four years informed me that he had explained or less closely connected with the churches, would the way of salvation to his comrades. When a thus be about 103,000,000, leaving 30,000,000 encorporal hesitated about allowing Mr. Taylor to tirely unrelated to the Church. This is a popula- distribute literature to his men, a meeting was tion equal to those of Turkey, Afghanistan and arranged by two women who had heard the Gos- Iran combined. Here is a large and needy field. pel. Every person in the camp came and all were .greatly impressed by the Spirit of God, working At the recent Madras Missionary Conference, through the testimony of one woman whose hus.- delegates from the "younger" (mission) churches band had been converted. The Mexican soldiers placed much emphasis on the need for Church have little or no opportunity to attend church union. This is evident in the United States where s'ervices or to have fellowship with mature Chris- there are forty-two major bodies and where some tians. church families are divided into fifteen or more sub-sects. The largest single organizations are AMERICAN CHURCH STATISTICS the Methodist Episcopal Church with 4,364,142 members (after the coming merger with the Meth- Statistics do not tell the truth-especially as to odist Church, South and the Primitive Methodists spiritual conditions and growth. Life and power it will number 7,385,638 members), the Southern cannot be expressed in mathematics or it would Baptists (4,595,602), the National Baptists—Col- never be true that "one shall chase a thousand ored (3,796,645), the Presbyterians, U. S. A. and two shall put ten thousands to flight." An (1,903,747) the Disciples of Christ (1,597,797), infinitesimal germ may lay Iowa giant and a beam and the United Lutherans (1,541,841). If the of light may halt a railroad train. Baptists should all unite, and include the Disciples of Christ, they would number nearly twelve mil- But statistics, if accurate, may show trends and lion members and all Lutherans would have a reveal weaknesses. It is always interesting to membership of nearly five million. study the religious statistics-prepared every ten years by the United States Census Bureau and Among the non-Christian religious sects in those issued by the Association of Statisticians of America we note the following figures: American Religious Bodies. These latter, for the year 1938, have been summarized by Dr. Herman Congregations Members C. Weber, Editor of the "Year Book of American Churches." According to this summary the num- American Ethical Union ……. . 7 3,024 ber of distinct religious groups in North America American Moslem Brotherhood .. 1,200 have decreased, by mergers and deaths since 1926, Bahai Faith ……………… . 71 2,523 from 212 to 200. Some of the sects are insignifi- Buddhist Mission …………. . 47 30,000 cantly slIIlall and lifeless. A few of the larger Divine Science ……………. . 26 7,000 denominations are merging, like the Methodists, Mayan Temple ……………. . while others are splitting, like the Northern Pres- Spiritualists ……………… . 5 600 byterians, on matters involving leadership or doc- Theosophists ……………… . 543 41,233 trinal emphasis. At the same time new sects are Vedanta Society ………….. . arising among uneducated or underprivileged Mormons (Latter Day Saints) .. 3 5,900 classes; such are "Father Divine's Peace Mission" Reorganized Mormons ……… . 25 400 and "The Church of the First-Born of the United 1,519 Sons of the Almighty." 575 690,401 101,122 The latest reports of church membership in the United States list 35,833,475 in the Protestant Would it not be instructive to tabulate, if pos- bodies, or 31,489,161 persons over 13 years of age. sible, the increase or decrease in church attend- This is an increase of 310,169 since the previous ance and in prayer meeting attendance in the past reports were tabulated. Roman Catholics, on the year, and the observance of family worship? None of the above statistics reveal the spiritual state of the churches or the evidence of Christlike life and service in their members. We are told that the true "vital" statisti(!:;) are kept in the "Lamb's Book of Life."
A KOREAN CHRISTIAN SPEAKS tablets and most of the worship there is directed to the deified spirits of their own ancestors or the Is Christianity a religion (a way of bringing ancestors of the Imperial family. To them are man into relatiQn to God)? If Russia had de- offered various gifts, consisting of fruits of the clared that Christianity is nQt a religion, would soils, flowers acc'Ording to the season, products of that have altered the case?' These questions may the sea, or certain kinds of sacred cloth. In other seem absurd and yet they are t'O the point. Chri&- words, worship before the Kamidana 'Or spirittianity is known as a religion, b'Oth historically shelf is a modified form 'Of the worship before the and universally. I believe in Christ as the Way Jinja or Shinto shrine. tQ God and therefore, regardless of my feelings, I am known as a Christian. I have chosen The Japanese people visit the shrines of their Christianity because I believe Christ is the best own particular sect of Shinto to meditate before and the only true way to bring man into right re- the en-shrined spirits, to pray to them or to worlation to God. I regard the name of Christian as ship them by reverent bowings. This custom is a glorious hQnor, since it signifies that I belong to similar to the Roman Catholic practice of visiting Christ. It denotes a great change has taken place cathedrals and churches or shrines on certain in me as the result of new Christ-given life in re- days. As a rule the Shinto priests do not appear sponse to my acceptance of Him. The significance bef'Ore the shrines except on national holidays or of the name "Christian" is therefore Qf paramQunt on the days on which special services are held in importance, not so much as a matter of religion honor of the spirits of soldiers who have fallen as of all that concerns my s,piritual life. in battle. Government regulations, cover every de- tail of the ceremonies, including the very wording The Japanese Government has officially de- of the prayers read. clared that Shinto shrine worship is not a religious practice but is merely an expressiQn of na- It can be seen that the nature and common tiQnal patriotism. Does this declaration mean that understanding of Shinto shrine worship is inher- Shinto is not a religion and that it has not been, ently religious. It must also be borne in mind histQrically and universally, recognized as such? that there is no distinction between the act of Or does it mean merely that Shinto shrine WQr- worship or obeisance before the Sect Shinto ship, as such, is not a religious practice-related shrines, which are admitted by the Japanese Govto wQrship? ernment to be religious, and before the State Shinto shrines, before which the Government has It is perfectly clear that neither the State or declared that all must bow as an act Qf patriQtism. any other organization is qualified to decide The enshrined deities, the prQcess of enshrinewhether a religion, with a historical background, ment, the details of the ceremonies and Qften the is or is not a religion. Any State or nation can Qfficiating priests Qr ritualists are identical. reject or adopt one of the existing religions as its state-religion, as was done by the Roman Empire On special days, as for example on the Emperunder C'Onstantine; but such a decision in itself Qr's birthday, the leaders of all social organizations does not alter the inherent nature of the religion in ChQsen, including Christian church leaders or Qf the ceremonies connected with it. (ministers, elders and sometimes even deacons) are cQmpelled tQ go to the places where the Shinto One cann'Ot, therefore, accept this declaration worshippers have their religious shrine cereof the Japanese Government concerning the na- monies and to participate in the ceremonies, bQwture of Shinto at its face value but must look into ing befQre the shrine. All Qrganizations so repthe practice 'Of Shinto shrine 'Obeisance to see resented are pronounced by the Government to whether or n'Ot it is religious. It is evident that be shrine worshippers, participating in the soif the declaration by the Japanese Government is called act of natiQnal patriotism. TQ refuse to dQ true, and shrine worship has n'O reHgious signifi- so is tQ be judged guilty of dislQyalty tQ the Emcance but is merely an act of patriotism, there perQr and results in arrest, imprisonment and will be no conflict with the Christian conscience sometimes tQrture. in attendance at the shrines. But if it is not true, then Christians who c'Onform to the Government With the Japanese Empire, now to all intents regulations in this matter naturally believe that they are guilty of idolatry in doing obeisance at and purposes a tQtalitarian state, the Government these Shinto shrines. That is the issue at stake between Christians and the Japanese Government. is ruthless in its insistence that all citizens par- Most of the common people of Japan (the non- ticipate in the shrine ceremQnies. Any discussion Christians) have a Kamidana (spirit-shelf) in their homes. On it are placed the various spirit- of the questiQn is prohibited by the police. Large sectiQns Qf the Church have been cowed intQ sub- mission. The KQrean Christians need yQur prayers as never before. A KOREAN CHRISTIAN.
HENRY GRE"IST WITH A GROUP OF ESKIMOS AT BARROW
A Mission in the Arctic Circle Experiences at Barrow, Alaska, the Northernmost Mission in the World By the REV. HENRY W. GREIST, M.D., D.D.
Honorably Retired Presbyterian Missionary; Stationed at Barrow, 1920 to 1936 BARROW, Alaska, is three hundred miles north but ordinarily weekly periodicals published in the of the Arctic Circle. It is about twelve hun- States come fifty-two copies in one mail sack in dred miles from the Pole, and marks the summer. Not until 1928 was there a radio in northernmost bit of land attached to the North Barrow-at the U. S. Army Signal Corps station. American continent. It was here that Col. and Prior to that time wars, disasters, elections and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh landed on their flight other events might occur in the great world out- "North to the Orient." Some islands north of side but it was many months before we learned Canada are nearer the Pole, but they are unin- of them. habited. When Colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh reached Bar- Mails corne to Barrow four times a year, pro- row on their epochal flight, we invited every white vided the one ship in summer succeeds in pene- man, woman and child within two hundred miles trating the ice, and provided further the three to meet these distinguished fliers at dinner in the mails by dog-sledge during the long ten months Presbyterian manse. The total number (includof the Arctic winter succeed in getting in. Mails ing children) who sat at table were seven-in were often six months old before we received addition to the two guests-of-honor and three them, and letters mailed in New York have not Greists. All came who were invited except three infrequently been twelve months en route. All traders in Wainwright who failed to navigate the except first class mail, including parcel post, must ice. corne by ship. Occasionally the Post Office allows a lone newspaper or magazine to corne through, The Arctic is not a white man's country-and never will be. Eskimos alone can thrive there.
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The only white people at Barrow are the mission- Barrow is situated, is perhaps the largest presby- aries, two school teachers (one of whom-the hus- tery in the world in point of square miles, but it is band-is the reindeer superintendent), a trader, one of the smallest in membership. During the and the U. S. Army Signal Corps operator and writer's seventeen years of service at Barrow, his. wife, together with any children in these fam- this presbytery had only four active members, the ilies. At Barrow there are no motion picture nearest man being at Fairbanks, eight hundred shows, pool rooms, liquor stores, automobiles, traf- miles distant as the crow flies and separated from fic jams or accidents; no cows, pigs, chickens, Barrow by vast uninhabited spaces of tundra, and sheep, goats or horses within eight hundred miles. by mountains impassable except at very great hazard, by airplane. The three other Presby- terian workers serve white churches at points along the Alaska railway. To travel from our station ·at Barrow to the meeting place of presby- tery anywhere along the railroad would mean a dog-team mileage of not less than fifteen hundred miles, and would take six months, a prohibitive length of time to be absent from one's post.
The missionary at Barrow finds much to do- or did when we maintained both the medical and the religious services in this parish extending a SUMMER "PRESSURE ICE" ON BEACH AT PT. BARROW thousand miles along the coast. It is a work that The Lord's Day is kept as it formerly was· in New calls not only for high spirituality and thorough England as a holy day; all the Eskimos go to training, coupled with devotion to God and to duty, Sunday school, to church and to vespers; and all but it calls also for a plentiful supply of the attend the mid-week prayer meeting as well. The "Three B's" – Blood, Brains and Brawn. The church is. the one social center. evangelist in this isolated region should be a Jack-of-all trades, with the resourcefulness of a The long Arctic Night extends from November Robinson Crusoe. A well-known war corresponduntil late in January, and for a short time the ent twenty years ago, covering assignments in far sun does not rise above the horizon. Then, for places, who became an admirer of missionaries three months, from May to August, it does not and then a student of missions, wrote: A misset at all. These are the periods which are sionary in such a station "should be self-contained, peculiarly trying to white people. The cold in an administrator, teacher, doctor, architect, carwinter is intense but the low temperature is not penter, machinist, engineer, a practical business so trying as the almost incessant fogs in summer, man, and withal tactful and diplomatic." Not together with cold, drizzling rain, which are apt every successful pastor could be a successful misto depress one. The best remedy is to keep busy with one's duties.
The Presbyterian Mission at Barrow, in the Yukon Presbytery, has for its central purpose the evangelization of the Eskimos of Alaska. Hos- pital work was splendidly maintained for many years previous to late 1936; social welfare and community service have also been energetically and faithfully carried on by consecrated and effi- ciently trained workers,……..,but all with this chief end in view – to win the Eskimos to Christ and His Way of Life. Among primitive people the so- U. s. SIGNAL STATION AT BARROW (leftl. WITH HOSPITAL called "Social Gospel," when offered alone, is a failure. Christ must be faithfully presented and AND CHURCH; MANSE AT THE EXTREME RIGHT His cross must be carried to the fore. The arts sionary, and many outstanding missionaries and sciences of civilization may be· readily ac- would discover in the pastorate in an ordinary cepted by people, in so far as they are practically field at home to be a very difficult, if not impos.- useful, but Christian ethics, without Christ as the sible, task.
center of life, are not observed except as they The missionary in the Arctic regions must seem to serve a selfish purpose. Heart conver- travel throughout the winter by dog-team at not sion is the all important goal; then all else follows over five miles per hour. At night, for want of to make a better world. other shelter, he tents out on the ice-bound beach Yukon Presbytery, within the bounds of which in temperatures as low as sixty degrees below
A MISSION IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
zero. He must cook his scant supper as best he Jackson visited the Arctic in 1890, with snow can over a tiny oil burning stove, the coffee freez- white hair and deeply wrinkled face but with eyes ing while the reindeer steaks are being broiled. shining like stars, began tugging at the preacher's The coffee must then be warmed again while the coat. He thought it a child in a mother's arms meat is eaten. After this, with his "musher" and behind< him and so ignored the interruption. But guide, he must crawl deep within reindeer sleep- the tugging became more and more insistent. He ing bags, read the Scripttures and offer prayer; turned, and lo! it was this old grandmother, said afterwards he sIeeps,as only healthy men can to be about ninety-five years old. Asked what she sleep under these trying conditions. If a severe storm overtakes them, the travelers are forced to • build a snow-house with a tunnel entrance and a floor lowered deep in a snow bank. The whole .. is covered by a tent slipped over the walls and weighed down at the sides by blocks of snow. .I When the missionary arrives at some camp of DORCAS, A FINE CHRISTIAN ESKIMO GIRL, AT BARROW trappers or reindeer herders, or at some village, scores of miles from any other habitation, he wanted, she replied through the interpreter: makes a house-to-house visitation during the day, "Long time ago, a peddler came to this village holds medical clinics (or did prior to the taking who said he had been a preaeher. The trader over of the medical work by the Government). asked him to preach to us that night, which he Then at night evangelistic services are held in the did. After talking of God's Book, of which we schoolhouse for a week or ten days. The people had never before heard, he went into the teacher's are hungry for the Gospel-and are responsive living quarters, got a wash~basin of water, and but never emotional. They are easily led to accept poured water on my head and on every person's the truth and many wholeheartedly give them- head in that room. Then he said, 'Now you are selves to the Lord Jesus Christ. They take their Christianity seriously, and put to shame nominal Christians in the States. Crowded into the schoolroom are often three times as many as the room would hold if chairs were placed close together. The school desks, intended for one, are occupied by two adults, with children seated on the desk in front of the parents. Boys sit on bookcases or under tables. Children are everywhere, with fathers and mothers sitting flat upon the floor, knees drawn up to make room for others. All mothers seem to hold from one to three babies or older children so that· the preaeher is usually limited to the space that his two feet occupy. But there is no whispering, no sign of restlessness in the audience; the cry of a baby is rarely heard. Every eye is riveted on the minister and every ear strained to catch every word of the interpreter, for the elderly folk cannot understand English very well. Such an opportunity insistently calls for the very best that is in any preacher of God's Word. It is an inspiring experience and sends a man to his knees that he may have the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
Early in our ministry in Wainwright, a village about one hundred miles southwest of Barrow, one bitterly cold night in January, the writer was preaching to a crowded house,estimated to contain more than 200 people. Becoming warm in his efforts, he removed his reindeer parka and, in his ordinary coat, stood in the limited space left for him by the crowd. Soon an old woman, known to have been a grandmother when Dr. Sheldon
all Christians.' But 0 Missionary, 0 Missionary, proved sufficient. We have now 533 communicant I want Jesus under the skin." members of the Church in Arctic Alaska. The Eskimo are not an emotional people, but they are My sermon on John 3: 16 was only half finished, intelligent and they wish to know the reasons for but I knelt at the old woman's knees and very what they believe and do. tenderly led her along the Way to Christ. We prayed for her, but in the midst of that short Our medical service was fruitful in giving us contacts with people from far away in Arctic Can- AN ESKIMO CHRISTIAN PREPARING DINNER ada and from many hundreds of miles down the coast southwest to within fifty miles of Kotzebue prayer we were disturbed by her changed de- where there is a well-equipped government hosmeanor; looking up we saw that the Holy Spirit pital. Many of these patients came to us five had spoken to her and had given her the evidence hundred miles by dog-teams, through darkness, that He had sealed her, for her smile waselo- storm and cold, bringing their chronically ill and quent; she was seeking to tell us of the change surgical cases. When asked why they came to us in her heart. That smile did not wear off during instead of going to the government doctor, their the remaining weeks of her life. We arose to our usual reply was, "You people up here pray." They feet and saw that fourteen young married couples came from far beyond the geographical limits of were also kneeling in a circle in front of the our mission and over 52:,000 cases and clinical calls school desks; the people who had been sitting on were recorded during our sixteeen years of servthe floor having made room by changing places ice. There were some repeaters but each bedwith them. All were silently praying, their lips patient was counted only as one case. Eternity moving. Later, all arose and each gave a short alone will reveal the spiritual results. The sick testimony, without any invitation on our part. were dealt with by the missionary, assisted by the From that group three young men have been or- ruling elders, and prayer was coupled with indained as ruling elders of the Olgonic (Wain- struction. Many who were brought from a diswright) Church, and at least two of the women tance, and had only a limited opportunity to hear have been ordained as deaconesses. All the mem- the Gospel, were converted in the hospital. After bers of that group have exhibited changed lives throughout the succeeding years. Thus the Holy JAMES, A WAINWRIGHT ESKilMO, AND HIS WIFE Spirit honors the preaching of the Gospel of IN FRONT OF THEIR IGLOO Christ. We now have a splendid, organized church of believers at Wainwright with a chapel the service on the Lord's Day the young people and a manse, served by Percy Ipalcck, a product would occasionally gather in the hospital to sing of Sheldon Jackson School, and now a licentiate hymns dear to the hearts of these folk. The minof Yukon Presbytery. istryof song, if in the native tongue, often worked wonders with the old people. Friends of the sick, The providence of God and His direct answers who had brought them up to the hospital, reto prayer were remarkable throughout the years mained sometimes for weeks or even months until of our ministry on that coast. Strangely peculiar the ill were able to travel back home. In the meanhave been many of these instances so that our while these friends attended Sunday school and faith grew by leaps and bounds as we carried on, the services of the church, often becoming conabiding in Him and His Word .a!biding in us. We vinced and surrendering their lives to the Lord were far from human help, isolated and alone in Jesus. our service, cut off from those who could enter understandingly into our problems; but God alone
One young man, a half-breed, whOo resided four No tourists came to Barrow throughout the sevhundred fifty miles distant, was deeply under con- enteen years of our service. Dr. A. J. Montviction for weeks and gave his heart to God the gOomery, of the National Board of Missions, while very night before he left in his father's motor director of Alaska work, called one summer day, boat fOor his distant home. He was found drowned having traveled near eight thousand miles to visit the next morning, not far frOom Barrow. His us; but he could not remain on shore for more brothers were greatly impressed and, one by one, than an hOour on account of threatening ice at sea. surrendered to God. Alas! our beloved hOospital My brother, L. T. Greist, a Presbyterian attorney from Chicago, also visited us for three months THE MISSION CHURCH AND CONGREGATION AT BARROW in 1934; he not only won the hearts of the Eskimo along that coast, but they won his admiration as is a thing of the past, in so far as it can serve for well. evangelistic work, except by permission of the gOovernment doctor. Medical mission service else- In late August, 1936, we tearfully turned over where in Alaska has also been relinquished, dis- our medical service to the in-coming government astrously as to the spiritual well-being of our doctor and his nurses, but the new doctor SOOon A:[~ctic Eskimos. We debated during four long resigned and left the service. Another came and years the giving up of our medical work, while did excellent work but was dissatisfied with social the proposition hung fire, but the Mission Board cOonditiOons and left Barrow within the year; a thOought that medical service was costing too much third doctor has now arrived. The natives wonmoney. True, supplies were expensive, coal alOone der at the many frequent changes and fail to comcosting $55 a ton delivered in Barrow, and we prehend why a medical man does not seem to be normally required 150 tons a year. We econo- vitally interested in their religious welfare. mized, denied ourselves, cut wages and salaries frOom 25% to 60%; no one complained, including The Rev. Fred G. Klerekoper, a graduate Oof the Eskimo helpers. Our budget was reduced Princeton Seminary (class of 1934) is now the from about $18,000 tOo nearly $8,000 annually. We missionary in charge. Mrs. Klerekoper was edusacrificed gladly to maintain our beloved medical cated in Mt. Holyoke College, Massachusetts, and evangelism but we were forced to write finis in is a graduate nurse. She is the daughter Oof Presour mission's annals as to our medical service. byterian missionaries in Chosen and a capable worker; but she is not likely to have Oofficial con- In 1920, we had invested $48,000 in the Point nectiOon with the new hospital which is now being Barrow Hospital (largely obtained from the Com- built to replace the one burned in the autumn of monwealth Fund). The Sunday schOool children in Presbyterian churches in the United States had 1936.* These splendidly trained and spiritually~ donated $10,000 from their offerings on Washington's Birthday in 1920 for the equipment. We minded young missionaries are there to carry on had no isolation wards, so seriously needed in time of epidemics. and for the tubercular patients; the DR. GREIST (left), WITH MRS. GREIST, WELCOMING THEIR operating theater was merely a small room in- SUCCESSORS, REV. AND MRS. FRED KLEREKOPER tended for beds, and without prOoper light. The two pipeless hot-air furnaces, intended for small the church work along that thousand miles of bungalow residences, failed utterly tOo protect us Arctic coast. Mr. Klerekoper travels much by against the Arctic cold, high winds, and in the dogs during the Arctic night, in cold and storm thin uninsulated walls of the building. NOotwith- and darkness; he sometimes goes along the coast standing these and other serious handicaps, very in a small motor boat during the short summer. effective and faithful service was done throughout They are young, enthusiastic, hard working and the years and many lives were saved. deserve the intercessory prayers of all God's peo- ple. Theirs is not an easy task, as we knOow from experience. Let us support them.
• The government has appropriated $100,000 to build and equip the new hospital to replace the one destroyed.
A Missionary Epistle from China*
By DR. and MRS. WALLACE CRAWFORD, Chengtu, West China A T THE beginning of the war with Japan the the wire, which costs the Japanese a great sum .r- proportion of casualties in the fighting was to replace. They do no open fighting, but are conthree Chinese to one Japanese; l,ater on it tinually harassing the lines of communication, was two to one, but now it is "even going" and the making it impossible for the Japanese to consoli- casualties are terrific on the side of the Japanese. date their gains in North China.
The initial dazed condition of the Chinese peo- "The people's army" receive no pay, and want ple has given way to a steadily developing deter- none; their leaders are poor and there is no selfmination to. increase their efficiency to the place seeking among them. Their average age is not where they will wear out J.apan. There is little over thirty. Contrast this with the puppet regime desire on the part of the people, outside the main set up in Peiping, where the average age of the regular army, to see the Japanese killed off, but rather to cause them such heavy financial loss as "leaders" is sixty-four. to so embarrass their country and to make it impossible to carryon the "incident." Everywhere Over four hundred thousand of these guerrillas one is impressed with the increasing efficiency of are organized in what the Japanese would have the resistance of the people of China, for it is the us believe is the occupied territory. These men go people's struggle, and not merely the activities of everywhere in the occupied territory, uninterthe army. China is just at the beginning of a rupted by the Japanese who exert no control save colossal man-power preparation. in the immediate cities they occupy.
The Japanese have occupied practically all the The guerrillas are constantly improving their walled cities in certain parts of the country and efficiency. Now they have many miles of telehave paralyzed the normal activities as a whole, phone system and it is reported that they will rebut their control does not exceed five miles beyond ceive a wire of the starting of a train and before the walls of the cities they "control." Every male the train has gone a hundred miles, it runs into a from twelve years old and up is a potential soldier bomb and is wrecked. against the Japanese. They are organized into guerrillas, and they are the ones who control the Instead of breaking the morale of the Chinese country, and not the Japanese. Five miles from people the Japanese action is making that morale. the railway these guerrillas have become such a The spirit of the people is improving instead of menace to the Japanese as to make many of the being destroyed. They argue that the Japanese formerly controlled walled cities untenable. have come and destroyed everything so why not join with the forces opposing the Japanese? That Groups undertake the job of disrupting the rail- is what they are doing in an atmosphere of pov- erty, humility, meekness and intense patriotism.
way.'They go out and draw out the spikes so that Communism which was evident in 1935 is dif- the rails fall apart. After the Japanese found out ferent from the brand which we have in China at this trick, they made wooden spike tops which the moment. There is no more compUlsion about looked so much like tM real thing that the Jap- it than there is in a church school. Thousands anese did not suspect their trick, the result being are entering their University, either as organ- wrecked trains. These were looted by the guer- izers, or mass education leaders, or cooperative rillas, and their supplies carried off into the vil- leaders, and a few as soldiers in the Eighth Route lages to be used against the enemy. Army, which is playing havoc with the Japanese Another group will go out and take off a rail forces. They have a school of art, another for and bury it a mile or two from the railway. Of the educating of municipal leaders, another for course the Japanese replace the rail, but in the cooperatives, and many others in addition to the course of a year one can imagine what it costs actual fighting force, which have engaged the Japan to be constantly replacing rails. Another Japanese in battle. While they have won it has group will cut down telephone poles and carry off been at terrific expense in man power. As Mad- ame Chiang Kai-shek says, "The Japanese are 19;9~~e United en/wren Record ana Missionary Review (February. winning battles, but China will win the war."
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for Christianity in Europe-I
The End and the Rebirth of Churches in Central and Eastern Europe By PROF. D. ADOLF KELLER, D.D., Geneva, Switzerland THE idea of the end has never been alien to the person of Christ, and as a result there is a the Christian Church. The first Christians general abandoning of the Churches and a de- looked for the end of the present order and crease of interest in their activity. for the coming of the Lord's Kingdom. This is what is meant by the word "eschatological." It In such countries we can indeed speak of the was a tremendous tonic for the faith of the first approaching end of those branches of the Chriscentury; and again today, in such an apocalyptic tian Church. In Russia, for instance, there may mood, we say that not only thrones" political in- still be hundreds of Orthodox Russian churches stitutions, economic systems, human empires, but open and crowded. But let us not be deceived: if even Christian Churches, will come to an end. the present policy continues, especially if the pol- icy of anti-Christian education is successful, the It will not be the first time in Christian history. end of an old Christian Church of Russia will be Where is today the Church of St. Augustine, the near. That Church has lost its leader and his inforerunner of Luther in North Africa? It is gone! fluence. It has lost a large part of its episcopacy Where are those seven churches in Asia Minor and priesthood. Thousands of priests and bishops today, to whom the writer of the Apocalypse wrote have been killed or are imprisoned, or have been his seven letters? They have been swept away sent to concentration camps in Siberia. The when Islam, the great killer of Christian Church has lost hundreds of its fine cathedrals and churches, conquered Anatolia and when the last other church buildings, partly by arbitrary de- Christian Archbishop was dragged by his hair struction, partly by transforming Christian through the streets of Smyrna and put to death. churches into museums, cinemas and variety Where is the large Christian Nestorian Church in theatres. The Church has lost its theological Central China? It has died, except for a little academy; no priest can receive a theological eduremnant represented by the Nestorian Assyrians cation in Russia at present. The only theological in Iraq and along the Kabur in Syria. academy is that of Father Bulgakoff in Paris. The It is paradoxical to the Christian faith that any Church in Russia has finally lost its educational part of the Church of the living Christ should influence. It is not allowed to give a religious come to an end. But have we not to face this fact education to the younger generation before they when we see that churches come to an end in our reach their eighteenth year. The Church, being large world cities, or at least in certain strata of considered as the last asylum for obscurantism, the population, for instance among the cultured has lost its influence on public life. According to classes or among labor. Modern indifference, the desire of the present Soviet rulers she should scepticism, secularism, threatens whole Churches become a Christian ghetto in the midst of the Ruswith the end which, like the Church of France, sian people.
have been called the oldest daughters of the The Evangelical Church in Russia has been Church. France counts forty-one millions of in- practically wiped out. Out of 200 Lutheran pashabitants. The Roman Catholic Church does not tors not one is still at work. .' AU were compelled claim more than ten or eleven millions. There to leave the country or enter secular professions; are not over one million of French Protestants. or they were killed or banished and their fam- Where are the other twenty-nine or thirty mil- Hies are suffering hunger and privations. Evanlions of the French people? They are the dying gelical churches have been closed or are used for Church of France. I worldly purposes. The Lutheran Academy under Wherever modern secular ideologies, like the Bishop Malmgren had to be closed.
gospel of Marx or the gospel of Lenin or of Can One still speak of the Church of the Refor- Nietsche, are infecting the mind of the modern mation in Germany? Is not the end near? What world, such Churches feel a resistance ,against the is left of the formerly proud and active Church of preaching of the Gospel of Christ, or even against Martin Luther? There is a foreign office with [173 ]
Bis·chof Heckel; a finance department whose ad- fish on the sand to make himself known to other ministrative measures are sometimes a deadly unknown Christians. Wherever these two or three weapon when they are used against recalcitrant meet in the name of Christ, the new Church is pastors; a minister of state for the Church who born. It grows, we do not know how, in Russian is restricting the Christian Church and muzzling villages, in the woods, on the railway. The new its outspoken ministers. Theological faculties, spiritual Church of Christ will take its form, its which were once the pride of German Protestant- organization, will develop its leadership, its the- ism, today have to fight to maintain their influence ology, when such is God's will.
and to build up confidence, at least in the Confes- Simple Christian folks are perpetuating the sional Church. All over Germany there are thou- Christian Church. Russian mothers, for instance, sands of open churches where the Gospel can be seeing that their children are in danger of grow- preached but little is left today of the former en- ing up like heathen,are taking things in hand and terprising missionary spirit. The old Church of are teaching their children to believe in God, per- the Reformation, as a State Church and as a lead- haps in a very elementary way but with a sincere ing Church, is nearing its end. faith. They will save the Christian feeling in the In many other countries the Church of Christ heart of the people from oblivion and destruction.
faces such deadly enemies as individualism, mod- A new Church is being born also out of the ern secularism and indifferentism which are Church struggle in Germany. The intrepid Pas- transforming the old solid structure of the Evan- tor Niem6ller isa Church builder although he sits gelical Church into a vague religious sentimental- ina concentration camp and is closely watched.
ism and aestheticism. He cannot speak to his fellow prisoners, he can- What then is coming to an end? First of all not even see his family regularly, he cannot write there is to be an end to the unnatural relationship or publish, and yet his influence is spreading as of the Church of Christ with the modern State. an atmospheric power. He is kindling a new fire In many Churches the historic State was consid- of faith in the hearts of many people and encour- ered as the fatherly protector of the Church to ages them to resist a State which does not allow take care of the theological faculties, the religious the Church to be the Chu:r:ch. Hundreds of Ger- education in schools, build manses and pay sal- man ministers are punished for having disobeyed aries to the pastors, and therefore claiming the this autocratic State and they are preaching the right to supervise and influence Church life. But Gospel of Christ without fear. The church janitor this influence has become so strong today, and is who will not take the key of the Church out of his leading the Evangelical Church away from its pocket to open its door for an un-Evangelical original aim, that millions feel that such a com- preacher who has come to replace a believing pas- radeship is against the true nature of a Christian tor is another new church builder; so is the or- Church. An easy compromise between State and ganist who refuses to play the organ to accom- Church is therefore coming to an end. panya service which is not inspired with the spirit Second, a Church of wealth and earthly power of Christ.
is coming to an end; the Church knows today Where two or three have such peculiar courage that, in her need and poverty, she resembles much and faith, where they meet in the name of Christ more that Man who had not where to lay His in private houses, in restaurants, in the market head than she did when she was rich and powerful. place, on the railway, they build up a new Church Third, a Church which thinks she knows better of Christ.
than Christ himself is coming to an end today- It may not yet be recognized a Church as we that Church which is like the grand inquisitor, in understand it, as a great national or denomina- Dostojewski's novel, who sent Jesus Christ away tional organization; may be only a small congre- when He came back because the Church to which gation; but such cells are the living stones with He had left His task knew better than He how to which a Church is built.
handle the world. And this Church is being built even against the Instead of such Churches, which are more and will of its oppressors. It reminds us of that pic- more dying out, a new Church is born. It is yet ture painted by the German painter, Moritz von an invisible Church, with no clearly defined mem- Schwind. He shows a saint building a chapel in bership, with no structure or organization. Two the midst of the wood, continuing his work al- or three members may meet somewhere in Russia, though the devil tries to disturb him; finally the two wanderers in the streets, two farmers in the saint's faith is so strong that he compels even the market, two boatmen on the Volga, not knowing devil against his will, to carry the stones that the each other but suddenly recognizing the brother saint uses for building the chapel.
in Christ by a word, a glance in his eye, a symbolic Therefore, even poverty, isolation, pers.ecution action. This was the case in the first centuries must help to build up a new Church of Christ for when a Christian may have drawn the sign of the which we hope and pray and labor..
and the Lost Feast
-·..e{11 By V. LANE-FRIMPOLE IIi- I N ONE room of a small, two-roomed mud and Musing on his new green sateen shirt with its rubble cottage in northern Syria, lived an Arab five buttons, each of a different color, and yearn- boy named Murad. Here he lived, ate and ing to bite into a Ramazan cake, Murad had almost slept with his parents, his little brothers and his fallen asleep when he heard the sound of visitors, granny. The other room was occupied by his fa- coming in to spend the evening. Everyone seemed ther's brother, with his wife and children. happy. His own grown people had been dread- One night, near the end of the month-long fast fully cross in the late afternoon, Murad thought. of Ramadan, Murad lay on the floor in a corner, But after the sunset cannon had been fired and tucked up in his grandmother's bed, under her they had broken their day-long fast, things were wool-waded quilt. The light of the wood-fire on all right again. Now these visitors, too, seemed the hearth flickered among the shadows of the in happy mood. otherwise dark room. Murad liked to watch the Ah! they were asking Granny to chant them a firelight and to hear the sound of the rain and Mevlud-one of the long Turkish poems about the Prophet Mohammed. All the village thought wind outside. The boy's mind wandered to the approaching granny a notable woman. She could make out any feast which would follow the sacred fast days chapter of the Koran without too much halting to and his imagination played pleasantly with the spell the words, and she had memorized many thought of the cakes and other good things to eat. chapters. But she did not know Arabic and so As a little boy he did keep. the fast and did not understood nothing of the meaning. LaHnized need this abstinance in order to get hungry. He Turkish, inaugurated by the late Kemal Ataturk, thought, too, of the new clothes that his clever she could not read at all, but she could spell aunt, who sewed on the machine, had made for out Turkish words in the Arabic characters, him. In the mind of a child, whose people go by enough to read her M evlud. These Turcomans the sun year, other things would have been asso- living in the mountains of northern Syria were ciated with a holiday for under such a calendar not yet sure of the orthodoxy of the Western alevery feast falls at the same season of the year. phabet for to them the Arabic letters, in which the In America, for example, Decoration Day comes Koran came down from heaven, were the only with the grass and spring flowers; the Fourth of ones that seemed right. July is marked by hot sunshine and trees in full Murad loved to hear his granny chant the Koran leaf; Thanksgiving Day is observed in the midst because of the beautiful roll of it and the awe in of November frosts; Christmas is enlivened with her voice. But he liked far better to hear the Me1)lud because it was in his own language, and snow and ice. For Murad and for all Moslem people this is not much of it he could understand. Happily he the case. The moon year of the Moslem world watched granny go to the high shelf that ran retrogrades at the rate of about ten days every around the room and take down a manuscript sun year. In the year of which we write Ramadan written by a learned Mullah's own hand years ago. came in the middle of December, something that His mother thrust a splinter of pitch-pine into the had not occurred for some thirty-six years. Little fire and lighted the little oil lamp. Then Murad Murad, the Turcoman, had been born of Moslem watched the old lady squat down with the precious parents in a Moslem community, consequently he book on her knee and turn over the leaves with found himself in a completely nonsequential uni- moistened forefinger and thumb. She found the verse, where no effect is traced to any cause; page and in a sweet, thin voice began to chant. where each separate act and event of the day is Oh! it was the bit that Murad liked best, the lullooked upon as caused by a special, arbitrary act laby sung to the Prophet by his nurse Haleema: of the "Will of Allah." It is thought impious to It is Mohammed: let mountains and stones seek to try to understand God's will which is im- Rejoice-wild beasts, too, and birds. possible of comprehension. This concept of an Lady Ameena is his mother, arbitrary will, governing the universe, is rein- She is the fine flower of mothers, forced by the changes of the moon year. Her head is of pearls. Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby.
[175 ]
In the mountain of Mecca was his birthplace wind was blowing as hard as ever. Perhaps it At the Kaaba, at the Black Stone, in the presence of was the gusts of wind that shook the stars and made them twinkle so through the frosty dark. Gabriel, Snug under his quilt, Murad watched the two That Gabriel might praise the Beloved of God, (even women move drowsily about preparing the three Mohammed). o'clock breakfas.t–the iftar. He was not quite Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. awake, not quite asleep. The stir and rustle that The houris, the Paradise maidens, came; the women made seemed to go on for ever. Then They bound white incense in his swaddling bands, his grandmother's voice calling his father broke They praised the Beloved of God. the spell. Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. "Get up, my son! Get up and eat; dawn will Abd el Mutaleb was his grandfather, break before you know it and then it will l;le un- Abdullah was his father, lawful for you to eat until sunset. How will you The Lady Haleema was his nurse. be able to fast all day on an empty stomach?" Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. The Feast Before the Fast May Satan's hands be tied, May the hearts of thy friends be fat, Murad's father rose, stretching his great arms and legs. Villagers sleep in their clothes, so there o son of Lady Ameena. was no delay for dressing. He stepped out of bed, crossed over to the hearth and sat down on the Lullaby, my Mohammed; lullaby, my beautiful Ahmad, floor. No one called Murad for he was too young lullaby. to fast. But the smell of the hot food called him; so crawling from under the quilt, he went and sat Lying there in his nest, Murad listened en- down by his father and snuggled up to him. His tranced. He was six years old and so far as he mother unfolded the woolen bread-cloth, took up knew he had always slept in his granny's bed. He some paper-thin loaves as l10und and big as two supposed that he always would. He could not re- dinner plates. She sprinkled them with water and member the time when he had to give up his cradle folded them in four;, then she flung down one at to the next baby. Granny had always been there each person's place and piled the rest in the middle and always would be, like the sun and wind and of the big tray. Granny put down a copper bowl, rain. He loved her voice as she sang about the full of steaming food, and a pan of curdled milk. baby Mohammed's birth; about the Angel Gabriel Everything was, ready. and those beautiful houris swaddling him as his mother had swaddled their own baby. As the "In the name of God," said Murad's father; quavering, sweet voice went on and on, the faces then scooping up a big mouthful of the hot food of his family and the visitors, visible or invisible with a flap of bread, he ate it. "In the name of as the flames in the fireplace rose and fell, seemed God," echoed, Murad, and did the same. The to float in the warm air. Murad felt himself float- women sat down and they used the same prayer ing. A wind was blowing him down a high, high before they began to eat. mountain-away from two goats that he was herding-blowing him like thistledown. Now the wind "I certainly thought," said Murad's father bewas singing. What was it singing? "Lullaby, tween mouthfuls, "that today was to be the first Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. N en-ni day of the Ramadan Byram. I was sure the feast -Nen-ni-i-i." began today and I was surprised when no an- nouncement was made in the mosque last night. Murad did not wake up when his granny came Surely it will not be later than tomorrow. We to bed; not even when she took him in her loving must get ready today; it would be dreadful if we old arms as she had taken his daddy when he was delayed and so lost one of our four great days. a little boy. A little herdboy who has been out on My brother and I will butcher the goat, and you the mountain all day in wind and rain, sleeps women must be about your cooking." Good Mossoundly. The fire died down and the room grew lem as he was, he could not help looking forward dark and cold, but he did not know it. to the end of the month-long fast, with its food- less, waterless, tobaccoless days at the plough, and He seemed scarcely to have dropped to sleep its ni,ghts of broken sleep. when he heard his mother saying to his father,: "Get up! Get up! I have our breakfast ready." "All things happen as God wills," said granny. "If he wills that the feast begin tomorrow, it will "It's not time yet," mumbled Daddy, rolling begin tomorrow." over and yawning. By this time Murad was back under the quilt "Vakit oldu. It is time, and the food is ready." again, and soon his granny and all the others also "How do you know it's time? Did you hear the went back to bed and slept until broad daylight. signal gun in Passtown?" "NO', but one seldO'm hears it these windy nights." Grandmother was up now, and had opened the door wide. The rain had stopped but the east
MURAD AND THE LOST FEAST DAY
When the December sun had warmed the air a may bake our cakes in his new bake-house. Tell little, Murad took the goats out on the mountain. him: your father will do the baking if he will show He wore untanned leather boots with toes turned him how." up, just like the toes of the Hittite boots that one sees pictured on monuments. His mother had tied "Oh! and may I go with father and help bake around his head a piece of Turkish toweling for the cakes?" warmth. In the flat gingham bag slung under his arm was his lunch – red peppers, some goat's "Yes, if you are a good boy and run to Armen's cheese, wrapped up in leathery folds of bread, like a bird and bring back word what he says. Ask and some dried figs. His people were well-to-do politely. Run, let me see. Bakalum!" and could afford to give him this variety. Murad came flying back with the permission. For the older people another hungry day had Then he helped his father load some wood on the begun, but everyone was busy preparing for the donkey for firing, and went with him to the oven four-day feast. Murad's father and uncle slaugh- to light it. Afterwards when the oven was hot tered and flayed the fattened goat and, hanging and the cakes were ready, with the spice kneaded the carcass on a tree, began to cut it up. Neigh- in and sesame seed sprinkled thick on top, Murad bors would buy whatever part they themselves did helped carry to the oven the big copper trays covnot want. The women were as busy; brazen ered with cakes to be baked. All eyes, he watched pestles clanged on brazen mortars as they pounded his father put a batch of cakes on the flat wooden spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, all-spice and shovel, and then" slide them off on the oven floor. mastic gum. The younger women did the pound- Lovely! But lovelier still when father took up the ing, while granny spread the thick woolen bread- browned cakes on the shovel and slid them back cloth on the floor and began to knead a stiff mass on the trays near Murad to cool. Ah! the deliof flour, butter, sugar and leaven for the festal cious, delicious smell! And how good the bits cakes. The hours flew. It was noon. tasted that he broke off and popped into his mouth when no one was looking! If he lives another A Mistake and the Explanation fifty years, Murad will still remember that smell and taste. "Boom! Boom! Boom!"-the dull roar of the Passtown cannon rolled through the mountain. The rej oicing was general, yet every now and People looked at each other in consternation. then someone would say grievingly, "Look how we have been cheated out of the first day of our "Toap atuldu! The cannon is being fired; feast!" It was as if a cloud passed over the sun then the teast began last night! We have missed each time someone said this. The village Khoja a whole day!" The words flew from mouth to (Moslem teacher and preacher) was as vexed as mouth, "We have lost a day from our feast! We any of them. He too was baking cakes at the oven. have lost a day from our feast!" "But how did it come that you made a mistake Such a thing had never been known in the vil- about the day?" asked Armen, the Armenian. lage. To add another day of feasting never occurred to them; if an impious stranger had sug- "The big mountain to the southwest shuts out gested such an idea, they would have rejected it the view, and no one saw the new moon." as impossible. No, the lost day was irrevocably lost. Grown men and women as they were, they "Surely a man like you, who can read and felt it keenly, helplessly, hopelessly as children write, must know when the new moon will first feel a loss. But they went on with their prep- appear," objected Armen. "There are calendars. arations that should have been made the day Everyone knows that the new moon is sure to apbefore. pear on a certain day."
Murad heard the cannon and came racing home Murad's father listened contemptuously to the to ask what had happened. To him and the other Armenian's ignorant talk. Thank God the Khoja children it seemed interesting and exciting. Here, was present and would defend the faith. He did there, everywhere he skipped among his busy not like to have Murad hear such impious talk. elders. That was the worst of these Christian neighbors, Well, as the child had heard it, let him now hear "I take refuge in God," said his mother, pestered the Khoja's refutation. past endurance with his mischief as he teased his little brothers, "Go back to the mountain and look "God forbid," the Khoja was saying. "Nothing after your goats, filthy devil, or I'll murder you." is sure to be. Each event happens as the most high Truth wills it. If he wills a new moon on a "I left them with one of the Armenian boys. certain day, there will be one; if not, there will They're all right," he answered. not. Who can say beforehand-I ask pardon of God-what God's will is going to be? We did not "My nestling," said grandmother intervening, see the moon ourselves, we had no authenticated "run quickly to Armen's house and ask him if we news that it had been seen by responsible persons
elsewhere, therefore we did not know that there Murad crawled into bed and left them still eatwas a new moon." ing. He was so full that he went to sleep quickly, but in the night he awoke, crying with a stomach- "If that is ,the way of it, why did not one of you ache. go to town two days ago and stay to bring the news as soon as the moon was seen in town?" "I take refuge in God from Satan, the stoned," persisted the Armenian. said granny. "What can ail the child ?" She tried to soothe him by rubbing, but that was of no use, "Perhaps, after he had taken all that bother and so she got up and made him some mint tea with headache, there might have been no moon; then plenty of sugar in it. Then she said a charm for his labor would have gone for nothing," answered colic. The pain eased, but he was wide awake and the Khoja. could not go to sleep again at once.
"The cause of each event, no matter how small, "Grandmother," he said, "what happened to the is the will of God. I once heard a sheikh of pro- lost feast day? How does a day get lost, granny? found learning say this: 'It is an error to say that Did it wander off in the mountains like our nanny fire always burns. Fire burns or not just as God goat that the wolf ate? Or did it fall down a deep wills in each case. And the proof is that when the crack between rocks like my piastre piece that I idolaters tried to destroy Abraham by fire, far cried so hard about? How does a day get lost, from burning him the fire caused a thicket of rose- grandmother ?" bushes in bloom to grow up around him, full of singing nightingales. Likewise it is an error to "God predestined that we should lose that day. say that knives cut. A knife cuts if God wills it The Most High Truth wrote that fate on our to cut; if not, no. And the proof is that when foreheads." Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Ishmael, the knife refused to cut. There is no God but "But why?" God; without his will naught comes to pass.' " "I ask pardon of God. Listen to the child! God knows his own work. No good comes from think- Murad, listening with all his ears, thought that ing and asking questions. Please God, it be not what the Khoja said was wonderful, and looked a portent of some evil about to befall us for our triumphantly at the ignorant Armenian. "Annen wickedness! Truly, in these days godlessness has is nice, but he is a giaour (infidel) just the same," so increased that if the Supreme Truth rained he thought. He wished that he had seen Abra- fire on us it would be no more than we deserve. ham's roses and nightingales. That conversation For look how children–even small children-" by the oven laid one more great stone solidly in Murad was always bored when granny began the foundation of the Moslem faith upon which to moralize. "Granny, I kiss your eye, ehant the Murad's life was to be built. M evlud," he coaxed. "Chant the same bit that you did the other night," and he began the nen-ni, Murt-koy is only a mountain village. Murad nen-ni of the Infant Prophet's nurse. His grandhad never seen the rude Ferris wheels-outdating mother took it up and went on verse after verse: Ferris by centuries-that are set up for the children at this feast in Moslem cities, from Con- Mohammed is my heart's core, my theme: stantinople to Calcutta. No strolling gypsies If he weeps, my eye weeps blood. came, as they do to the big towns, with fife and Let me rub my face on his threshold. drum. But even in Murt-koyeverybody had new Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. clothes, and the groups of women and children looked like living gardens. Even the tiny babies His teeth are whiter than white pearls, had new caps of every bright color; amulets were snipped off the old caps and sewed tightly on the The Paradise maidens, the Houris, are his companions; new. Families exchanged cakes; and who so proud as Murad to go from door to door offering He is the Sun of the two worlds. ' a cake with his family's greetings. He was shy and his lashes swept his cheeks; his voice could Lullaby, my Mohammed; lullaby, my beautiful Ahmad, hardly be heard, but his smile was sweet. lullaby; nen-ni, nen-ni-i-i-i-i. And what a feast they had when he returned home! He ate and ate until he was tight as a Her voice quavered like that of a nurse croondrum. He liked that feeling and would have eaten ing to a fretful child. Then she fell silent and more but his father said that he had had enough. listened to her grandson's breathing for a few All through that meal, though, with its fun and seconds. She had almost forgotten him and had laughing, someone of the grown people would sigh felt herself to be Lady Haleema-God's approval and shake the head every now and then and say, be upon her-singing a cradle song to the little "Yazuk! What a pity that we have lost a day!" Mohammed. Then her thoughts homed back to Murad. "He is asleep," she said, fondly kissing his forehead. "Sleep my lamb. Sleep in the pro- tection of God. What do I know? May this lost feast day portend no evil to us. I take refuge in God. Amahn! Amahn! Alas for the lost feast day!"
and Open Doors in Missions*
By REV. C. DARBY FULTON, D.D., Nashville, Tennessee Executive Secretary of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S.
THE Chinese word for "crisis" is written with been employed. Many, unable to endure these suf- two characters; one means "danger," and ferings, have yielded to practices they do not ap- the other "opportunity." Paul suggested the prove. Others, standing grimly amid great same thought when he wrote to the Corinthians, distress, are bearing a shining Christian testi- "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, mony. Never have we faced so ominous an out- and there are many adversaries." look as is before us in Korea. We cannot foretell Of the "adversaries" by which missionaries are what the end will be. The hour is here for prayer, compassed today, we who live in the tranquil at- earnest and unrelenting. There is no way through mosphere of this land of peace and liberty have this crisis in Korea e~cept as God moves to help not the slightest conception. Writes a missionary us.
in China : "We are in the midst of wickedness and But the greatest "adversary" to missions, the inhuman atrocities on such a colossal scale that the only one we really need fear, is the hindrance we mind is too benumbed to take it all in." Even the ourselves can be through thoughtlessness, and neg- physical survival of our missionaries amid the con- lect. Opposition from without, our missionaries vulsions of war is a daily miracle. All around expect; indifference within the Church all but them is ruin, whole cities in desolation, panic- breaks their hearts. The test of carrying on with stricken multitudes fleeing in bewildered confu- inadequate support, unable to touch the needs sion, the maimed and wounded crying for help, around them, and wondering whether the Church the whole lurid scene a part of the tragedy that has forgotten, brings them their sorest trial. They stalks in the wake of banditry, looting, murder, return on furlough and find us living in elegant rape and arson. Hospitals, schools, and chapels homes. They see our streets choked with shining have been shattered, groups of believers scattered cars. They watch the throngs that jam our to the winds, missionary homes battle-scarred, athletic fields" and reflect that the price of one and the missionaries themselves have sat in the football ticket would pay the salary of a native ruins wondering that they have outlived the de- evangelist in Africa for two months. They read struction around them. that a thrill-crazed crowd has paid in one night Unbelievable as it may seem, the Christian to see a prizefight more than our whole Church churches of Japan and Korea, except for the physi- ever gave in a year to foreign missions, and they cal hardships, are enduring an even harder lot. wonder why they are asked to operate hospitals No group of men and women ever sought to ad- on $380.51 a year and schools on $31.12 a year! vance the interests of the Kingdom under greater They are not complaining; puzzled, that is all. difficulties. The systematic efforts to stifle and They wonder if Christ has lost first place in the suppress everything that is contrary to the pro- hearts of American Christians.
gram of aggressive militarism is bringing the The Great Open Doors whole Christian movement under great spiritual persecution. Cresar is exalted above God, reli- But it is not the "adversaries" that 100m largest gious liberty is denied, conscience is no longer in the missionary's view of the present situation. free. Anyone who sets himself against the policies I have just read twenty-eight letters from China. of the government and the idolatrous exaltation of "Opportunity" is the dominant word. One group the emperor exposes himself to reprisals of the wrote: "We are not unmindful of the dangers, most drastic -character. Untold sufferings have but we are thrilled at the thought of the opporbeen endured by Christians, especially in Korea tunities before us." These they describe as "unwhere the pressure of police power has been ap- limited," "without precedent," "beyond anything plied with increasing severity. Threats, imprison- we have known." They are joining with Paul in ment, torture and other extreme measures have saying, "The things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gos- • Condensed fram the OMistian Ob$erver. pel." Like him they refer to adversaries with [ 179]
"and," not with "but," as something not to dis- of spiritual experience and a closer fellowship with Him. We are confronted by four vital and courage but to challenge more determined efforts. immediate needs.
It is no exaggeration to say that we are confront- I. A Radical Strengthening of the Missionary Force. The really critical condition with respect ing a day of unparalleled need and opportunity in to our missionary personnel is reflected in the de- creasing number of missionaries comprising our our work around the world. Here are some of the force each year.
elements of great encouragement: The seriousness of this situation is further em- phasized by the fact that our missionaries are The high spiritual purpose and morale of our rapidly becoming a middle-aged and old-aged group. We must look forward definitely to the missionaries. loss of more missionaries through old age and retirement. Add to these the normal toll through The courage and steadfastness of the Chinese sickness and death, and the urgency of a prompt reenforcement of our missionary personnel be- Christian Church. comes clear.
The scattering of many believers to the prov- A heavy strain is thrown on our missionaries as a result of this shrinkage in personnel. One inces of West China where they have carried the missionary carries the burden of two or three. An evangelist in Korea, charged with the overcontagion of their faith unto areas heretofore un- sight of forty churches, is required to take on re- sponsibility for thirty-five more as a field formerly reached by the Gospel. worked by four men must now be carried by two. Missionaries are remaining on the field without The new friendship of the Chinese people for furlough because there is no one in whose hands the task can be left. Doctors are trying to run the missionary, growing out of the helpfulness two hospitals sometimes separated by distances of sixty or seventy miles. The need for reenand service he has, shown in this emergency. forcement is urgent and immediate.
The enormously enhanced prestige of Christian- We need an immediate and vital reenforcement of personnel on all our mission fields. Nothing ity because such great national leaders as General- would so strengthen the morale of our mission- aries or prove so conclusively to the whole world issimo Chiang Kai-shek, Madame Chiang, and our unshakable faith in the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of Christ. others who are guiding the nation in the present II. A More Adequate Support for Missionaries crisis, are themselves Christians. in Their Work. The critical financial basis on which foreign mission work has, been operating The unprecedented open-heartedness of the peo- for the past several years can be seen from the fact that receipts for the last fifteen years have ple toward the Gospel, with their new longings for fallen off forty per cent.
the assurances of faith in the midst of the uncer- Foreign mission receipts have suffered a reduc- tion so radical that the very survival of the work tainties of the present conflict. has become a matter of wonder. Only by an abso- lutely merciless slashing of appropriations, and The return of missionaries to China and the heroic measures on the part of our missionaries who took one reduction after another in their supreoccupation of all our stations. port, were we able to weather these difficult years.
The large crowds attending evangelistic serv- With this greatly shrunken support we have had to maintain and conserve a work formerly estahices throughout the country, with many conver- lished and maintained on an annual income almost twice as large. sions and other evidences of spiritual awakening. III. The Replacing of Personal Losses of Mis- The deep undercurrent of heart-hunger among sionaries and Property Losses in China. No ac- curate estimate of property damage sustained in the people of Japan. . China can yet be made. However, a letter from Rev. C. W. Worth will indicate something of what The open doors in Africa and Brazil. we must expect. He is describing what he found Thousands of Korean Christians standing fast under severe persecution.
Should it be necess,ary at a time like this to sound a call to prayer and self-denial? Surely in such a day the attitude of prayer ought to be the habitual mood of every Christian. These are great moments in the history of the Christian Church.
They call for maximum Christian living. This is a time for unshakable conviction, because the foun- dations of our faith are being challenged; for great courage, because it is becoming increasingly dangerous to be a Christian; for strong faith, because the signs of the Kingdom's growth are not always easily seen; for confident Christian opti- mism, because God is the master of crises; for confession and prayer, because God will not refuse the cry of His people; for supreme self-denial, because the greatest issues of life are at stake.
The Present Crisis Missions is in crisis; both danger and opportunity are here; danger lest we fail in this time of need and allow the day of visitation to pass; opportunity to present Christ to a heart-hungry world, and to lift our whole Church to new levels
"BUT FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO"
at Kiangyin station which probably suffered more cases, especially where fire has swept the builddamage than any other center of work we have in ings, the loss is total. Probably all of our mis- China! "Of twenty Western style buildings., sev- sionaries have lost something, and many have lost enteen have been completely destroyed by fire. all. Some of the walls are still standing but even with my inexperienced eye I could see that most of these These, then, are definite objectives that should are unfit for use and will have to be razed. About be before us. This year should definitely mark the three hundred feet of compound walls were down end of foreign mission retreat and the beginning due to bombing and shell fire, and only two wooden of an aggressive forward movement in missions. gates were intact in the whole place. We figure We must add strength and reserves to the fastthat the Kiangyin losses are $100,000, and there thinning ranks of our missionaries; we must prohave been losses in other stations which put vide more adequately for their far-flung work together will make another $100,000." Heavy around the world; we must replace, where necesdamage is also reported from Kashing, Soochow, sary, the tools of our work that have been de- Hwaianfu, Sutsien, Yencheng and Haichow. stroyed, and as far as possible the individual losses of our missionaries. Missionaries have likewise suffered the loss of personal belongings. Even where buildings and With the doors of opportunity standing wide, residences have not been destroyed, systematic with God's clear call ringing in our ears, with looting has taken place. Homes have been com- the resources at our dis.posal for a definite adpletely stripped of every valuable thing. In some vance in our missionary task, God forbid that we should fail!
"But From the Beginning it Was Not So"
Notes by the Late ARTHUR T. PIERSON A S IN the case of human marriage, so in other of which otherwise we would be scarcely con- scious. This is seen in the tendency to lower ri.. respects, mankind often comes· to accept standards in literature, in the drama, in marriage totally different customs and even ideals and even religious ceremonials. We need to go from those which God intended and that were at back to "the beginning" as ordered by God in his first held sacred. In the course of history, by wisdom, and to look at the standards which pregradual and sometimes rapid changes, corruptions vailed in ,the apostolic church before corruptions creep in, so that God's original order becomes ob- crept in. The following features in early church scured and perverted. life seem to have been conspicuous: Professor Bernard illustrated our unconscious 1. The recognition of the Holy Spirit as the wisdom and accommodation to a vicious atmosphere by plac- power of God. ing a sparrow under a bell glass. which contained air enough to keep the sparrow alive for tbree 2. The readiness to yield immedi,ate obedience to the call hours. At the end of two hours he put a second of the Holy Spirit. sparrow under the bell; at once it fell over dead, while the former bird was able to breath for the 3. The personal, spiritual presence 'and leadership of fun three hours. In the spiritual realm, we almost Christ in the Church. unconsciously accommodate ourselves to evils which would shock and overwhelm us if we were 4. The Universal obligation of all Christians to bear witsuddenly confronted with them. If a man, like ness to the world and the ceaseless activity in Stephen, had been in a moment transported from preaching the Gospel at home and abroad. the apostolic church into the corrupted atmosphere of some present-day ohurch life, he would have 5. The courageous and unflinching witness to Christ in been stifled. face of persecution and the prevalence of the spirit of martyrdom in the early church. To save ourselves from this unconscious accommodation to a low standard of living and thinking, 6. Constant blessing attending the faithful preaching of we must get back to first principles and practices the Word. as revealed by God. We should candidly compare what is today with what was in God's plan. Liv- 7. The appeal to the testimOony of fulfilled prophecy as ing much with God, through private prayer and an evidence of the truth of God's Word. Bible study, we will breathe such a pure atmosphere that we will at once recognize the pollution 8. The prevailing power of definite and united prayer. 9. The separation Oof the Church frOom the wOorld. 10. The undisputed imminence of the Second Coming Oof Christ. 11. The equality of all Believers in rights and privileges in the Church. 12. The recognition by early Christians of their steward- ship in property and talents.
The proofs of these positions pervade ~he whole New Testament. There is no need for proof texts.
New Testament Idea of the Church*
By the REV. DR. ABDEL ROSS WENTZ, Gettysburg, Pa.
Professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary I. According to the New Tes.tament the the way in our day for the New Testament idea Church is centered in Christ. Using the figure of the Church. Because the Church was centered of a body, the Head of the Church is Christ. If in the living presence of Christ it was not static we use the figure of a building, the Cornerstone but dynamic. It was governed entirely by the of the Church is Christ. If we use the figure of Holy Spirit of Christ. It had no fixed outlook.
a bride, the Bridegroom of the Church is Christ. Much of its power was due to its. ability to change In the apostolic ideal Christ is the bond that from time to time in order to meet changing con- binds Christians together in a fellowship with ditions. He who was the beating heart of the Christ, the Leader. There is a communion of New Testament is the pulsating center of the dis'Ciples with their Saviour. Church in our day. He is not weighted down with Recent research has taught us to guard against utilitarian programs. He is not one who binds reading too much system and uniformity into the yokes upon men. He is one who has loved and Church of the New Testament. What produced suffered and who still loves and suffers and yearns the Christian community in the first place was and woos-the great Leader of infinite power who not a constitution and by-laws, not even a set of could transform the world, not by force but by principles; it was the faith that pulsated in the fellowship, not by formulas but by faith, not by hearts of the disciples.. That faith was not at logic but by love, not by programs but by per- first drawn from a body of sacred writings nor sonalities.
set down in the form of a creed. It was a rugged This Christian Church, this Christ-centered fel- attachment, not reasoned out and not integrated lowship, we offer to the groping multitudes of the with other emotions. It was simple personal trust present world. It is plastic as the heart of youth.
in a Person, unquestioning devotion to a beloved It is the living Church of the living God. It has personality, who, they felt, had saved them from traditions· that are living and vitalizing. It is abysmal disaster and who, they believed, could kept eternally young by a living Presence. If lead them into abiding safety. This fact that the Christians would minister salvation to a dig,.
Church is Christ-centered is clear, not only from tracted world today the New Testament suggests a the Great Confession in Matthew 16, but also from Church pulsating with the heartbeats of the many passages in the writings of St. Paul and Saviour, a charmed circle that offers fellowship St. John. with the great central Friend of the universe.
But this idea of the Church as, a free pulsating The Church Is to Be Different fellowship centering in Christ has. often been ob- scured. Today the times are ripe for the recovery II. According to the New Testament the of that idea. For a long time men have lived on Church is sacred; it is holy, set apart. It is "called systems and the bracing effect of them. For sev- out," ecclesia. It is different. It is high and eral generations men have been enthralled by lifted up. The Church is holy in its calling. God ideas and the splendor of them. Today, instead called it into being and it belongs to God. It is of ideas and systems and defini.tions, instead of therefore holy, as God is holy.
programs and organizations, personalities are the The individuals who constitute the Church may centers of all great movements~leading person- show many differences among themselves, differalities. To stand outside of the charmed circle of ences of color and race and language, differences leaders today is to be homeless and unoriented. of faith and zeal and goodness. But at least one To stand within the magnetic influence of the thing they have in common, and that is the fact central personality gives the simplest laborer that their faces are turned towards, God. To be heart and motion; it lifts his life from drudgery in the Church is to belong to God. The thing that into thrilling devotion. brings Christians together into fellowship is the This change in the spiritual atmosphere opens fact that they have all experienced redemption • Aqijress ~Iven at the I. M. c;. meeting at Maqras, 1938. through God's grace. The Church is the fellow- [ 182] ship of the sanctified. All the members of the environment. The Head of the Church protested Church can exclaim with St. Paul: "It is God against the low ideals of his day. Because the who hath saved us and called us with a holy call- Church is holy, high and lifted up, it will always ing, not according to our works but according to feel a tension between things as they are and his own purpose and grace." The Church is a things as they ought to be. When the Church in divine institution, not a mere human society. our day identifies itself with some secular system The Church is holy also because the Holy Spirit of economics or social propaganda, it abandons its works in it. As Christ is the head of the body all New Testament character, because in the New the members of the body do his bidding and are Testament the Church represents the higher spir- filled with His spirit. When St. Paul speaks in itual order. The Church is holy.
the benediction of "the communion of the Holy A Missionary Church Spirit," he is thinking of the community of be- lievers where holiness prevails because the mem- III. According to the New Testament the bers harbor the Holy Spirit of their Head. Church is missionary. It is charged with a mis- Jesus made explicit mention of the Church only sion. To be a disciple, a learner confessing twice, according to our records. In both instances Christ, is to be an apostle, to stand under a special the Church is set in opposition to sin and evil. commission. And the mission of the disciples is "The Gates of hell shall not prevail." "If thy the mission of the Church, as the acts of the mem- brother sin … tell it to the Church." The clear bers are the acts of the body. The apostolic mis- implication is that the Church is holy. Christ sion of the Church is to carryon the work of required holiness of his followers.. For this reason Christ himself' on earth. "As the Father hath he entrusted his Church with the keys, the means sent me, even so send I you."
of grace. The Holy Church has the Holy Scrip- The Church, according to the New Testament, tures, the Holy Sacraments, holy laws, holy teach- is not only the product of God's grace through ings.. The single aim of its acts and its teachings Jesus Ghrist, but it is also an agency of God's is to promote holiness. grace, the keeper of the keys to the Kingdom of The New Testament, however, does not repre- Heaven on earth. As the collective body of be- sent the Church as complete or perfect. There is lievers the Church is the appointed agency for the the parable of the tares and the parable of the extension of the Kingdom of God and the salva- dragnet. St. Paul repeatedly addresses his hearers tion of men. The Church is taught to pray: "Thy as saints, and yet in the course of his letters ad- Kingdom come" and to use its life and resources monishes them about their shortcomings. and sins. ~or the conversion of the world.
According to the New Testament the holiness of According to the New Testament the Church the Church is real but not yet fully attained. The is equipped with the means of fulfilling its apos- Church is in actual process of being "cleansed tolic commission. The Church is furnished with from all sin." The Church looks forward in hope the Truth that it must teach the faith by which to the consummation when "Christ shall present the Church lives. The original Twelve were spe- it unto himself, a glorious Church, holy and with- cially trained by intimate association with Christ out blemish." to be his witnesses and they regarded this as their But the incomplete character of the Church's principal duty. They transmitted that duty to holiness does not make its holiness unreal. A their successors, and the Church throughout his- city may be a rich city while some of its citizens tory has accepted the teaching and witnessing con- are still poor. A school may be a learned school cerning Christ. In this. it has continued the while all of its students are still short of the ideal prophetical office of Christ himself.
in learning. The Church, as a society on earth, Another way in which the Church fulfils its will never be complete in its holiness. None of apostolic commission is by fostering associated its members are. Sanctification is a process.. That worship and transmitting the Sacraments. The is true of the collective body as it is true of the apostolic Church is a worshipping Church through individual member. Holiness is progressive. It all ages. It presents Christ as a mediator even shall be perfect hereafter. now. And all the Christian liturgies of the cen- In the course of Church history there have been turies are the continuance of the priestly office of many attempts to secure greater purity and holi- the great Head of the Church, an expression of ness in the Church. And more than once these the Church's apostolic character.
attempts have led to incisions in the body of Then, too, the New Testament indicates that Christ. However contrary to the New Testament, Christ committed to his immediate followers the these efforts testify to a deep underlying convic- exercise of discipline and the administration of tion that the Church must be holy. affairs in the community of believers. There are Because the Church is holy, there must always widely different views as to details but in general be a state of tension between the Church and its there is agreement that the Church must exercise
some powers of discipline and government. In Spirit, always active and energizing, and always this the Church continues the kingly office of progressively revealing himself. He reaches out Christ. in love towards every living soul. The Christian As to this aggressive propulsive quality of the idea of God carries ecumenical implications for Church, according to the New Testament it is of the Church. If God is a personal, living, ener- the essence of the Church and not merely of its gizing God, then his Church is not merely an well being. Any group of professing believers international society binding people together from that does not feel its apostolic commission to the four corners of the earth. It is more than propagate the Gospel and extend the Kingdom has that. It is an ecumenical community bearing in not inherited the Spirit of the Founder. its heart the propulsive power of a boundless love The new aggressiveness of the great non-Chris- that will not stop until it embraces the whole tian religions in our day calls for special emphasis world.
just now on the apostolic character of the New The Church of the New Testament is catholic Testament Church, its aggressive mission to its because its message is a message of divine revelanon-Christian environment. tion and transcends all forms of religion. Chris- A Universal Church tianity is not a religion. Religion is man's effort to adj ust himself to the ultimates. Christianity IV. According to the New Testament the is GoOd's answer to the quest of the human heart. Church is catholic, universal, all-embracing. It Jesus Christ is not the founder of a religion. The possesses inherent qualities that make it fit to be message of the New Testament Church is not the home of all classes of men in all parts of the simply one of several possibilities for man's pious world and in all ages of time. self-expression. It stands alone as God's message to man. It is not just a word from God or a word The Church is catholic because by its nature it about God; it is the Word of God whose content is not limited as to place or time. This idea of the is Jesus Christ. The Church does not come with Church as universal and timeless was not an after- a philosophy, nor a system of doctrine, nor an thought. It is not true that the Church was at ethic; it does not even come with a religion. It first only the group of Christians in a particular comes with a Person, a living God who speaks locality and then when this little obscure group through Jesus Christ. Our God is larger than the had expanded into a mighty enterprise the idea of founder of religion. Our Gospel transcends relia universal Church arose. From the beginning gion as well as time and place. Our Church, so the Church was understood to be the larger in- long as it is faithful to this witness, is the unicarnation of Christ, and the local congregation versal catholic Church. was simply a miniature of the whole. As a thousand different mirrors may at one and the same time reflect the whole orb of the shining sun, so A United Church the local congregations or churches are the re- V. According to the New Testament the flections of the great Church universal. Every Church is, one. This unity is a subject of enor- Church is a catholic Church unless it claims to be mous proportions, and a whole library has grown the only catholic Church. The body of Christ not up about it in recent years. only includes the believers and saints of all nations and places but it also extends, backward and The chief New Testament sources of informaforward in time and includes the saints of the tion about the unity of the Church are the high past as well as those of future ages,. priestly prayer of our Lord and St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians. From these we learn that the Again, the Church is catholic because it rises unity of the Church is a mystery. It is something above the limitations of culture and religion. It in which we believe. It transcends human underis the only community that can meet the needs of standing. all mankind. This is indicated not only by par- ticular words of Jesus and individual passages in As the Church itself is holy, not merely a volun- the New Testament, but also by the very nature tary association of men combining together to of the teaching set forth. Jesus claimed that his effect certain ends, so the unity of the Church is Gospel is sufficient for the needs of all mankind. not merely an earthly visible manifestation de- Both Jesus, and Paul taught with the background vised by men in order to increase the efficiency of Stoic philosophy and universal empire. They of the Church and to pres,ent a so-called "united made universal claims for their Gospel. They pic- front." It is divinely ordained and belongs to the tured the Church as the organ through which God essence of the Church. The unity of the Church, will accomplish His plan not only for men but for according to the New Testament, arises from the the universe. unity of God, "as I and the Father are one." The The Church is catholic because the God to whom Church is one because there is one Spirit, one the Holy Church belongs is a living God. He is a Lord, one Father. The Church is one because all
NEW STUDENT FOREIGN MISSION FELLOWSHIP
members of the Church are members of Christ Finally, the New Testament represents the unity and abide in Him, as branches abide in the vine. of the Church as a process, a growth. It is a present reality, but still imperfect. It cannot be So the unity of the Church is not something in hurried by the manufactured conceptions of men. the golden past, a lost treasure that needs to be Perfect unity will come as a growth in faith and recovered. It is not something in the rosy fu- in "the knoweldge of the Son of God," a growth ture, a high goal that needs to be achieved. It is "into him in all things" which is the Head, even something that exists now, and simply calls for Christ." External means may be used to increase fuller expression. It is something that was and that faith and spread that knowledge, but the huris and is to be. It is as eternal as the Church it- ried establishment of any external union would self. It is as eternal as the God who called the hinder the true process and would check the real Church into being. It is something that belongs growth of unity. to the essence of the Church. The true Church of Christ is one. The New Testament idea of the Church's unity brings two words of warning: first, that our ef- The source of this mystical unity of the Church forts at Church union should not degenerate into is the redeeming work of Christ for men. It is a trifling with something that transcends human not in a unified organization. It is not in a com- comprehension; second, that if our witness to the mon liturgy. The unity of the Church grows out world is to be effective we dare not permit our of a common faith, a common Gospel that centers love for our particular ideas and traditions, to dein the Cross. This, and nothing else is the source lay that growth of unity which our Lord has in of the creative power of the Church. mind for His Church. The New Testament con- ception of the Church's unity suggests that since The New Testament also teaches that this in- the Church is one, we should enter now with joy visible unity will express itself in outward and into a sense of real unity among us. We should visible unity. It is, to be a sign to the world: allow our hearts to be thrilled with the joy that "That the world may believe." The efforts to was in the heart of our Lord as we emphasize achieve this outward unity of the Christian continually the visible and invisible bonds of faith Church have engaged all the ecumenical councils and hope and love that bind us together. "That of by-gone ages and all the world conferences of they may be one,even as we are one." modern times. These efforts have good New Testament warrant and example.
New Student Foreign Mission Fellowship By DR. TOM LAMBIE of the Sudan Interior Mission Recently Missionary to Ethiopia D o WE need another missionary organiza- life of Christian service in favor of the pursuit of tion? There are already over two hundred pleasure and worldly success. In addition to this, Boards and societies in North America-in the lofty Christian appeals for a sacrificial servaddition to local church groups-that are engaged ice, involved in carrying the Gospel to the ends-of in promoting interest in foreign missions. At the earth, have too often been watered down until first blush one is inclined to deprecate the forma- there is not sufficient strength in them to stand tion of a new one, and yet many feel that there the test of opposition from those out of sympathy may be justification for a new Student Foreign with the highest type of missionary service. Missions Fellowship such as the one that had its first national meeting at Keswick Grove, New Even among many church members the gist of Jersey, early in January. current thought would seem to be ,something as follows: The youth of today is susceptable to the appeal for noble ideals and service to mankind, but there Everyone must have a philosophy of life and should try is, at the same time, a tremendous tug upon young to be true to it, having as good a time as possible without people in schools and colleges to give up these inflicting unnecessary injury on others. We ought to keep ideals and to turn aside from the prospect of a most of the laws of the land in which we dwell. Attend- ance on religious services is sometimes helpful. The heathen are probably well enough off as they are, but if
anyone feels like trying to show them Christianity, with- not because they were urged by others to do someout creating a disturbance, then there is no great objection. thing about it, but because they were conscious of Medical relief is a good thing for the heathen but charity, being moved by the Holy Spirit. after all, begins at home. Old creeds are mostly outmoded but we should be tolerant toward those who still hold them. Many more students came to the conference God is a good sort of super-rotarian who will be lenient than had been expected. Forty-eight registered, with everyone, including the heathen, as long as they do the and many others attended but did not register. best they can and are true to their own philosophy of life. The older people, professors and missionaries, were very much in the minority and kept in the Is it any wonder that, where such beliefs pre- background. The colleges represented included vail, there is lack of interest in the missionary Hampden-Sydney, Wheaton, Columbia Bible Colenterprise, that the quality of candidates has de- lege, Davidson, John Stetson University, Glassclined, that financial support has fallen off and boro Teachers', Wilson, Grove City, Drexel Instithat there is evidence of loss in devotion and spir- tute, Women's Medical, University of Pennsylitual power? vania, National Bible Institute, Philadelphia School of the Bible, Pennsylvania Bible Institute, Faced by these conditions and tendencies the Moody Bible Institute, Faith Seminary and Johns new Student Foreign Missions Fellowship has Hopkins University.* been formed in order to make a stand against such ideologies, and to promote missionary inter- A constitution was adopted and a Missionary est among the youth of today ona spiritual and Purpose Pledge was approved which reads as truly New Testament basis. follows: It has been found that in many cases Christian Knowing: young people, who have commenced their college or professional education, expooting to prepare for That Jesus Christ has saved me from my sin, foreign missionary service, have been turned aside That all men without Christ are lost, and that there is from this purpo'se while in college. It is hoped that the new Fellowship may conserve and deepen no other name by which men may be saved; this purpose and help to maintain spiritual ideals. That God's command is, "Go ye into all the world," Only those who have a definite determination to That the laborers are few in the foreign field, go as ambassadors of Christ to the foreign field And believing it to be God's will for me, will be admitted to this Fellowship. Emphasis on two points is stressed: First, absolute adherence I purpose to be a foreign missionary, and will plan accordto the Christian faith as taught in the New Tes- ingly. Until He leads me to the field, I will support tament. This includes belief in the plenary in- the work by my prayers and gifts and by witnessspiration and authority of the Bible, in the Virgin ing. If the Lord's later leading should direct me Birth of Christ, the atonement and salvation into other service, I will seek to give foreign misthrough Christ's voluntary death on the cross, and sions its rightful place of prominence in my min- His bodily resurrection. Second, it is necessary istry. that all Christians have a realization of the obligation to carry forward to completion the still un- Other true-minded students who are in symfinished task of taking the Gospel to the ends of pathy with the movement, but who are undecided the earth. The organizers of this movement be- about their own future and their own life work, lieve that every active member should be person- may attend the meetings of the Fellowship and ally committed to go to the foreign fields as a are to be admitted to an associate membership if missionary of Christ, as soon as possible after they desire. the completion of his or her education. The meeting at Keswick Grove seemed like an- Thousands of students have (in the past fifty other Haystack Prayer Meeting under the guidyears) volunteered to go as missionaries to the ance of the same Holy Spirit and moved by the foreign field but many of them have never gone. same enthusiasm for carrying the Gospel to the Some have lost their faith and vision, some have ends of the earth. There was the same deep conshown themselvelS to be insincere or unstable. secration to the task. The potentialities of that Something could and should be done to prevent meeting seemed boundless. this great waste and to crystalize and spiritualize the thinking of every student volunteer. The These students mean business. They have a young people gathered at Keswick in January felt steadfastness of purpose and a devotion to the the need of banding together for such a purpose, Will of God that is admirable. This movement will grow and be effective in proportion as God is in it and as the Fellowship is true to Him.
• The following officers of the new Fellowship Were elected: Executive Secretary, Kenneth G. Hood, M.A.; Student PreSident, Jack W. Murray, B.A.; Vice-President, Davison Phillips; Secretary, Lois Raws.
CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AND SOME OF THE DELEGATES AT
A Milestone in Missionary Progress An Appreciation and Appraisal of the Madras Conference By DR. H. KERR TAYLOR, Nashville, Tenn.
-~ Formerly Missionary in China; Educational Secretary of the )It- Foreign Mission Work of the Presbyterian Church, U. S.
THE recent conference at Tambaram, a SlUb- tic and ,social work are included in the methods urb of Madras, India, was both inspiring and of this far-flung movement. revealing f:mm the points of view both of the In Madras we saw a demonstration of the sucmission field and of the sending churches. cess of it. Fifty per cent of the 460 delegates 1. Here was a diemonstration of the strength from over 70 countries and scattered areas came and success of the Chrisltian movement. For well from younger churches in mis'siol'l. lands. A better over a hundred years the modern phase of the mis- equipped and technically trained'group of admin- sionary enterprise has been in progress, during istrators and of workers on the: mission field it these last few generations constituting one of the would have been difficult to assemble. All were in maj or points of contact between Western lirfe and close touch with Christian work in their several that in Asia, Mrica and parts of Latin America. areas. Most of them spoke two or more languages There are today over 27,000 missionaries, and the and many spoke more.
annual budgets of the different societies aggregate On no other platform and in no other Name many millions.*. Colleges, hos.pitals, schools, in- could such a gathering have been held. The con- dustrial missions, and different kinds of evangeiis- ference was conscious of its unity in purpose and program, and settled down to seventeen days of quiet and earnest work on matters of supreme con- * aAt pBprroitxaiimnataenlyd $th3e5,0E0u0r,o0p0e0anfrocmontisneenndti.n-Eg DcIhTuOrcRh.es In America, '
Gre [ 187]
cern to. the life of peoples throughout the wQrld. great demQcracies" from SQuth Africa and Egyprt, Here was a remarkable fusing of cQntributions fro.m China and Japan. Here in a co.mmQn serv- from men of utterly diverse backgrQunds Qf race, ice o.f GQd fo.r mankind, fraternity and love were nationality, religiQus experience, theological views nQt only an ideal, but a fact; There was a striking and economics. FQr Qver a fortnight these hun- absence Qf vindictiveness and CQndemnation even dreds Qf workers expressed their cQnvictions and amQng thQse fl'o.m whQm this might have been ap- aspirations, and in most fraternal and earnest prehended. One of the finest influences exerted by fashion SQught, and measurably 'achieved, a unit- any delegation was that o.f the Chinese delegatiQn ed mind and Qutlook. It was an exceptiQnal gath- who. impres,sed the cQnference with their fine re- ering in our mQdern world. It sought fQr the life straint and Christian forbearance. A new empha- Qf our day the larger recognitiQn of a higher and sis was thus made to. the reaIity and the indis- mQre absolute responsibility and control. Here pensability Qf the influence of the Prince Qf Peace.
was a strong witnes,s to the potential unity of srpir- 4. The Madras., meeting was strQng in the em- it in the Lord that is PQssible to. the whole wo.rld. phasis given to. the Church. This was explicit.
2. The cQnference was sanely PQsitive and con- Christianity was nQt cQnceived as a mere perva- structive. The'delegates spoke their minds frank- sive influence; it requires concrete and definite ly, seeking to. conserve the best in the heritage of expression. As Dr. Speer said many years a'go, the church, particularly in its world-wide Chris- "Religious, life, like any other life, is, and must be tian enterprise. cellular; only thus does it conform to. biQIo.gical The positive leade'r&hip Qf the International law." The Church as a fellowship has a faith, a MissiQnary Council was shown in the publishing witness,a life and a cQmmission. In the Church o.f a prepamtQry study book, "The Christian Mes- is the his,toric and effective means for preaching sage in a Non-Christian World," by Dr. H. Krae- the Kingdom of God.
mer of Leiden University, HQlland. This provided 5. It WQuld extend the limits o.f this article un- a massive cQntributio.n to. the wQrld's missriQn lit- l'easonably to. evaluate the -cQntributiQn of the erature, and CQnserves much Qf the best cQnstruc- wo.rk Qf the sixteen commissions into which the tive thQught of recent decades. The thought of co.nference was divided and whQse reports were the conference was largely indebted to. this presen- received by the who.le cQnference. The evalua.tion tatiQn, which aVQided the pitfalls of ra to.Q Qptimis- of the,se findings i,sa WQrk for the churches and tic pragmatism and Qf the hampering weakness of missionary societies in the coming years. Suffice an Qverweening eclecticism so evident in recent it to. say that these studies and recQmmendations years. While thus the strength of much of what were characterized by great breadth Qf under- has been regarded as the current cQntinental standing Qf the phases and prQblems of this world thought was made basic in the thinking Qf the CQn- movement. In such realms rus the nature and func- ference, the gathering itself did nQt hesitate to tion of the Church, its witnesls and relatiQn to. the implement the strQng positiQns Qf this point of non-Christian systems, its wQrship, mini,srtry and view with the view frQm the North American con- literature, and its, social responsibilities and rela- tinent, which emphasizes practical social em- tiQn to. the State, together with its larger corpo- phases Qf the Christian message. rate life, the cQnference made significant contri- Here was a positive advance in curl'ent mis- butions to. current thought andprQvided for the sio.n and church cooperation. It is in such mutual Christian enterprise a compendium fQr seriQus understanding that the possibility Qf collaboratiQn and extended study during the neXit decade.
and union in our enterprises is possible. In a Unresolved Problems troubled world and time, the Madras meeting was driven back upon its basic and essential values. One hesitates to point Qut weaknesses in such a One wonders if it had been possible to. hold such a worthy enterprise. But it WQuld be to.o much to.
cQnference fifteen years, ago, whether the unfortu- hope that srUch a gathering, representing such nate rift in the American churches with regard to diverse elements and different ranges of experi- theQIQgy and methQd Wo.uld have been largely ence, WQuld not reveal elements of indecision and aVQided. Let the church in its cooperative and inconclusiveness which indicate that the final word uniQn enterprises heed the lesson Qf the past two is far frQm being sPQken on SQme impQrtant CQn- decades and not the strength of the Madras Co.l- cerns. The Church in its miss,iQn and in its labQratiQn. Cooperation is easy when the o.bdec- growth on the missiQn field has yet a long way to tives are clea:r and when Christian leadership is go. in solving some Qf its essential prQblems.
positive and unequivocal. 1. There was a recurring indicatiQn throughout 3. The conference was a demonstratiQn in a the -days Qf conference that secondary considera- war-mad Wo.rld Qf ho.W fraternity and under- tiQn is Qften being given to. the basic necesrsity on standing may be attained. It mattered little that all fields Qf a truly indigenous church life. In delegates had come from Germany and from the mQre than one cQmmission,and in the plenary
A MILESTONE IN MISSIONARY PROGRESS
sessions, the cDnference av'Oided the questi'On 'Of for a new generatiQn of workers in this a new self-supPDrt. One heard too little of church fel- day, workers who will in fraternal c'OHaborati'On lowships seeking such cDIiPorate expressi'On as is with the younger churches take up with them the pDssible now, drawing sustenance up frQm the soil service at the point which it has reached and help and life where these fellDwships exist and where carry it to a WQrthy c'Onclusion. they must give their 'Own witness. Representatives of the younger churches had a The missiDn field church shDuld n'Ot, 'Of C'OU~se, go'Od deal tQ say as to the need fQr collab'OratiQn by be a replica 'Of that in the homeland. N'Ot 'Only in wDrkers frDm abroad with the leaders 'Of the Western modes, music, architecture and ministe- yQunger churches, the desirability 'Of a shared CQnrial garb has the church 'On the missi'On fields tD'O trol in the finances of the enterprise, and the feas- 'Often given the impressiDn of being "foreign,:' but ibility of putting the life and service 'Of the mi,sthere has 'Often been evidence 'Of this want of a sionary himself under the direction of the native conditiDning a-ttitude 'Of mind and life in native church and its, leadership. Much of this was insustenance and in independence. One wonders dicative 'Of the new day ,to which we have come or h'OW this whDle attitude of some 'Of the younger are destined. But in the findings> of the commi'schurches appears tD the supporters of the nQn- sion on the unreached fields, one wished fDr a more Christian religiDus insUtutiDns. And the clash convincing caB from the yQunger churches themwith natiDnalistic aspiratiDns i,s a cQmmonplace. selves for young men and w'Omen from abr'Oad, who are undoubtedly needed, with the offer of In some of the sessiQns at Madras the hDpe f'Or challenging and significant tasks even though toadvance WQuld in thi,s respect have been fur- day there has come a new orienting 'Of the misthered had there been less discussion 'Of "grants si'Onary's PQsitiQn and :service. Wise will it be in in aid," "subsidies," and "control 'Of funds,," and the immediate days ahead if in the, calls from the a more earnest and l'ealistic c'Onsideration 'Of some field less emphasis is put on the special qualifica- 'Of the findings of the Department of Social and tiQns needed for new missionaries', and more con- Industrial Research 'Of the International MissiDn- vincing emphasis 'On their indispensability. ary C'Ouncil through its secretary, J. Merle Davis. If the unrealities of much of the 'Outmoded prac- There is indisputable need and challenging SCQpe tice of past decades, with its want of such self- for y'Oung men and women 'Of consecration and maintenance, are not discarded 'On the missiDn training, as was proved by the convincing evifield in these days of wQrld depression and neces- dence furnished by the commi,ssi'On on the unfinsary recom;,tructiQn 'Of financial pDlicy, then the ished task. And c'Onstant contac,t with the youth current oPPDrtunity fDr much real advance at this of 'Our h'Ome lands aSSUl'es 'One that there is no point will have been lost. want of heroic willingness on the part 'Of the yQung pe'Ople to meet the challenges 'Of a new 2. A cDrrelated weakness of the conference was day. But what the missionary cause in the h'Omeits failure to make clear the vital need 'Of new re- lands today requires, in the light 'Of the rapidly cruits for missiQnary service. It is true that aging missiQnary force and the sman numbers of one secti'On was concerned with the place and missi'Onary volunteers, is a clamant and convincfunction and training 'Of the future missionary; ing call fr'Om the y'Ounger churches themselves, and one cDmmission presented the yet unfinished that many of the best y'Outh 'Of the 'Older churches task. But the conference, and particularly the sh'Ould "come over and help" in a task altogether leadership of the YDunger churches, shDuld hav~ beyond the ability 'Of the y'Ounger churches to commade clear in a ringing and vivid way the admit- pass. There sh'Ould be the assurance that, fo.r a ted need for a l'ecruiting 'Of the miSISionary force. whole lifetime at least, such life investment will be cordially welcomed and challengingly em- The leadel's of the younger church wDuld do ployed. It is just here that the yo.unger churches well to keep this in mind. The present missionary force is rapidly aging, and on all sides there are in the next few years can render 'a, m'Ost valuable vast unoccupied fields. We have lived thr'Ough an era of wide mi's,sionary expansion and of enthu- service and can be the means of reinspiring the siastic support. Outstanding missionary leaders 'Older churches to an even larger adventure in the in the sending countries have laid this responsi- vast unreached task of Christian missions abroad. bility on the church and have called f'Or the heroic venture 'Of YDung life in ocoupying fields that 'Oth- 3. Perhaps the explanation of the situation is erwise would not be reached. The center of gravi- in the trend 'Of leadership n'Oticeable on some of ty of the enterprise has now shifted to the mis- the mission fields, as, revealed in Madras. PressiDn field. Inspiration fDra continuatiDn O!f the ent day leadership partakes t'Oo. largely of Western enterprise must take its rise ,there. In this wDrld- viewpoint and supp'Ort. The church on the field wide enterprise, in which the interests of younger is not native enough. It is oriented too. largely churches and the missionary societies are so iden- to the West. Its dress :sh'Ows it. The structure of tical, what is needed is the sounding 'Of a clear call its c'Ooperativeand representative enterprises is conditioned to'O largely 'On f'Oreign funds. In a
conference conducted entirely in English, and The composite nature of the gathering and the therefore reflecting so largely westernized opinion, necessity for the observance of amenities and reone often missed the careful and measured balance straints made impracticable the specific condemand independence of judgment that is the sure nation of known acts of aggression, specific areas mark of a self-supported and entirely indigenous of persecution, and like ills. One must read beenterprise. Jesus lived and died and rose again tween the lines of the finding:s to see what the conin Asia. What the missionary cause today needs is ference reaHy had in mind. After all, the meetthe careful judgment and collabomtion of a na- ing was for counsel in the doing of a specific task tive church whose life and leadership is devoid of in the world, it was not a conference to sit in judgartificiality in its structure and support. We too ment on the world. often think in terms of the churches as they ought to be, and not enough of the churches as they are. The conference was a worthy third in a great Let the Intern~tional Missionary Coundl, and series. Edinburgh in 1910 was a great missionparticularly its constitutive units on the field, re- ary conference that emphasized comity. Jerusaflect current indigenous church life and opinion. lem in 1928 recognized the importance of the The cenlters, of Christian life for these younger younger churches ,and sought a common front and churches are not, or should not be, Canterbury, platform, finding it in a unifying Christology. Rome or New York, but in the mission lands, them- Madras in 1938 conceived of the unfinished task in selves. We need to be on our guard lest we make terms of a world-wide church fellowship. Its the same mistake here that has so often been made greatest contribution was not so much its findin mission projects, 'and in our zeal for results in ings, but in a real sense its very self. The' conorganization and leadership through foreign sub~ ference was perhaps lacking in great creative sidy, run ahead of ourselves. statement. It was a great creation, representing the results of past decades of noble missionary 4. One should not look in the findings for clear service, and indicating the need for further adcut, unequivocal delineations of some of the cur- vance. It emphasized dramatically how far we rent problemslland frictions throug;hout our world. have come, and how far we yet have to go.
An Impression of Madras Conference By PROF. HENDRICH KRAEMER, Leyden, Holland Author of "The Christian Message in a Non-Christian World"
N EVER before have I found it so difficult to The second reason, as far as I can judge, is that formulate an impression about a conference such international conferences become so per- I attended as in regard to that held at fected in their technique, and so standardized in Tambaram (Madras) last December. One usually their methods, that creative explosions and stir- feels reasonably certain that one understands the rings become very rare and almost impossible. general trend and spirit of the conference, and The method adopted in these conferences seems has some definite opinion of the outcome to be to have become somewhat as follows: For a year expected. These conclusions are not clear in re- or two in advance extensive and stimulating pr~ .gard to Tambaram, possibly for two main rea- paratory work is done, which is 'One of the most sons. productive features of a world conference. Peo- ple are urged to collect material, to think out prin- First, the time allotted to handle the sixteen ciples, to criticize methods and principles, and to main subjects (and the many others added dur- outline new visi'Ons and plans. The result is put ing the conference) was far too short. This was at the disposal of the whole missionary enterprise the general feeling of the delegates. Because of in the world. This isa highly stimulating and the many subjects that had to be discussed in five productive influence. days, one was so occupied with the subjects. to be taken up in the special sections attended that it When the day of the conference dawns the delewas impossible to get a grasp of the general sweep gates are divided into sections, to study the variof the conference. ous subjects allotted and to prepare a report for
AN IMPRESSION OF MADRAS CONFERENCE
general consideration. The idea is that a small baram. It was a great privilege to meet so many group study one particular subject and, as a re- ins,piring personalities. It was inspiring to hear, sult of cooperative and creative thought and con- first-hand, how the forces of the Kingdom of God structive criticism, will present the result to. the are working everywhere, often against the greatfull session of the conference for criticism and est odds. The deep sense of Christian fellowship, revision or adoption. experienced at Tambaram, filled the heart with thanksgiving to God. The reality of the Univer- But this eX'cellent idea, in my humble opinion, sal Church of Christ in the world, as the deepest can create useful and satisfactory results only if and solely undeceiving cause for hope and joy, the general guidance of such a conference is sure manifested itself repeatedly in our dealings with and determined and if there is sufficient time. each other. Otherwise the splendid intentions of this technique will become largely inoperative as seemed, to a Probably the most abiding impression I carry great extent, to have been the case at Tambaram. with me is the expectation that from this confer- In many cases the important preparatory work was scarcely used. This does not detract from DR. HENDRICH KRAEMER AND REV. D. T. NILES OF CEYLON the value o.f the preparatory work but it is to be regretted that the conference could not use to full ence a new fire will spread through all the advantage the results of these preparatory labors. churches and mission fields, a new fire of whole- The same pressure of time made it difficult to have hearted surrender to the divine commission of a thorough discussion in the sections where a co.n- evangelizing the world in all its spheres, and of flict of ideas could be given free play in such a strong loyalty to the Church as the fellowship in way that the creative spirits could formulate a Christ. The world needs a clear demonstration common platform. This criticism applies espe- of what the Church, if faithful to its calling, must cially to the most important subjects. be-namely a new, regenerated quality of individ- ual life and of life in fellowship. Tambaram The plenary sessions of the conference were so strongly impressed this vision on the minds of limited in time that they did not bring that whole- those who were present. some and indispensable clash of ideas to enable us to discover the fundamental urges of a conference and the unifying and inspiring force that determines its energizing influence.
Conferences, like that at Tambaram, are of such great importance to the missionary enterprise and to the Church that it is important to discover where their weaknesses may be remedied. Nowadays we kno.w fairly well what the technique of a great international gathering should be in order to obtain the maximum results. Tambaram, however, teaches that this technique cannot yield its due results unless we take at least three or four full weeks for such a gathering. There is an Arab proverb which runs: Haste originates from the devil. This certainly applies to international conferences. One of the fundamental conditions for their fruitfulness is that the mind can work quietly and intensely, open to God and open to each other. Only then can the average-minded and average-gifted delegate have his due share in the work of planning and thinking; and only then can the spiritually and intellectually creative minds make their indispensable contribution.
This is not all that I have to say about Tam- Is this the time, 0 Church of Christ! to sound No! rather, strengthen stakes and lengthen cords, Retreat? To arm with weapons cheap and blunt Enlarge thy plans and gifts, 0 thou elect, The men and women who have borne the brunt And to thy kingdom come for such a time! Of truth's fierce strife, and nobly held their ground? The earth with all its fullness is the Lord's. Is this the time to halt, when all around Great things attempt for Him, great things expect, Horizons lift, new destinies confront, Whose lOVe imperial is, whose power sublime! Stern duties wait our nation, never wont To play the laggard, when God's will was found? CHAJU$S SUlfN~ HOYT.
"Now Concerning the Collection"
By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., Princeton, N. J.
Editor of "The Moslem World"; author of "It Is Hard to Be a Christian," etc.
I N ALL the Greek manuscripts of Paul's first Qf thQse who. gave hilariQusly (2 Cor. 9: 7) and letter to. the Corinthians there is not even a liberally stand Qut in my memory. semicQIQn to. divide the glQriQUS fifteenth chap- 'I1here was a Sioux CQunty farmer in IQwa who. ter on the Resurrection from the statement at the heard of Arabia when I was Qrdained as missionbeginning Qf the sixteenth chapter: "Now Con- ary. His Qwn pioneer experience responded to cerning the CoUection." FQr a Christian to. be- such an appeal and I recall hQW he supported our lieve in the living Redeemer and to abound in the first native evangelist. His letters in Dutch, and wQrk of the LQrd implies regular offerings, gifts those from Kamil Abd ul Messih in Arabic, crossed and self-denial to SUPPQrt this work. Paul was the seas and after translation jQined hearts in an example and an inspiration to. all missiQnaries prayer. and to. all Christians~he was not ashamed Qf the AnQther wealthy farmer was the greatest hog- "collectiQn plate." He wrote elsewhere very raiser in his cQunty and his state. His hQgs took plainly "cQncerning giving and receiving." He the blue ribbon prizes but his heart was that of raised mQney fQr missiQnsand fQr the PQQr Qf the the Gadarenes. One day, as he himself tQld me, Church. He himself was generously supported he received an impudent and threatening letter by the Church at Philippi. frQm gangsters in the cQunty-seat. It was signed It is nQt surprising, therefore, that the mQdern with skull and crQss-bones and sPQke of murder missionary must give of his time and strength unless "YQU skinflint, yQU put two thQusand dQI- when Qn furlQugh to. secure from the Church at lars in a cigar box under a stQne at the crQSS- home mQney for the enterprise. All try it. SQme rQads." In great fear he spread the letter befQre succeed, and some fail. But the experiences Qne the Lord as did Hezekiah Qf old. He prayed that has in being GQd's beggar on the dOQrsteps Qf GQd WQuld deliver him frQm the gang, who ap- Dives and CQmpany are priceless, whether Qne parently meant business, and VQwed to. make resti- meets with liberal gifts Qr niggardly refusals. The tutiQn to. God. He paid his VQW Qver and over same plea meets with varied response. My experi- again to. the cause o.f Christian educatio.n and mis- ence (in this sheaf of stQries) is like that of the siQns; nQr was he ever mQlested.
American so.ldier in the Wo.rld War, who was suc- The largest gift I ever received fDr missio.ns cessively billeted in an Irish, an English and a was from a go.dly and wealthy lady in Chicago..
SCQtch hQme. In each place he asked fo.r mQre I was making an effQrt to. raise $10,000 fQr the sugar in his tea. The Irish WQman said, "here's Nile Missio.n Press in Cairo.. Dr. JQhn TimQthy the bQwl, help YQurself"; the English lady said, StQne, pasto.r o.f the FQurth Presbyterian Church, "pass yQur cup and I'll give you a seco.nd lump"; generQusly gave me five minutes at the close of while the SCDtch ho.usewife looked do.ur while ask- his mQrning service, to. present the need of Chris- ing, "Mon, have ye stirred it?" tian literature in the WQrld Qf Islam. No. Qne else The acid test of Qur love to Christ and His King:- responded to. the appeal at this service but this dom is stewardship. The Master still sits before lady invited us to. luncheon and to. my amazement the treasury and weighs our contributiQns as he gave her check fQr the whQle amQunt. There had did those Qf the rich Pharisees and the poor been prayer in Cairo. and in Chicago..
widQw. It is nQt an easy task to raise mQney for In sharp cQntrast to. such beneficence was an missiQns, but I have often cQmforted myself by experience in Philadelphia where, at the clQse Qf the wQrds of Dr. Arthur T. Pierson: "We knQw a service in which I had sPQken of medical mis- that the rich man opened his eyes on a different sions in Arabia, two. ladies dressed in fine seal- scene, but the beggar landed in Abraham's bos- skin CQats tarried to. meet the preacher. They om." I have met with rebuff on several Qccasions said: "We really CQuld nQt go. without giving yQU during the past fifty years, but the recollectiQns SQme tQken Qf Qur interest in yQur great work [192 ]
EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING
. . ." and, believe it or not, when I had thanked they were disputing whether to give or not to give, them warmly and opened my closed hand in the I asked playfully, "Who is the head of this house, vestry, the image and superscription was that of you or your wife?" Both deferred to the other. an American twenty-five-cent piece. Then to my delight I saw a wall motto hanging over the living-room table : Jesus Christ is the The following week I was in Rochester, New Head of this house; the unseen guest at every York. It was, a very cold day; I called on an old meal; the silent listener to every conversation. friend who sold automobile accessories. He re- I pointed to it as the answer to my question. Withmarked that my light overooat was unsuited ex- out another word the farmer took a check book cept for Arabia, took down an expensive fur-lined from his overall pocket and wrote a larger sum overcoat, and insisted that I pay for it and wear than any of us had expected. The deacon was it. He looked at the sales tag and said, "the price most of all surprised and led in a prayer of thanksof this to you is twenty-five cents-no I am not giving. joking-pay me the sum and then we'll go to lunch together." I told him the Philadelphia story, and Time would fail to tell of other experiences and paid the quarter. Later the coat was bequeathed of the joy that comes to those at the battle-front to a Dakota missionary. when reinforcements of men and money are forth- coming. The Philippian Church was Paul's joy This Rochester friend kept a tithing account in and crown. How ofen they cheered him by their his bankbook (as I learned, after his death). His free-will offerings, so that even in prison he was son showed the account to me and at the top "their own missionary" and they became an exof each page of benevolences were the words: ample to all the churches of Asia Minor, even to "W. R., in account with his Redeemer." the Corinthians (Philippians 4: 15, 16).
It is a spiritual tonic to meet such businessmen. "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory He was like the Philadelphia lawyer to whose through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beoffice the late Fennell P. Turner and I went to loved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, alsolicit a gift for the Student Volunteer Movement. ways abounding in the work of the Lord, for as "Gentlemen," he said, "you need not waste your much as ye know that your labor is not in v,ain in time or mine by long speeches. I know your cause the Lord. Now concerning the collection." and believe in it. If my funds allow, I shall give you a check." Then he rang for his secretary. EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING * "Can the tithing account stand another hun- King David would not surrender to cheapness dred?" when it came to his worship of God. When the prophet directed David to go up on the threshing- "No, it is overdrawn." floor of Araunah and there offer a burnt-offering, Araunah freely offered to give the King the "The special account?" threshing-floor, the oxen, and everything that was "No." necessary for the burnt-offering. David's classic "Well, then, draw a check on the special, spe- answer is found in these words: "Neither will I cial account." offer burnt-offerings unto the Lord my God of He explained that this account consisted of re- that which doth cost me nothing" (2 Sam. 24: ceipts from debts unexpeotedly repaid after long 24, 25). He insisted on paying for it. Where standing! there is no sacrifice there is no love and where "I owe my Lord more than these debtors owe there is no love there is no worship. me," he said with a smile. The whole transaction took less than five minutes. Mary of Bethany was at her best in worship The secret of the willing mind and the liberal when she anointed Jesus,' feet with a pound of hand is to realize the Lordship of Christ over our liquid nard, very costly, but without counting the lives and His constant presence with us. In July, cost (John 13: 1). 1918, we were soliciting gifts for missions among the farmers of Sioux County, Iowa. An earnest In "The Gardens of Life," J. R. Straton tells the deacon drove me from farm to farm and nearly following story: everywhere in that prosperous year the farmers gave liberally. We came one day at the breakfast A rich man was down at the waterfront awaiting the hour to the home of one of the wealthiest farmers departure of an ocean liner. He was joined by an acbut my guide said there was no use going in to quaintance, who said to him: ask this man. "He is very close-fisted, although his wife is a liberal soul." "You seem to be much pleased about something." I responded we would better try, since he could "Yes," said the rich man, "I do feel unusually good tonot dp more than say no. As my guide had ex- day. Do you see that vessel at anchor in the North River? pected, the farmer refused bluntly. His wife en- Well, I have on that vessel ten thousand dollars worth of tered a plea but he would not yield an inch. As * Condensed from United Ohurch R6'View of North India.
equipment for a hospital in China, and I just came down wards wrote as follows to the above-mentioned to see the vessel safely off." business man: "That is interesting, and I am glad you made that gift," "As I was for thirty-four years an executive said the friend. "But you know I also have a gift on officer of a large Board.of Foreign Missions (Presthat ship. My only daughter is on that vessel, going to byterian), and am sWI, as Secretary Emeritus, in China to give her life as a missionary." close touch with it, I feel sure that you will ap- preciate my interest in your suggestion that the The wealthy man looked feelingly into the eyes of his churches might cut their foreign missionary work friend and exclaimed: seventy-five per cent, and use the liberated money to further the cause of peace and related objects. "My dear brother, I feel as though I have given nothing, Apart from the reasons for foreign missions that when I think of what this sacrifice means to you." are basic in our Christian faith, may I suggest the following considerations that would be involved This is the spirit that delights the heart of God in so extensive a reduction of missionary work. and the spirit which He seeks to foster in His children. "There are now approximately 40,000 churches in non-Christian lands, with a baptized member- A big lumberjack once said to Frank Higgins, ship of 10,971,066. These churches are the results the "Sky-pilot Lumberjack," as he lay on the oper- of missionary work. While some of them are ating table just before he took the anesthetic: locally self-supporting and all others are contrib- "Frank, you know that we love you and want to uting part of their congregational expenses, thouhelp you. While the doctors are operating I will sands of the smaner ones need our assistance. To be at your door; and Frank, if the doctors find withdraw the major part of this assistance would they need a quart of blood, or a piece of bone, or a seriouly cripple them. They stand for the same bit of skin, they can call on me. Frank, you can principles of peace, brotherhood and righteoushave every drop of blood or every bone in my ness, for which the churches in the United States body; now don't forget, I will be at the door." stand. You eloquently stated the vital need of the cooperation of American churches in creating This is the spirit that God is seeking to cultivate the international conditions that you so ardently when He tells us that it is more blessed to give desire. If the help of the churches here is essenthan to receive. tial in securing world peace, do we not also need the help of the missionary churches to promote There is an interesting story in Philippians 4: .peace abroad? Nationalism cannot create the in- 14-19. The church at Philippi had been minis- ternational mind in churches any more than in tering to the needs of the Apostle Paul while he politics. We need the missionary churches and was in prison in Rome. Paul was very apprecia- they need us. The words of the late Lord Bryce, tive of their gift for it represented real sacrifice, former Ambassador to the United States, are as of which God himself approved. Then the apostle true now as when he wrote them. He declared: makes, as a climax, that matchless promise made to the donors, "And my God shall supply every The jarring contact of many nations in the Far East need of yours, according to his riches in glory in imperatively calls for the strengthening of foreign mis- Christ Jesus." sionary work, which must be the chief influence in smooth- ing that contact, in allaying irritation and in creating Dr. G. Campbell Morgan says, "We know the those conditions of international goodwill which are essentruth of God as no other age has ever known it, tial to the preservation of world peace. The one sure and yet there never was a time when men, know- hope of a permanent foundation for world peace lies in ing and living under its blessings, were less obe- the extension throughout the world of the principles of dient to it than now." In the wake of obedience the Christian Gospel. is rich bles<sing, but in the wake of disobedience is judgment, disappointment and failure. "As a business man, I am sure that you will appreciate the following facts: Sacrificial giving in our service of God enriches and does not impoverish us. Some Significant Facts EXTRAVAGANT RETRENCHMENT "1. The foreign missionary work of the churches has been slowly and laboriously built up In a conference several influential business men for over a hundred years until it now represents urged closer cooperation between commercial and properties and equipment in mission compounds, religious organizations in averting war and pro- hospitals, orphanages, leper asylums, schools, colmoting international goodwill. One of the laymen leges, universities, industrial and agricultural inpresent suggested that the churches might wisely stitutions, residences, church buildings., etc., to a cut down their foreign missionary work seventy- total value of considerably over a hundred millions five per cent and use the liberated money to fur- of dollars. Withdrawal of seventy-five per. cent ther the cause of peace and related objects. One of the financial support which is now being given of the members of this conference, the Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D., Secretary Emeritus of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, after-
EXTRAVAGANT RETRENCHMENT
would close most of the 1,092 hospitals and.56,891 now being given, to foreign missions is not in the schools and colleges. It would necessitate the clos- treasuries of churches and is not at their disposal.
ing of the numerous orphanages, leper asylums, It consists of voluntary offerings designated for s,chools for the blind, the deaf and dumb children, this specific purpose. It is, therefore, a trust fund the industrial and agricultural institutions which which is expended by the churches through their are training youth for useful service and self- boards of foreign missions and it cannot be legally support, raising standards of living, and help- or morally used for anything else.
ing poverty-stricken people better their lot. Lead- "4. The distressing conditions now existing in ers of the churches in Asia freely declare that they China, so far from lessening the need for miss,ion- could not possibly meet the expense of maintain- ary work, has enormously increased it. All the ing these numerous institutions without the help mission compounds in the area of hostilities are they are receiving from the American and Euro- thronged with refugees-penniless, starving peo- pean churches, nor do they yet possess a sufficient ple, the aged, the sick, most of them women and number of trained executives to direct them. children, many of the latter being orphans. The Comparatively few of these properties could be missionaries are toiling literally night and day to sold, except at heavy loss. Forced sales of real help them. Recent letters report 2,500 helpless estate, hard enough in the United States, are refugees in one mission compound and 7,000 in doubly so in non-Christian lands, especially when another. All are dependent on the mi'ssionaries the properties are institutions which cannot be for food 'and medical care. The Chinese have given operated for commercial profit. innumerable testimonies to their gratitude. Gen- "2. The 27,577 missionaries, of whom about eralissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his wife have 15,000 are from America, are appointed for life publicly stated their appreciation and their hope service and cannot fairly be discharged as a mer- that the resources of the missionaries will be in- chant discharges a clerk. After a missionary has creased. In his recent Christmas message to the been given a collegiate and post-graduate training people of the United States, the Generalissimo in America, and a miss,ion board has paid his said: .
travel expenses to a distant land, has provided him There lies upon us, and we presume upon you also our and his family with a house and salary for a min- fellow-Christian readers, a great weight of care which imum of three years while he is acquiring the religion alone can teach us to bear worthily. . . . Peace necessary knowledge of a foreign language and and high moral standards are inseparable, and when they people, he represents a considerable investment become an a::complished fact in the lives of all the peoples of the East and West, there will be no more war. War and becomes a valuable man. It would be costly is brutal, but it will ever be powerless. to rob any of us of the transcendent peace of men who are at peace with to lose him and, if the work is reopened at some themselves. later period, to begin all over again with new and inexperienced men. Moreover, it costs about "Why, then, should we weaken the 'religion'
$1,000 to bring an average missionary (less for and 'high moral standards' in China, which the single missionaries but more for married ones foreign missionary work of our churches is cre- with children) from Asia or Africa to America. ating there and of which the Generalissimo and If seventy-five per cent of the 15,000 American his gifted wife themselves are among the fruits.
missionaries were to be recalled, nearly if not It seems to me that, instead of lessening foreign quite $11,000,000 would be required to bring them missionary work, we should strengthen it if we home. As the mission board could not honorably are to promote both at home and abroad the inter- cut off their salaries without making some pro- national mind and the spirit of world brotherhood vision for their support for a few months until which the foreign missionary enterprise in- they had a reasonable time to secure other em- culcates. . . .
ployment, a meager allowance of at least $500 "Your advocacy of peace, as essential not only per person for this purpose for 11,000 mission- to world trade but to all ,the best interests of man- aries would require $5,500,000 more for the whole kind, is an inspiration to us who have long had number. In other words, the withdrawal of sev- that cause in .our hearts."
enty-five per cent of the 15,000 American mission- aries, so far from liberating money for other uses, It may be that there are other well-meaning would not only ruin missionary work but would church members who think that missionary money involve an aggregate expenditure of approxi- should be diverted to other causes and who do not mately $16,500,000, nearly all of which would be realize the difficulties, the injustice and the tre- a total loss. mendous loss that would result to the Gause of "3. The money that has been given, and that is Christ and the welfare of humanity.-EDITOR.
Among Hindu Pilgrims*
–<111 By REV. RAJENDRA CHANDRA DAS III!o– TAST April a small group of twelve men met in was the same – they all centered in and around L fellowship, prayer and consultation in the the Cross of Christ. The converts, "born" Chris- United City Mission at Benares. They came tians, Europeans and Indians, had each a signifi- from different centres of Hindu pilgrimage in cant story to tell. Each one had a different ap- north 'and northeast India. A few of the local proach to Christ – the Saviour 'and Master. missionaries and Indian Christians also attended Among the converts were different types-social, some sessions.t This conference was composed intellectual, political, moral, spiritual, natural, of persons' who are either engaged in work among personal-every one with an emphasis of his own. pilgrims and other orthodox Hindus in religious There were also one or two who had many of these centres or who are running Christian Ash:r~ams motives combined in determining their Christian surrender. Yet in all this diversity there was a or are interested in the study of the faith and solid and wonderful spirit of unity which all appractice of Hinduism. preciated. It was a pleasant discovery that in a group of heterogeneous elements there could be The purpose of the gathering was threefold: so much understanding and fellowship. There First, fellowship in prayer and interchange of were men of Anglican, Baptist, Quaker, Methoddst experiences and ideas. It was an encouragement and Free Church affiliation and yet there was a to hear reports of how God is using men in differ- happy, joyous and exhilarating fellowship and ent fields. Everybody noted the mighty work of unity. Thank God for this wonderful blessing. the Spirit of God in the difficult field of Brindaban among the Sadhus and Vairagis. In Calcutta the The second object of this conference was the banner of evangelism is kept high among the edu- formation of a simple organization with a view to cated. The A.shram life of Puri is developing fostering this fellowship between different peralong the line of quiet study, meditation and sons and places through the publication of a small prayer, as well as personal evangelism. In Milt- paper and through occasional conferences, as well tra, Rev. R. Templin and some of his colleagues as by interchange of workers. After a discussion are experimenting on Christian life and work of several points it was agreed that a simple oralong brotherhood lines. ganization be formed under some such title as "T.he Association of Christian Ashrams" (work- The views and spiritual experiences, as narrated ers among pilgrims and orthodox Hindus in North by the different members, were as varied as the and Northeast India) – Bhartiya Khristakula men themselves, but the core of the experience • Condensed from The Indian Witness. Samity. A small quarterly paper containing re- t Mr. Abraham Khan came from Puri. He is In charge of the quests for prayers and thanksgiving and short re- Ishapanthy Ashram which was founded by the late Rev. B. C. Sirc,,:r, ~.A., the Y. M. C,. A. evangelist. The Temple of Jagannath ports of work was felt to be desirable. It was dewith Its annual Gar Festival draws hundreds and thousands of people cided that on particular occasions of festivals .from all parts of India. Rev. M. Moses of the Church of God move- workers would be exchanged between different ment represented Calcutta where thousands of pilgrims visit the centres like Puri, Brindaban and Benares as well Temple of Kali. The Rev. J. Y. Sidley of the Baptist Mission repre- as at other normal times. A retreat-conference sented Gaya where Hindus COme in great numbers to offer Pindas like the present one – is to be repeated at least once every two years at a centre and on an occa- (balls of rice) in the names of their relatiYes for the.ir full ant! sion when practical evangelistic work could be final salvation, and Buddhist pilgrims also come to visit the place done among pilgrims and Sadhus. where Buddha was enlightened. Mr. N. N. Das of Patna, retired from Government Secretariat service and associated with the Union This conference was called upon to consider the Church work, represented ancient Pataliputra and HindU bathing feasibility of inaugurating a school to study Hincentres in Bihar. Mr. I. L. Lawrence of the English Methodist duism, with emphasis on its practical, popular and orthodox side. A few of those actually engaged Church represented Ayodhya, the birthplace of Ram, one of the in preaching the Gospel to Sadhus, Sanyasis and great incarnations of the Hindus. The Rev. G. W. Maw of the pilgrims, Pundits and Priests, Mohants and Brah- Fri.ends' Mission, Itarsi, represented not only the pilgrim centres of mins have felt the need of a unity of purpose and RaJPutana and Central India but also the great Himalayan shrines practical knowledge and training in work. It was like Kedarnath and Badrinath. Mr. Maw, in a Sadhu's dress. has traveled far and wide with pilgrims themselves. Pandit Yamua Prasad Chowbey. professor of music. came from the TheologiCal Sem- Inary of .the Methodist Episcopal Church at BareiIIy. Mr. Dldar, a young Hmdu convert of the Methodist Mission, represented Muttra. Brindaban, a most important pilgrim centre especially for Valshnava Bengalees, was represented by the Rev. A. C. Chakravarti, B.D., of the Methodist Church, who has founded a Christian Ashram on his own responsibility in that very "orthodox" place. Benares, where the retreat was held and which Is the greatest centre of Hindu orthodoxy and learning, was represented by the workers and Inmates of the United Mission-the Rev. S. R. Holt, Mr. H. K. Dey and Rev. R. C. Das.
[196 ] unanimously felt that such opportunities would be politico-cultural organization. As a Hindu he saw highly appreciated and utilized by many. The no barrier in Hinduism as regards intermarriage Benares United City Mission offers any facilities and interdining. Coming from a man of his posiit has for such a purpose. A well equipped library tion, this was remarkable inasmuch as Christian was felt necessary and there is already a nucleus circles are not usually conversant with this uniof it at Benares. The study of the faith and prac- versal attitude of Hinduis.m, its orthodox and extice of Hinduism is necessary and important for clusive ideas and practices being more commonly a right approach to Hindus. It is unfortunate that met. almost all workers, Indian or non-Indian, do general work among non-Christians with no special We were convinced of many things, among qualifications to touch effectively either Hindus which the more important are: first, only pracor Moslems. A School of Islamics started a few tical and s,incere Christianity of the apostolic type years ago has rendered valuable service for the in the sense of converted and consecrated personal cause of Christ among Moslems. No less should life through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, as be done intelligently and sympathetically to touch effective in meeting this long-lived and virile Hindus. Hinduism we find in shrines and pilgrim centres; second, only collective witness and cooperative en- There was a paper from the Rev. R. Templin of deavor disclose the secret of the power of Hin- Muttra on the subject of "Witness and the Serv- duism; third, fresh methods of evangelistic ants of the Kingdom." Emphasis was laid on approach to Hindus based on understanding and (1) the need and importance of collective witnes,s; sympathy, must be discovered. Our supreme con- (2) the Kingdom of God rather than the church viction is that the presence of the Living Christ as an institution; (3) God seeks man through among us and the guidance of the Holy Spirit is Christ; (4) no faith without faithfulness.. essential in everything said or done.
The Rev. Atul Chandra Chakravarti, B.D., of ECLECTIC RELIGIONS Brindaban Christian Ashram, in an address on Hinduism, brought out the following points:: The By REV. J. CHRISTY WILSON, D.D., Tabriz, Iran study of Hinduism as a religion and culture is necessary: (1) for goodwill and fellowship with There is great danger in electicism in religion. our non-Christian friends; (2) to equip us better The Bahais are all inclusive and all things to for preaching the Gospel and in bringing out true all men. They will agree with Moslems, Chriscontacts and real differences between Christianity tians or Jews and claim to unite the best things and Hinduism. The following vital issues and from all faiths. practical questions were raised: Should we ag- From Iran the ancient Nestorian Church cargressively s.how the superiority of Christianity ried the Gospel with burning zeal to India, China and deficiency of Hinduism? Should we condemn, and the far reaches of Asia. Very few of the attack, criticize, and find flaws? How can we Christian communities they founded remain topreach Christ-the only Saviour-without arous- day, and one of the reasons for the failure of ing antagonism? How reconcile the claims of these Christian churches to survive, is that they Christianity with goodwill for Hindus? compromised with other faiths. Some advisers believe that missions should do The Rev. G. W. Maw, of Itarsi, speaking on the the same today-"Accept what is good and true Christian approach to the Hindu pilgrims, de- in all religions and work together." But Christ scribed how he lived like a Hindu Sadhu and says we cannot serve two masters, or as the com- Sanyasi, wore the colored robe with the distinctive mon Eastern proverb has it, "You cannot hold mark of the cross on it, lived and conversed with two melons in one hand." the pilgrims and traveled with them up and down When Israel took up idol worship they did not the highways of Indian pilgrimages in North In- intend to forsake Jehovah, they merely wanted dia and the Himalayas. to be broad and get along with other religions. The end was fatal and led to degradation and It was a very interesting deviation from the or- dispersion. dinary course followed among Christians when we Here is a lesson that Christians should take to heard Dr. M. D. Shastri, Principal of the famous heart. We who are working for Christ in the Government Sanskrit College of Benares, speak Bible lands must love men of other religions, but on "How Christ Appeals to the Hindu." He we must call them to worship only God as revealed stressed the Hindu position, viz., that every reli- in Jesus Christ. Men cannot live to the glory of gion has truth and is good for its own followers, God unless they are Christian. Christ must have so that there need be no rivalry or enmity between full and complete allegiance if God is to be glorireligions. The Hindus had no difficulty in rega~d fied.-The Presbyterian. ing Christ as a great teacher and incarnation, because Hinduism is essentially not a religion in the sense of a creed or a way of life but rather a socio-
A Missionary Vacation in Rural
A Letter from a Mother to Her Sons in America By MRS. T. W. B. DEMAREE Formerly under the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Oita, Japan -1889 to 1934 SIX of us left home on Saturday for Camp and Tuesday nights with a hundred or more in Nada Hachiman, about thirty miles from attendance. The railroad station master here is Oita. We had two cars in which to load our one of our Kitsuki Christians. He copied a hymn "junk." The girls rode in one car. We brought on a large sheet of paper; we tacked it up on a all the tent and fixtures. Our cars reminded me tree, built a bonfire for light and I taught them of California tourists. to sing. They responded and listened well. The The mosquitos are pretty bad here in evenings girls and I sang some special songs for them.
but we have our nets. The beach and sea bathing Even the old priest, who is at the head of the are perfect. Our tent is stretched in the pines big temple, has been to call and has attended the which grow along the beach as far as we can see. meetings with some of his colleagues. He ex- For this big round tent we need only a center pole pressed the desire to hear more.
and a few stobs and bamboo-quickly and easily Wednesday night, after supper, the members put up, especially where we have so many trees of our party put on their bathing suits and we to which to tie the ropes. went down to the beach. Soon we were joined by The Japanese were seemingly delighted to have the station master, and later a nice looking man us and everybody turned out to help. dressed in a white suit came up and introduced "What do you need?" they asked. himself, saying, "I live on a farm back in the "First," Daddy said, "we must have a center mountains and only heard today that a Christian pole-so long-some bamboo." missionary had come to this place for a few days. I have heard something about Christ and long to Off went a man on a bicycle and by the time we learn more. Have you time to teach me?" had our tent unrolled he came riding up with an ideal pole on his shoulder. Others produced the We came back to the tent and dressed and the smaller bamboo poles and all turned in to help. people continued to gather. I took a group to Talk about kindness, I never saw anything to one side and Daddy took charge of the inquirer.
beat it. Still they came. I spread down tent cloth and All day Sunday we had callers of all descrip- rugs and soon every seat was taken. There must tions: railroad officials, principals of schools, have been fully sixty earnest inquirers, and I teachers, school children, farmers from back in never saw more earnestness. Several times I rethe sticks, some of the funniest specimens. you marked that I thought they must be tired trying ever saw, with questions, questions. Then at to understand me but they declared they under- night a large .group came and asked for a Chris- stood perfectly and begged me to continue. When tian talk and Daddy must have talked for two they were gone Daddy and I were too happy to go hours. He promised to have a real meeting for to bed so we walked down toward the sea to look them tonight when he blows his cornet. at the beautiful full moon and its reflection in the sea, when seven young men came up on bicycles Today we have had rather a quiet day with very saying they had heard in their village, several few inquisitive gazers. The principal of the Kit- miles away, about our meetings and they had come suki girls' school where I once spoke called today with a large basket of fruit, lovely plums and to learn. They seemed much disappointed to learn natsu mikan, which grew in his own garden. that the meeting was over, and asked if we would *** not talk to them a little while, so Daddy took them I stopped to play some games with the crowd. in charge.
. . Now I am seated several paces. from the tent Before I was asleep some old drunken fellows in the shade of the pines with a wonderful breeze came by and made a big hubbub. One old fellow blowing from the sea. We had meetings Monday came into the tent (side curtains were all up) [198 ]
THE NEED OF FARMERS IN JAPAN
and called out in a big loud voice, "Obasan, obasan, real country but autos and autotrucks are conare you asleep? I want your address in Oita so tinually passing and an aeroplane passed over that I can come there and learn more about Chris- my head. tianity. I'm a little drunk tQnight because today we finished putting up the big stQne torii for Qur Day before yesterday as I sat peeling potatoes temple and we are celebrating. Yes, I'm a little for supper a boy was racing his pony al'ound the drunk but I want to. hear mQre." race track beyond our tent. The horse fell and we thought the boy was killed. Daddy and I both He and Qthers hung arQund until after one a. m. started toward him taking a bucket of cold water but we finally shook them off without even mak- from the well. After some working of the bQY's ing them mad. arms and plenty of cold water he began to breathe. Then Japanese came and carried him to. his broth- The man who came early last night from up in er's home. No. bones were broken, and today he the mountains came again as we were finishing is up and has been here, with his parents, kin and breakfast, bringing some beautiful dahlias and neighbors galQre, to. thank us for having saved pears. He was a hungry looking soul and Daddy talked with him for over an hQur. "0, how I wish his life. . . . . they could know there is room for them all and Yesterday the superintendent of the railroad, that Jesus bids them come." three principals of schools, an ex-army captain This is a perfectly wonderful place to spend a and other dignitaries called. . . . summer, and I've never run up against such an opportunity. There is no church near and it is After six days we came back home; we did not get much rest but we had a good time.
The Need of Farmers in Japan* By DR. TOYOHIKO KAGAWA, Tokyo I N JAPAN we have 140 large cities and 1,200 operative. The scale of health insurance is based tQwns and villages are rural. Only 4870 of on the income of the village. The more income the total population is rural. Each year more you have the more you pay. But the treatment than 100,000 people leave the rural sections and and the number of visits of the doctor are the same go to the cities. Five million seven hundred thou- no matter what fee you have paid. sand rural people live on six million hectares. of land. (One hectare equals two and a half acres.) The farmers can now buy good fertilizers be- cause of the cooperatives. They can also buy the Our first cooperative association for farmers lands they till. In 1931 the farmers of Japan sufwas introduced from Germany a few years ago. fered from a depression and a panic. As one re- Until then the farmers borrowed money from the sult many lost the ownership of their lands and loan sharks, with interest sometimes 2570 and today about 4070 of the 5,700,000 farmers are landless. Thirty per cent of them have a little sometimes 30 % per year. The government had a regulation that interest was to he only 20 % on a land; 70 % are tenant farmers; 28 % own small debt, but the loan sharks were able to squeeze the lands; only 270 of the farmers are well off. peasants for more. Today more than 14,000 co- Sixty-five per cent of the owners of farms live in operatives have been organized for the farmers of the tQwns and cities. Therefore, we are endeav- 12,000 communities. There is one central coop- oring through cooperatives to give back to the erative union. farmers the lands which are owned by city people. Each year there are about 3,000 cases of land dis~ Today we have 8,600 storages for rice based on putes-Iabor disputes are almost stopped, but not the cooperative scheme. Through these storages land disputes – because of what the Japanese and cooperatives the price of rice can be fixed farmers suffer from the city owners of their completely. About the middle of December, when farms. Last year the Diet passed a resolution we know about the rice crop, the rate is fixed for that an owner·of farmland can sell the land to anthe year. We can fix the price of silk also.. other person only with the consent of the tiller of the soil. If the tiller of the soil will consult with Through the cooperative plan that we got from the farm credit cooperative, he can probaJbly be Denmark, we have four different forms of insur- helped to buy back his land from the city owner. ance for the people in rural areas. We have a harvest insurance for the rice crop and the silkworm The lay leaders of the Christian churches, as crop; a livestock insurance; a health insurance individuals, are active in these organizations cooperative; and a national health insurance co- everywhere.
• From an address at the 1. M. c. meeting, Madras.
of Rural Life in Africa*
By IRA E. GILLET, Kambini, Portuguese East Africa I ~.- I Principal, Cenlral Training School ~=========================.
A MAN in India was showing me photographs; cupboards and doors. The 8,000 East Indians as he hurriedly passed over some of them residing in the colony handle the major part of the he said, "These are just ordinary villagers." retail trade, and their cloth and blankets are "Ordinary villagers!" I said in amazement, largely replacing the bark-eloth and skins of "why that is all we have in Africa!" former days.
Our people are all "ordinary villagers," exc~pt Protestant Work for a few who are adjusting themselves to the lIfe and work of Durban, Capetown, and the mining Protestant Christian work is almost entirely confined to the southern districts of the colony. areas of Rhodesia and the Rand. For more than Here six long-established and four more recently four million people in Mozambique, more than half established missions are at work under increasas large as the Union of South Africa, and ex- ing limitations. tending for fifteen degrees along the east coast, we have only one high school, and that is in the Speaking for one mission, we insist that mis- sionaries sent out by the Board be rural-minded. extreme southern end of the colony. A man who prefers a game of tennis to a shower when the land needs rain, who is glad to buy eggs A large maj ority of the able-bodied men of our for less than they are worth, or who is too dainty section are continuously away from home at work to touch the manure cart need not apply. in the gold and coal mines of the Transvaal, some of them going as often as eight or ten times for Since the general standard of living, of sobriety, of trustworthiness, and of education, is much shifts of eighteen months each. At the mines the higher in the Christian villages than outside, the unskilled laborer receives about six times as much local administrators are generally sympathetic. in wages as in the colony. Some of this eventually reaches the home village but this, residue is seldom We have a central training school, based on a put into permanent village development. farm and including a Jeanes school, in which church, hospital, farm,shops and classes work as The earthly possessions of most families con- an integrated whole, together with the surround- ing community. Student candidates are examined sist of a pole-and-earth hut, roofed with grass. In and recommended by the elders of their communi- ties whether they be men or boys. Men must the one or two rooms of this house there is little bring their wives and children and establisl;t self- supporting homes for three years, after which the or no furniture beyond a few baskets, pots and more capable ones are permitted to continue for a further period. The whole family attends classes, hgroaeis~', and immediately a fter harvest there is some tills the soil under the direction of the farm leaders such as peanuts, corn, beans and millet, and according to approved methods, shares in the worship and community service of the churchupon which the owner pays an annual tax of about both locally and at considerable distance from the school center. Surveys, preaching missions, agriten dollars. cultural fairs, institutes, and tours of farm-coun- selling are carried on with faculty supervision Because of constant moving to the mines, tribal within a radius of 150 miles – all within the life is badly disintegrated and home life is broken framework of the church organization. up. Where this has not come to pass and where there are sufficient male adults at home to attend In addition to their regular school classes, the the cattle and goats, there are still herds of in- wives are taught various aspects of home-making, ferior cattle, seldom (though increasingly) used simple nursing and midwifery as well as how to for plowing. Farming methods are slow and lead worship services. In fact, nothing that is wasteful. Villagers leave the worked-out fields vital to home and village life is foreign to our proand cultivate new land or old land that has grown up again to thickets. Undecorated clay pots, g~od baskets and mats of various kinds, a little tannmg of hides and a little whittling of wooden articles are the limit of general handicraft; carpentry of the European style is becoming popular for the more progressive, for the making of chairs, tables, • Notes taken by W. W. Reid at the Madras Conference. gram and interest.
[200 ]
RURAL CHANGES IN MEXICO TODAY
Gl'OUPS of Christian villages. are joined into a permanent residences. All church buildings and circuit which, from its own funds, supplemented parsonages and medical substations are built by in decreasing proportion by the mission, makes its the local church. own budget for evangelism, health services, instruction, bulk subscriptions for vernacular news- A family trained at the school goes to a new papers carrying Sunday school lessons, pastoral village or to an old one in need of help, and sets support, home missions and connectional funds. up a permanent home. The man begins his farm There are sixteen of these circuits, including 175 work, and his community visitation as time and villages. Each meets quarterly for inspiration and resources permit, and as need appears. The cirbusiness. To suggest that any of their needs of cuit may give him fl'om two and a half dollars to life do not come within the Church's interes,t five dollars during the quarter depending upon would come to them as a surprise. circumstances; so that he need not resort to the mines to get money for his tax. He and his wife An annual consecration of hoes, seed, and other preach, nurse, teach, farm, encourage, act as implements is held in the majority of these vil- peacemakers, and in short become "lights. in the lages, usually at planting time. Thank offerings world." at the time of the harvest festival bring in gifts according to the gladness-though not necessarily Missionaries visit these Ex-students as often as according to the wealth – of these farmers. In possible and confer with them concerning their spite of evident poverty, with very meagre educa- problems. As they are given larger responsibility tion, surrounded by SOl'cery and drunkenness, they are also taken through additional courses of these units of the Church look to their school at study; and short courses and private conference& the center; to this school they send their boys and are :&requently arranged. their families, and from it they receive help. The primary boarding school for young boys Happily the African in our colony is not the- seems to have contributed little to this whole deoretically the victim of the color bar in industry. velopment, and I am convinced that this luxury The opportunity is usually there for those who is too ineffective to be continued. It must give will take advantage of it. Moreover, by the de- place to more provision for day school instruction velopment of the land the African can make his of students who live at home and so are able to claim to it secure, so that he has not to depend transmit the school influence directly and immesolely on communal holding. Many of our Chris- diately to the home. Much of this can be done tian people are taking advantage of this to erect through some such plan as 4-H clubs and adult education over a wider area.
Rural Changes in Mexico Today* By PROF. G. BAEZ CAMARGO Secretary, National Evangelical Council of Mexico I N MEXICO we are going through a social Spanish seized. The ownership of these lands was change that is greatly affecting the rural life investigated after the Revolution and resulted in of the country. Our rural problems are due to the restoration of much of this communal land to the breaking down of a land system that pre~ the villages. But in the years many new villages vailed for 400 years. The old system of cultiva- had sprung up and they had no lands; for them tion was primitive in technique, and large areas the government bought land and gave it to the of land were in a very few hands. An extreme villages. case, yet illustrating the system, was that one landowner had an area equal to about half the size This ability to own land has made a tremendous of France. change in the life of the village and of the farmer. Before that the farmer had been getting a small In 1910 the Mexican Revolution began. One of wage for tilling the land; he was paid with tickets its main objectives was. the breaking down of the and had to buy his provisions with these tickets system of land holding, the distribution of land, from stores owned by the landowners. Now with and the making of small farms. The old Indian the allocation of land to the villagers., they must villages had communal lands which all the people work their own land, and they cannot count on a of the village cultivated together. These lands the fixed amount of income each week. But the gov- ernment is getting these farmers and villagers * Extract from an address delivered at the recent International adj usted to the new system.
Missionary Conference, at Madras.
Mahka La's Story*
I -..gf By GUSTAF A. SWORD, Kutkai, Burma I ~- SUBADAR MAHKA LA of Kutkai, Burma, Subadar until he saw the thick filthy black tar- was a nominal Christian but a slave to the strong drink and opium habits. More than like substance was being washed from his body. once did he try to break the habit but without success. Associating with one of the young Ka- Especially from the tips of his fingers came a conchin chiefs, who became a Christian ten years ago and who has experienced the power of God, the tinuous stream of filth and slime. The more they Subadar felt more disgusted with himself than ever before and asked the Christian chief for ad- scrubbed the better he felt. vice and help. The chief told the Subadar that the only way of help he knew was through honest After a while the mystical visitors gradually and persistent prayer to God. And so the Subadar began to pray as never before. faded away in the light. Then the light disap- One night he had a vision; a wonderful light peared and the Subadar awakened from his filled the room and his heart and he saw some supernatural beings. In the pure bright light the dream. A wonderful sensation filled his soul. He Subadar felt filthy, mean and unclean. He looked upon his hands and his body and saw that he was felt clean; he felt free, and happy. • black with a dirty substance like opium. One of the visitors came close to him and when he saw As the Subadar got up and walked about he the filth and misery he told the Subadar to wash himself and be cleansed. The Subadar answered: spied his old opium pipe and a package of opium.
"Sir, I am not able to wash myself. I have tried The sight and the smell of it was nauseating so he but this filth sticks to me, no matter how much I try to rid myself of it. Sir, if you will wash me set about to destroy it. He also poured out the then I will be clean." strong drink. Indeed he had been washed clean. Then this supernatural being called his comrades and they set to scrubbing and washing the It is now five years since this happened and the • From The Burma News. Subadar is now a deacon in the church. All who knew him marvelled at the change; today he is a living testimony to God's saving power.
A few years ago when I was in Kutkai building the new mission bungalow, the Subadar came one evening and placed something in my hand saying, "This is my gift for the new Kutkai chapel." It was dark, I could not count the money but as I came into the grass hut we had erected while we were building the new bungalow, I counted the money and found Rs. 150. Since then he has given me Rs. 350 more for the new chapel. He has also given Rs. 300 to the new Baptist Kachin Mission enterprise in Sumprabum.
OAN A OHRISTIAN BE NON-MISSIONARY?
There is no such person as a Christian who is not making a sacrifice to support the work of the Church at home and abroad. I am not the authority for this statement. Christ is, for it was He who said, "He who would come after me let him deny himself" . . . also "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." We can't escape the fact that He called us to be ready to make a willing sacrifice in order that all men everywhere might share the Good News. . . . Christ decided this nineteen centuries ago, and all we can do is to either prove our loyalty by heeding His command, or rule ourselves out of the company of those who are truly His followers. The work of Christ needs, and has a right to expect, the united backing of every man, woman and child in the whole Church. Furthermore, I do not consider a person worthy of being presented for confirmation unless he is ready and eager to make his pledge on both sides of the envelope for the work of the whole Church. It is time we stopped turning out these generations of church members, half of whom are ignorant as to their responsibility when it comes to the support of the work of the Church.
-Bishop Hobson.
[202 ] I Effective Ways of Working Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, 5718 OAK AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~===============================I~ Not Too Early to Plan! light of present conditions. But mends: "The cost varies from here is a job for the Christians institute to institute, but runs to Plan what? To have at least of the world. I am coming to $25-$35 each, for the ten daysone member from your group believe that if enough Christians for room, board, and tuition. attend a Peace Institute this face this problem, we can condi- Tuition alone is generally $10, summer. tion the next generation to think which is the total cost to be and act in terms of world borne by persons from the neigh- You cannot afford to have brotherhood. borhood. your missionary organization, church and community without "I came away from the con- "Some churches are raising a the stimulation and inspiration scholarship fund to send delethat having a representative at ference, with a definite convic- gates. Women's organizations a Peace Institute will bring. tion that a free church has an might hold benefit teas or din- important function to fulfil in ners, planned in the interna- What values are there to be tional spirit with foreign cosgained? Let some of those speak this present world crisis. Our tumes, flags and posters. The who have gone to other institute American churches dare not money raised could be used to meetings. mark time. In this present crisis send the pastor of the church or the Church must challenge the one of the Church School teach- A woman says: "It was a thinking people of our country, ers. Here is a concrete project stimulating experience to have in terms of world responsibility. for those who ask, 'What can I such men as Samuel Guy Inman We must do it now while we are do for peace?' interpret South America to us; not at war – once war is deto have T. Z. Koo of China, with clared, it will be too late." "The institute is an invaluable all his charm, bring to us the experience. It affords an opporbackgrounds of oriental ten- A student says: "The spirit tunity to sit under internasions; and to have Hugo F. of fellowship was uniquely ap~ tionally known authorities; to Simon rub our thinking the mingle with people from many wrong way. Every course was parent in the way it dominated valuable in helping us to under- even the most bitter of the dis- backgrounds – ministers, teachstand underlying currents in an putes which sometimes arose out ers, librarians, peace leaders, ever-changing world. . . . We of our discussions. Therefore workers, students, religious eduleftNaperville 'instructed' and the two weeks was not only cation directors; and to receive 'inspired' to do something to help highly educational and very en- the stimulus of fresh ideas. bring about better understanding between the races and to joyable, but deeply inspirational "Then too-and not the least make this a better world for in its unity of purpose in the -there is the delightful summer others as well as for ourselves." face of sharply opposed opinions. campus on which the institute is held. All these elements com- A pastor says: "Well-out of "I must add that frequent bine to offer the institute-goer a the experience of those ten days, comments were voiced as to the rewarding time." I returned to my parish with the character of the leadership and renewal and deepening of cer- the staff members. The institute It is sound advice for all of us. tain convictions about life. I members were impressed by the Your first step is to write to your sensed anew the fact of the in- workers of the American Friends missionary or "social action" terdependence of the great hu- who were giving so much time board for information about past man family. I saw the similarity and energy to this cause. and future institutes. Second, of the problems which confront find out approximate costs for the different nations of the "As we left, we were not only the one nearest to you. Third, world. I was strengthened in keyed up to a peak of interest find the person most fitted to go the conviction that the one hope in getting out and fighting in the -your pastor, one of the leading for a way out of all this con- peace movement, but also in a laymen, an outstanding woman fusion is through world coop- feeling that groups such as the eration. American Friends Service Com- of the church-choose carefully. mittee and the Council for Social The person chosen must be able "This looks hopeless in the Action deserve our sincerest to provide leadership after re- support." turning. Do not send a simple The Missionary Herald (Con- gregational – Christian) recom- [203 ]
sponge, no matter how keen the eign Missions came to their hun- of the histo.ry of their "Christ- sponge may be to absorb it all. dredth anniversary, and wanted mas Tree in May" and presented You don't want .to. have to spend a new hymn to celebrate that oc- the plans for the celebration of time squeezing to get informa- casion, this one was chosen from it this year.
tion when your delegate returns! over two hundred hymns sub- The back page of the folder Fourth, lay plans fo.r pro.viding mitted. It was written by Dr. tells the story of the enterprise. tuition,transPo.rtation, board Jay Glover Eldridge of Moscow, and room and texts if needed. Idaho. We all rejoice with the HOW WE STARTED It is not too so.on to start plan- Presbyterian Board in its com- In 1921 Bethel Bible School sent its ning. It takes time to get infor- pletion of such a span of service mation, to secure funds, to de- and we find in the hymn an ex- first big Christmas Box to India. It velop interest, to find the best pression of our o.wn ho.pe and de- carried so much joy to the folks who sire; we therefore want to add received it that for fifteen years it to those hymns through which Bethel folks packed veritable treasure we voice our own aspirations. person to. send and to. complete stores of happiness into great wooden arrangements. Summer rolls The tune to which it is set is boxes and shipped them to India. Each around all too soo.n. * year hundreds of boys and girls, men and women, and leper patients in our mission station depended for their Display Gifts Before Sending fo.und in most church hymnals. Christmas remembrances upon the ar- It is the familiar and beautiful rival of this box. Clothing, school There is much satisfaction in "Hymn to J o.Y" by Beethoven, supplies, religious literature, toilet work completed; the value of the tune to which o.rdinarily we articles, toys, and literally thousands this we ignore when we allo.w a sing "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore of things crossed the ocean each year. co.mmittee to collect gifts, pack Thee." and send them, making a weak Several years ago an increase on verbal repo.rt, or even none. After using this hymn as a the "duty" which our missionaries had solo or qua.rtette, use it in the to pay made us decide to send the With the above procedure, next meeting as a hymn, sung by money instead of a box, thus saving contrast the following: the entire group. It should be the expense qf transportation and in- used frequently thereafter until surance. . The women who co.llected it becomes familiar. scraps for making bed covers for HOW IT WORKED flo.od relief were themselves ut- God of years, Thy love hath led us, terly amazed at the two beautiful Thou hast been our bulwark, strong, Our new plan has been highly sucand serviceable covers evolved cessful. Our members have responded from their contributions. They Wall of fire against the wicked, as loyally to this way of giving as will be ready to embark on a Sword of power against the wrong. they did when bringing articles in similar enterprise again. Christmas wrappings. In 1936 and Thou hast blest of old Thy servants 1937 we sent checks of $100, which The women who made gar- As they bore Thy message far; our missionaries have gladly turned men.ts for a migrant Christian into many useful and welcome gifts. Center, and those who had not We who follow in their footsteps joined in the actual work, were Evermore tpeir debtors are. On next Sunday, May 15th, each delighted and encouraged at the member of the Bible School will be sight of a clothes-line full of Onward lead, 0 King eternal, given a small colored bag into which pretty garments, flapping in the Lo, we heed Thy high command, to put a gift for our Christmas check breeze at their outdoor meeting to India. These bags are to be rejust before the garments were Bear good news to every people, turned on the following Sunday, May sent off. Far and near, in every land. 22nd, and hung on Christmas trees in each department as a part of our ob- Seeing the completed task Thine they are, Thy love doth seek servance of "Christmas in May." We gives a feeling of satisfaction so them, are counting on you! that in future similar tasks will be more readily undertaken. Thou wouldst bring them to the Before we turn to the other light; pages of the folder, please note No matter what your under- how skillfully joy of sending actaking, try to. give the entire or- Lead us on till darkness brightens, tual packages has been turned ganization a visual impression o.f On till faith is lost in sight. into happiness in sending a it in its finished state. money gift. Notice that the Lead us forth, a Church united, little bags in which the money is Strong, courageous, in Thy might. to be collected are bright-colo.red, They will take the place of the Lo, the fields are white with harvest, brightly wrapped packages on Sheaves to garner ere the night. the tree, and will have a dra- One our purpose, One our Leader, LeTSaodhusushsaTlohlny,loavCeh,Kuwricnohgrldseh-twealrilndean,le, vperervfaaiil.lt; The Summer Christmas Tree Enrich Your Devotionals Early in May, 1938, a fo.ur- matic value that mere envelopes for an offering cannot have. Here is a new hymn well worth page folder was distributed to adding to your devotional ma- the members of the Sunday But now let us turn to the first terials. It should be sung first school o.f a large church in page of the folder. It announces as a solo. o.r by a quartette. A Evansville, Indiana, It was not the idea – Christmas in May brief introduction may precede a surprise, of course, for they that Others May Have Christmas its first use, stating that when had for eighteen years been hav- in India in December. It is decthe Presbyterian Board of For- orated with a simple line draw- ing the fun of a Christmas tree ing of a Christmas tree hung in May. But it reminded them with bright-colored balls. That • All quotations are from The Missionary t Copyright by The Board of Foreign Mis- will be the bright co.lored bags of the offerings! Herold at Home ana Abroad and are used by sions of the Presbyterian Church. Used by permiSSion. permiSSion.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
A little verse by the mission- their bright bags on Christ~as Reading for Children * trees small enough to be carned. ary in India closes, "whole In selecting missionary books Christmas in December, makes Then from each department, in all of us remember Him, whose for children, there are always coming brought Christmas for procession, headed by one ca~ry us all." two points to keep in mind. ing the tree, they come hack mto Perhaps the nicest part of this First tChheildarpepneaarraenceent~otlfedthtoe announcement folder is the in- the auditorium, where the trees book.' side two pages which carry a Mother's Day thought which bearing their gifts of love are beautiful books. By thIS I do links this observance of Christmas in May to a Mother and placed together on the pla~form. not mean expensive books, be- Child of long ago. Now the gifts are dedIcated. cause many less expensive bo?ks On Christmas night-long, long ago A mother's arms a baby held. It is recalled what joy ther.e will combine the good taste and SIm- A Child that was the Hope of man be in the use of the articles pur- plicity which are char~cteris~ic A prophet's dream at last fulfilled. chased with the money, or other of beautiful books-a hIgh pnce So many children since that day In many lands o'er all the eartJ:1 uses made of it, in that far-off does not necessarily guarantee Rejoice on Christmas Day and smg land of India. There is emphasis quality. But a book for a child Of Jesus and His holy birth. placed on the gift as a link of must be attractive to the eye as Yet many children would not know Of Him and what He came to be love between those giving and well as to the mind-its size and Except as men and women go those receiving. Carols are sung. shape, the siz~ and face of the To take His Word across the sea. Christmas in May is over. type the bindmg, the cover de- The Church a mother needs to be With arms outstretched to gently The groups which use the sign' and the jacket. hold Summer Christmas Tree idea The second point is the con- Each tiny soul close to her heart And with her love all babes enfold. have found that in this quieter tent. A beautiful appearance is "Christl1w8 in May" our slogan is time the carols are sung with worthless without value between "That Others May Have Christmas Too." fresh zest and enjoyment; that the covers. In judging the con- In May we bring our gifts of love there is opportunity for inter- tents of books for children, there To make their Christmas dreams come true. preting the Christmas message is one question to ask one's self: By poverty and sin oppressed to the world in terms beyond Is the content of the book with- Not many joys their own they call that of remembering the first in the ability of the child for A gift from you may make them know Christmas; that where gifts are whom it is chosen – are the That Jesus came and loved them sent more careful planning is words and the incidents within all. mpoosnseiby,le~' that where the gift is his understanding? 'Tis fitting then, this Mother's Day more generous gift is To think of India's children too The final question, which is available and eagerly offered. As real they are, though far away the deciding factor in a decision As your own children are to you. In trying any such plan it is to buy this book instead of that, In serving them, honor anew weU to remember that careful Mother and Child of Bethlehem. is : Is the content Christian? motivation is necessary. We Send Christmas cheer acros~ the sea Are Christian attitudes, sympa- To India's children-In HIS Name. cannot simply s.ay, "Lo! We will thies and conducts treated as So much for the folder. It does have a summer Christmas tree. motivate the enterprise nicely. natural and normal expressions Careful planning and work in Let everyone bring gifts for it." the departments togethe~ w!th of life? education about the destmatIOn Study the record of what this and use of the gifts comes to a In selecting missionary books culmination on the day set. church actually did, how it Each one from tiny child to for children a few factors must grandmother brings a little planned, and what its presentabright-colored bag to the Sun- be applied: (1) The facts about day school service. tions were. Work out your own other racial and national groups Everyone meets to sing carols plans with a definite reason for for fifteen minutes. Then they must be true. (2) The book go to departmen~s, wher.e a bri~f attempting it; think thoroughly service of worshIp culmmates m must not contain any statements through the introduction to it or illustrations that hold racial which you will use. ~ake ~he occasion a real celebratIOn, WIth or national groups up to ridicule.
enough ceremonial to bring the (3) Great world issues, such as atmosphere of Christmas into its disarmament, world peace, eco- observance. Do not attempt, nomic justice, and racial equal- hwohwicehvegr~ to imitate those things ity must not be minimized. (4) into the season itself, There should be no statements such as simulated snow, etc. by which children I?igh~ gener- Here is a chance to have a semi- alize and come to IdentIfy cer- tropical Christmas, such as a tain racial or national groups great part of the world has every with criminal offenses.
year anyway. Start with plans Many of the books which chil- not too elaborate, and if you find dren have been using as supple- the idea has values, let the ob- mentary readers in geography servance grow from year to are useful in this work of mis- year into one of those traditional sionaryeducation. Many secular affairs, ever recur. ring,.yet . ever publication h~uses are prod?c- new and ever mcreasmg m ing books whIch really are m- worth and value for those taking herently missionary.
hanging the gifts of money in part in its observance. • From Women ana Miss·Wn8.
A Story for the
By VIOLET WOOD, Missionary Education Movement THE GARDEN OF JOSEPH You hQnQr yourself in honoring can to make amends for my past OF ARIMATHlEA cowardness." him," said the boy. "It is the same as when Jesus NicQdemus plucked at his long Drawing their mantles about was born – no. place to. lay his them, Joseph and Nicodemus head. And nQw," Benjamin beard as he sat at the rough table went to Pilot and boldly asked wiped away la tear, "who will on which a flickering lamp for the body of Jesus. Receivtake him down from the cross? ing his permission, they went to Who will give a corner of his es- burned. It should have been still the hill called Golgotha, near to tate for the body of Jesus? He daylight outside, but a strange Joseph's burying ground, and said that he WQuld rise again. took the body from the cross. Oh, that he might rise in a darkness had covered Jerusalem Solemnly they wrapped it in garden such as that Qne of yQurs that afternoon. near to. Jerusalem, beautiful with spices and placed it in the new sunlight, flowers of lilies and "My trades will suffer if the tomb in Joseph's garden. Then palm trees!" Jews think that I am a disciple Qf the Nazarene," sighed Joseph. they rolled a great stone against Joseph of Arimathrea paced the entrance and went home to "Yes," a g r e e d Nicodemus, observe the Sabbath. Meanwhile "but perhaps we could take the Pilot placed a guard of soldiers body in the night and bury him secretly." Benjamin forgot that he was up and down as the boy was but a servant boy and cried to watch the tomb, and to prespeaking. Of all his servants scornfully, "All the wQrld will vent the body from being stolen. none was so loved as the young know where Jesus is buried. You The Sabbath passed in gloom. lad, Benjamin, because he was a cannot hide his burial pl1ace. I But on the third day a great fearless disciple Qf Jesus. Joseph have heard that he said he would commotion arose in the streets. was a believer, too, but in secret. rise again from the dead." Often the master and servant People said to one another: "The journeyed together as father "Your faith shames my grave of Jesus is empty, in spite and son. Benjamin was excused years," said Joseph. of Pilot's guard. The stone is from his work to go to the rolled away! Jesus' disciples say market and public pl1aces to hear The llamp on the table flick- Jesus speak. The boy would re- ered as the door opened and a that he has risen from the dead." turn to the inn where Joseph heavily veiled lady crossed the Hearing this rumor, Joseph, Nic- room and ran to Nicodemus, cry- odemus and Benjamin hurried to awaited him and would sit up ing: "Suchan evil day I have the garden; they saw the empty half the night telling the mer- tomb and marvelled. They also chant what Jesus had said and never seen, my husband. I have been the whole day following the heard the stories of the women done. crowds. Jesus has been cruci- who had gone early to the gar- den and were told how the fied."
A full day they had traveled "But he promised that he will guards had tried to defend themfrom Arimathrea to Jerusalem to live again," cried Benjamin. selves. the house of Nicodemus, a ruler "Judith, this ,child is a disciple "Look," cried Benj amin, "how of the Jews. He, too, was drawn of Jesus, and he would have beautiful this garden is! See to Jesus and had visited him by Joseph give the new tomb in his how the flowers are blooming. night to ask him many questions. garden outside the walls of Jeru- It is a holy place and people will "He gave all fQr me," mut- salem for the body of Jesus," ex- come to see it from over the seas tered Joseph, partly to himself, plained NicQdemus. and across burning deserts." "even his life. And I stand here "I beg it, too," said she as she Benjamin was right. Of all hesitant to give his crucified clasped her hands and turned to the gardens in the world the body a corner of my garden. Yet Nicodemus. "Let us give linens most famous in song and story if I went to Pilate, it would be and aloes to a hundred pounds." is the garden of Joseph of known that I am a disciple of She swung around to Joseph, ex- Arimathrea where the body of claiming: "I would not be Pon- Jesus was buried and where he Jesus." "Ah, but if you love him, J 0- tius Pilate for all the perfumes rose from the dead. seph of Arimathrea, you will of the East. He is uneasy in his count it an hQnor to have his soul tonight. He will not refuse Making Use of This Story body rest in yQur new tomb. In you." Children like to take part in pagthe years to come, men will "I will do it," said Joseph sud- eants, especially when they can be in denly, "for my heart tells me not costume and perform before adults. travel from far and near to see They like better often to take part in the place. 'Here it was,' they to be a coward." plays among themselves and to let will say, 'that the Lord's body "I go with you," cried Nico- their imaginations supply stage prop- was laid by his friend J Qseph.' demus, "and will do whatever I erties and costumes.
[206 ] BULLETIN Council of Women for 'Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E, LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
===============================~ "CAN CHRISTIANS BIND carry it out. It is hoped that Three members, each from the THE WORLD TOGETHER?" there may be a national radio The only answer to this is: we broadcast as a closing address. National Council of Federated can try. As we face a choice be- But for this the local papers Church Women, the Council of should be watched and local pro- Women for Home Mission-s, and tween Christianity and chaos, grams arranged accordingly. and there seems to be no other the Committee on Women's alternative, it is important that Last year the church women Work of the Foreign Missions of 414 communities in forty-four Conference. The activities and we should think and work to- states and Canada reported havgether. The National Committee ing h e I d interdenominational interests which have become the May Luncheons for the first responsibilities of its committees of Church Women brings this time. This is all the more re- include: (1) International relachallenge to the Christian wom- markable in that only one such tions, (2) World Day of Prayer, en of 77,000 communities in the luncheon was held in New York (3) May Day Luncheon, (4) The United States, and asks that they City each year during the years Church Woman (magazine), and unite in a nation-wide observ- 1934 to 1937 with an average at- (5) local programs. ance of the May Luncheon on tendance in the two hundreds. Thursday, May 4, 1939. To quote from a few of the re- The foundations for the organ- ports which came in last year: The May Luncheons may be "Westminster, Maryland. The ization of the National Commitheld wherever convenient – ho- most thrilling thing was the way tee of Church Women in its prestel, parish house, church gym- all seven churches cooperated in ent form were many years in the nasium or private home-as long arranging for the luncheon." laying. During the early part of as all "come together with one "Elmira, New York. Our main mind." It is suggested that plans address was broadcast for forty- the twentieth century a number five min utes over WESG." of community women's interdebe started immediately by a local "Lyndhurst, New Jersey. A nominational g r 0 ups were wo man's interdenominational committee was appointed to meet formed to further programs of group, a church woman's group, ten days after the luncheon to study and service. The year or some one woman. The coop~ make plans for further unity." 1924 found these groups related "Lawrence, Kansas. Twelve deeration of all Christian women nominations were represented." to the Council of Women for in the community is vital. "In- Home Missions and the Federaterdenominational" means not *** tion of Woman's Boards of Foronly members of the Protestant eign Missions, but evidencing a churches but of all churches WHY IS THERE A NA- desire to extend their programs which "accept Jesus Christ as TJONAL COMMITTEE OF into fields beyond these forms of God and Saviour," for so does CHURCH WOMEN? "Recogthe constitution of the WorId nizing the desperate need of the mission service so as to include Council define its membership. world for the leadership of Jesus all phases of the church's pro- in all areas of life, we hereby de- gram. In ord~r that church women clare that it is imperative that the country over may face the the womanhood of America be- In 1936 the National Council task unitedly, it is. essential (1) come a united force for bringing that the subject for the luncheon in the Kingdom of God and that of Federated Church Women be, "Can Christians Bind the this united body shall relate it- elected a Commission on Re- World Together?"; (2) that the self definitely to an inclusive evaluation to make a study of the I uncheon he interdenomina- united C h r i s t ian advance." whole movement of interdenomtional; and (3) that it be held These words embody the objec- inational cooperation and relaon May 4th. A program outline tive of the Committee which tionships. One of its recommenis being prepared and will be came into being January, 1938. dations was that a conference of Who constitutes the National all national Protestant interdesent to anyone on receipt of five Committee of Church Women? nominational women's groups cents in stamps.. (Address: The and denominational leaders be National Committee of Church [207] held. Out of that conference, Women, Room 63, 297 Fourth held at Lake Geneva in July, Avenue, New York, N. Y.) Local 1937, came the recommendation that a cooperative committee be leaders will have to be secured to formed. This was a,pproved by the two mission organizations,
members were appointed, and an without the aid of God, but I terms of human personality and initial meeting held September, KNOW . . . I KNOW . . . it the right of every man to be 1937. This committee was con- cannot be done without Him." treated as a God-created being stituted as the National Commit- whatever his race, color or tee of Church Women in J an- "How can we make you see," creed." uary, 1938. said he to the young people, "that this is the greatest cause you can "We need to make better use "This committee has taken dedicate your lives to today. All of our leisure time, devoting it only the first steps in cooperation about you, you see practices chal- to our cause and let people know and coordination," states its lenging your sense of right and we have a cause worth working chairman. "We dare not proph- wrong. All about you are signs for." esy as to its future, but we hope of an undermining of our prethis initial step may mean a cious heritage, the democracy in "We need to discover the truth steadily growing unity among which we live, founded in faith about monopoly control, selfish church women in purpose, pro- by our forefathers with the courgram and action, for only thus age of a real conviction." use of land which robs the soil can the respons,ibility in the of the power to bear fruit, selfish overwhelming tasks which are Where can youth find a use of privilege, exploitation of facing the Church and the church greater challenge than the call labor groups, the underpriviwoman today be faced and met." to heal the deep cleavage so ap- leged migrants,share-croppers, parent in human relations today. MABEL M. SHEIBLEY, Man's inhumanity to man, greed, tenant farmers, the unemployed, crime, oppression, strife, envy, city slum areas, the plight of the Member of the Editorial American Indian and the prob- and Publicity Committee, hate, and war, are these not ene- lems of Indian youth, unfair Council 0 f Women f.or mies enough to challenge any ad- practices in industry and race Home Missions. discrimination. All of us are in venturous soul? A "CAUSE" FOR AMER- Following Dr. Muste's ad- close touch with some of these ICAN YOUTH conditions. We may find that dress, five young people told very church people are in part respon- On January 8 there was held in Baltimore a conference for graphically what avenues of sible and therefore not willing young people, the purpose of service were open to· young peO- that our investigations should be which was to help them see a ple. made an issue. We shall need the little more clearly how they could make real the fact that Christian The young people then sep- courage therefore of our convic- Youth has, the answer to the vital arated and met in small groups tions, that is why it is important problems that face our world to- to discuss more intimately ways day. that we have convictions, and and means of participation in dare to live by them." Choosing as its theme, "Chris- the enterprises which offer optian Youth Has the Answer," the portunities for service. "We do not need to be minis- Young People's Committee of the ters or missionaries to put the Home Missions Councils spon- A number of very concrete Gospel into action." sored this conference for young recommendations were the repeople in connection with the sult of these group conferences, "We can form study groups, annual meetings of the Home some of which we enumerate: join a discussion group, plan and Missions Councils. carry out local projects, make a "We need to inform ourselves survey together, e x c han g e Dr. Abraham Muste, of the concerning conditions that are friendship invitations with for- Labor Temple, New York City, impoverishing and debasing mil- eign groups, offer our leisure was invited to pres.ent to youth lions of our fellow countrymen." his challenging message born out time to social service and recreaof a deep personal conviction "We need to demonstrate that tional centers, give voluntary that Christ is the only answer we are not willing to accept priv- service to City Mission interest man has with which to meet the groups, offer to sponsor a group challenge of present-day living. ileges and opportunities for our- selves and be content to ignore for under-privileged children, In his opening address, Dr. another's lack of privilege." but before all else, practice Muste stressed the fact of sin Christ-like living in all our perand the need of a recognition of "We need so deep a conviction sonal relationships." it as the deep seated cause for that existing conditions are our all the unrest and problems of responsibility that we shall feel "We need to give much more our day. "The Christ-way," said compelled to do something about time to prayer." Dr. Muste, "will face the fact of them." sin, man's need of God, his help- Thus did these young people lessness without God and his "We need a better knowledge express themselves. Has youth power when linked with the a cause? The greatest and Eternal. Once I too thought that of the Bible and Jesus' teachings grandest and most challenging man's way out could be found in order that we may approach existing problems in a Christ- cause in the world – one that manner." Christ died for, and one that we as young people must make ours "We need to begin by asking with a throbbing passionate con- ourselves-Am I truly Christian cern. in my attitudes and actions, in all my relationships?" JULIA HEINES, "We need to stop thinking Chairman, Joint Committee on about discrimination against one Young People's Work, Home particular race and think in Missions Council and Council of Women for Home Missions.
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO !.'p'
INDIA, BURMA AND SIAM orable man. I have observed Conference at a meeting of its that you Christian people seem Executive Committee in Lahore. Persecution Raises Its Head to know how to do this." In response to this appeal, the Executive Committee passed the Mrs. John L. Goheen, Presby- Danger to be Avoided following resolution: "This Conterian missionary in West India, ference views with alarm the resays that the Hindu world at The following quotation from cent increase in the number of Sangli has blown wide open in Bishop Lapp's book, "The Chris- marriages in cases where the its determination to prevent the tian Church and Rural India," first wife is alive. It condemns Mahars from becoming Chris- emphasizes one of the difficulties the action of those educated tian. Nightly mass meetings in in Christian work in a Hindu en- women who, setting aside all the theater were held with well- vironment: standards of common decency known speakers exalting Hindu- and sympathy for their own sex, ism, attacking Christianity, de- Christian influence is spread out have consented to marry men nouncing the missionaries, and thinly and watered down to what it whose wives are still living. It warning people against going to is considered the non-Christian staff further appeals to. all women to Miraj and the Hospital. Daily and local non-Christian opinion will discountenance and socially boyarticles in the vernacular news- stand for. The compulsory method of cott all such marriages., and do papers were full of untruth and attendance at religious teaching is their utmost to prevent the celeinuendos. Members of the Hindu practiced, which too often imposes up- bration of such marriages in Missionary Society and others on the pupils an insipid form of re- future." descended upon a group of Chris- ligious instruction. No conversions to tians at night with gas torches Christianity are expected, and the ed- -Indian Social Reformer. and tried ,to terrify or cajole ,ucational training for both Christian them into renouncing their faith. and non-Christian students is given in Conference of Missionaries Few went back to Hinduism a secularized Brahmin atmosphere. to Moslems and those who have done so were One has called it partially Hinduizing all from places where Christian our Christian boys. . . . He compared In December, under the ausservices were infrequent. The what in his opinion are futile and pices of the Henry Martyn whole experience teaches the fruitful schools and supported Mr. School of Islamic Studies, a twonecessity of strengthening the Arthur Mayhew's view that quality of day conference of missionaries Christian life by means of daily work, personality, leadership and free to Moslems was held in Delhi. worship and by training leaders experimentation should characterize The delegates (61 in all) were for every village. This has led the Christian school in India. Our drawn from Turkey, Iran, Palesto the adoption of a plan for call as Christian forces is to do some- tine, Cairo, Korea, and from al-' holding classes to develop lay thing of the finest quality and embody most every part of India. A leaders. The high quality of the Christian ideals in every part of number of those present were on those who have come into the school life for the sake of the Chris- their way to Madras for the classes makes it plain that a new tian boys as future leaders in the World Conference. Under the door has opened. Church and in new India, and for the leadership of Dr. Murray Titus, non-Christian pupils and Indian ed- the delegates discussed "The Mrs. Goheen relates a signifi- ucationalists who watch our work, Christian Enterprise, and Its Incant incident in connection with and to whom the Christian Church fluence on Islam." One session the kindergarten at Sangli. A will be either commended or con- was devoted to the need for well known nobleman asked a demned thereby. He criticized the Christian literature for Mosmember of the Mission to take Western Church for building up huge lems. Miss Constance Padwick, his grandson into her home and institutions which represent methods of Jerusalem, told of present to bring him up as her own son, alien to the Indian eye and thought, trends in literature; Rev. W. A. saying – "I want him to be a and difficult for the future Indian Zoerner described an experiment good boy." Church to manage, in the day when in newspaper evangelism in the transfer of control and manage- North India. "But, you know," said the mis- ment into the hands of the Indian sionary, "I should have to teach Church seems so near at hand. "Lord's Acre" Plan in Katpadi him in the Christian way." Punjab Leaders and Polygamy "We are so poor; the rains "Teach him what you please have failed; our young men have and as you please, but make him Several prominent leaders of an upright, clean living and hon- the Punjab have characterized polygamy as the greatest social evil of India. Not long ago a spirited appeal was made to all women by the Central Punjab Branch of the All-India Women's [209 ]
had to go away to the tea estates progressive Maharajah who died pointment of a missionary the to earn cash to pay taxes. How recently, was to make an agree- next year. It soon undertook is it possible to double our ment to prevent alcoholic bev- w 0 r k among the depressed church contribution, if the Mis- erages from going to Bombay classes in Central Travancore, sion withdraws its help and we from his state which adjoins the from whom it met ready reare to pay our pastor his $25 a Bombay presidency. sponse. Within six years, it or- month ?" Total prohibition is one of the ganized the annual Convention at This was the response to the chief objectives of the Congress Mar3Jmon which is the largest news that the Arcot Mission was for an India which they hope to evangelical Christian gathering obliged to discontinue its annual make absolutely independent of in the world. The Convention grant of $150 to a rural church. England. Writing in his weekly which lasts for a week has been A meeting was called; the mis- paper "Harijan," Gandhi says conducted regularly for the last sionary explained the "Lord's the Congress has the right to ex- forty-four years.
Acre" idea, and it was agreed to pect the sympathy "of the best The audience, which often send month-old, purebred chick- minds in the whole world in this, numbers over thirty thousand, ens from the poultry farm toO perhaps the greatest moral listens to the GoOspel truths froOm some 200 village homes, to be movement of the century." famous evangelists. The activi- raised and later contributed to ties of the association oOutgrew the church. The plan took root, To Train Women Workers the boundaries oOf Travancore and Rev. J. J. ValoOis has set within which it was oOriginally down SoOme of the tangible re- Last year the Punjab governsuIts: The IoOcal income was ment launched a five-year plan confined. In its eighteenth antrebled; the pastor received his for rural development, and as a nual meeting it decided to undersalary regularly; everyone had part of this plan a domestic take missionary activities oOut- side Travancore, and then in a specific share in making the training school for women will Bombay Presidency. venture a success, and the spir- be opened in Lahore. One stuitual life was deepened; the dent from each district has been Membership is open to all selected. Christians without distinction, work was not a "flash in the It is claimed toO be the first at- and every member is expected pan," but interest has continued; tempt of its character in India. to be a witness. "N0 debts" is purebred poultry has spread to After receiving nine months another principle lately adopted. other villages; the project at- training these women welfare tracted attention of other vil- -National Missionary lages; and it was the Indians workers will be posted to their Intelligencer. themselves, not the foreign mis- respective districts and tour sioOnary, whoO made the plan selected villages. They will teach Gospel Transforms Primitive work. -Agricultural Mission women improved methods of Men cooking, sewing, knitting, ele- Notes. mentary hygiene, animal hus- Rev. C. U. Strait, of the bandry, fruit culture, gardening, Burma Baptist Mission, says PoOrt of Bombay Decreed Dry that on his first trip to the Chin cooperatives, maternity and wel- Hills fifteen years ago, the Dewitt MacKenzie, Associated fare work. The school will be Deputy Commissioner, a fellow Press correspondent, says that run on residential lines. passenger, bluntly asked him if Gandhi's crusade to make India he knew where he was going; -The Guardian (Bombay).
dry in three years appears to be Mar Thoma Evangelistic and on finding that Mr. Strait "going places." His latest tri- Association was on his way toO undertake umph puts the world famous missionary work, added: "Do port of Bombay on the dry list The Mar Thoma Syrian Chris- you know that the Haka Chins as from August 1. This cosmo- tian Evangelistic Association of are all drunkards-men, women politan city of about 1,200,000 the Reformed Syrian Church in and children?" They were not people has for centuries provided Malabar has completed fifty only drunkards, he found, but the means of quenching the years of missionary work. 'It dirty to the point of being filthy, thirst of wayfarers from all na- preceded the National Mission- and ignorant beyond belief. Povtions. ary Society of India by 17 years. erty, too, was the natural conse- Thus far, out of the 11 prov- It was in September, 1888, that quence. inces of British India, partial twelve men met in Central Tra- A review of what has happrohibition has been inaugurated vancore and decided to fOrllli an pened in a decade and a half is in half a dozen where the nation- association to take the Christian convincing proof of the power alists-that is, the All-India Na- message to their fellowmen of the Gospel. There are now tional Congress – have gained without distinction of caste, Christians in more than a huncontrol of the governments. Ad- creed or denomination. Every dred villages; four hundred or dition of the rich prize of Bom- member of the group was to con- more are baptized every year. bay to the list will give the move- tribute according to his means, Not many of these revert to ment much impetus. as well as to be himself a witness heathenism. Drunken f e as t s One of the last acts of the bearer. Growth in membership have given way toO the Commun- Gaekwar of Baroda, the famQus and funds made possible the ap- ion Service, and it is an in-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
spirational scene never to be for- tian Homes Campaign of the Hangchow College in Shanghai gotten, says Mr. Strait, to attend Chinese Church, which aims at the Communion Service at a making every Christian home a Dr. Clarence B. Day, of Hang- Chin Hill Association meeting. center of witness. Daily family chow Christian College, writes There twelve to fifteen hundred worship is insisted upon, and is that this college, driven from Christians come together from becoming the regular custom. Hangchow by the Japanese infar and near, and instead of hair Many Chinese Christians would vasion, is now carrying on in the pulling and drunken bouts, one be greatly surprised if they Continental Emporium (a bankobserves a very devout and con- came to America and found how ing and office building) on Nansecrated service. While all are rare a thing is family worship. king Road, Shanghai. St. John's seated closely together on the College was located here a year ground, the service is conducted Missionaries Help Victims ago and Soochow University and without commotion and with the Science Departments of the reverence and dignity. The NO'rth American News- University of Shanghai occupy paper Alliance adds its testimony space in the same building. Indian Church in Rangoon to the service rendered by mis- These temporary arrangements sionaries during the war. More have been made possible by Three years ago an Indian than 4,000 Americans have American contributions. These Church was established in Ran- joined about 3,000 missionaries institutions are working togO'O'n at Judson College. This of other Western nations in gether in class work and operate church now has 88 members, of forming a highly specialized a joint library and a student whom 64 are men and 24 are corps which constitutes the only cafeteria. There are about 2,000 women. During the past year prO'tection the Chinese have in men and women students that there were 16 baptisms. Pastor the dangerous and frequently tax the seating capacity of the Devadass devotes his time to the Iong interval between the retreat classrooms and crowd the elevachurch and evangelistic work of Chinese civil and military tors and stairways. The new amO'ng the Tamils and Telugus forces and the establishment of educational posters display the within the school and in the vi- law and order by the Japanese slogan: "War or no war, Chinese cinity. There are 83 children in invaders. Often they act as Pied Youth must be educated." the Bible school. Pipers to' lead hO'meless children O'ut of the danger zone. For Communists Less Hostile – Watchman-Examiner. more than two years, in addition to Christianity to their usual evangelistic, med- CHINA ical and educational work, they Dr. Earl Cressy, in China have undertaken such special Marches Toward the Cross, Building for the Future tasks as scouring the streets for makes the remarkable statement wO'unded, thrusting themselves that anti-Christian sentiment "Button your cO'at!" is an between drunken Japanese sol- among communists is disappearorder heard frequently on the diers bent 'On looting and raping ing. It is not to be concluded street of any Chinese city. It is their victims, and generally try- that all of them are becoming part of the New Life Move- ing to ease the blows of an occu- Christians, but there is a vast ment which is waging war upon pation by an army that is a law- change from the bitter spirit of untidiness, laziness, .vice and less mob. The conduct of the 1928. Freedom has been given dirt. Anyone slouching along the missionaries is adding a remark- to evangelistic bands of Chinese street with garments half on is able chapter to the history of hu- pastors to circulate among them likely to be told by a member of man heroism in the face of gall- and preach the Gospel. This the YO'uth Brigade to straighten ing trial. sweeping change is described by up his shoulders and keep on the Bishop Roots: left side of the rO'ad. But this is "Only nationals of a foreign not all. The New Life Movement nation can meet the invaders "A short time ago I invited to sends inspectors intO' homes, and and talk to them," is a statement lunch with me one of' the comlabels are affixed to dO'O'rs in- repeated over and over again. munist generals whom I had forming the public whether the heard of in 1930 as a determined hoones are clean or dirty. Every The actual number of mission- enemy of Christianity. After child in school is expected to' do aries on the field has decreased preliminary polite remarks, but something to improve his own by only about 10ro' since the war before he would eat, he asked particular surroundings. Armies began. Board officials report the me, 'Do you remember our past?' of fly swatters strive to see who frequent spectacle of mission- I replied that I remembered him can produce the largest number aries on field trips, caught by an as one who, some years ago, had of dead' flies in a given time. advancing Japanese army, has- carried some of my friends tening frantically back to their around with him as his prison- The O'ld and mid-dle aged in posts, from which Chi n e s e ers. To this he said, 'There were night schoO'ls learn to read how armies and refugees were as many misunderstandings then. a literate people can build a new frantically fleeing away. All de- The missionaries have helped China. The war with Japan has nominations and agencies report much in Shens,i and Shansi. We only increased the ardor of both a large increase in the number are sorry for the misunderstandold and young. Paralleling the of conversions. New Life Movement is the Chris-
ings of the past and want to black lacquer tablet with the JAPAN-CHOSEN work with them for the good of four Chinese words meaning "True Source of All Created Japan Sends Buddhist Priests China hereafter.''' – Watchman-Examiner. Things." The presentation was made in A subtle move on the part of Persecution and Destruction Japan is to send Buddhist priests style. There were musicians and to China, a piece of mission work Forty years of devoted, effi- bearers in gay uniform, some undertaken by the Japanese Budcient service in one of the hard- dhist Federation, whose memest fields in the world, Chinese fine speeches were made and the bership comprises 159,000 Bud- Turkestan, has been tragically usual picture taken. To ensure dhist priests. interrupted. Fourteen of the tha,t only good influences should seventeen missionaries who have Two hundred Japanese Budbeen working under the auspices prevail while the tablet was be- dhist priests have been chosen of the Swedish Mission in Sin- ing hung, the band dared not for the work. Their activities kiang Province (Chinese Tur- stop playing while it was hoisted began October 1 with an inkestan) have been compelled to and fastened in place high above tensive three-weeks' course in return home because of the per- the pulpit. the Chinese language, this course being provided by the Ministry -London Missionary Herald.
secution of the Christians and The Resurgence in the West of Education. Since both peothe practically utter destruction ples use the same characters, the of their work. During a Moslem China's Millions makes fur- acquisition of a working knowlrevolt the station at New Kash- ther comment on the significance edge of Chinese will not be an gar was burned; later the rebels of the westward trek of refu- insuperable task for these J apwere suppressed or driven into gees, which has included per- anese priests.-The Guardian. India. But local authorities re- sonnel of government departvived the persecution, scattering ments, leaders of education, or imprisoning the Christians finance and industry, seeking re- Korean Village Campaign and closing the printing office establishment in "free" China. The plans of the Oriental Misand the hospital. The British A government commission made sionary Society include the send- Foreign Office sought to remedy a survey of these western prov- ing of bands of students to the the situation, but as there was islands off the coast of Korea. no improvement only three mis- inces, and found that their rich- The islanders are very poor, as ness in natural resources is far sionaries have remained to beyond the imagination of those they suffer frequent drouths and watch developments. living in eastern China. They live chiefly on barley instead of Honoring the Church have remained unexploited for rice. Many of them live and die on the island where they were VVhen the Japanese forces lack of good communications, born, without ever making a trip but there are now strategic to the mainland, and therefore were attacking Tsinan, the UTa motor roads linking the large know nothing of such modern cities; one 1,400 miles long ex- things as railway trains and Huai Shu" Christian center shel- motor cars. The students were tered more than 1,000 women tends to the Burmese frontier, often mistaken for government and girls. for over a month, and and it was along this highway officials or police, and many fed those destitute. To show their gratitude, the citizens came that our American ambassador places they had to work for some made the first trip by private car time to assure the people that to the mission and said: "Let us it was all right for them to acpresent you with a red silk um- on his return to the United cept the Gospel tracts. which they States. brella on which the names of the were distributing. donors are inscribed in golden There is an astonishing num- ber of Christians among these letters." "VVhat could we do fleeing refugees, and like the with a red silk umbrella," the "scattered brethren" of the early As they journeyed here and church, they are "everywhere there they sometimes arrived on missionaries asked. "Then we will present you preaching the word." As to stu- an island at midnight, and would find all the inns closed and the with an inscribed tablet that will dents, a missionary writes: extol your virtues to a hundred "If you can imagine all the occupants asleep. They would generations," they said. school boys and girls and univer- then climb the rocks above the "That won't please us," re- sity students of England scat- sea and spend the rest of the plied the missionaries, "we don't tered over the capitals of Europe night praying for all those asleep want to be glorified. VVhy not you get some picture of the ex- below in sin and ignorance. buy a bell to call people to wor- tent, although not of the number, Statistical reports show that ship? If you must present a of refugee students." Another these bands walked 3,519 miles, gift, let it be one in praise of the missionary in Yunnanfu empha- dealt personally with 4,242 perheavenly Father who kept us sizes the spiritual changes that sons, held 218 open-air meetings, safe." So it was decided and have come about, and says that with the result that 918 persons these words were embossed on so strong is the national unity definitely sought the Saviour.
the bell: "The Bell to Rouse the that China can never be con- -Oriental Missionary VVorld." They also prepared a quered by an enemy. Standard.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ISLANDS OF THE PAOIFIO NORTH AMERIOA ing to the religious faith of their families. The bill further pro- Going to New Guinea Is America Becoming Pagan? vides that pupils be credited with the time so spent, as if in The latest word from Captain Here are a few facts that actual attendance in school. Ellis Skolfield says that the pro- would seem to substantiate Dr. jected New Guinea trip of the William Adams Brown's claim A Nation-Wide Reading Poll Gospel Ship is now definitely that "America is progressively under way, and the Ship is now becoming pagan." Nearly half The American Institute of at J 010, the last outpost of the of our present population claims Public Opinion has recently com- Philippines b e for e entering no sort of relationship to the pleted a poll on the question: Dutch waters. At J 010 the bal- Christian Church. Ten thousand "What is the most interesting ance of supplies and oil are be- rural communities are church- book you ever ·read?" The aning taken aboard and the re- less, while thirty thousand have swers indicate that the Bible is mainder of the Ship's personnel no pastor in residence. Ap- still the most favored. However, are being awaited. proximately 13,400,000 Ameri- the age distribution is disquiet- can children under twelve years ing. The percentage of people In addition to a full crew in- of age receive no religious in- more than fifty years old who cluding two engineers, there will struction whatever. Many moun- preferred it was more than twice be Captain Skolfield, Dr. Culley, tain pockets and range regions as large as those between thirty Rev. Simon Meek, pastor of the of the South and West, back- and fifty; and six times as high Chinese Church in Manila who ward sections of New England, as those under thirty. will go along as interpreter and Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, the Chinese evangelist and Rev. Dakotas, and elsewhere, voice An editorial in the New York Percy Fraser, independent mis- urgent demands for adequate re- Times declares: sionary who has served in the ligious ministries. Utah has Navy and who will go along as seven whole counties without a Any comment on this may do no special helper to Captain Skol- functioning evangelical mission. more than betray the age of the comfield, also as an addition to the mentator; but it remains a plausible crew. Mr. Fraser is also an In Maine, 100,000 rural folk conjecture that if fewer of the young earnest soul-winner. In addition have no religious opportunities, people of today prefer the Bible it is to these men there will be sev- and throughout New England, because fewer of them read it. It eral Filipino evangelists in the contains not only about the best Engparty. only 40 % of the adults and 33 % lish prose ever written but a greater variety of material than can be found A special gift has made pos- of the young people are claimed in any other single volume on the book sible the purchase of a new life by any church or Sunday school. market; purely as literature, some of boat and some other needed A study of 11 townships of one the most widely read persons in all equipment. Michigan county showed 1,005 ages have found it better reading than children enrolled in 46 public anything else. Oentral Philippine Oollege schools, yet with no church or Sunday school. Another Mich- But in the days when it was uni- Central Philippine College at igan county reported that ap- versally read it was not read purely Iloilo has encouraged local self- proximately one-half its public as literature; it was read because it government since its beginning school pupils were unrelated to was the Word of God, the infallible in 1923, when four Filipino any church, Protestant, Catholic guide for life. If fewer people read members were elected to serve or Jewish. it now, that is to the lasting detriment with the seven missionary mem- of the cultural background of a nation. bers on the school's board of Moral Instruction in Schools trustees. By 1929 a majority of No such survey has previously the trustees were Filipinos. Mis- A bill introduced in the New been made, so that this one does sionaries' places were filled by Jersey State Legislature in Feb- not determine a trend. Some Filipinos in 1936 and 1937 when ruary proclaims in its preamble believe that an adequate apprea number of missionary terms that "One of the first requisites ciation of the Bible can only be expired. In accord with this of a harmonious, contented and acquired in later life, while policy, President H. F. Stuart prosperous state depends upon others say it can never be truly recently offered his resignation, religious tolerance and under- appreciated unless it has been expecting that a Filipino would standing." This bill would au- loved from youth. be chosen to head the institution. thorize public schools to provide The trustees felt that the time one hour of moral instruction In Behalf of Ohina had not yet come for this, and each week; and local boards appointed Rev. F. H. Rose as would be authorized-a permis- American interest in the sufacting president, while they look sive measure – to survey the ferings of the Chinese and the about for a suitable Filipino for religious affiliations of pupils. fate of China is shown by the vice-president, who may later With such information in hand, fact that there are eighty orbecome president. boards could then excuse certain ganizations in America working pupils to attend their respective for the relief of the Chinese suf- -Watchman-Examiner. places of· worship, there to re- ferers or to create practical sym- ceive moral instruction accord- pathy in their behalf. A direc- tory of these groups, published at 33 West 55th Street, New York City, includes all types of organizations, emphasizing va-
rious projects such as political young presbyters were conse- their disregard of the prior occuaid to China, the boycott of Jap- crated. It is patterned after a pation of a field by other Chrisanese goods, the promotion of similar venture started about tian workers. All Christians trade with China, friendly rela- eighteen months earlier in Nas- might learn some valuable lestions and relief of sufferers. sau and Suffolk Counties, New sons from the work of this ener- Eleven of the American organ- York. -New York Times. getic denomination.
izations are composed entirely of German-speaking Churches Chinese. They are scattered all The Seventh-Day Adventists over the country, from New York to California, and from The General Conference of German-speaking churches in Toronto, Canada, to Durham, Seventh-Day Adventists was or- North Carolina. ganized in 1863 – seventy-five the United States form the years ago. Today the work of Progress of Church Union largest foreign group in the Con- this Church is carried forward Those who wish to see denom- all over the world. The Church gregational- Christian Church. inational union will be interested was founded in 1845 and was to know that twelve such unions stimulated by a revival in Bible These have an aggregate memhave taken place in the United study on both sides of the At- States since 1906. Dr. E. D. bership of 22,166, and 109 pas- Kohlstedt, President of the Home lantic Ocean. The leaders em- Missions Council, lists them as phasized keeping God's law, tors. Most of these are in rural follows: especially the observance of the communities. Approximately 95 1906-Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., seventh day as the Sabbath, the and Cumberland Presby- imminent second coming of per cent are German immigrants terian Church. Christ and the judgment on un- from Russia, and the children of 1911-Northern Baptist and Free believers. In 1844 Adventists Baptist Churches. counted a thousand followers such parentage. Who are these and in 1863 there were 3,500 1917-Three Lutheran groups form members. In 1874 these had in- people? German colonists, after the Norwegian Church in creased to 7,000 and in 1894 to America. 42,763. Thirty years later there 1763, settled in southeastern were 70,000 members in Europe 1918-Three other Lutheran bodies Russia and became the object of form the United Lutheran alone with a total of 238,657 in Church. 5,393 churches in all lands. intense persecution. In the early There were then 8,679 pastors 1920-Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and missionaries scattered to the seventies of the last century, the and Welsh Calvinistic Meth- odist Church. ends of the earth – in addition Czar determined to make Rus- to institutional workers. Today 1922-Evangelical Association and the Adventists report 28,029 sians out of them, and it was United Evangelical Church. workers in 385 countries and in then they sought America, the 1924-Reformed Church in the United 714 languages and dialects. They States and Hungarian Re- have a total membership of land of liberty. Emigration be- formed Church. 452,758 with 8,388 organized churches. The work continues gan at once, but it was not until 1924-Congregational and Evangelical to grow through 5,923 mission- Protestam Churches. after 1890 that they came in ary Volunteer Societies with a 1931-Congregational and Christian membership of 130,748. The large numbers, after which there groups are united. total denominational investment is reported to be $60,026,066. was a continuous influx until 1931-Three Lutheran bodies merge into the American Lutheran Two secrets of the progress 1914. By 1920 there were Church. of this Christian movement seem to be: (1) the missionary spirit 303,532 of their number first 1934-Evangelical Synod of North of its members; (2) the em- America and Ref 0 r m e d and second generation, in the Church in United States. United States. 1939-Unification of American Meth- odism. It is significant that the young Youth Presbytery in Brooklyn people are making little or no In Brooklyn, N. Y., twelve of effort to break away from the religious traditions of their elders. Although there is little opportunity for fellow s hip among these German Congrega- tionalists, since they are scat- tered over a wide area, they maintain their entity as if by un- seen ties, and hold to their mother tongue with great te- nacity. -Advance.
Why Work Among Mormons?
the 38 Presbyterian churches phasis on the Bible as the Word Recently a contributor to and missions have set up a pro- of God; (3) the tithing system Westminster College in Utah visional youth presbytery, made that produces a large and steady wrote Hans P. Freece, a repreup of delegates from young peo- income for church and mission- sentative of this College, and a ples' groups. Their purpose is ary work; (4) the wide use of former Mormon: "As Mormons to promote greater cooperation Christian literature; and (5) the no longer practice polygamy, and in religious work with members large number of volunteer we are led to believe they are their own age from churches of workers. highly educated, with a great other denominations. Members The chief criticisms of the deal of culture and refinement, are to be between the ages of movement are their undue em- just what is the purpose of mis- 15 and 30. phasis on the Old Testament sionary work among them?" To The project was formally Law-especially the observance which Mr. Freece replies :-"It launched in January, when 28 of the old Jewish Sabbath-and is true that polygamy is not now
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
openly practiced, but Mormons forc~ the law against selling liquor Colombian Missionary Society to mmors and to intoxicated persons say the Lord has only suspend- we would request the Territorial A correspondent in Colombian Liquor Commission to deny license re- Clippings describes a meeting of ed it for the time being and that funds to the town, and instead turn ~he Women's Missionary Society that money into the Territorial Treas- m the Central Presbyterian He will restore it in His own ury. Consequently the law was rigidly enforced and there was and is prac- Church of Barranquilla.. There time. God Himself has many tically no drunkenness. The mer- are the usual officers, with com- chant~ re~ort that many long out- mittees expected to have somewives, they say, and polygamy is standmg bIlls have been paid and that thing to report at each meeting. sales I;lre the largest in' years – for Roll call is answered with each practiced in heaven." ~rocerIes, hardware, paint and cloth- member repeating a Bible verse; mg. Mr. Troutman, the principal, de- there is a free will offeriXlg, and "Refinement and culture" are serves all the credit for his fearless a true prayer service. cooperation and determination to probelow the average in Utah. Some tect the natives. The society contributes to help support sick members, and paid better class Mormons send their Monday Morning says that al- the expenses for the hospitaliza- most every third door on the young people to Westminster main street of Sitka is a liquor tion of a faithful member. They stor~. This means sixty saloons also helped to purchase a horse College to get "refinement and servmg a population of less than and saddle for an itinerant mis- 3,500. Alaskan natives are so sionary. culture" ; also, high scholastic ,concerned about this situation attainments. Mormons do not know God nor trust in Jesus Christ, and Christian workers are needed in Utah for the same reason they are needed in China India and Africa. '
Indians On Their Own? that the Alaskan Native Broth- erhood, and Alaskan Native Sis- One of the recommendations terhood, at their 26th annual Among Primitive Indians on Indian work made by the convention, went on record as in favor of a system of governmen- The South American Indians Home Missions Council at its last tal control of liquor, similar to form one of the many groups meeting was a motion for the re- that in force in British Colum- that await the coming of the moval of certain Indian groups bia. missionary. These neglected peofrom the wardship of the Gov- ple range from healthy and ernment, particularly those who LATIN AMERICA friendly to degenerate and suscan well afford to meet their picious. They live in hidden vilobligations in taxation and other Cuban Workers Encouraged lages of the jungle, some orderly, elements of citizenship. some not, in primitive grass Several features of the Cuban houses. Other recommendations called work during the past year mark for the preparation of a state- advance, according to a South- The Inland South America ment setting forth the essentials ern Baptist report. Services are Missionary Union sent two of of a missionary program for In- more largely attended. Sunday their staff, with Indian guides, dians, involving trained leader- schools al'e larger. There are to survey the possibilities for more. frequent calls for cottage wo fo rtkh ea l omnigg ht ht iee sXt i ntgriubuRtiavreir~sonoef ship and one or more cooperative meetmgs. Places of worship are the Amazon. The first five days parishes for experimental work. taxe~ to capacity at ordinary were overland by mule back, Included in this statement is to serVIces, and are proving too attended by every possible diffibean appraisal of the Church's small for special occasions. culty connected with mule psywork in relation to other agen- chology. Then they reached the cies, and suggestions as to serv- The same spirit is manifest in river and the l'est of the trip was many different sections. At Co- by canoe, which sounds pleasant ices best performed by the lon, where people seemed apa- and peaceful but was not. The Church, as well as those best thetic a year ago, there are full canoes were crudely hollowed performed by other agencies. houses at all services. An evan- logs, shallow and heavily loaded. gelist who carried forty decision There were frequent and diffi- -Monday Morning. cards with him when he began cult portages. The sun was blaz- special services in Colon found ing and the insects biting. The Liquor in Alaska they were not enough. This Indian guides fished with bow steady growth calls for better and arrow. One of the men hung Much controversary has arisen trained workers. his clothes to dry on the ropes of the mosquito net one night, and over the liquor problem in Alas- The Southern Baptist Semi- in the morning found that car- nary, now in its third year, has rier ants had happened along ka, and the natives themselves seventeen students. Five go out and devoured most of his shirt. on Sunday to as many different deplore the laxness of law en- centers. Enrolment in the Mis- forcement. Rev. R. K. Wthheeelnear~ of Haines, writes t hat tives had success in their fishing last season, and knowing the peril they were facing he and the government school principal determined to prevent the natives sion School has reached 200 not The missionaries viewed their including seminary students: The hardships with a sense coofnhscuimouosr~ from squandering all their earn- name has been changed from and their perils with a ings on whiskey. He says: Cuban American College to Co- ness of God's protecting care. We notified the Town Council that legio Bautista (Baptist College). -Episcopal News Service. unless the town marshals strictly en-
Two Missions Merged been put up. After surveying the assemblies devoted to the enrich- situation, Mr. Everitt writes: ment of spiritual life. The two Presbyterian Missions in Brazil, the Central and At present there are about 150 In- One is inclined to believe that the South, have been merged for dians living at Poso Yacare and I the pr·esent lull in the battle administrative reasons, and will suppose 200 or more working at the against the Evangelical Churches now be called the Central Brazil cane fields, who will be shortly return- at present is based upon the Mission. Brazil is larger than the ing; there are also numbers of In- same theory as that followed by United States, and the lack of dians living in the vicinity. As there the Communists in Russia in the roads in the interior make it im- is plenty of forest here where they can earlier days of their antireligious possible for committees or collect wild fruits, plenty of fish in the activities: that of letting the administrative g r 0 ups from river, and fruitful ground for gardens,. "old fools" have their churches widely spaced regions to meet there is no reason why this should not so long as youth can be won for planning and organizing be a prosperous startion. -away. The choicest boys are bework. Although the lack of com- ing picked and trained as teachmunications is still a serious To cut down trees and put up build- ers, burgomasters, government problem, it is less so than for- ings is one thing, he continues, but to officials and army officers. They merly, and the two missions be- teach these people and lead them to are insulated as far as possible lieve that greater economy and Christ requires nothing short of a from all Christian influences. more effective work will result miracle. But we have seen miracles from the union. of this kind, and we know that God is -Advance. all-powerful. Lavras Agricultural College Nazification Objectives -Life of Faith. This institution, under the No comment is needed upon auspices of the Southern Presby- EUROPE the following quotation from an terian Church, has recently been address of Alfred Rosenberg, given a very distinct recognition Bibles at Glasgow Empire culture minister of the German by the Brazilian government, Exhibition Reich: having its diplomas accepted for official registration. This mission The great "Empire Exhibi- That the Catholic Church and also agricultural college was the only tion" of Glasgow was open from the Confessional Church, in their presprivate school in Brazil obtain- May to October, 1938, and was ent form, must disappear from the ing such recognition. While the visited by more than 12,000,000 life of our people, is my full convicgovernment realized that the people. Many opportunities were tion, .. , The Hitler Youth Organizaphysical equipment of Lavras afforded for distributing Bibles, tion is an absorbent sponge which was not on a full equality with and none more unique than nothing can withstand. Furthermore, the official government schools, among the dwarfs of "Midget the development of our teaching the outstanding work of the Lav- Town" in the Amusement Park. scheme in schools of all categories is ras graduates caused them to ac- A few of them were Germans, of such an anti-Christian-Jewish type cept the work of Lavras as being the rest Poles, so with a supply that the growing generation will be fully equivalent to that of its of German and Polish Gospels a forewarned against the black-coat own schools. worker sought permission to dis- swindle, , .. We have another means tribute them. He was told that of pressure also and that is the finan- For many years the school had it would be of no use, but the cial one. But here also we must prono more than 2'5 students, but little people were found to be ceed prudently, although systematisince the government recogni- eager to receive the copies. "Po- cally, so as to cut the financial arteries tion the number has gone up to li, Poli," they cried delightedly supplying those clergy whom we cannearly 100. Every effort is now as they retired to a corner to not win over. . . . Reasonable men being made to put the equipment read. will, under pressure, find themselves on a par with that of the govern- compelled to submit to National Soment schools. Some time later a second visit cialist leadership. was paid to "Midget Town," and -Agricultural Mission the visitor was not forgotten. The expected offensive against Notes. Polish Testaments were joyfully Catholic schools in Austria has accepted. The worker was asked been more rapid than was an- In Argentine Chaco to inscribe each copy, after ticipated, and the few Catholic which he was invited to have tea schools permitted to continue The South American Mission- with the midgets. Afterwards, function are those for defective ary Society has established a new it was found that these little station at Poso Yacare, Argen- people carried their Testaments children. * tine Chaco, and the people are about as if a precious possession. eager to learn about the Gospel. The Waldensians Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Everitt have Bible Sales Increase taken up permanent residence in Germany Torre PeIlice, the little capital there, and several buildings have of Italian Protestantism, might The three Bible Societies in be called "the Geneva of Italy." the German Reich (those of There are today 120 Waldensian Wurttemberg, Saxony and Prus- churches and missions through- sia) report an extraordinary in- crease in the sale of Bibles. In • The bulletin of the World's Student line with this is the increased Christian Federation states that on August attendance at Christian summer 19 the German press announced the sup- preSSion of the German Student Christian Movement and the German Women Student Christian Movement.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
out the land. Lack of funds has effect, and it is said that condi- establishment of international closed the doors of many of their order. schools. One in a remote part of tions are worse now than at that Sicily, with 250 pupils all from -Life of Faith. non-Protestant families, is kept time. Wandering Preachers in open by self-sacrifice on the part Soviet Union of the teachers, who continue Baptist Churches in Rumania without salary. This school has A magazine article recently a long waiting list. Parents pre- In spite of a government order published in Warsaw reveals fer to send their children to the permitting several B apt i s t that in spite of persecution, Or- Evangelical School, even though churches in Rumania to reopen, thodox priests and non-conforma small fee is required, while all churches of that denomina- ist preachers travel up and down government schools are free. tion remain closed; and will re- Russia, holding services and fuse to open even one unless per- evangelizing. They have been Every morning the day's work mission is granted to all. There begins with an hour's Bible are 1,602 Baptist churches in deprived of their parishes, and teaching. The work has far- Rumania. The Minister of the have no settled home. Most of reaching results, as shown by an Interior has given 0 r d e r s them have registered as craftsincident recounted by the pastor. throughout Rumania that no men, to shield themselves from Talking to a boy of nine, he more Baptists are to be arrested, persecution ; and earn their livasked him whether his parents and churchmen are pinning their ing by any kind of manual work could read. To his astonishment, faith to him. Some have it that ililteracy being high in the place, the Rumanian Government is they can find to do, sewing boots, the boy responded, "Yes, Sir." anxious to place itself in a favor- sharpening knives or laying "Where did they go to school?" able light in the United States, brick. Wherever opportunity was the next question, to which in view of the New York World's the answer came, "They have Fair, soon to open. presents itself, they minister to never been to school." Mystified, the spiritual needs of the people. the pastor asked, "How then did Eastern Orthodox Churches All this in spite of the fact that they learn to read?" "I taught in Soviet Russia only officially them," was the boy's answer. The Provisional Committee of registered persons may perform "Every day, when I go home, I the World Council of Churches, teach them from my Bible what meeting in Paris, decided to religious services, and only in I have been learning at school." stress particularly the Commit- chapels under constant super- tee's work among the Eastern vision of local authorities. Unquestionably, to evangelize Orthodox Churches of Russia Italy is to promote the peace of and the Balkans. A special depu- In a recent number of The Europe and of the world. tation was authorized to visit the Godless, the Commissar for Balkans with a view tci strength- Atheism has a curious observa- -The Christian. ening ties, and to develop relief tion: "Ever since the beginning work among the hundreds of Purge of Minorities churches suffering from govern- of the Revolution, no clergyman ment oppression. It was also de- fears the Internationale; where- A missionary in Rumania, re- cided to hold an ecumenical sem- as Bolsheviks even up to the turning from furlough in the inar in Hungary, for the benefit present day experience terror at United States, says that after of student pastors, ministers and the sight of the Cross." "the glorious freedom" at home lay leaders. the return to Rumania is like be- -Life of Faith. ing abruptly landed in another As for the possibility of callworld; and is confident that not ing a confel'ence to discuss the Jewish Home a Failure since the days of the catacombs economic and other causes of has there been such a gigantic war, as purposed by the Federal Ten years ago the Soviet plan to wipe out completely all Council of Churches, it was Evangelical Christianity as that pointed out that the demands of Union founded a Jewish Home being launched by the Govern- the rulers of Germany, Italy and ment of Rumania, unless one ex- Japan have gone far beyond in Siberia, near the Manchukuo cepts that of Russia. Threats, mere economic issues; and inbeatings, arrests and closed volve racial, political and im- frontier. It was planned to setchurches are the methods being perial ambitions which no conused. This missionary believes ference can deal with. Hope tle, on collective farms, Jews that the year 1939 is the time set was expressed that individual by Rumania to purge all reli- Christians may exert an in- from the Ukraine, White Russia gious minorities, and has set fluence to check the drift toward herself to the task in dead war; and general secretaries and other parts of the Soviet earnest. were asked to call together a small number of competent per- Union, to develop the rich min- This was written before the sons, representative of different decree withdrawing rights and nations and churches, who may eral resources and timber of the privileges of Baptists went into exchange their thought as to the region, and gradually to create a self-supporting economic unit.
It was thought that 100,000 Jews would settle in this 12,000 square mile area in ten years.
Later, Jews from other countries were to be invited.
There was some response on the part of Jews, but there has been a large exodus, for not more than 20,000 are now living there, and they are outnumbered by non-Jewish inhabitants, three to one. -Alliance Weekly.
Anti-Church Maneuvers beria, only remaining free ter- There are seven native pas- ritory, the Government has in- tors, 7 licentiates, 201 evange- The difference between com- vited the Mission to Lepers to lists, 152 teachers; and, with munism and lliaziism in their at- secretaries, a total paid staff of titude toward the Church seems cooperate with it and with the 368. Church gains are reported to be one of method only, and three main Missions there in a in all phases of the work. The may be summarized thus: "Rus- campaign to wipe out leprosy. parish has grown to 15,000 sia, the godless; Germany, the square miles and includes 26,249 Christless,." The last two re- In the Belgian Congo, in the Christians. maining Lutheran churches in heart of Mrica, government and Russia have been closed recently, missions collaborate fruitfully in Changes in Ten Years and their pastors thrown into all well established leper colprison, according to the New onies, and the funds supplied Mrs. John M. Imrie, a Presby- York Times. The Moscow Izves- through the American Mission terian missionary of Sakbayeme, tia announces that Christian to Lepers are supplemented by sees much change for the better church property amounting to public grants. In the French in West Africa. Polygamous $3,575,000,000 had been confis- marriages are dying out as a recated by the government since mandated territory of the Cam- sult of Christian training, and the war to exterminate religion eroun, a mandate very nervous happier homes are the order. began twenty-one years ago. Of and tense indeed these days be- Heathen men complain that they the 100,000 congregations, less cause it is a former German col- cannot get wives for missionthan 30,000 remain. At the same ony, the return of which may be trained girls will not marry time, the paper admits there are them. Son Mbok, one of the signs of religious revival in demanded as part of the price of towns, ten years ago had only 15 Russia. European peace, full facility is people desiring to learn; today, given the American Mission to Son Mbok has a Central School, A manifesto of German army Lepers.. a teacher, a catechist, an attendchaplains declares that one in ance of nearly 400 on Sundays, every fifteen Protestant pastors Development of Medical and 100 coming up for communis under arrest. Churches are Missions ion each time. The number of forbidden to organize recreation Christians at Ibon increased to for children, or train students To those who remember the the point where a new town, for the ministry; and the gov- difficulties of financing and staff- Maonk, was started to accommoernment claims the right to dic- ing mission hospitals in Africa, date them. Soon there was a tate the content of all Christian congregation of 1,200. This is preaching. the apathy of people toward such in a prairie country, where noth- work, the present scope of medi- ing can be seen but elephant AFRICA cal missionary work in South grass. The people seem to walk Africa is a cause for thanksgiv- out of the grass, but there they Leprosy and Nationalism ing. The recently published are. Christian Handbook for South Dr. Emory Ross, General Sec- Africa gives the following fig- A prominent chief wanted to retary of the American Mission ures as evidence of this changed become a Christian. He was held to Lepers, observes that so un- off for a time to make sure he selfish a ministry as work for situation: was in earnest, and not seeking lepers might be assumed to be the limelight. But Samuel Hiobi free from politics, but it is not Missionary doctors in kept insisting that he had given the case. In Africa a leper work the matter much thought and carried on for twenty years by South Africa ….. . 44 was anxious to become one of an effective American group has the "Tribe of God." At last he been completely stopped, the Mis s ion a r y nurses was accepted as a beginner. He property expropriated and those put away his wives, (keeping in charge caused to leave the (European) …… . 137 only one – the first one he had country. In two more territories married), and promised to care in Africa not only is official aid Nurses (Bantu) em- for them and their children, seerefused to well-executed leper ing that they have medical care work financed and staffed by ployed by Missions .. 54 when ill. He is an example of Americans, but heavy duties are the many who have rejoiced to laid upon chaulmoogra oil and Native probationers in find the better Christian Way of other medical supplies imported Life. for the treatment of lepers. All training ……… . 314 this has come about partly be- Cameroun in Jeopardy cause of clashing political move- Mission hospital beds . 1,605 ments in Europe, and the Afri- Dr. Emory Ross reminds us cans look on in bewilderment. Inpatients "(1937) …. 17,684 that the Cameroun has had more However, this situation does not languages, more governments, prevail in all of Africa. In Li- Outpatients (1937) .,. 270,264 more foreign adjustments forced Figures About Elat Elat parish of the Presbyte- rian West Africa Mission has 189 chapels with an average at- tendance each Sunday of 35,000; Christians 24,037. Of schools, it has 185 Village Vernacular, 15 Village French, 650 pupils, 1 Boys' and 1 Girls' Boarding School, 745 pupils, 50 teachers in training. In one decade of med- ical work: 110,662 sick folk treated, 5,216 won to Christ.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
upon it from abroad in the past with another 2,000 enrolment. In describing the contrasts besixty years than any other part (3) Pay salaries of 160 evan- tween then and now, Mrs. Emof Africa. First, English. Be- gelists, and 25 elders and pas- berson says: fore any foreign government tors; all missionary itinerating ruled, English trade, language and all office supplies. (4) Pay If we wished to visit our outstations, and customs dominated the coast for all repairs on buildings which our only mode of travel was by donkey and spread somewhat inland. deteriorate rapidly in that trop- and bush chair. The chair was pro- Second, German. German gov- ical climate and where white pelled on one wheel under the center ernment, language, trade and ants work destruction. Chris- of the seat, with a long "harness" in customs in the 1880's began to tians at home should not con- front to allow room for the "boy" to cover the country. T h i r d, sider their obligation ended with walk or run without knocking his French. The Versailles group of the payment of missionaries' heels against the step. Behind was a treaties consolidated military salaries. shorter harness which a second boy victories; French government, held, in an endeavor to keep the conlanguage, trade and customs Prison Visitation in Uganda veyance steady. Needless to say, there ruled Cameroun. Each succeed- were many bad moments for the pasing foreign influence has fought One feature of C. M. S. work senger when the boys made even a to root out the preceding. in Kampala, Uganda, and has slight swerve. been for some years, is regular During all these changes the visiting at the central prison Last year we started at 10 a. m. in Church has been almost the only twice each week. This is under- an auto to conduct a morning service uninterrupted, continuing for- taken by Rev. A. M. Williams, in one of our indigenous churches, eign factor in Cameroun life. It who has about 70 names on his about sixteen miles away. We found has pioneered in education, med- baptism record; many more 700 people waiting to hear the Gospel, icine, modern agriculture, man- than that number attend the and 200 of these people partook of ual training, spiritual regenera- services. Since most of the men Communion. Leaving this church at tion. It has brought thousands are there for a long term it is 1 : 30 p. m., we went on to ano,ther of Africans, through Christ, into possible to do a good deal with church some twenty-five miles in a closer human as well as closer them, and results are encour- difllerent direction, and found 1,500 spiritual relationships than they aging. Nearly all are illiterate, people waiting. There was insufficient have ever experienced before. It but all are taught to read and room in the church, so they all sat has interpreted and bound and write before they are baptized, under eucalyptus trees, to listen enmediated. It has taught Eng- except the very old. thralled to the same Word of God. It lish, then German, now French. was unforgettable and very touching, Some of the most effective to hear this crowd of people sing in It has been the largest factor leaders in the mission band have their own tongue, "Rock of Ages, cleft in stability and unity. And now been convicts, and it is not un- for me." After this service, once again Germany is demanding the re- common to find prisoners, after Ohristians to the number of 300 sat turn of Cameroun; Germany, their releas,e, going back to their down at the Lord's Table. whose officials oppose Christian- villages to engage in active evanity, forbid the fundamental gelism. We left them as the African sun teachings of Jesus Christ and quickly disappeared behind a mouncomplete loyalty to Him. Changes in Nyasaland tain, and reached the mission station at 5 p. m., having come into contact Making Ends Meet Rev. Wilfrid Emberson has with about 2,200 Africans on one Sab- spent 27 years of service in bath day. And this difference has Rev. James L. Jackson, of Nyasaland,and recently, because come about in eighteen years! Luebo, Congo State, says that of his wife's ill health, both have for the past eight years the mis- returned to England where Mr. When Mrs. Emberson said sionary budget has not been suf- Emberson has accepted the pas- good-bye, the oldest Christian ficient to meet the needs; and torate of a Baptist church in woman, gripping both of Mrs. by way of being explicit lists Kent. During their joint serv- Emberson's hands, said: "Don't what Luebo station is expected ice in Nyasaland, village schools cry mai (mother), we shall go to do for six months on $2,400. have grown from 40 to more on following the Jesus you have (1) Medical work: pay for all than 100. There are now seven helped us to know and love, and medicine in a hospital where indigenous churches. In the when He comes again for His 15,000 patients are treated and early days there was no building children we shall meet again, as many as 75 major operations in which the sick could stay for and in that day say 'Moni' (Good· are performed annually; pay healing, but, after a boy with a morning) face to face." for all emergency medical trips diseased foot had crawled five when gasoline costs 50 cents a days to reach the missionary, -The Christian. gallon, and quinine to keep mis- two mud huts were set apart as sionary families free from ma- a "hospital." During the first Juvenile Crime in laria. (2) Pay teachers' salaries year 7,000 patients were treated, Johannesburg in a school with 2,000 pupils; all and last year 19,229 sick folk reteaching material and entire sup- ceived treatment. Juvenile crime in South Africa is engaging public attention. In port for 14 outstation schools Johannesburg, it has increased by more than 53 per cent during the past year. An inquiry con- ducted by Dr. Ray E. Phillips names poverty as the root of the situation. Children steal because they are hungry. Other causes named are inadequate housing; unstable marriage ties, which means that children are not liv-
ing with parents; liquor con- tine is obvious. The Germans many encouraging facts. In sumption; lack of educational have established an Arab club Sweden, the number of schools advantages-more than half the in Damascus. An Arab doctor, and scholars has increased durnative children are not in school trained in Germany, goes back ing recent years; and their effibecause of lack of accommoda- and forth between Iraq and ciency is steadily improving. tion-and, by no means the least Damascus, and recently infor- Teacher training courses are significant factor – the separa- mation was let slip that he has held regularly, and junior work tion of families, because 300,000 been busy sending money from for girls and boys, who leave the native men are at work in the Germany to Iraq, to be for- Sunday school at fourteen years mines, and living in compounds. warded to Arab committees in of age has been organized. Palestine. A new motor road -World Dominion Press. between Syria and Imq furthers Progress is the keynote of Germany's plan for a "Greater Sunday school work in Esthonia. WESTERN ASIA Germany" to stretch from Ber- Much time has also been given lin to Bagdad. to visitation of German and Rus- Sunday Schools in Bible Lands sian Sunday schools in the vi- However,a write!r in Al Misry cinity of Tartu: here Sunday Many cablegrams during the believes that the Arabs under- school and Bible class work is year have informed the world of stand quite well the consequences being regularly conducted among bloodshed and bitter strife in the of getting into Hitler's power, Russian and German youth; and lands of the Bible, but most of and their officials are not much great enthusiasm is evident on the Sunday school news tells the impressed by Germany's appeals. the part of both teachers and story of a world of cooperation Arabs do not seriously consider s:cholars. and mutual enhancement among any scheme they do not fully men of diverse cultures. From understand. The report reveals that in Tiberias one writes, "The Sun- France, Holland, Hungary and day school is a movement of MISCELLANEOUS many other countries, the work world brotherhood. It is the is making steady progress. only place where Arab and Jew- The Bible and Education ish children meet in peace and World's Student Christian brotherhood in time of racial en- In an address at the Columbia Federation mity and bloodshed." Another Convocation in New York, comreport says, "In spite of war and memorating the 400th anniver- How to make this Federation rebellion, schools were conducted sary of the English Bible, the a force in America is the quesin Palestine with the help of Dean of St. Paul's, London, said, tion that faces the organization Moslem and Arab boys." In in the course of the address: as they look over the world and Jerusalem one thousand children see Christianity on the defensive. were enrolled in six vacation One cannot contemplate a falling "Not here"; one may say, "these Bible schools. away from the reverence and knowl- things can't happen in the edge of the Bible without seeing a United States." Well, can't they? The work of the Bible Lands great danger of national incoherence. There are movements on foot Union for Christian Erlucation In this modern time there is a great here that have already stamped isa unique demonstration of co- risk that the masses of the population out the Student Christian moveoperation in Palestine, Syria, may become, as it were, uprooted, ment in other countries. Transjordania, Lebanon, Iraq without secure foundation for their and Cyprus. Representatives of lives, that they may degenerate into Two things, says a writer in the Greek Orthodox, Armenian a swaying crowd with no common The Intercollegian, are essential Apostolic, Anglican and Amer- values and no continuing tradition. to promote the Federation: eduican Protestant churches carry The nations flourish or decay ulti- cation and funds. For the educaon 'a vast program of Chdstian mately from within. They flourish or tional program is sugges,ted: l. education. The ancient churches decay from the soul. An enthusiastic WorId Felloware adopting modern methods ship Committee to inte,rpret the for work with children, youth It is surely the duty of everyone Federation's aims. 2. Promotion and adults. The Christian con- who owes his own spiritual life to the of international Christian literaference grounds at Chouei"!', Leb- Bible to do his utmost to insist that ture. 3. Study groups. 4. Use anon, have proven to be a busy it shall take its proper place in the of bulletin boards and chapel center twelve months of the year education of the people; and con- speakers in colleges. 5. Estabfor leadership education, Chris- stantly to urge that no education, lish friendships with foreign stutian endeavor conferences and from the most elementary to the most dents. Correspondence with stuboys' camps. advanced, can be adequate which dents in other lands. leaves students in ignorance of this -World Sunday School fountainhead of all that is best in our Local experimentation is sug- Assn. News. common heritage. gested in the matter of raising funds. "Federation Friends" Germany Filters Into -Federal Council Bulletin. should be enlisted among faculty Near East members and others, and a The W. S. S. A. "Pledge Day" might be es,tab- The connection between Ger- lished. many and the troubles in Pales- The World's Sunday School Association is made up of 51 units, with two administrative centers, one in Glasgow, the other in New York. The recently published annual report contains
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Directory of Christian Missions and obvious that women of different ing medical service, and assist- Churches in India, Burma and Cey- l"'aces and nationalities around ing in village uplift projects, lon. Introduction by Alexander the world have the same prob- convinced that this is a sounder, McLeish. 512 pp. National Chris- lems and interests. Each author because a more helpfully con- tian Council, Nagpur, India. writes from wide experience as structive process than trying to to what Christ has brought to change labels." This is the fourth edition of her own countrywomen. Taken the Directory since 1932 when as a whole, the chapters supply Aside from this bias against its publication was undertaken a valuable record of the trends Christian missions, the book by the National Christian Coun- of the Christian m 0 v e men t bears the marks of scholarship cil. It contains statistics and a throughout the world. It is and is the best account we have very complete list of approxi- clearly shown that Christianity of present-day Turkey. After mately 200 missionary agencies, is a stabilizing force for nations, describing the background in 61 2',000 stations, 7,000 mission- as well as for individuals. At a pages Mr. Webster deals with aries, 175 periodicals, and 2,500 time, when the whole Christian the struggle for independence institutions in India, Burma and world is menaced by systems and the processes of reforma- Ceylon. Anyone will be im- contrary to the tea,chings of tion and leadership under Atapressed by this vast number of Christ, it is important to point turk. The second and longest Christian enterprises but the Di- to His Way as the only force that part of the book (pages 162-2'89) rectory is of especial value to will cement the nations together deals with the ideology of the missionaries, editors and execu- on the basis of righteousness and present government, particularly tives interested in Christian brotherhood. H. H. FERGUSON. politics, the press, education, and work in India. The Christians the result of all this on the social of all sects and races now are The Turkey of Ataturk: Social Prog- structure, the rural uplift and estimated to number 7,500,000 ress in the Turkish Reformation. the life of the people. of whom about 7,000,000 are In- By Donald Everett Webster. Amerdians. In 1931 Protestants num- ican Academy of Political and So- The volume is beautifully illusbered over 3,000,000, a 50% in- cial Science. 337 pp. Price, $2.50. trated, with photographs, diacrease in ten years, and Roman Philadelphia. 1939. grams, and maps, all of them val- Catholics over 2,000,000. Hindus uable. We have also a gazeteer, number 240,000,000. There are The author was a short-term a full bibliography, and a care- 225 languages spoken, in addi- teacher in the International Col-. ful index. As a secular study, tion to many dialects. The Bible, lege, Izmir (Smyrna), and had one can desire nothing better. in whole or in part, has been other contacts with Turkey. His translated in only 120 of these. book describes the complex proc- S. M. ZWEMER. There are still many unoccupied esses which have as by miracle areas and unevangelized millions produced modern Turkey. Its The Wild Rue: A Study of Muhamin India. viewpoint is not political, nor re- madan Magic and Folklore in Iran. ligious, nor that of the journal- By Bess Allen Donaldson. Luzac & Women and the Way: A Symposium. ist, but that of the sociologist. Co., London. 216 pp. 10/6. 198 pp. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 The first sentence in the Intro- cents. The Friendship Press, New duction give the writer's view- Edwyn Bevan, in his Gifford York. 1938. point: "Turkey, no longer an Lectures, used "Symbolism and object of derision, pity, and Belief" as the general title. All What the ace e pta n c e of evangelization, now marches in races are fond of symbols for Christ's Way of Life has meant the vanguard of those nations their faith and superstitionsto the women of every land is a whose post-World War revolu- the Star for Judaism, the Cresquestion here answered by out- tionary processes are most as- cent for Islam, the Swastika for standing Christian women of tounding." At the close of the Buddhism. And so the learned many different parts of the book he remarks: "There are author of this excellent book on world. The list of authors in- still a few Protestant mission- Persian superstition has taken cludes such distinguished leaders aries in the country who do no for title "The Wild Rue," the as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, proselytizing, but spend their most common plant in practice Michi Kawai, Muriel Lester and time in teaching school, render- of magic, used like the mandrake others from home, church, politi- .in the Pentateuch. I know of no cal and professional life, It is [221 ] other volume better suited to give the background of daily life
in Iran. Reforms, social and in- was a deep student 'Of the Bible, captivating. After reading his tellectual, are the order of the which he accepte9. as the in- studies we feel that we know day but eighty percent of the spired word 'Of God, and he was these men and wish to know common people only hear of a preacher tD whom old and even more about them. Dr. them and live their lives under young, learned and unlettered Eastman not only shows us the the shadow of Islam, as in the delighted to listen. He knew men in brief compass, but he repast. That shadow includes a God as revealed in Christ and he veals their backgrDund, the spirit mass of superstition and magic. knew and understood men, be- 'Of the times in which they lived Here we have the key. and their influence 'On posterity. cause he himself was a man. The bODk includes chapters on These Bible notes are m'Ore It is an excellent bDOk for young "The Evil Eye," "Practices at than beautiful nuggets 'Of g'Old men and offers gDod illustrative Child Birth," "M a r ria g e," that Bishop Smith mined in his material for sermons and ad- "Death," and "Burial." We have days 'Of study and prayer, they dresses. an accDunt 'Of superstitions CDnnected with the seasons, the are living seed-thDughts that Evergreen and Other Near East Bible weather, the calendar, dreams Talks. By Abdul-Fady (A. T. Upand sleep; also we learn what came from the granary of God's pious Moslems are supposed tD revealed Word and are copied son) with foreword by Dr. S. M. d'O when they weep or breathe, sneeze or cut their nails and hair. from the Bishop's much used Zwemer. 120 pp. 28. Marshall There is alsD an aCCDunt of wide-margin study Bible. Are Morgan & Scott, Ltd. London. 1938. sacred places, saints and pilgrimages. This material might have nDt such thoughts. as the follDW- This little book of outline talks been better classified but the in- ing stimulating to dee per on the Bible is deceiving in two dex is fairly complete. The book thought, more earnest prayer ways. Its small size does not is written from a woman's view- give pr'Omise 'Of the am'Ount of point but it represents all the old and more Christlike living: life of Persia. As the author says: "Considerable attention "My God, my God, why hast thou real meat in it. And tDO, it gives has been given to religiDus cus- forsaken me" (Mat. 27: 46). This is tDms; this is because the super- hell ! the impression 'Of one of those stitiDns are firmly rooted in the religiDn. With the majority of "Whom God hath raised up" (Acts . devotiDnal books that one can the peDple their occult practices toss off in a day or so and go on. have become religious rites. It 2: 24). If this had been a lie the is to them that they pin their apostles would not have dared to Not so, fDr here is the considered faith, and to them they turn in preach it in Jerusalem – besides the times of trial and crisis. While Holy Spirit could not have blessed a result of years 'Of teaching God's the name 'Of G'Od is often UP'On Word, which fact in itself should their lips, all too frequently it, lie. get it a hearing. This teaching too, is merely a name with which "As for God, his way is perfect" tD conjure. (Ps. 18: 30). We cannot add to a was done in surroundings which perfect thing. To meddle is to spoil. must of necessity reflect them- The uninformed mind turns very "For all the promises of God in him naturally to something tangible in are yea, and in him Amen" (2 Cor. selves in the quality and the times of need. They are surrounded by fears: fears of sickness and death, 1: 20). Subject to no discount. flavor of the material presented. fears of drought and crop failure, fears of famine and flood, fears of "Thy Kingdom come" (Luke 11: 2). The occasional turns and evildoers and their wiles, fears of touches from the Near East save husbands and their relatives, and all Before me petition is allowed for self, this bo'Ok from being just ankinds of fears of the supernatural, and in their ignorance they have but foreign missions are to be rememsought the help of some "magical bered. power" in strange objects or symbols. "But when he was in Rome, he other book of Bible talks. It is sought me out very diligently and SAMUEL M. ZWEMER. clear that the authDr has been found me" (2 Timothy 1: 17). A good there. An instance is the ex- Gems from Bishop Taylor Smith's man is ever seeking people-worldly planation of the "sound of Bible. Compiled by Percy O. Ruoff. 142 pp. 28. 6d. Marshall, Morgan people for Christ; Christians for marching" in the vale of Re- & Scott. London. $1.00. Zonder- van Pub. House, Grand Rapids. Christ. 1939. Not only pastors and teachers phaim (page 38). Again the Bishop Taylor Smith was a re- but all Christians will find this reference tD the ripening of the markable character, with a keen Jaffa oranges (page 41) makes sense of humDr, spiritual dis.. vDlume richly rewarding. cernment, a heart of love and a us realize how much a knowledge faith that begets courage. He Men of Power. Volume III. Four of "the Land" is necessary to an biographies by F'red Eastman. 197 understanding 'Of "the Bo'Ok."
pp. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nash- ROBERT F. OGDEN. ville. 1939.
Benjamin Franklin the scien- Highways and Hedges. By William Wistar Hamilton. 119 pp. $1.00. tist and statesman, R. W. Emer- Broadman Press.. Nashville. 1938. SDn the pDet, preacher and essay- ist, George FDX the fDunder of These are brief stories of CDn- the Society of Friends, and verts in evangelistic work, writ- ten by some fifty Christian work- Charles Darwin the revDlution- ers. Some 'Of them are tDD brief ary scientist-all make excellent to make an impression but others subjects for sixty-minute biD- offer effective material for pas- graphical sketches. Dr. Eastman tors and Sunday school teachers who may unfDrtunately lack is a clear thinker and a dramatic these rich persDnal experiences. writer. The glimpses he gives A careful sifting would improve of their develDpment, their the vDlume. achievements and sources 'Of their power are stimulating and
' j I~~
Upptr Room _2_ April, May, June ~ "'! ,,' -II if.
"It 01 ;:t.
o:j 'S ~ '1 :l: '!J .l1 Spiritual Need -&1/121 "I~ :<!-7. Knows No 'Hi '".:s.~ Boundary Lines ';"51 ~ "'I !I'
A page from Korean Edition PERHAPS, as no other publication, THE UPPER ROOM has proved that men of all races, of all tongues, are in great need of the spiritual inspiration of a daily devotional guide. Because of this universal need for it, THE UPPER ROOM is now published in four languages-English, Spanish, Korean, and Hindustani. It can now be read by half the people of the earth in their own language and new translations are being added as the demand for them arises.
In response to requests from pastors who have been using the specially printed Christmas envelopes to mail copies of THE UPPER ROOM to members of their congregations, we are now offering A SPECIALLY PRINTED ENVELOPE FOR MAILING THE EASTER ISSUE This envelope carries an attractive design, printed in an appropriate color. These Easter envelopes are offered at 1 cent each, postpaid, in quantities of 10 or more, or we will mail a copy of the April, May, June issue, to address furnished, in an Easter envelope for 10 cents each.
THE UPPER ROOM is available, in quantities of 10 or more, at 5 cents per copy, post. paid, and on our consignment plan if desired. Yearly subscription, 30 cents postpaid, foreign 40 cents. Spanish edition at same price and on same terms.
The April, May, June issue is now ready for distribution. This is the Easter Issue. The cover is one of the most beautiful and suggestive that we have ever used. The interpreta- tion of the cover picture alone is worth many times the price of the book. Be sure that every member of your congregation is supplied. Place your order at once for prompt delivery.
Send all orders for English and Spanish editions to tbe Upper Room f,.~~=I====Do=c=to=rs=' =B=ui=ld=in=g======N=as=h=vi=lle=,=T=en=n=.==~,,~.~~ [223 ]
The Second World Conference on program in revolutiQnizing the B run n e r' s "Mediator," and Faith and Order, Edinburgh, 1937. method of missionary activity in Schweitzer's the "Mysticism o.f Edited by Leonard Hodgson. $2.25. the C. M. S. stations in northern St. Paul," but has not grasped o.r 386 pp. Macmillan. New York. Nigeria provide food for thQught been grnsped by their doctrine. 1939. The final report of the con- for any who may be interested in The tragedy of the post-war time ference includes six chapters: mission work in West Africa. has driven religious tho.ught and The last section of the book leads experience in this Western world (1) Introduction; (2) The up to the tragedy of his death in into a deeper, mQre mysterious, an airplane crash during his sec- Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ; ond term as assistant bisho.P in more transcendent cons,truction (3) The Church of Christ and the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. of the thought of Go.d and of the the W.ord .of God; (4) The Com- grace of God, o.f the fact of sin, munion of Saints; (5) The L. K. ANDERSON. and of the manifestatio.n of God Church .of Christ: Ministry and in Christ, and of the deeds o.f Essential Christianity. By Samuel Go.d in Christ and histo.ry, than Sacraments; (6) The Church's Angus. 226 pp. $2.00. Macmillan. is represented in this book. Unity in Life and Worship. New York. 1939. R. E. SPEER. Here is evidence .of the present Let Us Build. By P. E. Burroughs, reality of the ideal which is Dr. Angus maintains the opin- Illus. 154 pp. 60 cents. Broadpursued. Certain manifestatiQns man Press. Nashville. 1938. of unity remain to be attained ion that Christianity is not a but here is a real unity .of the matter of opinion and he sets Building churches-both physspirit in the bo.nd of peace. The fQrth his opinion .of what essen- ically and spiritually-is a pro.bprayer of o.ur Lord for unity tially Christianity is. It is the lem. Fin an c e s, educatio.nal amo.ng His disciples, like the old self-contradictory circle. A equipment, worship, recreational man tells us that "It dQes nQt facilities are all involved-and unity of the Father and S.on, has how the problems are wQrked no.t been achieved but the dis- matter what a man thinks. It out may mean all the difference ciples are striving after it. only mrutters what he is." One replies, "You are ei,ther saying R. E. SPEER. what you think or you are saying Civilization-The Next Step. By C. what YOlU don't think. If the lat- between success and failure. . Delisle Burns. $2.75. 291 pp. W. ter, what are you? If the former, The author is educational and W. Norton & Co. New York. 1939. why are yo.U saying it if it does architectural secretary of the The author's desires and pur- not matter?" Southern Baptist Sunday School poses are of the best. The next Of co.urse Christianity is very Board and his manuscript has step sho.uld be more friendliness, much a matter of opinion, but been approved by forty-two. kindness, intelligence, equality few, if any, readers of THE RE- architects. The book includes and justice. But the philosophy VIEW will agree with Dr. Angus' forty-five plates to illustrate is the old humanism. Humanity opiniQn of it. "Christianity is an twelve building plans for various is to. lift itself by its own boot- sized churches and differing straps. A living GQd and the experience." It is not faith in costs from $7,000 to. $122,000 Christian dynamic are simply God in Christ. "It is faith in each. It is arranged as a textno.t in the picture. The tragedy bo.ok and contains many valuable o.f the world lies deeper than God like that of Jesus." The note and practical suggestions for this diagnosis. There is such a is the note of that pre-war liber- both churches and Sun day reaUty as sin and there is need alism which defined Christianity schools. Many of the plans are o.f a mQre powerful Saviour and as "the religion of Jesus" and de- very attractive and practical. a more radical salvatio.n than is cried "the religion about Jesus." Little attention is. given to social co.nceived here. R. E. SPEER. It deprecates the relatiQnship of and athletic .equipment and the essence of Christianity to which is so popular today in Guy' Bullen. By his friends. Illus. many churches. Maps. 136 pp. 58. Highway Press, "alleged historic facts o.f debat- able historicity (such as, the Vir- gin Birth, the miracles, the phys- London. 1938. ical resurrection o.f Jesus" the Hugo of the Blade. By Julius F. bodily ascension, the official and Seebach. 271 pp. $1.00. United This biography .of the late Rt.
Rev. H. Guy Bullen, As:sistant authoritative establishment of a Lutheran Publication House, Phil- Bishop in Egypt and the Sudan, Church by Him)." It rejects the adelphia. 1938.
is written by friends and aSSQ- deity of Christ. It accepts what This is a moderately interestciates who. pay tribute to the un- in the New Testament suits the ing novel of the Reformation peusual attractiveness o.f the man's author's o.pinion of essential riod, centering about the life of human chaI"acteristics and to his Chris.tianity and rejects what a printer and his descendants s'implicity and powe,r as a devo.ut does not. who were staunch supporters of Christian. Perhaps the least in- Dr. Angus' emphasis on the Protestantism. The "trimming teresting part o.f the book is the duty of Christlikeness, of obedi- blade," used in book binding, be- first section dealing with Bullen's ence and conformity to the Spir- came the symbol of truth and boyhood where an attempt is it o.f Christ, or unselfishness and freedom. This story won first made to relate youthful inclina- sacrifice and service and love is prize in the "John Rung Legacy"
tions to later powers in the mis- all to the go.od, but his subjective contest for 1938, for the best his- sionary's personality. The chap- humanJsm is a swan song of a torical narrative, educational and ters relating to his far-sighted declining Christism. He has read missionary. H. H. F.
from Many Lands: Stories for GOD'S PURPOSE :h:::'::~
Juniors. Illus. 127 pp. Paper, 50 erery day cents. Morehouse-Gorman Co., New York. 1938. A handy volume of 365 inspirational sermonettes written by distinguished Children will like these stories, clergymen of the English·speaking world. Arranged in calendar form. one and leaders of junior groups will find them helpful in creating an for each day in the year. one to each page. interest in the children of other races and lands and in promoting Cloth,60c; Limp Leatherette, $1.00; Art Leather, $1.50 a missionary spirit. In addition to the stories about children in COD'S MESSACE COD'S MINUTE far-away lands, there are tales about American Indians, Ne- 365 prominent clergymen have Here is a marvelous collection of groes and Mountaineers; also about ohildren of island depend- chosen their favorite Scripture pas- 365 Daily Prayers. each 60 seconds encies-Porto Rico, Hawaii, the Philippines. Following the fif- sages. With each as a text, they long. written by 365 of the most teen stories are six biographical sketches, in language children have written a Message that quick- eminent preachers and laymen in can understand, of stalwart Christian leaders, such as Bishop ens faith, and brings comfort. the world. Azariah of India. Cloth, 6Oc; Limp Leatherette, $1.00; Art Leather, 51.50 HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON. THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Phila. Master Thoughts for Victorious Liv- ing. Edited by Dumont Clarke. 72 The Spirit of the Shepherd. By M. Life's Cricket Match. Reginald pp. 25 cents paper; $1.00 leather- P. Krikorian. 8 vo. 125 pp. $1.00. Wallis. 43 pp. 6d. Pickering & ette cover. Paul M. Hinkhouse. Zondervan Pub. Co. Grand Rapids, Inglis. London. New York. 1938. Mich. 1938. Master Thoughts for Victorious These 285 quotations are from The Twenty-third Psalm is Living. Edited by Dumont Clarke. many different sources from the immortal and seems to be inex- 72 pp. 25 cents; $1.00, Leatherette. Bible to Mohandas Gandhi and haustible. The present inter- Paul Hinkhouse. New York. from John Keats to Robert E. pretation is by an Armenian Speer. They naturally form a shepherd who became a spiritual The Missionary Significance of the great mixture on over fifty topics shepherd and Christian evan- Lord's Prayer. Lee S. Huizenga. and are of varied value. Most gelist. His emphasis in this ex- 84 pp. Eerdmans Pub. Co. of them are very brief-one sen- position is on the revelation of tence – but they offer food for God as the Jehovah who pro- Revealing Christ. Percy Hortill. 71 thought and come from experi- vides, guides, gives peace, over- pp. Is. 2d. S. P. G. London. ence. To many public speakers comes and gives His people a they furnish material for apt Home forever. These character- Studies in Popular Islam. S. M. quotations. istics are all referred to in the Zwemer. 148 pp. $2.50. Mac- Hebrew names. The study is millan. New York. All Around the City. By Esther Frei- practical and interesting rather vogel. Illus. 95 pp. 50 cents paper than unique. The Turkey of Ataturk. Social Prog- and $1.00 cloth. Friendship Press. ress in the Turkish Reformation. New York. 1938. New Boole. Donald Everett Webster. 337 pp. $2.50. Academy of Political and Here is an attractive book on Christian Home Making. (Prepared Social Science. Philadelphia. the city for primary children. A for the Madras Conference of the "Primary Teacher's Guide" is I. M. C.) Edited by Mrs. Robert They Dared to Live. Robert M. Bartalso obtainable at 25 cents a E. Speer and Constance Hallock. lett. 135 pp. $1.25. Association copy. Miss Freivogel describes 141 pp. $1.50. Round Table Press. Press. New York. how children move to the city New York. from the country, their experi- The World's Religions. A Short Hisences at Christmastime, at the Canadian Journey. H. P. Thompson. tory. Charles S. Braden. 256 pp. Neighborhood H 0 use, church 69 pp. S. P. G. London. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville. school and at play. Pen and ink drawings and the story are de- The Church Faces the World. (Pre- Welcome House. Jessie Eleanor signed to interest children. The pared for the Madras Conference of Moore. Illustrated. 95 pp. $1.00, incidents of life will help them the I. M. C.) Edited by Samuel cloth; 50 cents, paper. Friendship understand other children, and McCrea Cavert. 133 pp. $1.50. Press. New York. to sympathize with many who Round Table Press. are undernourished both physi- John Wyclif and the English Bible. cally and spiritually. It is a Christians in Action. A Record of Melvin M. Cammack. 288 pp. $1.75. good book for children from Work in War-Time China. By American Tract Society. New York. seven to ten years of age. Seven Missionaries. 115 pp. $1.00. Longs, Green & Co. New York. Tales of a Waste-Basket Surgeon. Gordon S. Seagrave. 265 pp. $1.50. Green Timber. Esther Gerberding Judson Press. Philadelphia. Hunt. 220 pp. 75 cents. United Lutheran Pub. House. Philadelphia. The Two Ways. A Play in Six Epi- sodes. A. L. E. WilIiams. 53 pp. Hugo the Blade. Julius F. Seeback. Is. S. P. C. K. London. 271 pp. $1.00. United Lutheran Pub. House. Philadelphia. The W orId's Great Religious Poetry. Compiled by Caroline Miles Hill. The History of Christianity in Amer- $1.69. Macmillan. New York. ica. Frank Grenville Beardsley. 244 pp. $1.50. American Tract Why Be Good? James Reid. 191 pp. Society. New York. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville.
Historical Atlas of the Holy Land. The Holy Bible. Illustrated by Wil- Maps. 62 pp. $1.00. Rand Mc- liam Hole. 8vo. 1,252 pp. Eyre Nally. New York. and Spottiswoode. London.
Men of Power. Vol. III. Fred East- man. 197 pp. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville.
State Population Census by Faiths: Meaning, Reliability and Value. H. S. Linfield. 72 pp. $2. Hasid's Bibliographic and Library Service. New York.
'I(~ ,tI1zS .11WiteJ to. ,tItienci
THE NORTHFIELD MISSIONARY CONFERENCE JULY 3-10, 1939 A PIONEER PROJECT in Interdenominational Fellowship on the beautiFul CAMPUS of Northfield Seminary EAST NORTHFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS have received inspiration and training for service in their home churches, their communities and beyond the SEAS Denominational Camps for the Girls SEPARATE CLASSES are held for GIRLS and WOMEN In Bible Study • Mission Study • Leadership Training A FEW OF THE LEADERS WHO WILL TAKE PART Miss Ruth Isabel Seabury Miss Hazel Orton Miss Marguerite Hazzard Miss Alice Murdock Miss Nona M. Diehl Miss Sue Weddell Miss Gertrude Schultz Mrs. Walter C. Stevens Miss Christine Wang Dr. Caroline Palmer Dr. Emily J. Werner YOUR CHURCH SHOULD BE REPRESENTED YOUR LEADERS SHOULD FEEL THE POWER THAT COMES FROM MEETING TOGETHER WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST For further information address—MRS. WARREN C. TAYLOR. 38 Union Avenue W., Schenectady, N. Y.
THE MOILEM WORLD PUBUSHED BY THE HARTFORD SEMINARY FOUNDATION Editors: SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, EDWIN E. CALVERLEY Some Articles in the April Number Religion and Life • • • Edwin E. Calverley A Protestant View of Moslem Missions Julius Richter The Missionary Conviction and Approach • Robert E. Speer The Law and the Gospel • • • Laurence E. Browne Al.Ghazali and Arabic Versions of the Gospels Constance E. Padwick A Modern Revindication of Islam H. Kraemer Qualities of the Planets D. M. Donaldson A Variant Text of the Fatiha Arthur Jeffery The Traditions of An.Nawawi .. Eric F. F. Bishop The Moslem Doctrine of Sin E. E. Elder Book Reviews Current Topics Survey of Periodicals Sue Molleson Foster +0(-._ _.-~» SUBSCRIBE NOW 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents.) British Agents: MARSHALL, MORGAN & SCOTT, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight Shillings a Year, net
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1938
1938
A New Survey of Neglected Arabia Samuel M. Zwemer Reality and Romance in Czechoslovakia Joseph Novotny The Universality of Christ E. Stanley Jones Problems of the Churches in Asia Akira Ebisawa Outlook for the Church in India B. L. Rallia Ram The Saintly Surgeon of India Margaret McKellar A New Children's Page Violet Wood 2S Cents a Copy $2.50 a YeaT
to Remember IPIRITUAL REVIVAL IN' FULL
N(lvember 1-3-Nationaf Stewardship The war in China has added greatly to our material burdens. It ha. greatly deepened Convention, Chicago, Ill. the spiritual life of all at the Home and also increased the number we are carinll for Your prayers and aid will now 110 further in winning souls for Christ than perha~ November 6-11-International Good- ever before. Let the appeal of hundreds who are helpless and hopeles. not be in .will Congress. San Francisco, Calif. vain. A little lloes a long way in China• November 20-Thanksgiving Sunday. HOME OJ: ONEJIPHORUJ D~ember 6-9-Biennial meeting of TAlAN, SHANTUNG, CHINA the Federal Council of Churches, . Buffalo, N. Y. This faith work is one of the largest Christian institutions in the Orient. It has been December 13-30-International Mis- consecrated for over twenty years to the rescue of the homeless.
sionary Council, Madras, India. Write today for FREE picture and story of Chinese girl shown in this ad • January 8-10, 1939 – Home Missions also receive "Helping China'. Helpless," telling how God led Rev. and Mrs: Anglin to open the Home and how He blessed the work. a thrilling story. Council, Baltimore, Md. January 23-February 18-Iowa School HOME OF ONESIPHORUS American Office for Missionaries. Iowa State College, 2811 North Racine Avenue Drawer 36 Chicago, nlinois Ames, Iowa. Personal Item. keget; Ins~itute, is convalescing after Obituary Notes a serIOUS Illness. Dr. Carver's discov- eries are known around the world. The Rev. David B. Schneder, D.D., Dr. W. Graham Scroggie, one of a missionary of the Reformed Church the Vice-Presidents of England's Na- Mrs. Prem N* at*h D*as, Vice-Presi- in the U. S. to Japan since 1887, died tional Young Life Council for some in Sendai, Japan, on October 4. Dr. years, now becomes the Free Church dent of Isabella Thoburn College in Schneder was one of the outstanding President of the Movement, to succeed Lucknow, has been chosen as sucees- missionaries and for many years was the late Carey Bonner. He will hold sor to Dr. Mary E. Shannon, Princi- president of the College of North the office jointly with Canon Rowland pal, who retires early in 1939. Mrs. Japan, retiring two years' ago. He Grant. Das is the first Indian to become head was de~orated by the Mikado with the of the first college for women in Asia. Fourth Order of the Rising Sun and *** the Third Order of Sacred Treasure. Dr. Rufus J*one*s *and Dr. Harry He was born in Bowmansville, Pa., Dr. W. A. Visser 't Hooft, of Ge- and was graduated from Franklin neva, has been elected president of the Silcock, representing Quaker Mis- and Marshall College and from Lan- World Student Christian Federation sions of the United States and Eng- caster Theological Seminary. at a meeting in Paris, attended by 120 land, have been visiting China, study- delegates from Australia, India, Java, ing the situation and gathering data, *** South Africa, Canada, United States, preparatory to sending a staff of and nearly all the European countries. workers to open headquarters in Miss Isabel K. MacDermott, ex- Shanghai for the administration of ecutive secretary of the Board of The Russian Student Movement in relief. The Quakers have proved their Trustees of Santiago College in Chile, Exile, having its headquarters in Par- efficiency in this line. died in the Post-Graduate Hospital, is, joined with the French Student New York City, August 12, following Christian Movement as hosts of the a major operation. Miss MacDermott conference. was a teacher in Santiago College Dr. Luther W*esl*ey *Smith, pastor of many years ago. *** the First Baptist Church of Syracuse, *** Rev. Saburo Imai, secretary of the N. Y., has been chosen as Executive Mrs. R. W. Porteous, of Shanghai, Board of Missions of the Japan Meth- Secretary of the American :tJaptist whose capture by communists in 1930 odist Church, is in America as a rep- Publication Society, succeeding Dr. will be remembered, died at Nanchang resentative of his church to the United Owen C. Brown, retired. May 5. Mrs. Porteous went to China Church of Canada. 44 years ago as Emma Forsberg, of Pennock, Minn. She married R. W. *** Dr. James A.*Gr*aha*m, founder and Porteous in 1908, and through their Dr. Robert Bond, president of the united efforts more than 50 outsta- Methodist Conference of Great Brit- director of the Presbyterian Mission . tions were opened in West Central ain, traveled 20,000 miles last year Hospital in Tagbilaran, Philippine Is- Kiangsi. When news was flashed without missing a single engagement. lands, has been declared an adopted around the world in March, 1930, of He attributes this in large measure to son of the Province of Bohol. The the capture of Mr. and Mrs. Porteous the prayers of the membership for declaration, printed on parchment, by communists, multitudes gathered their president. was presented to Dr. Graham in the' to pray for their deliverance. Mter presence of government authorities, being held for three months, they were *** members of Bohol Medical Society and released, having suffered untold hard- Dr. George Washington Carver, other prominent Boholanos. ships and indignities. distinguished Negro scientist of Tus- After a period of recuperation in America, they returned to China in The .Rev. J.*Le*on*Hooper, D.D., 1932 to reopen the Burrows Memorial of the Board of Foreign Missions, Bib~ School in Nanchang. Presbyterian Church, has been asked to extend his service as Acting Secre- *** tary for the portfolio which includes Japan, Korea, Siam and the Philip- Rev. Charles Phillips, of Johannes- pine Islands, for another period of burg, South Mrica, died June 6 at the three months. age of 85. He was a missionary of the London Missionary Society, and *** .later pastor of Ebenezer Congrega- tional Church in Johannesburg. Mrs. F. E. Shotwell has taken up the responsibilities of Western Super- visor of Migrant Work for the Coun- cil of Women for Home Missions. She comes to the Council with a training and experience that fits her peculiarly A practical, effective course in methods for these responsibilities, so ably car- of Chrisuan work and soul·winning. ried on by Miss Adela J. Ballard dur- ing the last ten years of her lifetime. Send 15c in stamp. for curreat iiau.. ' Mrs. Shotwell was a member of the Council staff in 1931-1932 in the Colo- PUBUCATIOMSJHG (Concluded on page 518.) Harrisburg, Pa.
MISSIONARY A missionary to West China voices The great white Empresses
REVIEW OF THE WORLD the view of many missionaries who every speed record to and from are at isolated stations and so are the Orient. 10 days direct to DBUVAN L. PmRBON, B4tto,. deprived of the rich privileges we en- Yokohama by Empress of Asia joy at home. A small living income, or Empress of Russia. Or only VOL. LXI Nov., 1938 No. 11 with heavy expenses, also makes it three days more via Hawaii by difficult for them to buy books and Empress of Japan, largest and Publication and Business 01llce– magazines and they have no public fastest on the Pacific, or Empress Third and Reily Ste., Harrisburg, Pa. libraries. The following letter sug- of Canada. Connect at Honolulu gests a field for loving service: from California ports. Editorial and Executive 01llce– From Vancouver and Victoria 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. "We have been so delighted with to Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Entered as second-class matter at THE REVIEW . . . Please enter our Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila. subscription so that we will not miss Details from YOUR TRAVEL Post 01llce, Harrisburg, P •., under any issue. It is a source of spiritual AGENT or Canadian Pacific.: Act of March 3, 1879. power and an inspiration to us. 41 offices in U. S. and Canada.
25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. "R. H. THOMAS, Yunnan, China. Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. * * .. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1938. British agents – Marshall, Morgan A leader in the church in America and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings. volunteers the following: London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy. 10 shillings a year. "There is no magazine which comes to my desk which'I read with more MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- intense interest than the REVIEW. You LISHING CO., INC. are doing a wonderful piece of work BOARD OF DIRECTORS in editing this magazine, and keep- ing the Christian world in touch with ROBERT E. SPEER, Pre,ident the whole realm of missionary ac- A. L. WA.RNBHUIB, Vioe-Pre,ident tivity. I thought the September num- WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer ber especially good." DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary PAUL J. BRAISTED JOHN TIMOTHY STONE, President of the Presbyterian SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT Theological Seminary, Chi- D. J. FANT cago.
MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD *** WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH We can never preach the Gospel SAMUEL M. ZWRMRR with power until we get over the caste spirit. If all Christian workers are Editorial Chat not cured of our spiritual aristocracy, God never will give us the power of The four hundred or more delegates the Holy Spirit in winning souls. to the International Missionary Coun- Peter could not go down to that housecil will soon meet in Madras, India, hold in Caesarea and preach the Gosfor two weeks' conference (December pel with power until he had learned 13 td 30). They, face a difficult situa- that any man, woman, or child in the tion at home and in many mission wide world to whom God sends His fields. The influence and pronounce- Gospel is on equality of right and ments of this conference of leaders privilege with the proudest nobles of should be far-reaching. THE REVIEW the earth. ARTHUR T. PIERSON. has asked a number of delegates to write impressions of the conference Personal Items and to secure papers from those who make the most important contributions (Concluded from second cover.) -especially native Christian leaders from each field. Among those who are rado migrant camps and during the to give our readers their views of the succeeding years as a teacher devoted situation and their reactions to the her summers to working in migrant conference discussions are: Dr. John projects in California, Oregon, and R. Mott (Chairman), Dr. Paul W. Washington. Harrison of Arabia, Dr. Frank W. Price of China, Mr. Kenneth Grubb of Dr. Mary E. *Sha*nn*on, Principal of the World Dominion Movement, Dr. H. Kerr Taylor of Nashville and Dr. Isabella Thoburn College at Lucknow, H. Kraemer of Holland. These are re- India, has been awarded the Kaiser-iquested to give us not only their own Hind medal, for conspicuous public views, but the views of Nationals service. Miss Shannon has presented from various lands. Later we will her resignation from the college, to announce the plans made to present take effect early in 1939. the most vital themes discussed at Madras before the churches in Amer- Americans are too prone to identify ica. Do not miss these reports. the Kingdom of God with democratic liberalism: There may be a place in *** the Kingdom of God for the Authori- tarian State; but there can be no N ow is the time to plan for Christ- place for the Totalitarian State.- mas. Nothing you can send to a mis- Rev. Howard Chandler Robbins, New sionary friend (at home or abroad) York. or to a pastor or other intelligent Christian friend will be of greater The Church has denied the univerinterest and value, to keep them in- sality of Christianity by its divisions formed on world conditions and the over doctrine, race and nationality. progress of Christianity, than a year's It has itself erected the barriers that subscription to THE REVIEW. (Note separate Christianity from Christ.- our special offer on the back cover of T. Z. Koo, Shanghai, China. this issue.) [ 513]
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AMERICAN-ARABIAN MISSION-MASON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BAHRAIN NEGLECTED ARABIA-A STffEET SCENE IN HOFUF-HASA (see article by Dr. S. M. Zwemer-page 519) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXI AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER, 1938 Topics of the Times THE PRESENT CRISIS IN ASIA program for a representative government under About fifty years ago, a book was published an Indian parliament. Mr. Gandhi, Jawaharlal which greatly influenced the missionary thinking Nehru and other leaders cannot agree on a plan and activity of the Christian Church. It was fo~ effecti,:e cooperation. Suspicion and jealousy stir up strIfe among Moslems, Hindus Sikhs and called "The Crisis of Missions," * and was the re- Christians in the desire for a controlli'ng voice in the government. Proportionate representation in sult of a careful study of world conditions and the parliament is a great bone of contention. opportunity before the Christian Church. At that time doors long closed were opening to the mes- A year ago the political problem in China sengers of Christ in all lands. God was calling but seemed on the way to a satisfactory solution, with the Church was giving only a feeble response- Sun Yat Sen's "Principles" to guide the national not more than ten thousand missionaries to the program, and with strong unselfish Christian leadten hundred million unevangelized. One out of ership in the government. Then came the Japaevery 15,000 Protestants was a missionary and nese absorption of Manchuria and the cruel and the annual gifts for work abroad amounted to only unwarranted invasion of China by the Japanese about $10,000,000. In the next ten or fifteen war machine. Meanwhile Western nations look years the number of missionaries doubled and the supinely on, with disapproval but still supply gifts multiplied four fold. A spiritual awakening Japan with war materials for the murderous camalso came to Christians at home; prayer and mis- paign. In the midst of this agonizing strife China sionary training increased; the progress of the is more united than ever before. Gospel in many lands was rapid and transforming. Then came the World War which resulted But Japan too is passing through a political in a great slump in the spiritual life of the crisis. With the military dictatorship in control churches. Non-Christian nations became more and the fear of communism ever present; with the suspicious of outside influences and were more common people kept in ignorance of the real eager for self-determination in politics, education situation; with the theory of a "divine Emperor" and religion. But the seeds of Truth had been hanging in the balance, and with growing antagplanted; Christ had been preached and His life onism and distrust between Japan and most of the had been exemplified so that the work has con- countries of Europe and America-no one can tell what a day may bring forth. Korea has already tinued to grow. felt the evil effects of this political despotism and Today there is a new crisis in Asia. Anyone there everything is being Japanized by force.
even slightly informed can see the dangers and The social and economic crisis in Asia is also the opportunities, especially in Moslem lands, in appar~nt. India is continually fighting poverty, India, in China and in Japan. The turning of the but wIth some success under British guidance. The tide in one direction means retrogression or dis- caste system, which has been her bane, shows aster; turned Godward it means progress and signs of breaking down under the leadership of new life. The crisis in these lands is threefold- Dr. Ambedkar and through the preaching of the political, social and economic, educational and re- Gospel of Christ. Fifty years ago what is taking place today-with the opening of schools and publigious. lic wells and government positions to outcastes- The political crisis in India is due to the mlw * "The Crisis of Missions," by Arthur T, Pierson, published In would have been thought impossible.
1886, went through many editions, [ 515]
In China, the fear of communism has passed- who declares that although he was born a Hindu if Japanese aggression can be stopped. Public he will not die a Hindu.
improvements in roads and other means of com- Enough has been said to call attention to the munication; the development of natural resources present crisis in these great nations of Asia. It and trade, and the improvement in social ideals is a time of danger and of opportunity-of danger were showing great progress-and then came lest the people retrograde into confusion, depres- Japan as an instrument of destruction. But sion and opposition to Christ and His program; China's power to resist and to recuperate has been a time of opportunity when through vital union proved through the centuries. with Christ they may be brought through to true The social and economic situation in Japan and liberty and peace, to social and economic progress Korea is serious. The war is estimated to cost and to new spiritual life and power.
Japan $5,000,000 a day and the people are feeling The Way to Victory the depression more and more. They are being heavily taxed and are commanded to omit all lux- What is the way of victory? Politically it is not uries and many things considered necessities. the way of greater armies, navies and air bat- Hundreds of thousands of wage earners are being talions; it is not by accepting the supremacy of killed in China. Koreans also are suffering ac- communistic, fascist, or socialistic lead~rs; it is cutely from Japanese taxation and exploitation. not even through pacifism or a peaceful struggle The Educational and Spiritual Crisis for political control. Christ and the apostles lived in a time of political oppression and the de- The educational and spiritual crisis in Asia is pendence on armed force, but they sought peace intimately linked with the political and economic by obedience to laws that did not defy the laws situation. Materialism and atheism are strug- of God, by love that suffers long and is kind and gling against Christ and His principles of love, by preaching Christ as the Saviour and Lord of justice and freedom. all. "When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" They can stilI be right- In Japan and Korea, Christian education is eous, trust God and stand true to Him-even unto threatened with extinction, as emperor worship death. and attendance at the Shinto shrines is being required of Christians and non-Christians alike. Socially and economically the way of victory is Japanese and Koreans were fast becoming edu- not by a new social setup or through the adoption cated in Christian truth, enlightened customs and of certain economic principles-for self-seeking ideals, but now the government is fast taking all men to disregard. In the time of Christ, social ineducation under its control and is depriving the justice was everywhere apparent, slavery and people of the religious liberty promised by the poverty prevailed and there was a great gulf beconstitution. The alternative is being offered- tween the rich and the poor. Christians met the Baal or Jehovah, Diana or Christ, God as re- crisis not by advocating 3 redistribution of wealth, vealed in the Bible or Shinto. or even the immediate liberation of slaves, but by proclaimIng the law of love, by preaching and In China, in the midst of political and economic practicing justice and by showing that God is no distress, there seems to be a spiritual awakening respector of persons. They revealed the truth that and greater religious freedom. Whereas Christian riches consist not in accumulated wealth but that teaching was excluded from the schools under re- character and contentment come from honest toil, cent laws, the loyalty of Christians and the sacri- brotherly dealings and an unselfish, wise steward- ficial service of missionaries in caring for the ship of time, talents and possessions.
wounded and destitute has now brought permis- The educational and spiritual needs were seen sion to make Christian teaching a part of school in the days of the early Church. These needs were and college curriculums. Spiritual revivals and met, not by great united campaigns or by the a new earnestness in prayer and new power in establishment of institutions, they were met by Christian testimony are reported from all over uplifting Christ and by teaching His truth to all China today. so that new desires and ambitions were awakened, India, too, is in a spiritual crisis. Hinduism new life and power were imparted and the call of seems to be making a desperate last stand. Evan- God was heard for the establishment of a new gelistic campaigns are spreading and several thou- order.
sands every month are coming forward to confess The secret of meeting every crisis effectively- Christ. The dissatisfaction of Depressed Classes be it political, social, economic, educational, spirit- with Hinduism may lead to a tremendous exodus ual, national, missionary or personal-is to take into the Christian or possibly into the Moslem God into account; it is to bring men and women fold. Many take the position of Dr. Ambedkar into such vital relation to God through Christ,
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
that new life will come to them, with new aims territory with over 15,000,000 inhabitants. These and energy, new intelligence and a keen desire include Czechs of Bohemia (Monrovia and Sefor knowledge; a new sense of justice; new love lesia) Slovaks, Germans, Poles, Jews, Russians, for God and man and new power to carry out His Hungarians and other races ,and nationalities. Twoprogram. Is there any other way? thirds are Czechoslovaks. The predominant re- ligion is Roman Catholic; they are reported to THE PLIGHT OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA number ten million. Under President Masaryk the country enjoyed prosperity for twenty years. Before 1918 there was no political division in Multitudes have left the Roman Catholic church to Europe named Czechoslovakia. The land and become Protestants who number about 1,130,000. people were a part of Austria-Hungary for three hundred years. Then came the Versailles Treaty What should be the attitude of Christians in and as a penalty for fighting a losing warfare such a crisis? What would be the attitude of Austria-Hungary was divided, part of the terri- Christ? While we have obligations to the govtory and people going to Rumania and Poland, ernment and the land in which we live, our true part to the new nations of Hungary and Yugo- dtizenship is not of this world. The basis for our slavia and part to Czechoslovakia. The people peace and welfare is not a human government of seemed satisfied with this allocation and Prof. our own choosing. Some of the greatest Chris- T. G. Masaryk, the high-minded and wise patriot tians have been developed under most unfavorwas elected the first president. All seemed to go able circumstances-in the ancient Roman Emwell while the nations were struggling to recover pire, in Russia, in France and Spain during days from the economic effects of the war and while of persecution, in Turkey under the Sultan, and Germany was weak and unarmed. Now, twenty in every mission field where Christianity has years after the war ended and peace treaties sought to gain a foothold. Christ Himself warned were signed, the provisions of the Treaty of His disciples that in this world they must ex- Versailles relating to Czechoslovakia are scrapped. pect hardship and persecution; He called Saul the Germany, under the dominating leadership of persecutor to become His missionary, showing Adolph Hitler, has rearmed in such a formidable him, not what a comfortable successful time he way that the Reich feels strong enough to disre- would have, but "how great things he must suffer" gard other European nations. After taking over for the sake of Christ. all of Austria, without a battle, he has demanded large sections of Czechoslovakia where "Sudeten Christians and the Christian Church are called Germans" are living, and has captured their ter- to work unfalteringly for a better world, to preach ritory under threat of a general European war. and practice peace; to feed the hungry, heal the Already he has marched in to take possession of sick, care for the fatherless and widows; to preach fortifications, cities, health resorts, natural re- and practice righteousness and brotherly love in sources, and many industrial plants on which the the name of Christ and in the power of the Holy Czechoslovakian Government has depended for Spirit. In Czechoslovakia, as in Spain and Ethieconomic and military strength. The end is not opia, in China and Korea, Christians pray for yet; while the four parties to the new agreement- courage as they face conflicts and ungodly human Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy-have dictators; they are not discouraged in the midst supposedly guaranteed the new boundaries of the of trials; true followers of Christ will witness to shrinking republic, Herr Hitler is not satisfied. Him and will resolve to love even their enemies He sees that the other nations fear modern war- and to pray for rulers and for those who "despitefare and its terrible results, as he does not, and fully use and persecute them." Czechoslovakia and therefore he stands ready to demand more conces- other lands may be ravaged by war and torn by sions to add to his territory in Europe-and fire, sword and pestilence but the life of the probably will demand a return of former German Christian is "hid with Christ in God." colonies. Poland and Hungary also are demanding slices of Czechoslovakia inhabited by some of War is a taste of hell on earth but there is sometheir people. It is as though Mexico were strong thing even worse than the mental and physical enough to demand United States territory in the horrors of warfare-namely the utter spiritual southwest, in which Mexicans have made their homes. The Czechoslovaks were ready to fight darkness of those whose lives are alienated from for their land but could not do it alone, when God. There is much that Christians can do for abandoned by their allies who had guaranteed the suffering people of Czechoslovakia, and of their boundaries. other stricken lands, in this hour of their dire Czechoslovakia has had 54,250 square miles of need. Christian love is not merely a pious senti- ment, it is a divine dynamic that operates for practical and Godlike ends.
SO THIS IS INDIA TODAY* strong even where the leaders themselves are not "The earthquakes that have rattled our bun- Christians. galow are as nothing compared with the movements which are changing the whole life of Agriculture and industry: India has resources, India," writes an experienced missionary in look- physical and spiritual, that are undeveloped by ing over the scene-political, social, and religious any of her old religions. These schools are a part -which now confronts Christian forces. "I have of the answer which missionaries are making to never seen the foundations of society shaken as the question, "How important are 700,000 villages they are today." and their inhabitants?"
India has a population three times that of the It is impossible to separate the work of the United States; 200 languages in use; climate Kingdom of God into given classifications. The ranging from tropical to subarctic; a rigid social doctor and the nurse, the industrial teacher and and religious system which is now giving way the rural expert, the minister and the woman: before modern conditions; five widespread re- evangelist, the teacher and the administrative ligions, besides innumerable minor faiths. In the officer, are but parts of the whole force of Chrismidst of all this we find that Christianity is in- tians who have put their gifts of trained and decreasing much more rapidly in proportion than voted lives at the service of Christ to make India a part of the Kingdom which shall not end.
the population! These few facts underly the cur- rent work in India. Behind the familiar state- THE CRISIS AMONG NEGROES ments are rapid changes in life and psychology such as have never before confronted India. According to President Mordecai Johnson of Howard University in Washington, D. C., the Christians set the standards for the education Negro is in a worse state today than he was beand training of women, and the women of India fore the depression, and in the most precarious are responding with zeal and unselfishness. Chris- position he has been since 1880. Dr. Johnson tians set standards for the improvement of village feels that his people are likely to lose in the next life; for lifting the level of rural millions above ten years the greater proportion of all they have the line of desperate poverty; for care of body gain~d, unless steps are taken to avert this disand soul in hospitals and clinics. Education is aster. This is an opinion to challenge the attenmore widespread, leadership for and by the mem- tion of every public-minded citizen, and every bers of the Depressed Classes is vigorous and friend of our Negro millions. The problem of vocal. The high percentage of illiteracy has made providing work for the vast reservoir of unemthe goal of Christian workers "Every Christian ployed Negro labor rising out of the maladjusta reader by 1941." "Never mind lunch," was the ments of the cotton plantation system in the South cry of a group of women. "We can get food later; is a colossal one to attack, and one far out of the we can't get a teacher when this meeting is over!" scope of anyone church to solve. The Church must be aware tha.t such a problem exists, else Medical work: Missionary doctors (men and how can it help to create a public opinion which women) and nurses, work with an Indian staff of will demand that some national attempt at a soludoctors and nurses in hospitals and dispensaries. tion be made? The problem resolves itself into a They treat tuberculosis and leprosy as well as the concern about educated young Negroes, willing more common ills of India. and eager to work at anything that will pay a liv- ing wage, unable to find a niche, rebuffed and hu- Schools and universities: Union and denomina- miliated frequently in the search for honest work, tional colleges and schools are scattered over all India.
Evangelistic work is conducted in evangelistic and excluded from most of the opportunities to meetings, in churches, schools and hospitals. earn a decent living. Many possibilities are auto- Mass movements are again in progress as they matically closed to the young Negro and he starts were a generation ago. Political as well as social out with a defeatist attitude, knowing that he will influence is largely against these movements, ow- be lucky to work into some elevator or service'
ing to the fact that voters are registered by reli- job; that there are not even too many of these, gion. If means were at hand to train them, the and that he will automatically get less money for missions could use many more Indian evangelistic his work than his white neighbor.
workers to help to seize so great an opportunity. What the Church can do is problematic; what Women's work: Women are making history in individuals can do is just as complicated; but India, from political leaders to village workers. there is one thing all can do-we can become in- Some are Christians but the Christian influence is formed and interested. Each person can examine his own practical Christianity.
• Extracts from Monday Morning, a weekly paper for Presbyterian -Virginia Ray, in the Presbyterian Tribune. pastors.
A New Survey of Neglected Arabia*
By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., Princeton, New Jersey -.~ Author of "Arabia, the Cradle of Islam," etc., etc., one of the ~- Founders of the Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church in America FIFTY years ago the tragic death of Ian Keith- The backward s·tate of the "As·ir highlands, intended Falconer at Aden called the attention of the by nature to be a paradise, is the inevitable result of world to Arabia. His memorable words man's inability to live at peace with his neighbors." Yet stirred the student world of his day: "While vast here nature and man h.ave cer.tainly combined to create a continents are shrouded in almost utter darkness scene of astonishing beauty, and it seemed to me that man had actually outdone nature in their friendly rivalry.
and hundreds of millions suffer the horrors of Imagine a great tableland thrust up to a height of 9000heathenism and Islam, the burden of proof rests 9500 feet, towering above the tumbled mountains and upon you to show that the circumstances in which valleys of the Tihama on one side and the endless expanse God has placed you were meant by Him to keep of mountains and desert on the other. The surface of the p·lateau, plunging steeply down on one side in a series of you out of the foreign field." splendid buttresses, slopes gently on th.e other in the The burden of the unoccupied areas of the curves of graceful valleys, forming huge theaters, for world rested on the Edinburgh Missionary Con- which man has provided the seats in terrace after terference nearly thirty years later. (Witness the race of cornfields. In the middle of Jurie the corn was ripe, and I shall never forget that scene of golden ears report and the literature on the subject at that soughing and howing under the gentle· breeze, terrace time.) The subject was practically shelved at the after terrace, down the mighty flanks of those moun- Jerusalem Council Meeting in 1928, and the sur- tains, whose steeper slopes nature had reserved for her vey by Charles H. Fahs was not even printed in own planting-a dense forest of junipers and other trees the eight-volume report. Now the World Domin- extending down to the 7500-foot level. And in the fields and forest the !birds rejoiced.
ion Movement, in its series of Survey Volumes, The natural boundaries of Arabia are not in has laid emphasis not only on what the Christian degrees of lattitude or longitude. The great "Is- Church has done and is doing, but especially upon land of the Arabs," as they themselves call it, has the vast unfinished task and the great unoccupied its geographical and historical area accurately areas. Their latest volmne deals with Arabia- expressed in the thrice repeated promise of the long neglected and now the hardest battleground Old Testament "from sea to sea and from the in the spiritual conflict with Islam. Dr. Harold I. Storm (who is chiefly respon- river unto the ends of the earth." Iraq and sible for the Survey and has written all of the Transjordania are of Arab speech, race and trachapters except one, which is by Mrs. Storm) dition; the great northern desert has been the has probably traveled more widely across the tenting ground of the Arab since the dawn of Arabian peninsula than any other missionary. history.
His recent tour took him across the peninsula Dr. Storm's survey is the first complete survey from east to west and inland to Asir, Yemen, and of Arabia today as a mission field. Until the year the cities of Hadramaut. The beautiful photo- 1889, this vast area was considered a closed land. graphic illustrations in this volume reveal some- Dr. Eugene Stock, then Secretary of the Church thing of the variety of Arabian landscape. Missionary Society, in an address at the Ecu- Arabia is not all desert. It has fertility and menical Missionary Conference held in New York beauty. H. St. John Philby has recently made an in 1900, said: "The greatest of all these unen- extensive journey to the Land of Sheba (Geo- tered countries, which is very rarely mentioned graphical Journal, July, 1938) through the great in missionary accounts, is Arabia. There is that Wady of Nejran, where Christians died martyrs great Arab race, the children of Abraham as before the days of Mohammed. Here is his pic- much as are the Jews, waiting for the Gospel; ture of one unoccupied province of Arabia. Does but we cannot get in to preach it. The Lord will it not come as a challenge?: open that door when we have entered the doors • "Whither Arabia?" By Harold Storm, M.D., IIlus. $1.50. Pub- already open." Why did this missionary stateslished by the World Dominion Movement, New York and London. man and historian consider Arabia "the great- [ 519]
est" of all the unoccupied fields and speak of «the Dr. Storm shows that the Arabs are a great great Arab race"? race in origin and destiny, and are capable of great achievement. Physically they are undoU'bt- Of all the lands comparable to Arabia in size, edly one of the strongest races of the world, a and of all the peoples who in any way approach survival of the fittest in an environment that kills the Arabs in historical interest and influence, no off the weaklings. The character, influence and country and no nationality (as Prof. Hitti re- literature of the Arabic language witnesses to the .marks) has received "so little consideration and genius of the people and of their prophet Moham- study in modern times as have Arabia and the med, through his book. A certain degree of sim- Arahs." Arabia is one of the great Bible lands, ilarity in human character, and an even greater has an area of a million square miles and is the similarity of language and custom and religion, probable cradle of the Semitic race which has prevails over the entire area where Arab migra- given the world its three great theistic faiths: tion brought Islam in its early conquest. Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Who can say whether what happened in the The Arabs have been world-conquerors and ex- seventh century may not occur again in the twen- plorers. They traveled from the Pillars of Her- tieth, if Christ should capture the Arab heart and cules (Gibraltar) to the coasts of China and in Arabs become messengers of the Gospel as, they the period of their greatest expansion "assim- once were of the Koran? ilated to their creed, speech and even physical type more aliens than any stock before or since, The exploration and mapping of the Arabian not excepting the Hellenic, the Roman, the Anglo- peninsula has made vast strides during and since Saxon or the Russian." Israel's tradition in the the World War. When Hogarth wrote his book, "The Penetration of Arabia," there were still A GORGE IN THE TUWAIG MOUNTAINS, ARABIA large areas unexplored and unmapped. Since the time of Doughty, the work of men like Lawrence, Old Testament reveals most intimate relations Shakespeare, Cheeseman, Rutter, Philby, Freya with Arabia and Arab life, both on their eastern Stark, Vander Meulen, and last but not least, frontier and on the south, even to distant Ha- Bertram Thomas, have given us a picture of dramaut; The Hebrew literary genius, as Dr. Arabia and its inhabitants with very few gaps Macdonald has indicated, also shows kinship with remaining. But this latest survey by Dr. Storm Arabia. 'Their literature throughout all their his- is a missionary survey of the field. tory, and to this day, in its method of production and in its recorded forms is of Arab scheme and The new forces that have at last stirred it may type." An index of all the Scriptural references now arouse patriarchal and nomad Arabia from to Arabia and Arabian Bedouin life includes its stagnation. The tide of Western trade and twenty-five books of the Old and five of the New culture came after the earliest missionary occupa- _ Testaments. tion fifty years ago, and has made the task of evangelization at once easier and yet more dif- There is no land in the world and no people ficult. All Arabia faces a new future and this (with the exception of Palestine and the Jews) volume may well ask "whither?". which bear such close relation to the Theocratic covenants and Old Testament promises as do A recent British writer weighs the question: Arabia and the Arabs. The divine promises for "The desert is undoubtedly the clue to the history the final victory of the Kingdom of God in Arabia of the Arabs. Relentless yet free, it has made the are many, definite and glorious. These promises Arab what he is, essentially virile, essentially group themselves around seven names which have chivalrous, essentially spendthrift, essentially fa- from time immemorial been identified with the talistic. Critics have said that the Arab is so lazy peninsula of Arabia: Ishmael, Kedar, N ebaioth, that he has largely made his own deserts rather Sheba, Seba, Midian and Ephah. than that the deserts have made him. Such critics are uJikind and superficial." He goes on to point out that today the Arab has changed. He has a broader horizon and a new sense of nationalism. The Arab is potentially a traveler and has made history outside of Arabia. The excellent maps that accompany the Survey indicate at once the tribal disunity of Arabia and its religious, social and linguistic unity.
As Dr. Storm points out, every year the motor car is penetrating further into neglected Arabia. Communications between every part of the Penin- sula were never so rapid and universal. The
A NEW SURVEY OF NEGLECTED ARABIA
Arabic papers and books from Cairo, Beirut, station is a majority. Arithmetic fails when you Damascus, and Baghdad reach every part of the deal with spiritual realities. Yet it is the im- Peninsula. Surely all this is a challenge to hasten ponderable forces of the Spirit of God which will the work of Christian evangelization. Thirteen determine victory or defeat in Arabia. The three centuries of history prove that there is little hope principal missions in the peninsula are the Amerfor Arabia in Islam. ican Mission on the Persian Gulf, the United Church of Scotland at Aden, and the Danish REPLACING THE ARABIAN CAMEL Church Mission in Yemen. The number of Chris- Longest motor coach in the world-carrying passengers from tians connected with these missions is very small, but their faith and faithfulness is very great. Damascus to Baghdad. Here is a book that truly tells of "Faith" Mis- sions! What Islam has done and has not done for the land of its birth can be read in the fascinating Because we believe that the imponderables of bO.Qks of unprejudiced explorers who, from the the Kingdom of Light are on our side, we believe days of Burckhardt and Niebuhr until those of that "opportunity" is not the last word in mis- Philby and Freya Stark, penetrated the vast sions. The appeal of the closed door is often even peninsula and have portrayed not only the land greater than that of the one which is open. The but the people. Doughty's two volumes are an en- open door beckons; the closed door may be a chalcyclopedia on the effect of Islam in molding the lenge to God's authority. It is the strength of character of the desert Arab. There could be no these imponderable forces-that is to say the stranger indictment of Islam than the fruit of reality of the Invisible, which enables the misthat faith in the character and lives of the Arabs sionary beneath the walls of an Arabian city, or as Doughty portrays them. in its borderlands, to look upward with confidence and to see by faith the future result of his toil in The present Survey does not deal very largely "the great multitude which no man could numwith Islam as a religion but points out the suc- ber"-a world where statistics are inadequate to cess and the further urgent opportunity for express realities, where finance and budgets have Christian missions, especially medical missions. lost all significance and gold is used for paving Dr. and Mrs. Storm are very modest in pointing stones. out what has been achieved in the past five decades. One cannot measure success here by statis- Success is not always measured by numbers tics, although we have tables and figures of nor victory by majorities. "Not by might nor by schools, hospitals and dispensaries. The Arabian peninsula, seen from the back of a camel, is much MODERN AIRPLANE TRAVEL IN ARABIA larger than on the map. Here "one dot may represent 10,000 Moslems"; there, one Moslem power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." Here represents ten thousand difficulties in evangelism. is a new challenge to students in our colleges for Some things cannot be put into tables and figures. the great adventure. After you read this "New You cannot tabulate loneliness nor plot the curve Survey," help to pray through to a successful conof hope deferred which makes the heart sick. Yet clusion the task that God has set before His these are the things that make the difference be- Church in this great and still neglected peninsula. tween the shedding of ink and the shedding of blood. The end of the geographical and ethnological survey is only the beginning of the missionary enterprise. One man with God at a mission
and Romance in Czechoslovakia
By REV. JOSEPH NOVOTNY, D.D., International Baptist Seminary, East Orange, N. ,.
1'. DECENTLY the little democracy of central of the "Unitas Fratrum," and introduced believ- Europe, Czechoslovakia, has become front er's baptism into the Bohemian Brethren Church. page news. In spite of the general interest Count Tolstoy professed himself his admirer and aroused, few readers seem to be acquainted with disciple. The Bohemian Brethren Church of old the country, its problems and the present religious is sometimes called today "the most beautiful situation. blossom on the tree of Christianity since the time According to one of the best Czechoslovakian of the apostles." Comenius was the great religious leader of the "Unitas Fratrum," the teacher of historians, Dr. Kamil Krofta, the foreign minister nations, who was called to Harvard as president, of the Czechoslovakian Government, the Czecho- is a man who is not valued enough. We are only slovaks were already in the present countries beginning to understand what he meant, not only which form Czechoslovakia as early as the second, for the Czechoslovaks but for the culture of the or perhaps in the first, century of the Christian era. world. The Moravian Church of today has its In the fourth century, when people were seek- origin in the work of Chelcicky and Comenius.
ing new homes, and the Slavs, the most numerous Czechoslovaks are the only Slavs who adopted white race in the world who had their cradle in the Reformation and followed it for two hundred the south of Russia, divided into different groups. years. It was an eminently religious country, The Czechoslovaks, although comparatively few "The Land of Book and Cup." There is a proverb, in number, showed the greatest energy and went which has its origin in the time of Hus: "The furthest west of all the Slavs. A few who went Husitic woman knows the Bible better than the further were drowned in the German Sea. The priest." The Czechoslovaks printed the first Czechoslovak land looks like a finger of the great Bible in a living tongue-New Testament in 1475, Slav hand pointing other Slavs to Western culture the whole Bible in 1488, in Prague. For the man of which he became the interpreter. Being the who daily reads and meditates in the Bible they center of Europe, and having high mountains as a coined a word, pismak, which cannot be translated natural frontier, the Czechoslovak was able, dur- into any other language. Nowhere is the Lord's ing the many hundreds of years of Germanizing Supper held in higher esteem than among the efforts of his neighbors, to remain a Czechish Czechoslovaks. The old independent Protestant peninsula in the German Sea. His chief connec- Czech State was a land of liberty, with the kingtion with his Slav brethren has been the Poles to democrat, George of Podebrad, who was a Czechothe north. slovak citizen, chosen king because of his spiritual The Czechoslovaks accepted Christianity as nobility. This Reformation movement was transpreached to them by the two Greek brethren, planted into Slovakia so that half of the popula- Cyrill and Methodius. This fact is the reason tion became Protestants and they use the Czech why the Czechoslovaks, while for the most part Bible and hymnals today. Roman Catholics, have not been strong followers Another fact which shows the missionary spirit of Rome. of the Czechoslovaks in the dawn of the Reforma- The Protestant Reformation ideas took root in tion, is of spiritual interest to all Anglo-Saxons. Bohemia and in the other Czechoslovak territory. When Scotland was still Roman Catholic, but had The greatest man that the Czechoslovak nation some friends of Reformation ideas, they sent to produced, John Hus, was not the first or only re- Prague a message in which they asked for a former. He had many forerunners. His clever representation of the Reformation ideas in the colleague was Jerome of Prague, and his spiritual cradle of Reformation. The Czechs sent a whole successor, Peter Chelcicky, a man who was born expedition, the leader of which, Pavel Kravar, was too soon, an apostle of world peace and separation professor in the Prague University. In his adoptof State and Church. He was the spiritual father ed country he became known as Paul Crawer, or [522 ] LlTBUAN7A·…,~ R U S S I A i,i .,;•J • MOSCOW • "~L" .-….'r""'~-Y.""'-.., iI" uK RAI N.E .A·,. "• Scale of Miles 100 200 30, 0 40, 0 THE THEATER OF TUR'MOIL IN EUROPE TODAY A Herald-Tribu.ne map showing the portions of Czechoslovakia acquired by Germany. These areas comprise about 11,500 square miles (nearly the size of Belgium), with 3,500,000 inhabitants, living along the Western, Northern and Southern boundaries.
Craw; he preached the Gospel in Scotland for tants in Bohemia by Roman Catholic Austria. The three years, and was burned as a heretic at St, Andrews in 1433. Jesuits and soldiers entered the land and tried to Peter Paine, an early English Reformer, who "convert" the people with sword and fire. They was banned from his native country because of his "heretic" beliefs, found a refuge in the free beheaded twenty-seven Czech religious leaders country of Bohemia, and died there in peace, known as "Brother English." The center and spir- and passed a law that everybody who would not itual stronghold of the Reformation ideas was the Czech University of Prague, the oldest one in be Roman Catholic must leave the country or Central Europe, founded in 1348. die. Many died, many left the country without When America was discovered, and many left their homeland to seek gold, the Czechoslovaks their property, so that although Bohemia, before revealed a thirst after pure religion, and sent abroad an expedition to find the best Christians in the Thirty Years' war, had over three millions of the world and to bring home their experience. inhabitants, after the war there were left only Meanwhile the religious divisions were serious. When civil war broke out in 1618, the Austrians eight hundred thousand people. The property of invaded the land and the tragic battle near Prague was a precursor of the end of the inde- the Protestant Czechs (which amounted to five pendent Protestant Czechoslovak State. Emperor Ferdinand of Austria proclaimed that he would hundred million gold crowns, according to the rather see Czechoslovakia a desert than a Protestant country. Few pages of history show such a historian, Bilek) was given to the Roman Catholic dark record as those of the persecution of Protes- Church, nobility, and the Emperor. Three hun- dred years of persecution followed, the history of which a Czech can read only with a bleeding heart.
The Roman Catholic German-Austrians largely succeeded in turning the Czech Protestant land into a Roman Catholic country.
To make the nation forget their national hero, John Hus, the Jesuits brought out a fictitious John (Nepomuk), and named him the nation's patron saint in 1729. .
A dark period followed in Czech history. In
the forests and mountains remained the true out of three who were born in the last year of the pismaks, readers of the Bible, although the Bible war died because of the weakness of their mothwas proclaimed a forbidden book which the ers. In spite of this persecution, the nation kept Jesuits told the people not to read and many were the motto of John Hus: "Woe to those who, for a taken away by force. In order that Catholic serv- piece of bread, sell the truth." ants might not touch the "poisoned books," they carried them in chains, and the priests burned When the war was near at an end, the Czechothem in the churchyards. One Jesuit leader pro- slovaks couldwait no longerfor thearmistice. When claimed openly that he (Konias) had burned sixty they saw that their oppressor grew weaker and thousand Bohemian Bibles and Protestant re- the Allies stronger, they thought that the moment ligious books. In order to find hidden Bibles it is had arrived for their liberation. On the twentyrecorded that the Jesuits used to wear shoes with eighth of October, 1918, Prague was aroused to nails when they went to the fields where the peo- enthusiasm. Crowds crying, "Liberty! Hurrah ple were working barefoot. Trampling on their for the Allies!" were marching through the feet, they asked where they kept their Bibles. streets. People went about kissing and embracing People often went from one village where there each other. The Czechoslovaks are proud that was no Bible to a village where there still was a their greatest day in history was not stained by a Bible and offered a loaf of bread to be allowed to single drop of blood, even by the "enemy." The read and learn parts by heart, in order to share Austro-Germans feared the day of liberation its contents with their neighbors when they re- would be a day of vengence-therefore they turned. closed the doors and windows of their houses in fear. But the new government sent messengers In these dark th'ree hundred years the Protes- to the Germans to open their houses, with the tant Czechoslovaks had to fight Vienna and Rome, message that they need not be afraid as the nation that together tried to Germanize and to Roman- did not intend to persecute anybody in the new ize the nation. Therefore it came about that every State. Czechoslovak was filled with a" hatred against this dualism, and as he read history the antago- When Czechoslovakia was liberated, it seemed nism was doubled. only natural that the national liberation should be crowned by a religious liberation. The Czecho- The Effect of the World War slovak Government prescribed for the first time in the new state a" census, to record to what The third period of the Czechoslovak nation nationality each one belonged, and what religion starts at the moment with the great World War. he professed. It was natural that every Czechoslovak resolved to side with the Allies against Austria; their op- In the old Austria it was not easy to leave the pressor. The leader of the nation, Prof. T. G. Roman Catholic Church, but after the World War, Masaryk, wisely foresaw that a revolution would there was proclaimed complete religious liberty. mean suicide. Therefore he recommended that Many Czechoslovaks, even nominal Roman Cathsome of the leaders go abroad to cooperate with olics, were ashamed to say that they belonged to the Allies, and others stay at home to lead the the Church which had "burned the greatest people. Regiments were organized in Russia, Czechoslovak that ever lived," John Hus; the France, Italy, and America. As a result the Al- church which "robbed our greatest men of their lies recognized the right of the Czechoslovaks for property," and had either killed them or sent independence. them abroad as beggars.
Austria endeavored to punish the Czechoslovaks They said: "We cannot read the history of our for their thirst after freedom and the children nation without feeling ashamed that we besuffered especially. As one poet said: "Who saw long to those who destroyed the whole life of our the sufferings of men, did not see anything, he nation." must see the sufferings of the women; who saw the sufferings of women, did not see anything, Many people (perhaps one-third) left the Rohe must see the sufferings of children." The chil- man Catholic Church during this movement and dren sought for bits of food in ashes, or begged the process is not at an end. While two-thirds of on their knees at the door for a piece of bread. the population are still reported as Roman Cath- When the war was nearly at an end, the Austrian olics, according to the last census the capital minister for Foreign Affairs, Czernin, said to the city of Prague has only fifty-three per cent in Czechoslovak leaders, "When we are forced to that church. Great numbers are joining the new leave your country, we shall leave it a cemetery." Czechoslovak Church which has broken all ties After the armistice eighty-two per cent of the with Rome, recognizes the great men of our Refor- Czechoslovak children had consumption, and two mation as their spiritual leaders, uses the Czecho- slovak language in the church, has pictures of John Hus on the altars, and sings old Husitic
REALITY AND ROMANCE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA
hymns; the priests marry, 'and the church is one Czechoslovak village where there were seven- growing in numbers as well as in spiritual life. ty-eight houses, over ninety American flags.
They are learning from the Protestant churches The Czechoslovaks are eager interpreters of new methods, such as the Sunday school and American culture, including religion. It is only Young People's Societies. stating a fact when the European nations call the Many join the different Protestant churches Czechoslovaks "the Yankees of Europe." The newwhich, in a short time, have admitted thousands. est Czechoslovak literature is full of American in- In the west of Bohemia, in a country town, where fluence. One of the youngest Professors of there was a Presybterian church with about one Philosophy of the Prague University, the successthousand members, today the same church has or of President Masaryk, returned from a trip to twenty thousand members. In the same district America and spoke and wrote enthusiastically is a country town where all the population left the about American life. The people were never more Roman Catholic church and joined the Protes- ready to accept the greatest treasure which Amertants, leaving only the priest, his housekeeper and ica possesses-the spiritual Christian religion. As to the problem of minorities which has the janitor in the Catholic church. caused the present crisis in Czechoslovakia, there In the Protestant churches many are seeking are such racial, national and religious minorities the deepening of spiritual life. Dogmatic bat- in every country of Europe. The crux of the tles are at an end; but many feel that real god- problem is not how many individuals or what perliness ought to follow the movement. The pastors centage of the whole population is found in a cerfrom the lukewarm churches are sent to those re- tain group, but how they are treated; how much gions where there is the greatest spiritual work, liberty they possess. in order that they may be influenced by that movement and "bring it home." It is touching to see In Czechoslovakia with more than 15 million how eager the young Protestants are to know inhabitants, the minorities reach 33.8 per cent of what they ought to do to be real "Bohemian the total population. These minorities came to Brethren." Many a lukewarm church has become Czechoslovakia as colonists. The historical dea living force because of the new opportunity. The velopment and natural frontier of high mountains greatest movem-ent was in the southwest of Bo- did not permit to draw the frontier any other hemia, where there was formerly the greatest way. These minorities are scattered all over stronghold of the Roman Church; it is the birth- the country. The Germans have numbered 22 place of John Hus, John Zizka, and Peter per cent of the entire population; the Magyars Chelcicky, and other Czechoslovak Reformers. As (Hungarians) 4.7 per cent, the Ruthenes 3.7 per in the Reformation time, people in the street, in cent, the Jews 1.29 per cent and the Poles 0.56 the railroad cars, in the public places, often spoke per cent.
about religious topics during this movement. How are the minorities treated in Czechoslo- vakia? The Germans have had seventy represent- America and Czechoslovakia atives in the Chamber of Deputies, thirty-six in It is interesting to know what part America the Senate; the Magyars (Hungarians) have played in the development of Czechoslovakia. eleven deputies and seven senators; the Ruthenes There are several external ties between America have nine deputies and senators; the Poles have and Czechoslovakia: their proclamation of inde- two deputies and the Jews two. There is absolute pendence was signed in the same place at the same liberty with regard to the use of the minority desk as the Declaration of Independence of Ameri- languages in the press. With regard to schools, ca, in Philadelphia; the first lady of Czechoslo. they can educate their children in schools provakia was an American, the Anglo-Saxon vided by government money where the minority American wife of the first President, Professor language is used and where the teachers belong to Masaryk. The Czechoslovaks will never forget the the minority and textbooks are printed in the American soldiers in Europe who helped to liber- minority language. The Germans in Czechosloate the nation: the proclamation of the American vakia have had two universities, two technical conditions of peace; the distribution of the institutes and are equipped with all types of ele- American bread, which saved multitudes from mentary and secondary schools. All these schools starvation; the coming of the American dollar, have been supported by government money.
which saved Europe from bankruptcy. The Germany, Italy and Hungary offer no political Czechoslovaks know of these things, and are deep- representation for the minorities. Poland offers ly thankful. In Prague they have the Wilson only partial political representation and bilingual monument, Wilson Central Station, American type of schools. Czechoslovakia is a democratic Street, and Hoover Avenue. One of the American country where the minorities have equal rights correspondents just after the armistice found in with the majority.
Universality of Christ*
~I .:; ;I===B=y=E=.=S=T=A=N=L=E=Y=J=O=N=E=S,=D=.=D=.,=I=od=ia==~-LII ~- SOMETHING more is involved in Christian at liberty them that are bruised, those who have missions than the question of whether we hurt themselves with their moral and spiritual will or will not send missionaries across the falls. His was a message to the hurt spirits of seas. The Christian Church is beginning to recog- men, and then He came to proclaim the Lord's nize the fact that if we cannot share our Christian Year of Jubilee. Every fifty years there was a faith with every man everywhere, in the end we fresh national beginning; all debts cancelled, all will not be able to hold it. That which is not uni- slaves freed, all land redistributed, and the na- versal is not true, for Truth by its very nature is tion began with a new beginning.
universal. Two and two make four in India, Jesus closed the book of the Prophet, and said, China, America, and around the world. The mo- "Today this program begins. Today this Scripment you discover the Truth, it rises above na- ture hath been fulfilled in your ears." tional boundaries and belongs to us as a race. If, therefore, what we have cannot be shared with In beginning our missionary program we can all men, it is not universal, and if it is not univer- do no better than to announce what Jesus said sal it is not true. was His program and make it our own-a Gospel for the poor, for the hungry millions of the earth. If we cannot give Christ and His Gospel to God wills a new distribution of the goods which every man everywhere, in the end we shall stand He has provided for every man. The missionary beside dead altars, we shall pray dead prayers enterprise, if it stands for anything, stands for and we shall have a faith that has let us down in redistribution of that which God, our Father, has our own emergencies. Therefore, this whole ques- willed that every man should have. tion is significant beyond the immediate influence of the missionary cause, and we must face it and Second, we would proclaim release to the capface it with a new sense of realism. tives. There are still multitudes of people who are not liberated. There are those who are still We do not apologize for things as they are and socially and politically captive. The missionary that are of interest to missions. Rather, we want enterprise comes with a great passion for human to be prophets of things as they ought to be. freedom, believing in the worthwhileness of every Christian missions are not sacrosanct save as they man. It would proclaim belief in the worthwhilerepresent truth and reality. We do not ask that ness of every nation. men should blindly take what we say. We ask that they submit it to the test of experience, of There are undeveloped races, but no permalife, of reality. No matter what we say or unsay, nently inferior people. We would also come with the last word is with the facts. a message to those who are physically disenfran- chised-the opening of the eyes of the blind. The We search with you to find reality if we can. missionary enterprise should go out with a pas- Our platform should fit the world's needs. When sion for health, for healing, to lift the burdens of Jesus stood in a little synagogue in Nazareth two suffering which are weighing upon the hearts, and thousand years ago He announced a program are crippling the lives of men. which seemed then of little significance save to that little group. But the world today, humbly The message must come also to those who are searching after something it has not, turns again bruised-men and women who are injured or to ask whether this Man of Galilee has a definite handicapped by their own falls. The man with word for us at this period in the world's history. the wounded conscience, the man who cannot look the world and himself squarely in the face. We Jesus said: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, come with the Gospel of another chance, a new for He has naught in me to preach good tidings to beginning, a conversion, a regeneration. the poor." His program included the proclaim- ing of release to the captives, socially and politi- Then the missionary program sets the whole cally disenfranchised; the opening of the eyes of thing in God's Year of Jubilee and proclaims a the blind, the physically disenfranchised; to set fresh beginning for a race in all departments of * Condensed from an address delivered at the United Foreign human life, a fresh awakening for a world, a new Missions Campaign, Chicago, in 1933. start.
[ 526] These are some of the principles that underly they did, they would go back to a semi-savage, the missionary movement, but upon the thresh- roaming across Europe. Are we coming to that? old of our coming to proclaim these words certain things rise up and questions which we must Many of us are proud that we have English face. Whenever you face a question, face it in its blood in our veins. The English have made amazmore acute forms-answer it there, and then you ing contributions to the collective life of our race. have answered it all down the line. We would And yet at the time of the Roman ascendancy, a like to put this fresh, living, new Kingdom under Roman said, "The stupidest and ugliest slaves on the world problems today, and under the world the market are those from Britain." Had you situation today, but we are met with objections looked at those stupid and ugly slaves you would which we must face. have said, "Impossible barbarians! Nothing can come out of them." But someone else looked at When we talk about being missionaries we are them and said, "Angles; Angles. If they could be accused of a desire to manage other people. Men Christianized they would be angels." We are not say, first of all, that it is bound up with the polit- angels, but we are quite different from the stupid ical imperialisms of the West. No matter how and ugly slaves. And the thing that was at the pure its motive, missionary work gets entangled bottom of our rise was the fact of the impact of and alloys within itself disturb and destroy its the Gospel of Jesus Christ upon us. effect upon human life. Every movement needs constant criticism, constant readjustment, per- Those who have Scotch blood are prouder still. petual realignment, and a bringing back to orig- The Scotch have made amazing contributions to inal purposes. We want to bring back this move- human life. Some of the noblest souls have come ment to original purposes, to disentangle it from from the Scotch, and yet the Scotch have been every entangling alliance that would cripple its called "eaters of human flesh," who had plenty spirit and hurt its motive. We want it to stand of flocks but whose herdsmen would prefer a clear in its own right-compelling, and doing steak from the female breast as a rarity! The what God would have men do through this move- Scotch of the fourth century! Had you looked at ment. them you would have said, "Impossible barbar- ians!" But some looked at them with the eyes of Not Political Imperialism Jesus Christ, and there began the upward rise of a nation that has contributed largely to the col- First of all, then, men say that the missionary lective life. Everywhere the missionary movemovement is a species of political imperialism, ment goes with a passionate belief in the developthat it is the religious side of that western expan- ment of men into likeness to God as He is resion, and partakes of the spirit of that expansion. vealed in Jesus Christ. There is some truth in what the critics say. Again and again the movement has been cor- We don't believe that there is any nation good rupted by its contact with pushing imperialisms enough or wise enough to hold 'permanently anand has been used by the imperialisms of the other people against that people's will. There is West. It was said that when the white man went in every nation a birthright of freedom, and the to Africa the white man had the Bible and the Christian missionary movement should stand, not African had the land; later on the African had as the sponsor of white prestige and white rule, the Bible and the white man had the land. There but should stand for the brotherhood of men, and is just enough truth in that to make it sting. Un- present a Christ who stands alongside of the libjust treaties have been forced upon China because erties of men and who expresses those liberties of China's treatment of missionaries. This move- in His Gospel and in His kingdom. ment has been fused in the purposes of imperialism. We acknowledge it with sorrow. But that Retain All That Is Good and True period of entanglement with the political imperialisms is at an end. Never again will treaties We believe that each nation has something to be forced upon China because of China's treat- contribute to the collective life of our race. We ment of missionaries. Christian missions are un- go, then, to the nations of the earth, not trying to doing what has been done, and the whole pressure wipe out their culture, their past. Much of that of Christian enterprise is to give men liberties culture will pass away with the impact of fuller and freedom. It is the passionate belief that lies knowledge. What is false in those religions will at the heart of the missionary enterprise that be dissolved in the face of truth, but nothing every man is of infinite worth. good, nothing true, nothing beautiful shall perish if men and women accept Jesus Christ, for He If any people in these United States say that said, "I came not to destroy, but to fulfill." He they do not believe in Christian missions, they would gather up unto Himself all the beautiful should be willing to go back to where they were things, the splendid touches, the genius of each before Christian missions touched them. And if nation, gather up into Himself-not destroying,
but perfecting all that is good and true and beau- A church that has a living unity has authority tiful. We can go to the nations of the earth with in a world that is looking for unity. If we can't a new sense of friendship, and at the same time get together as denominations, how can we de- believing that we have a message to them that mand that the world get together as nations? We Jesus Christ completes everything good in any believe that the missionary enterprise comes to nation anywhere. you with a new passionate belief in the unity of the Christian world, and we would build up a I believe the last vestige of connection of the great sense of Christian solidarity that would missionary enterprise with political imperialism hold together every fine thing that each denomiwas severed at the Jerusalem Conference. For the nation can contribute to the whole, but bound tofirst two or three days we analyzed until we were gether with a broad Christian brotherhood that paralyzed. We were suffering from what some- transcends all of this. There is no denomination body has called "paralysis of analysis." But at that had any corner on the saints. God seems to the end of those two weeks, as we sat at the feet work through denominations-sometimes, in of Jesus Christ and looked into His thoughts, we spite of them. If that hurts your denominational concluded that we had a message the world could pride it may help your Christian humility. We not do without and live. No missionary move- are deeply grateful for the denominations which ment has set its face toward the rights of all men, have nurtured us and given us spiritual birth, but and the liberties of all men. we step out and say: "It may be that the Chris- tian missionaries will force us at the home base But somebody says: While the missionary to come together because we believe that the movement may not be political imperialism, isn't world is searching for real unity." it denominational imperialism? Isn't it marked by the desire to build up vast denominations? Is not spiritual imperialism desire to manage There is some truth in that alliance. Christian other people's minds and souls in their supposed missions grew up at the time when denominations interests? There is a good deal of that in Chrisexpanded greatly in the West, and they have tian missions at home and abroad, because of the sometimes used this movement for the purposes type of teaching we give our young people. We tell of statistics. our young people that they must go out and be- come leaders. Get a dozen people together, all of Christ Greater Than Sects But today in the East, Christianity is begin- whom have been taught to be leaders, and you ning to recognize that there is something bigger have the stage set for confusion and strife, and than the question of being a Baptist or a Meth- for position, and power. Jesus (according to odist or a Presbyterian or anything else. There Moffet) said, "Be ye not called leaders." The is the question of being a Christian! What great attitude of the leader is, "I lead; you follow." It advantage is it 'to you whether you are a Meth- is a selfish attitude, therefore cannot be Christian. odist or Episcopal or anything else, in the light of Jesus said, "Be ye called servants." The attitude the question as to whether Jesus Christ or Karl of the servant is that he loses himself in a cause Marx shall hold the destiny of China? As we outside of himself. Jesus said, "I can Christianize have dropped down beneath the level of organ- that attitude." The world is tired of leaders. ization, down to the level of experience, we have Again and again they plunge us into war to satisdiscovered that the true Christian Church is the fy their ambitions. The world is sick of the desire most united body on earth, if we only knew it. to be leaders. It is perishing for servants! Per- Weare united in the deepest thing in life-name- ishing for men and women who lose themselves in the needs of humanity, forgetting themselves ly, in life itself. We share in Jesus Christ a life as the Master did. He said, "I am among you as that overleaps the barriers of race and class and one who serves. I came not to be ministered unto, congregation and denomination, and holds us to but to minister and to give myself a ransom for the deepest brotherhood that this world knows many." anything about-the brotherhood of a new life in Christ. The Supremacy of the Servant It is a strange anomoly that people who are Then what happens? That Servant of all be- most united at the center are sometimes most comes the greatest of all. He rises up with a new divided at the circumference. We, therefore, say kind of leadership, out of hurt and pain, out of to the Christian Church: "Brothers, we are one. the Cross. On Easter morning He rises to a new Let's act and love as if we were one. Do away leadership. The Servant of all becomes the Great- with all. duplications, and all competitions, all est of all. If, therefore, you are sending out self- overlappmg, and face this whole world Christian appointed leaders, we don't want them. But if program with the sense of the solidarity of the you can send out men and women who will lose Christian forces of the world." themselves in the great needs of the East, in Heav-
THE UNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST
en's name send them! The East is perishing for in prayer, that we, too, might have more of Christ servants. in our lives. The very act of giving to others is a There is another thing working against this conscious or unconscious prayer that His Life motive. We have discovered by actual fact that may be more operative in our own lives. But the we cannot succeed in being missionaries unless man who makes that objection doesn't say to we succeed in becoming marginal. No longer at science, for instance, "Science, you dare not pass the center, managing affairs, but on the margin, your science to the rest of the world until the sum stimulating, spiritualizing, culturers and helpers total of the findings of science are operative in of the situation; always trying to produce men America." The fact of the matter is that the find- and women who will stand upon their own feet ings of science are far beyond the application of and succeed only as we succeed in producing science to our collective life. The science of med- Christ-conscious, Spirit-directed, self-supporting icine is far beyond the application of medicine to churches in the East. our collective life, yet we do not hesitate to give We need the kind of mentality at the home base our science to the rest of the world. There is al- that is willing to contribute, even where they ways a gap between the findings of a thing and can't manage. We want the kind of spirit God the application of that thing. There is a gap be- guided, at the home base that feels that it is true tween Jesus Christ and our collective manifesta- success when we succeed in producing the kind of tion of Jesus Christ. We do not ask the nations churches in the East that stand as living, vital of the earth to become American; all we ask centers, courageous and self-supporting. In other them to do is to become Christian, and maybe in words, the price of your support should not be becoming Christian they will help us to become that you manage the whole thing. Give liberties more Christian. That is what we crave.
to men and women, give them liberties sufficient The question is, Has Jesus Christ a supply to enable God to help them develop their own which is universally redemptive? Will men be recharacteristics and their own life; then it may deemed if they will give Him a chance? We bebe that outt>f that liberty shall come back to us a lieve He has that abundant supply of life, and great contribution. I do not want merely to go to that in Jesus Christ, wherever groups and nathe East, I want the East to come to us. tions and individuals have exposed themselves to There are multitudes of men and women in the Him, there will come a redemptive power that East who have caught the passion and victory of will lift, change, redeem and make new.
Christ. These men and women can give the Gos- Not Ourselves But Christ pel to help us complete the uncompleted work and task of evangelism of America, so that there will We preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ, and be no more distinction between a "giving coun- then we are your servants for Jesus' sake. But try" and "receiving country," but we will all be somebody says it may not be spiritual impergiving and we will all be receiving. Out of that tinence. Mahatma Gandhi raises an objection. process will rise a fuller, finer type of Christian He says that there should be no change in reli- manhood, out of the twain shall he become a new gion. In an interview with some American newsman in Jesus Christ. paper men he said, "If the missionaries were to Another objection is that somebody says that it use their hospitals and schools for the purpose of may not be spiritual imperialism, but spiritual proselytizing, then when we attain self-govern- impertinence to go to people of other lands, when ment we would ask them to withdraw." His last our task at home is uncomplete. A man said, word modified his first and he said: "Under self- "You never export a thing unless you have a sur- government the missionary would not be allowed plus of that thing. Do you mean to say that you to proselytize if we feel it is done in the wrong have a surplus of Christianity in America, that way." But we have no desire to proselytize. Pros- you dare export it?" We have no surplus of elytizm, or a mere outward change of association, Christianity in America, but unless we try to is unchristian. Jesus said to the religious lead- bring others to Christ our own Christianity will ers of His day, "You compass sea and land and die upon our hands. If the individual centers up- gain a proselyte, and when you have gained him on himself to Christianize himself, he will be de- you are twofold more a child of Hell than him- Christianized in the process. self."
If a group or church should center upon itself On the other hand, Jesus definitely and specif- to Christianize. itself, it would perish in the proc- ically demanded conversion. He said, "Except a ess. If a nation should center upon itself to Chris- man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of tianize itself, it would dry up in the process. God." There is a distinction between conversion Our very stretched-out hands across the seas and proselytizm. Proselytizm is the coming over are in the end a putting of those hands together from one sect or group or opinion to another
group or sect or OpInIOn without any necessary the very nature of the Gospel which I hold. Freechange in heart allegiance or character. It is a ly did I receive, freely must I give. There is a change of label, not of life. We repudiate pros- deep discipline in the Gospel, a disCipline of the elytizm but we insist upon conversion, for con- love of Christ; but primarily it is the gift of version involves a change in character-a deep, God. The Gospel is not so much a demand as it fundamental, all-embracing change in life. is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God. The moment this life takes hold of One business of the Christian Church is to pro- a man he comes under a discipline so severe that duce conversion, and when the Christian Church it is far deeper than self-discipline. can no longer show conversions it has lost its right to live and its power to propagate. When Gandhi has another objection. This time, he it can no longer make a good man out of a bad says: "If you speak about your religion, don't man, and a weak man into a strong man, and a speak about it in words. Use the most perfect man without God-consciousness into a man ra- method of evangelism-let it come out of the life, diant with God, it has lost its function in human as the perfume comes from the rose. As missionsociety. The whole structure of human life is aries and as Christian workers draw people by resting upon that subtle, intangible thing called your deeds. But do not speak about it." character. And when the character breaks, the confidence breaks, and when the confidence breaks Witness of Lips and Life the country breaks. If the Christian Church cannot so present Jesus Chris,t and His Gospel so as There is something valuable in this suggestion. to make men and women of Christlike character, The West has organized religion too much around if any religion does not make bad men good, it words. Our places of worship are called "audihas lost its right to exist. We have, therefore, no toriums." Our services are services of song, prayapologies for trying to produce conversion. We er, speech-words. Somebody asked a Chinese believe that wherever men and women and in- what he thought of the Christian religion. He dividuals and nations expose themselves recep- said, "It is a very talkative religion." There is tively to Jesus Christ, their conversion does take something in what he says. Gandhi snid, "Let us place to the degree that He is received. have a moratorium on words." There is some- thing in his objections-but not everything. "We want to do something deeper and more fundamental than proselytizing." Conversion is Jesus Christ did use the rose-perfume method. not only the conversion of an individual-that "He went about doing good." He did good beconversion is as far extended as human need. cause men needed it, and the resources of His Just as' there can be sin in the individual will, heart were big enough to meet that need. He went there can be sin in the collective will. Shall we about doing good, but He did more than that. He rescue the wounded in war or strike at the war interpreted words by acts. The words of His lips system, too? Shall we pick up the drunkards or and the deeds of His life were one. They caJrne tostrike at the liquor traffic, too? The Christian gether like the words and music of a song. His Gospel reapplied would mean a conversion, not deeds were words and His words were deeds, and merely of the individual, but of the sum total of they all came together and became the Living human life. Conversion-the Kingdom of God Word. coming-replacing the present world order, founded as it is on exploitations and on unbroth- We would say to Mahatma Gandhi, If we are erliness-we could replace by an order founded true to Christ we will invest this message with on good will, the Brotherhood of Man under the the sum total of our lives, and that includes our Fatherhood of God. This is the conversion for words. It is only when our words are rooted in which the Kingdom of God stands. facts that we dare speak them.
The Christian life is primarily not an attain- A man came to' me in India and said, "Why do ment, but an obtainment. The gift of God came to you go after people to baptize them?" I replied, me when I had nothing to offer except my bank- "I don't. They come to ask me to baptize them. I ruptcy. I came to Jesus Christ hurt, confused, put no label on a man that does not correspond to bankrupt. I offered Him what I had, and to my an inward fact." The man who has the reality utter amazement and astonishment He took me, has a right to outwardly proclaim it and to enjoy forgave me, cleansed me, loosed me from the old any group where it will be cultivated. The inbonds, set my soul singing its way down these ward without the outward is also hypocrisy. The years. By His grace was I made whole. life, speaking one thing, has a right to live it out.
I dare to speak of that because I simply am lay- But somebody offers one final objection: ing at His feet the tribute of my gratitude and "Aren't they getting along well enough without my life. I could not keep silence without denying Jesus Christ?"
I can not find anyone anywhere getting along well enough without Jesus Christ in East or West.
1938J THE UNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST
I cannot do it. In fellowship with Him I truly thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was sick and ye live. I go to the nations of the East because they are a part of the world, not because they are not visited me; in prison, and ye came to me." most degraded but because they are brother men. "Lord," they say, "when saw we ye hungry or A man said to me, "How do you talk to theos- thirsty? Sick or in prison? We never saw Thee 6phists?" I don't-I talk to people. And I don't this way." And the Master says "Inasmuch as go to speak to Hindus and Mohammedans-I go to speak to men with the same inward needs that ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye I have. I do not go to the people of the East be- 'cause they are the worst of the world, I go to have done it unto Me." . them because they are men for whom Christ died. That, it seems to me, is the legitimate reason for Who is it that is hungry in the hunger of the going. There are degradations in the East just as there are degradations in the West. As I have world? The Christ hungers again. Who is it that sat in round-table conferences and heard noble is bound with the shackles of custom and sin and men tell what religion was meaning or not mean- evil? In them Christ is still bound? At the Cross ing to them, I have come to the conclusion that not only any man at his worst needs Christ, but He gathered all up into His own heart, until every man at his finest and best needs Him. Christ and the human soul were made for each other just as man's trouble became His trouble, and every the lungs were made for air, the eyes for light, the man's pain His pain, and every man's sin His heart for love, and the esthetic nature for beauty. Jesus Christ and the human soul were made for sin. He bore it in His own body upon the Tree. each other, and when we find Him we find not There, it seems to me, is the meaning of the unionly the Way of Life, but Life itself. I desperately wish everyone to have that life. verse. There is the meaning of Life. We live in proportion as we respond with deeper and deeper The Cross and the Motive sensitiveness. This is the test by which we can If I were to point out the deepest places where my missionary motive is found, I would point to judge. a Cross. For the Cross, to me, is the place where I see deepest into the universe. There the uni- How much life is there in our churches? That verse turns redemptive, forgiving all, bearing all, is the great question that comes home to us. healing all, and turning the whole of life into tri- Judge by this standard. Many churches are about umph. It is at the Cross where we see the heart the spiritual level of the vegetable. Dead beets, of the missionary passion, for there is the place of the heartbreak of God. There is where love, pure, if you will. No sensitiveness beyond themselves, holy love, comes into contact with words, sign and need. There we begin to see love reaching and proud of that fact. The missionary moveout as far as the human need, and taking all into ment, with all its faults (and it has many) is the God's own heart bearing all and forgiving all. reaching up of arms and saying, "We are trying Someone has defined "Life" as "sensitiveness." to be Christian; we are trying to be sensitive on It is a great definition. The lower down the scale of living you go the less sensitiveness you find. a world scale, and in trying to do so we are be- The stone is numb; there is no life. The plant ginning to try to catch something of the passion has some sensitiveness, therefore some life. The animal has more, therefore more life. When you that our Lord and Master held." I cannot see come to Man you find the sensitiveness ranging out beyond itself, beyond its group, its nation, and how we can keep that passion in our hearts and to God and the larger life reaches out to man. The more sensitiveness, the more life. The high- not reach out to the last man everywhere. est, greatest life that has been lived upon our planet, is Jesus Christ. There we find the su- The moment I rose the day I was converted I preme sensitiveness. On the last day He will say, felt an impulse in my heart that I had never "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of known before. Five minutes before I had had no the world. I was hungered and ye fed me; I was such impulse. The impulse was that I wanted to share with everybody, and put my arms around the world arid share the Gospel with everybody. My missionary motive today is that; deepened, broadened, but still there. I do not see any place to stop witnessing this side of the last human being. This desire should be held in the heart as a great consuming power. The center of the whole thing is the heart. I believe that such a passion shows the heartbeat of Jesus Christ. In Him is enough power to heal the individual, the social, the eco- nomic, the political needs of the world. I know no other power.
Jesus Christ stands and says, "Come unto Me and enter My Kingdom." Are you willing to make inward surrender of your whole self to Him -your money, your brain, your hand, your life? If so you will follow Him and your life will never be the same. You will have new joy and freedom and power.
of the Churches in
By REV. AKIRA EBISAW A, Tokyo, Japan ExecutitJe Secretary of the National Christian Council of Japan T HE Christian churches of Japan have made It may sound strange for us to speak of such striking progress in the brief time since the a radical change. But every living organism is opening of missions here in 1859. From the destined to grow and is subject to vital changes. very early days these churches have been charac- We believe in the God of Creation, who works terized by a self-governing church polity, pro- even today. We cannot measure the creative moted under the leadership of missionary and work of God in terms of the status quo or hold Japanese leaders. the idea that there can be no development of new We realize, however, that the Christian Church features in the realm of the Church. We should in Japan is not yet fully established. It is only hope and expect that a newly emerging Christian partially represented by the communions trans- Church will develop new forms in a new environplanted to Japanese soil from the Western World. ment.
While the various denominational churches The organization, methodology, and functions represent very important branches of the Body of of the churches in the field must be defined in the Christ, with their historic characteristics, yet light of their environment, they should be rethese divisions often seem meaningless and are a organized so as to accord with the national trastumbling block to the Oriental mind. Japanese dition and be adapted to their indigenous cultural do not understand why the Christian churches are heritage. thus divided. Many things need to be re-examined. For in- Very serious problems are confronting the stance in Japan, the custom of religious congrechurches in the Japan field at present. The en- gational public worship never existed until the vironment of these churches, influenced by the Christian church service was introduced. Our cultural heritage of the nation, is necessarily in- forefathers were accustomed to individual worfluencing their inner life. ship ·and to occasional festivals. Thus the Roman Catholic form of worship seems better adapted to The age-long struggle of the Western churches our people than the Protestant congregational of Europe against the Greco-Roman materialistic services. Moreover, offerings in connection with humanism is being repeated to some extent even public worship have been alien to our people. in Japan. Bushido emphasized the virtue of righteousness Generally speaking, churches in the Orient are and sacrifice and disdained utilitarianism. It placed in an environment characterized by vari- looked with contempt upon the motive of personal ous forms of culture and by the presence of the profit and gain. Little wonder that even in this other great ethnic religions. This brings new fea- highly economic-minded age there are people who tures into the struggle which the Oriental young- think that it is not pious nor Christian to speak er churches are experiencing. This presents a of monetary matters during a religious service or new problem to the churches in this field and right even to take the purse to the house of wor- gives hope and promise that the outcome will be ship.
the enrichment of their inner life. Although gradually the Western industrial These considerations suggest that some intrin- order is affecting and destroying the old social sic value must be developed on the part of these system and is replacing it with an individualistic churches that will adapt them to the cultural mode of life, the family system still has a strong heritage and social environment in their native hold on the life of the Japanese. This makes it fields, without losing anything of their Christian customary for only the head of the family to en- character. joy economic independence, the other members It must be admitted that we should re-examine all being dependent. As a result the system of and re-evaluate our church organization, its meth- offerings by individual members of a church is ods of activity and its relationships, in the light almost meaningless.
of the national cultural tradition and the chang- Creative imagination on the part of Western ing environment. people, inspired by religious insight, has erected [532 ] such wonderful structures as St. Paul's Cathedral lives. This often makes the distinction between and Notre Dame. But why should Christian Christians and non-Christians obscure and insigchurch architecture throughout the world con- nificant. form to Gothic forms or wholly Western style? The New Testament conception of the church The lack of a strong devotional motive makes does not indicate such patterns. It rather sug- many feel that it is a burden to bear the respongests that the Church universal is composed of sibility of rendering service and giving in supsmall units, meeting in the homes of the believers. port of the Church. Another excuse, which has some truth in it, is that the Church at present is The Church universal, as an ideal spiritual so- dealing with things that are too trifling as comciety, must be made clear to the mind of con- pared with the momentous matters which are agitemporary Christians, especially of the younger tating humanity. This does not appeal to the imchurches. This is well defined by Dr. Wm. A. agination nor sound the depths of life for minds Brown, as follows: that are alert.
It must never be suffered to obscure the fact that the In view of these unhealthy tendencies, we are Church of Christ exists today as definite body in the per- endeavoring to promote an interest on the part sons of the men and women who have been touched by of church members in the training of the laity for His spirit, and who live for the ends which He approves. voluntary evangelism and in Christian steward- This spiritual society, creating institutions, but not it- ship as features of our Nation-Wide Union Evanself perfectly comprehended or expressed by any, is the gelistic Campaign. true Church of Christ. (Brown: "Christian Theology in Outline," Ch. V. p. 59.) Self-Support and Self-Government The members of the Re-Thinking Missions Self-support and self-government on the part Commission define the Church in a way which of the churches have usually been taken as synwill help to clarify the conception of the Chris- onymous among Christian people throughout the tians in the field regarding it. world. A clear distinction should be made be- tween them. A Christian's property belongs to The Church is to be thought of as a spiritual fellow- God and God's money may be used anywhere for ship and communion of those who have found a new His Kingdom without reference to racial or naspring of life and power by the impact of the Christian tional differences. message, who are eager to join together as a living, growing body of believers through whom the ideals and the A policy of self-government is imperative for spirit of Christ can be transmitted and His principles of the churches in the field if we wish them to devellife promoted, then that type of Church will always have op as the Church of Christ. But the problem of a function in the work of building the Kingdom of God self-support must be considered in the light of the whether on the mission field or at home. ("Re-Thinking activities and functions of the church. Some Missions," Ch. V. p. 109.) churches tend to overemphasize self-support, with the result that the local churches crystallize Owing to the lack of proper training in such a into small-sized organizations, with no possibility fundamental conception of the Church, the young- of an expanding life and influence necessary for er churches are facing a grave danger at present. self-propagation. It is a pity to see dwarfed or That danger is the general trend among the crippled local churches losing their activities Christians of growing indifference toward the and ceasing to appeal to the general public. organized churches. Forced self-support does not prove to be self- Among the causes that have contributed to this support at all. It often means that the pastor is tendency, we mention a few for which we should obliged to support himself by some form of side feel responsibility. The Japanese have a feeling work. It is a mistake to demand self-support of distaste for the too highly institutionalized without considering the real strength of the local church life which tends to give the impression church as related to its environment. The church, that it is too conventional and has an artificiality in the New Testament meaning, should be organwhich bears a secular flavor. ized in every small town and village and even in the homes of the believers. This tendency may also be due to the fact that the churches are losing their strong leaders in Owing to an overemphasis on self-support on the ministry. This may seem partly inevitable in the one hand, and to a lack of the conception of these days because of the greatly changed social Christian stewardship-the training for which is environment as compared with the pioneer days quite new among the younger churches-on the when the missionary and indigenous leaders were other, many local churches are suffering greatly conspicuous figures. It must be admitted that because of the economic problem. The result is consciously or unconsciously contemporary Chris- that churches tend to be governed by the motive tians are influenced by the secular, materialistic, of group egoism while the individual church individual thought, and are losing the idealistic, self-forgetting, sacrificial motive in their daily
members themselves are likewise influenced by activities necessary to meet the needs of the compersonal egoism. munity at large and can fulfill their responsibility as witnessing churches. We must continually re- Many economic problems are at present con- mind Christians of the fundamental unified charfronting the younger churches. In Oriental acter of the churches of the different communions homes, where the traditional family system pre- in accordance with the conception of the Church vails, the father, as the wage earner, usually defined by Dr. William Adams Brown. holds the purse and other members of the family get money from him. Yet the Protestant As the religious society which finds its bond of union Churches, in spite of this traditional Japanese in Jesus of Nazareth, the Church is one. . . . Beneath custom are supported on the basis of individual the outward divisions and misunderstandings which sepcontributions, in accordance with the custom in arate different bodies of Christians there is a common Western lands. religious experience which is shared by all whose lives are lived under the influence of the Master, and which Another problem perplexing city churches is unites in sympathy, labor, and prayer, good men in every the fact that, owing to changes in the environ- branch of the Church. It is ,this common religious life, ment, members are moving to the suburbs and it uniting in spiritual fellowship men of different ecclesiasis becoming increasingly difficult to bring the tical names and of none, which is the real foundation of family to the mother church every Sunday be- the unity of the Church. (Brown: "Christian Theology cause of the transportation costs and other ex- in Outline," p. 59.) penses. Notwithstanding these difficulties, it is an encouraging fact that the annual giving of the There is also the problem of church union. churches in Japan in recent years. amounts to "Divided churches cannot conquer the unified about 2,500,000 yen, or 12.50 yen per capita. This world." The way to win the world is to consoliis a good ratio when compared with the reported date the Church's divided forces, under the leadgiving of New York church members last year. ership and power of the Spirit of God.
Another problem is the question as to what con- In Japan we have been carrying forward a stitutes real cooperation between older and study regarding a basis for union ever since 1925. younger churches? Of course cooperation, through We have been swung back and forth over the fellowship or in conferences, does not begin problem of a creed. Our people now seem to realwhere financial support from the church at the ize that to begin by planning for organic union home base is cut off. Real f!'lllowship and cooper- will get us nowhere. There must first be spiritation can be established without regard to finan- ual unity in Christ. We are now inclined to start cial relations. Younger churches can not be said with a federated union as has been the case with to cooperate satisfactorily with the older churches the Church of Christ in China. Dr. Stanley Jones at the home base as long as they exist on a poor has suggested a similar procedure. economic level and with a crippled independence. Real cooperation should begin when the younger We see a possibility for the realization of churches on th~ field are able to maintain the Christian union if we proceed along this line for the coming ten-year period by uniting in work which has no direct concern with a creed.
GOD CHOOSES BUSY MEN FOR HIS WORK When God has work to be done we notice that He almost always goes to those who are al- ready at work. Both his,tory and the Bible attest this truth.
Moses was tending his flocks at Horeb when God called him to deliver the people of Is- rael from bondage in Egypt.
Gideon was threshing wheat by the wine press when God called him to deliver Israel from the Midianites.
David was caring for his father's sheep w hen he was called to succeed Saul as king.
Elisha was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen when he was called to succeed Elijah as prophet of God in Israel. .
Nehemiah was bearing the king's cup when he was called to go to rebuild Jerusalem.
Amos was attending the flock when he was summoned to be a prophet of God.
Peter and Andrew were casting a net into the sea when Christ called them to become fishers of men.
Matthew was collecting customs when he was called to be a disciple.
Saul was persecuting the church when he was commissioned to be a missionary of Christ.
William Carey was mending shoes when he heard the call to be a foreign missionary.
for the Church in India*
By B. L. RALLIA RAM, ESQ.
Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Lahore CHRISTIAN influence has streamed into In- the word "church" in this article refers to the dia in four different channels: sum-total of all the "churches," for, with all the First: According to the traditions of divergent doctrines, traditions and practices, they the Syrian Church Christianity was originally do owe allegiance to one Lord and Master and preached in India, by the Apostle St. Thomas, in unitedly proclaim His name. In spite of the ex- the states of Travancore and Cochin, early in the istence of many "churches," there is yet an entity, Christian Era. The Church thus established, how- intangible though it may seem, which may be ever, was not alive to its missionary obligations. called "The Church of Christ in India."
It was handicapped by the political situation and The "Christian Community" consists of mem- by lack of communications so that its influence bers of the Christian churches and those who was confined to a small section of the country. nominally belong to the Christian community, Considerably weakened by divisions and internal having been born in homes known as Christian. disputes, in some respects it followed too closely According to the present political constitution of some of the painfully dark episodes in the history India, "The Christian Community" is a separate of the Church elsewhere. political entity with rights of special representa- tion in the national and provincial legislatures Second: In the Sixteenth Century the Portu- through voting constituencies of its own. This gese Roman Catholics inaugurated an era of rapid implies that in many places it is also a separate Christianization of India. Under their influence social entity. the work of St. Francis Xavier and the Jesuites in South India met with an apparent success. The This system leads to unfortunate results. It is, means used to convert people were not, however, however, gratifying to note that there are many always fair and honest. The Church in India un- Christian leaders who regret this political isolatil recently was preponderatingly Roman Cath- tion imposed by the award of the government. olic, but the Protestant influence has been There is an increasing number of Indian Chrissteadily increasing. and the Protestant Christians tians who are working shoulder to shoulder with now are numerically more than the Roman Cath- their countrymen for general social, political and olics. moral improvement. Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur, the talented daughter of the late Sir Raja Harnam Third: Early in the Eighteenth Century a Prot- Singh (a notable Christian convert from the famestant mission arrived in the South of India un- ily of a ruling chief), is the acknowledged leader der the inspiration of the King of Denmark, with of the Women's Movement in India. Two of the the financial help of an Anglican society. Its per- trusted lieutenants of Mahatma Gandhi, in charge sonnel was German. The large Lutheran Church of two of his important social and economic deof South India, the United Church of South India, partments, are Indian Christians. From this it the Anglican Church with its several dioceses will be seen that in common usage the term "Inare the direct result of this pioneering mission. dian Church" is sometimes applied to the com- munity known to the political and social life as Fourth: A century later groups of Protestant "The Indian Christians." missionaries were sent at short intervals by the English Baptists, the Church Missionary Society, Here we are mainly concerned with the organand the London Missionary Society. They were ized Christian Churches, though the second consoon reinforced by Americans and others. Thus ception associated with the term "Indian Church" there are now several Evangelical Christian cannot altogether be avoided. churches deeply rooted in the soil of India.
Technically there is no one Christian CHURCH Characteristics of the Church in India in India, but a large number of "churches." But It is impossible to deal here adequately with the • Mr. Basil Mathew gives a significant title to one of his recent CsauhbfuJe'rewccht .aosfpeCchtsrisotf in India. We can refer only to books "The Church Takes Root in India." This happy phrase aptly a very large and complicated describes the present position of the Christian Church in India.
B. L. R. A.
[ 5351
Except for the church in Malabar, the Church agating Churches." It is essential, therefore, that of Christ in India owes its existence to the labors the help from abroad should be so used as to of missionaries sent out by the churches of the achieve this ideal as speedily as possible. It is West. These "sending churches" have been main- universally recognized now that the ultimate suc- ly responsible for the nourishment and the devel- cess in Christianizing India must depend upon the opment of the Church in India. Each church is efforts of the indigenous Church itself. It alone dependant still upon their "mother" church for can be a truly effective witness to the Indians of help. Missionaries play an important role in the the saving power of Christ. Its life of witness life of the Church. Financial help is given to will win India for Christ. The most important maintain its indigenous ministry and its institu- aspect, therefore, of the development of the tions and forms of service. The different churches Church is its response to the challenge to evan- are in various stages of development. gelism.
In main there are two kinds of church organ- The Church and Evangelism izations: Some churches have already become When the missions were first started it was autonomous, though not fully self-supporting. In considered necessary to employ paid Indian evan- the South, a strong "South India United Church" gelists, and to keep them under their own control. includes the Presbyterian and Congregational. This system may have been necessary in the ear- Corresponding to it there is a similar "United lier stages, but its continued and prolonged ex- Church of North India." The Church of India, Burma and Ceylon, which is in fellowship with istence is likely to mitigate against the fulfilment of the legitimate work of the Church itself. the World-wide Anglican Communion, has attained its independence by an Act of the British In some places, the mission is separately organ- , Parliament. These and several other churches are ized as an evangelistic agency, with its own Inautonomous; they are in full communion with dian workers, while the Church is left with the the corresponding churches of the West and are pastoral work. While missionaries can exert receiving help from them. their influence (and sometimes unduly large in- fluence) in the matters left to the Church, the Other churches are exemplified by the Meth- mission policy remains the sole concern of the odist Episcopal Church and the United Presby- mission. This often creates a strain, acting adterian Church. They still form a part of the versely on the spiritual life of the Church, and American churches and their highest court is out- consequently weakens the sense of evangelistic side India. These churches are being given an responsibility. But there is an increasing realizaincreased measure of responsibility, without the tion of this danger and the systems are being final authority. We do not seek to evaluate the overhauled and adjusted so as to throw the rerelative merits of these two systems. sponsibility of evangelization upon all the lay membership of the Church, where it rightfully Christianity in India reflects the character of belongs. the churches of the West, to which the churches in India owe an everlasting debt, not only for their existence, but also for support and guidance. Next in importance to evangelization, is the This dependence of the Church in India on the responsibility of the Church for its own life and Western churches has also been responsible for the administration of its own institutions as a many difficult problems. In some ways it has "self-propagating and self-governing" Church. handicapped the Church, and it has retarded The responsibility for administration is somehealthy growth. This was inevitable. On the one times related to the financial support it can prohand the Church in India could not have reached vide for the maintenance of the enterprise, and it its present stage without help; on the other hand is mistakenly contended that self-government and it has grown under the shadow of a large tree self-support are inter-dependent. Such a mechanwith an apparent loss of spontaneity. This has ical system tends to make the Church dependent upon material resources rather than upon spiritstunted its stature. The danger has lain and still lies in the way ual realities.
this help is given. Very often an undue stress is A recent conference held on "Self-Support" at laid on the financial relationship between the Nagpur, under the auspices of the National Chris- Churches of India and the Western Churches. tian Council, provides a Iseful study for those While this relationship is of great importance, in who are interested in this problem.
the last analysis it is not the vital factor. There The Churches of Christ in the world must al- has been considerable progress in "self-support" ways be interdependant and, therefore, depend- of the Churches of India. ence of the Church in India upon other Churches, From the early stages of their work, missions in itself is not wrong provided care is taken that have set before themselves the goal of creating this dependence does not inflict a moral injury "self-governing, self-supporting, and self-prop- and stunt the growth of a healthy normal plant.
OUTLOOK FOR THE CHURCH IN INDIA
There are some dangers to which the Church India. Recently surveys have been made into the of India is exposed at the present time: economic conditions of the Christian community in several parts of the country. Some of these There is a danger that the Church may in fu- surveys have been undertaken at the initiative of ture be entirely in the hands of an hierachy of the National Missionary Society. A study of these the clergy and other paid workers. While it is is most instructive. Dr. E. D. Lucas and Mr. the privilege of the ministry of the Church to Frank Thakur Dass made an economic enquiry teach, to guide and to serve, the spiritual driving into the conditions of the community in Pasrur power must come through spirit-filled laity; un- Tehsil in the Punjab and discovered that the avertil the lay element are given their due share in age income of a Christian family of five is about the government of the Church, and in the forma- $40 a year, or $3.50 a month. It is the glory of tion of its ideals, the Church can never achieve its the Christian Church that it has brought the mesobject. sage of release from the bondage to these poor people. That the Church in India is poor is not Business and professional men are not exerting a reproach, but is a matter for thankfulness. the degree of influence in affairs of the Church to Problems arising out of this fact, however, must which they are entitled. This needs to be cor- be courageously faced. Is economic poverty in acrected. cordance with the mind of Christ? Is not this problem of the extreme poverty of Christian vil- It is possible that the help of men and women lage communities a challenge to the Church? from abroad may be used in such a way as to hamper rather than help the emergence of a truly The Church in India Is a Growing Church independent Church. It is a significant fact that there have been no heresies developed in the India is one of those countries where populachurches of India. This probably means that tion is increasing rapidly. This creates a national there has been no independent thinking in the problem. Every community, in a natural way, is Church itself. The Church has produced many increasing. In 10 years (1921-1931) the poppersons who by their ability and spiritual leader- ulation of India increased by 14 per cent, but ship have taken their places in the front rank; but the Christian community and the membership of there is an urgent call for more leaders who are the Christian Church is increasing much faster. able to think and act independently in accordance During the decade 1921-31, the increase of the with the highest principles. The best way that Indian Christian community, according to the help from abroad can be given is to train and re- natural process, should have been 157,355, but it lease Christian personalities who will take the actually was 1,542,684. This has been true in responsibility of guiding the Church in India. every census report.
The life and work of men 'like the Bishop of Since 1931 reports from the churches reveal the Dornakal and the late Mr. K. T. Paul have done fact that a large number of people are continuing more to establish the Christian Church in India to turn to Christ through mass movements. These than the work of many a foreign worker. movements, well described by Bishop Pickett, are no longer from the lowest strata of society only, New Challenge but in certain sections, particularly in the diocese of Dornakal and the Nizam's Dominion, groups The Church in India may become exclusively from the highest castes of Hinduism are also ennational and conservative. The Church in the tering in the Christian Church. This welcome en- West is being confronted with a new challenge by largement of the Church in India must bring new the problems of the modern world. It is being challenges and many new problems. forced to rethink and relive, and to rededicate. The Church in India is, to a considerable extent, Conversion to Christianity in this way of large outside the currents of new thoughts. Its con- groups is fraught with many dangers and if the tact with <Ecumenical movements of the present Church in India does not have the resources to age is meager. If it is to fulfill its destiny, and if give adequate teaching and to provide essential it is to discharge its God-given responsibility, its opportunities for the nourishment and developgrowth must be harmonious and not lopsided. In ment of their Christian life, the Indian Church true and unwaning fidelity to Christ and His may well sink into lower depths. It might easily teaching it must assimilate all that is best and become another religious system. Thus while the challenging in its great heritage of the history of mass movements are providing great encouragethe Church throughout the ages, the spiritual ment they are potentially also the source of great heritage of India, and also the stirring of the danger. spirit in modern times. At the present time the Christian community in The Church of India is poor in comparison with India is only one per cent of the total population. the churches of other countries. It is poor in There is still a vast field to be evangelized by the comparison with other religious communities in
Christian enterprise, but its greatest opportunity greatest opportunity it will be a tragedy. On the does not come from that side alone. As a result of other hand if the Church is faithful to its message the recent world forces a new nation has been and can serve its country with the spirit and zeal born in India pulsating with life and anxiously of the Master, then India will make a contribudesirous to make its contribution to world civil- tion to the world whose importance cannot be exization and world culture. India is beginning to aggerated. There are tremendous possibilities for think in world terms and looks upon itself in the the future. setting of a new world. In India the Christian Church is face to face with three or four virile, The World Conference at Tambaram (Madras) aggressive religious systems with their conflict- comes at one of the critical periods of the history ing doctrines of life and action. Will the future of mankind. It is to be hoped that this ingatherof India be guided and moulded by these philos- ing of the leaders of the Christian enterprise from ophies or will the life-giving principles of Christ all the world will release a new Spiritual force give to her a new way of life and action? The which will not only give to the Church in India answer to this question must depend upon the a new vision and new power but we pray that its work and witness of the Churches in India. If clarion call for advance in the name of Christ the Church fails its motherland in the hour of her will penetrate effectively the harassed countries of the Western as well as the Eastern world.
A Saintly Surgeon of India The Story of Sir William Wanless of Mira; By MARGARET McKELLAR, M.D., LL.D.
Toronto, Ontario Missionary to India under the United Church of Canada SOMEONE has said: "If the Taj Mahal is a times Dr. Wanless was decorated by the British dream in marble the Wanless Hospital is a Government, in 1913 receiving the silver Kaiser- dream in the art of healing." Affection for i-hind medal, in 1920 the gold medal and in 1928 a royal spouse was the incentive for the one; love the late King George V conferred upon him the for the Lord Jesus Christ and suffering humanity rank and title of Knight Bachelor of the British was the incentive of the other. Empire, (K.B.E.). These honors were conferred for his distinguished services and humanitarian Multitudes of people traveled thousands of work for the people of India. miles to reach this Mecca of healing. They came not only from India, but from Iran, Iraq, and I landed in India shortly after Dr. Wanless first other countries. arrived. After forty years of medical service, we both left our respective stations within a few Wanless was a household word in many parts months of each other. We worked together in the of India. It is said that more Indian people knew All-India Christian Medical Association, of which the name of the Saintly Surgeon of Miraj than he was the organizer and secretary, then presknew even the name of the Viceroy. If a fellow ident for seventeen years. One day I found mytraveler said that he was going to Miraj you could self in his home, with the late Dr. Arthur Neve of assume that he was going to "Wanless" for the Kashmir and Dame Edith Brown of Ludhiananames were synonymous. both famous surgeons. They were discussing with Sir William the respective merits of certain opera- Sir William James Wanless is a name destined tions, e.g., Colonel Smith's cataract extraction for to live among the names of the world's great sur- which Sir William himself had designed an ingeons, not only in India, where he worked out his strument for extracting .the lens. Today this is on earthly life's purpose with a heavenly meaning, the market as the "Wanless extractor." It was but in the Hall of Fame, established by the Uni- apparent that Sir William had a thorough familversity of New York. He received his medical iarity with the technique of the different varieties degree from that University in 1889, shortly be- of operations. Other members of the medical profore he went to India. In 1916 he became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Three
A SAINTLY SURGEON OF INDIA
fession, British medical service men and mission- Although Dr. Wanless and I were stationed aries, all had confidence in his wisdom and skill. some six hundred miles apart, I took many Euro- pean patients to Miraj for operations. These In response to my question as to how he kept were 100 per cent successful. his surgical instruments from rusting, Sir William answered: "I use them"; and he did to At Miraj operations were the order of the day, splendid purpose. For his skill in surgery he was usually from noon until hours after lamplight, called the "Wizard of India." Even non-Christians when all the cases were finished, with no break except for afternoon tea, served in the operating STAFF AND STUDENTS OF THE MEDWAL SCHOOL, MIRAJ room annex. Foreign staft, seated. Left to Right: Dr. Vail, Dr. Inglis Frost, In the operating theater, Sir William was Rev. R. C. Richardson, Dr. W. J. Wanless. scrupulously observant of antiseptic precautions and would brook no carelessness on the part of recognized his Christlike example and called him his medical assistants or of visiting doctors. I "The Saintly Surgeon." saw him ruffled only twice. Once when defective forceps were flung on the floor and the other time One Indian patient, on being asked why he had when a visiting doctor placed on the tray of sterpassed by Bombay where there are many good ilized instruments an instrument that had been in hospitals and physicians, replied: "Because I was touch with an infected area. told that Dr. Wanless prays before he operates." There is no cemetery for surgical patients at- Once I saw a grateful patient, a mother, whose tached to Miraj Hospital! life he had saved when there was "no hope" for her, kiss him much to his surprise. Often Hindus Like D. L. Moody, our beloved Saintly Surgeon endeavored to kneel and kiss his feet. was a general. He was quick to grasp the situa- tion. He was a man of few words-many deeds. Sir William was not a surgeon who specialized on one organ-the whole body was his field of After one critical operation, an aggrieved nurse operation. He was equally successful in cataract asked him, "Why did you shout at me when you extractions, and in abdominal surgery, hence wanted that instrument? I feel very badly about there flocked to his hospital patients from far i.t. " and near; princes and paupers, high and low caste-for he did not discriminate; their need of "Did I shout?" he gently replied, "I am very his skill was their passport. The low-castes and sorry. All I thought about was to save that womuntouchables received the same care as did Ma- an's life!" hatma Gandhi or the rajahs. One of the 400 missionaries, who had been his Even children recognized and trusted his skill. patients, said to me: "I had to take my turn on Two mission-school children were overheard in a heated quarrel. When one could not have things CLINIC BUILDING AT THE MIRAJ HOSPITAL as she wanted, she said: "I'll cut your head off!" To this the other answered, "I don't care if you the operating table but with the greatest assurdo; I'll go to Dr. Wanless and he will put it on ance, knowing that I had for my surgeon one of again !" international fame. Night after night, as I lay in the cottage which had been built as a memorial People had such confidence in him that they to Mary Wanless, I would hear the brisk step of came without fear of the surgical knife. A poor the doctor and could see the flicker of light from village man, who could not understand that his his small lantern cross my window and my door. was an inoperable case, came to the doctor's bun- It was eleven o'clock, and he was returning home .galow and with tears streaming down his face said, "Doctor-saheb says he won't operate on me. Please, memsaheb, tell the doctor to do operation on me."
after making his bedtime rounds at the hospital. When the message reached me, the one day There had been many patients to see, just fresh train had already left for Miraj and there would that day from the operating table. He had done be no other for hours. Miraj was 30 miles distant his best and we knew that he prayed for them, and the road, in those days, was atrocious. The commending them to the One who slumbers not only missionary car in town was an old decrepit nor sleeps. They were committed to the keeping affair and could not be depended on to make the of the Great Physician. journey. I went in search of another car that I thought might be borrowed from the State. I Sir William won the warm friendship of His went first to get the antitoxin and then drove on Highness Shahu Maharajah of Kolhapur, who to the large State bungalow used by His Highness was ever ready to further the Miraj medical work as an office. by his generous gifts of land and money. Dr. Mary Stewart Marshall tells the following story A sepoy patrol with his gun paced in front of the State bungalow. He saluted and stepped up to SHRISHAHU CHHATROPATI MAHARAJA OF KOLHAPUR the car to ask my errand. I explained that Dr. Wanless was critically ill and that a request had of Royalty voluntarily running errands for a mis- come for medicine. I would like to ask His Highsionary. During the "cold season" of 1916-17 ness to send it as soon as possible by a State car. word reached Kolhapur of the serious illness of The guard left me and went to tell the Maharajah. Dr. Wanless. None of us could remember his ever In a few minutes he returned with His Highness, before having been more than slightly incapaci- bareheaded and barefooted, wearing the thin tated. His only American colleague was a young white cotton clothing that comprised his usual medical man who had come out as a short-term costume. With the genial smile that characterized assistant. Naturally, he felt keenly the serious- him, he asked what he might do for me. As I reness of the situation and the heavy responsibility peated the explanation his Highness listened, and resting on his shoulders. A critical throat condi- at once exclaimed: "Dr. Wanless ill? I shall go tion had developed and the younger doctor sent a myself!" With that I gladly handed over the messenger by train to Kolhapur asking me to packet of antitoxin. send at once two tubes of diphtheria antitoxin from the Mary Wanless Hospital, given by the It was office hours for the Maharajah, and the Maharajah because of services rendered by Sir grounds surrounding his office building were William. swarming with State officers and their peons (clerks) wearing the scarlet badge of office. Many no doubt had State business to transact with His Highness. Office hours came to a sudden close that day, and many disappointed politicians no doubt returned home to ponder on the strange ways of their Maharajah. He himself wore many coveted decorations conferred by the British Gov- ernment, including the Grand Commander of the Indian Empire and the Grand Commander of the Star of India, but he was never more kingly than when, with utmost spontaneity, he volunteered to go as messenger for his missionary friend and physician.
Dr. Wanless, after he had recovered, told with a smile of the Maharajah's arrival. He would en- trust the packet to no servant or medical attend- ant, but walked into the sick room with it. The patient was more than a little surprised to see his royal visitor and to hear him say, "Doctor, I my- self have brought you the medicine."
The Maharajah frequently came to witness operations. On one occasion a new nurse, who had not met him before, was on duty and in her vigilence refused him admission, unless (for anti-. septic reasons), he would don a surgical cap and gown. He meekly submitted, but as he was a man six feet tall and weighing 350 pounds, the gown covered a very small area, and the cap looked like
an inverted cup on his large head! The Mahara- In a letter to the Presbyterian Board of Forjah was known as very kind-hearted and as the eign Missions, written during his early years of patient, who was a low-caste man, was being service, Dr. Wanless bemoaned the fact that he wheeled from the room, he pulled from his pocket had closed the year with a $15.00 deficit. He a ten-rupee note and told the attendant to give it added: "Although you have announced a 50 per to the patient. The next patient for operation was cent cut for next year I will try not to let this hapa white man, and when he in turn was being pen again and am praying that friends in this wheeled from the room, the Maharajah asked, "Is country may rise up to help and not let the work he a poor man too?" "Yes," said the doctor with suffer." The prayers were answered! The hosa laugh, "He is just a missionary." pital soon became self-supporting and later al- though it was a Christian mission hospital, it The Maharaja of Kolhapur acknowledged again was supported entirely by Indian money and and again, in public addresses and State papers, three-fourths of its buildings were given by his indebtedness to the mission for benefits con- wealthy non-Christian Indians as memorial buildferred upon his State. The following quotation ings. Such a large gift is unique in mission an- (translated) from a Kolhapur State Public No- nals. tice, issued September, 1919, will illustrate: It is difficult to give an adequate idea of the Be informed that, at all public buildings, charity rest scope of what Sir William accomplished. His was houses, state houses, public government inns, etc., and an heroic adventure, but the end of his endeavor river watering places, public wells, etc., no defilement on justifies his faith in his own conception of what account of any human being is to be taken account of. could be done. He never forgot that he was first Just as in Christian public buildings and public wells, and last and at all times a missionary of Christ. and as Doctor Wanless, in the American Mission, treats He was dedicated soul and body to serve the peoall with the same love, so also here, they are to be treated ple of India and never allowed anything to conas not esteeming any unclean. flict with that career. He believed the work of healing to be a demonstration of the Gospel of Thus he endeavored to raise the status of the Christ's love. He did not talk of the institutions Untouchables of his State. which he had built, but he told of the communities of Christians in the towns where there had been William J. Wanless was born on the edge of a no Christians when he arrived in India. These forest in Ontario, Canada. Twenty-four years lat- towns were medical outstations where work was er this hardy young son of Scotch pioneers was started by graduates of his school, trained in the paving the way for medical missions in the prim- art of healing both soul and body. These dispenitive native Indian state of Miraj. Contrast the saries, in the districts eighteen to sixty miles dishumble beginnings in his medical work-a shack tant, developed into hospitals and churches with used as a dispensary and an operating table of growing Christian communities. Sir William rough boards made by the doctor himself-with often spoke of the joy in serving communion in the present! On his retirement his great heart one of these on the last Sabbath before his retireand skillful hands left the largest medical plant ment. of all missions in India. It consisted of four great institutions-a hospital with six branch hospitals, In an address, delivered at one of the many a medical school, a leper asylum, and a tubercu- farewells, in his honor, a non-Christian said: losis sanitarium. One and a half million patients had passed through the doors of hospital and dis- You have been a missionary in the truest sense of the pensary, and thousands of operations performed word and have ennobled the traditions of that high callannually. In the Miraj Medical School scores of ing. Your work of healing has always been subordinate Christian young men have been trained to practice to the Gospel message and you have rejoiced far more medicine and to preach the Gospel of Christ and over a regenerated soul than a regenerated body. India are working in mission hospitals in various parts needs saintly surgeons like you, who can lead her away of the country. It is the only mission medical from the whirlpools of political strife to the quiet waters school for men in all India. Being affiliated with of spiritual development and useful service in the cause the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bom- of humanity. bay, the degrees are conferred by that institution. While those skillful hands are at rest, the soul The Leper Asylum cares for 250 lepers annual- of Sir William goes marching on. "His works do ly and 50 per cent of them have become Christians. follow him." "This great medical plant," writes They have their own organized church. The Sir a Board Secretary, "stands as a permanent me- William Wanless Tuberculosis Sanitarium was morial of an eminently useful service for Christ given its name by Sir Leslie Wilson, then Gover- and the people of India. This is his monument." nor of Bombay. Funds for site and buildings were raised entirely in India by. Sir William and was Small wonder that Britain knighted the Saintly opened by him in 1931. Surgeon, or that India mourned when he was called to his reward.
Children's Page; Tomi Ko
By VIOLET WOOD, Missionary Education Movement TOMI KO SAN was a Japanese girl in an Mr. Finney took out his wallet and handed his American grammar school. All week she tennis permit to the clerk, saying: "I don't want studied hard in public school. On Saturdays to play on a tennis court that is closed to my litshe went to a Japanese Christian school and on tle friend, Tomi. I wish to return my permit."
Sundays attended an American Sunday school. Joseph, Julia and Mary looked at each other.
When Tomi's best friends-Joseph, Mary and They had waited so long for permits of their own, Julia-talked of getting tennis rackets she it seemed impossible to give them up.
wanted one, too, and persuaded her father, who "What could we do about it?" they thought.
kept an Oriental art shop, to buy one for her. Then Tomi said quietly: Then Tomi and her friends studied the rules of "Mr. Finney, you are doing what our Sunday- the game, and practiced in the back yard. When school teacher talked about last Sunday, loving the four of them thought they knew the game, your neighbor as yourself."
they went with Joseph's father to get permits to Joseph, too, had listened to that same lesson play on the public courts. and remembered how Jesus had always been The four children sat on the bench in the wait- ready to help people in trouble. Joseph began to ing room of the Town Hall while Mr. Finney wonder how he would feel if he were Tomi.
(Joseph's father) spoke to the clerk. They were Finally he gave his new permit back to the clerk.
very much excited. It seemed too good to be true When Tomi saw what he was doing, she cried that they were about to get permits to play on out, "No! No! Please, you must not do that for real tennis courts instead of in their backyards. me."
Joseph's turn came first. The clerk asked him "Joseph, I'm proud of you," said Mr. Finney.
such questions as: What is your name? Where "We shall get other permits to play on the 'Y'
do you live? and How old are you? After Joseph courts, even if they are not so near home."
had answered politely, tingling with excitement, "We want to give ours up, too," shouted Julia the clerk said: suddenly for herself and Mary.
"Will you sign your name here, Joseph?" The clerk looked in amazement at the little The clerk blotted the signature and, leaning group. "I'm going to see that this story is re- over his desk handed Joseph a pink card, and ported at the next Town Meeting. If everybody said: "That's your permit, young man, and I felt that way, something could be done."
hope you win lots of games." And something was done! It took time, but to- "Thank you, sir," answered Joseph, "I'm going day in that town every boy and girl, whether to try hard to be a good player." Japanese, Chinese or Filipino, can play on the Tomi, like most Oriental boys and girls, was so public tennis courts.
polite, that she insisted that Julia and Mary get Making Use of This Story their permits before her.
When Tomi's turn came, the clerk said: "I'm Ask the Children: sory but foreigners can't play on these tennis Do you think of putting into action what you learn at courts." Sunday school?
"But I am an American girl," responded Tomi Is calling Japanese and Chinese hoys and girls "Japs, smiling, sure that this would make everything Chinks and Chinamen" doing as you would have others right. "I was born in California." do to you?
If Americans truly followed Jesus' example would there -The clerk appealed to Mr. Finney, saying: "It's be people in our country who are looked down upon beagainst the rules to give Japs and Chinks per- cause they have different colored skin?
mits." Activities: The tears started in Tomi's eyes at the word, An interesting contest would be to see which child can "Japs." Many times she had been called that in name the most articles that Tomi's father might have the school yard and on the street, and did not like in his art shop. (For exam~le: rice, kimonos, tea, jade, it. But Tomi was brave and did not let herself vases, pottery, china, prints, candied ginger, spices, dolls, cry. lanterns, fans, lacquered objects, tableware, dish gardens, etc.) Joseph, Julia and Mary were astounded. They couldn't believe that anyone could ever think of If children are far from a museum, they might visit their dear friend as a foreigner or unfit to play an Oriental art shop or a Chinese or Japanese Sunday on the public courts. school. Stimulate their interest by photographs, stamp collections and illustrated books of Oriental flower ar- rangements and miniature gardens.
[ 542] I Effective Ways of Working 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE W. lVlcGAVRAN, 5718 OAK AVE.. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~=====================l~ From a Treasurer's Notebook to let the group at headquarters one of them the Guild library have some idea of what they can and instituting a real system of (The following are actual notes count on from us. But we know issuance and check-up, with taken from the notebook of one of right now that our incomes will fines as in the case of the public the officers of a missionary organiza- be just about the same. Why library, the service rendered be- tion. The record was not completed can't we set our goal in June ing considered a direct contri- there; but a year later, without any and then have three months' bution and a small fee being money-raising dinner or bazaar or head-start? paid. Certain other possibilities similar device, that group reached its are open for work by which giving goal-and twenty dollars over. May 10th. A little figuring these members could obtain the . An educational exhibit and program with paper and pencil gives minimum 25 cents a month pay- of real value to the community was some curious results. We have ment. put on in cooperation with the Wom- 29 members. Our aim in giving en's Missionary Society. The aim -don't ask me why-is $410. May 11th. Further thought was to present the best features of That means an average of $34.00 suggests that any responsibility the year's study to a larger number each month. It is only a little which becomes delinquent for than is reached by the organizations over a dollar a month for each good cause at the end of each themselves; the Guild's share of the person, but we have some mem- three months' period, should be net receipts (from the 25-cent and bers who do not tithe and some made a joint responsibility, and 15-cent admission fees) was forty whose income would not permit some means devised for clearing dollars. that high giving in addition to it at once and for redistribution their other church obligations. of it for the future. Why not survey your own members' So a bit of uneven figuring giving goal in somewhat the same brings the following: May 12th. There are numbers way? Make a big chart with a place of women who are not having for each pledge, starting with the 2 pledges of $5.00 a month-$10.00 any share in the world-wide task larger ones and progressing down to 3 pledges of 3.00 a month- 9.00 of the church right in our con- the smaller gifts. Trace over with 3 pledges of 2.00 a month- 6.00 gregation. We wish they would red or blue or green as each is taken 3 pledges of 1.00 a month- 3.00 join in the fellowship of our up, giving no names, but indicating study and social life. But it is the amounts pledged or received.) $28.00 also quite possible for them to share in the responsibility. A May 8th. We had our meeting which means, you realize, that eleven canvass of the situation might of the Business Women's Mis- people will be carrying all but $6.00 be made. A financial approach sionary Guild last night. June of the responsibility each month. But should not be made unless it be- 30th closes the missionary year, it will be eleven who are able, pro- comes evident that they do not and we have turned in to the portionately, to give that much more. care to become members in full treasury just over half of the fellowship. amount of money we feel is 6 pledges of $0.50 a month-$3.00 what our group wants to con- 12 pledges of .25 a month- 3.00 Sacrifice1 tribute to the cause of missions this year. We have sold cards, $6.00 A Dialogue on Stewardship have had dinners, have had spe- cial gifts, have had entertain- will make up the total. 29 pledges of Scene: The corner of a living room. ments. Now we are trying to 29 members will equal $410.00 in the Two easy chairs, an occasional table arrange for a very attractive year! and a floor lamp so set that it lights entertainment which will inter- the characters from the side away est people other than those in May 10th. There are a few from the audience. the church whom we feel we members who, since the depres- have bled quite sufficiently in sion, have been without any in- Characters: Julia Farrell and her our cause this year. We are not come whatever. It might be pos- friend, Maurine Day. very happy over the situation. sible to turn over to them the Some of us feel we are giving responsibility of selling the Time: Late afternoon. until it hurts, but most of us Christmas cards which the Guild wonder if there isn't a better has sold for long enough to have The scene opens as Julia and Mau- way. had it become more or less of an rine come in from outdoors, C'oat~ institution and a service in the and hats on. May 9th. We've been think- community. There is also the ing. September is the time to possibility of turning over to 1 Book Rights Reserved. Grace w. Mc- "accept goals" or in other words, [ 543 ] Gavran.
Julia: Let me have your Julia (smiling a bit): Well, ber that poem-I can't say it all, things, dear. I'll pop them onto I don't. I tell you it's too hard. but two lines of it sing through my bed. Be back in a moment. You just said so yourself. my mind like a warning every (She departs with the wraps. time I plan to spend: Ma'/,lrine sinks into a chair, Maurine: But, -but – Well, yawns, picks up a magazine, I will ask it! Where did you get I have more clothes than I can wear. glances at it for a few moments that ten-dollar bill you put in? Their head and hands and feet are and then, with it still open be- I know it was a ten, even if you fore her, becomes absorbed in did try to fold it so it wouldn't bare. thought, looking absently at show. nothing and frowning a bit.) I can't sacrifice, Maurine, but I Julia: Oh, that! I don't mind can live with voluntary re- Julia (coming in again): Why telling you. I used to get all hot straint. That's what I've discov- and bothered when I heard ered. With those words ringing so solemn? You look as if all things like that today and feel in my heart, I can keep from the cares of the universe were as if I should make some tre- getting the more that will leave on your shoulders. (Smiles at mendous sacrifice. Once I tried me poverty-stricken when I Maurine and takes her own having subsistence meals twice most want to help. It's not sacchair. Picks up her knitting or a week. But Jack hadn't heard rifice. It's a way of living. It's fancy work.) the appeal and took to going to not a struggle. It's a contest in the restaurant those nights. So which I expect to win. There's Maurine: It's silly, I know, it didn't work. And then I tried no regret in it. Only content- but that woman's talk sort of doing without the next garment ment. haunts me. Makes me feel as if I was going to buy. But I'd have I ought to make some tremen- to get it eventually, so that Maurine (thoughtfully): It dous sacrifice and send a whole didn't work. I decided I wasn't sounds as if it might be a way pile of money. Of course, I cut out for sacrifice. out for me. (Pulls a shopping know it's silly to let her upset list from her purse.) "New flow- me so . . . ! Maurine: Then how do you er for blue dress." My present manage? flower is almost new. It isn't Julia (thoughtfully): I don't that I need a new one. I just think it's silly. We're pretty Julia: Once I decided sacri- saw a delicious new shade in well hardened in our generation fice was too heroic for a nature flowers at The Betty Shop. I to pleas of pity, but she wasn't like mine and gave it up, I be- suppose right there . . . your asking for pity exactly. gan to think. If I sacrificed two poem would come in, dresses it would give me twenty Maurine: That's what got me dollars to spend. Good dresses, . . . more than I can wear. down. The very fact that they not just everydays, of course. Their . . . feet are bare. are fighting to change things Well, when I came to plan my and expect to eliminate that con- clothes budget, I just cut it down I see, Julia. I can't get that dition, yet must have help to twenty dollars to start with and flower now. I don't need it. It save the children caught in it to- put in a flat twenty dollars for won't be any real sacrifice to day from utter ruin. emergency giving. That's a dol- give it up. (Folds up list and lar and sixty-six cents a month. puts it away.) Voluntary re- Julia: It's different, all right. I didn't leave out any dresses. I straint. I like that idea. A way Not just an endless chain. It's don't buy more than I need. But of living! (Glances at her . a present emergency. And so I found that I could cut out watch.) Mercy! My poor in- enough little things and make a fants will think they've lost close home no one else can be pair of stockings last a little their mother. responsible! longer by prompt or careful darning, and make one belt do (Both rise.) Maurine (gloomily): And I for two dresses, – oh, there were a hundred things I was Julia: I've been thinking of can't do a thing. Not a thing. spending from ten cents to a adding a verse to the Scriptures I've just spent every cent I have dollar on that I could do with- lately, Maurine. (Smiles mis- to spare on things I need. If it out! And there was my twenty! ! chievously.) "Justice is better had been last week, I might have than sacrifice; and the life of let that last dress go, and yet- Maurine: But you did have to restraint better than emotion." Julia, I don't have more clothes do without. Nice addition to Proverbs, eh? than I need. How can one sacri- fice a dress or a hat? I don't Julia: I never said I didn't. I (They go out, chatting inau- have a whole shelf of hats. I said I had quit sacrificing. It's dibly.) only get just the one I need for not sacrifice to plan carefully. each season. It's fun to beat your own budget. Why Hang On?
Julia (slowly): Well, if you Maurine: I'd mind having to Stewardship is not just a must know the truth, I've given cut down on little things. I hate question of what one gives. It up sacrificing. It's too hard. watching pennies. is often a question of that to which one hangs on. Maurine (startled): Why J ul- Julia: So would I if that were all there were to it. But there's *** ia! I might admit it's too hard more than that. Do you remem- for me. But you! You must sac- 1. If you can admit, "My rifice something! You always closet shelf holds a clock I shall seem to have a huge amount to hand in when things like this come up. You must sacrifice.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
never have mended because I Have you made any serious A Column of Horrors! now use electric clocks; an old attempt to persuade members of toaster that has been replaced your society to face the possibil- Miss X opened the large by a gleaming streamlined mod- ities of service with such things packet of scrapbooks to be sent el; some dishes that came to me to which they are hanging on? to the foreign mission field. Her with the purchase of a certain "It might come in handy" was unbelieving eyes were startled commodity, but which I shall an excellent watchword for fron- by an accumulation of the heroes likely never use; and by the tier living, but it is a drag upon and heroines of Hollywood. way there are a couple of old- us today. As a result of such Thousands of them! Assembled fashioned rockers up in the stor- hoarding our hours are filled with infinite care! Pasted painsage room," -if you can admit with storing and dusting, sort- takingly into Jumbo scrapbooks! that, you are hanging on. You ing and rearranging. This robs Carefully indexed! Miss X are not rendering account of us of power to give that which wilted. She decided to leave till what you have which should be will make life easier for our fel- a later day the writing of the in circulation. The Salvation low men. letter of acknowledgement to the Army, the Goodwill Industries donors. and other organizations can use Why not present this idea in those things to rehabilitate men. a dramatic form? Have a speak- The amount of customs duty . You are using them to accumu- er give the first paragraph. A which had to be paid on that late dust. second speaker, with arms package from home made the loaded with objects, give the missionary-on-the-Congo gasp. It *** second. A, third represent the must be paid from his own sal- third. A fourth may dramatize ary, though the package was for 2. If, hanging in your clothes the fourth. Then announce that the mission. It contained "25 closet, you can find unneeded or a committee of two with a car yards of silk," said the declaraunused dresses, out of style, and a list of possible articles will tion. "Silk! In Africa!" The slightly worn or faded and re- appear at the door of each mem- missionary was doubtful. When placed by something you like ber during the week, ready to the package was opened words better-if you can find them receive contributions, to discuss failed him; the yards of silk there, you are hanging on. The further the list of articles and (declared at retail) turned out charity organizations of your to help decide as to the possible to be scraps of taffeta cut into town can use those garments to usefulness of things that the quilt pieces! And taffeta, Genclothe the naked. You are using member has hung on to, and tle Reader, rots in a very short them to dry-rot! promising to return later if time on the banks of the mighty there will be a second donation Congo. *** ready. How welcome were those Vis- 3. If there are lying about Of course, your list of usable itors-from-Home. They wanted shoes, needing repair but which articles will be made after conyou have not bothered to take to sultation with organizations to see the work; were anxious the shoeman, shoes that pinch which can use them. A truck and so are seldom worn, shoes may be need if large articles are to know more of India. Yes, out of style that you do not care to be donated. The calling com- they would enjoy nothing more to wear, shoes that might come mittees will compile this list. in handy some time but never Perhaps the men of the church than a week at the Christian do-if you are keeping such, will contribute the use of a truck Mela or Camp-Retreat with the you are hanging on. They can to take things to a near-by town missionaries; they would take be used to enable others to walk if your own town cannot make life exactly as the missionaries the wet wintry streets dry-shod. use of them. did. The place was a lovely spot Why keep them to give you a far from railroad and still farsense of oppulence? Such a project can be carried ther from stores and shops. out once a year. It trains mem- Tents dotted the landscape. The *** bers of the society to be alert as Visitors-from-Home were de- to possibilities of giving rather lighted. The evening meal of 4. If you have stored away than hanging on. delicious curry and rice was scraps of new cloth with the served. "We don't eat any Inthought that some day you may If you have a group in your dian food," said the Visitorsquilt; old silk garments that society which sews, you may from-Home, sweetly but deteryou think you might make into want to retain some things, such minedly. The face of the misa hooked rug; pieces of cloth or as quilt pieces or pieces big sionary's wife was inscrutable as partly worn garments which you enough to make children's gar- she ordered soft-boiled eggs for plan to make over some day,- ments, for a service project of the Visitors-from-Home. In her if they are there, you are hang- your own. A committee should mind words began racing: ing on. Busy fingers at sewing decide after things are collected "Eggs for dinner? Eggs for clubs and settlement classes will just what goes where. Do not lunch?? Eggs for breakfast??? make use of them, while you will despise odds and ends. There's no way to get American only dream about it. food now. What shall I do?"
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
INDIAN AMERICAN YOUNG PEOPLE The Joint Committee on In- PART OF ONE CHURCH SCHOOL CLASS ON A HIKE TO THE HILLS. dian Work of the Home Mis- RIVERSIDE. CALIFORNIA. sions Councils (Council of Women for Home Missions and Home Religious Work Director said, "I whom she felt responsibility. Missions Council) presents such a united Christian approach to want to talk to you. I decided Their mother is dead and the Indian American young people in six United States Government tonight for sure that I want to two girls live with an aunt in boarding schools where young people coming from reservations go to a Christian training school ' a country community with no are in new surroundings and feel shy, homesick and strange. to become a nurse." Application church. Soon after Betty's re- The six schools being served blanks were filled out a few days turn home she wrote the Reliin this .way are reaching approximately 3,000 students and later for training at a Presby- gious Work Director at school, are located as follows: terian mission. · (This girl is 'We have in our house a little Albuquerque Indian School, Albuquerque, New Mexico. from a Presbyterian field. ) Word Sunday school. We have neigh- Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau, came back later that there was bors' children come in. Could South Dakota. no room for her. The girl then you help us in our community?' Has k e 11 Institute, Lawrence, Kansas. decided to take post-graduate The Director sent a package of Salem Indian School, Chemawa, work in high school in the mean- papers, pictures and cards. In Oregon. time. The following year she en- thanking the Director for the Sherman Institute, Riverside, California. tered the Presbyterian mission helps she added, 'We have a sing The sixth location is a fine place of and this fall graduates as a on Wednesday nights. We have rural community work being developed in Eastern Oklahoma, near Stillwell. trained nurse ready for work. more older people here then. Of There is no greater need today The Religious Work Directors course we have no piano, but– in missionary work than for follow the struggles of the stu- plays the guitar and that is good churches and denominations to work together in presenting the dents as they return to their enough. I am trying to learn to Christian message in a united reservations during the summer play one too. Here's hoping I way. or after graduation and by learn.' " The interdenominational Reli- friendly encouragement often The stories that follow, sent gious Work Director is willing have the satisfaction of seeing by the Directors, emphasize the to listen, no matter what the those students rise to positions need for more of this kind of problem. Individual lives are of leadership among their own follow-up, serving all denominaoften reshaped by this friendly people. guidance of the Religious Work tions freely but ministering to Director who ministers to them Here is the story of a girl who the student's need first of all: through worship services, social is making the best of her opporgatherings, games, choir 'prac- tunities: "A senior who grad- What the Church Is Doing tice, discussion groups and personal consultations. uated this spring went home "Nellie and Sam, graduates of a with her younger sister for few years ago, came to see us re- Let us consider the case of a girl, a senior in school, who, following a meeting of the Missionary Society in the home of the [ 5461
BULLETIN: COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
cently and upon invitation stayed to supper. Through most of the evening we visited and talked over experiences of school days. Toward the end of the evening Sam said they must go. They thanked us sincerely, and I walked out to the door to bid them good night. They started down the walk, then re- turned hesitantly. 'She's got something she wanted to say to you, Mr.
–' 'Well, I wonder what it could be!' I grinned. (Oh, I had a 'hunch'
all right, for I had talked over some personal plans with this boy weeks before.) " 'We've been married three weeks!' Nellie said, shyly but happily. Sam is a carpenter here in town. Both are Christian students, graduates of two years ago. And that's what they had come to tell me in the first 'Place!
How I love them for it, and for the friendship which has lasted and which has opened anew to the blessed coun- selling about plans for a new Christian home! They'll come often now- and the latch string's out!"
What Church People Can Do "Our most pressing need for the CHILDREN FROM HOMES LIKE THIS COME UNDER OUR INFLUENCE IN Chapel is a good resonant bell for the GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS. belfry. For several years we have discussed this. More and more each senior in-University. There will gets swellheaded because he's had year it takes on significance because surely be a place for him in the world some rare experience, or because he we live here with these boys and girls when he is ready. For he is deter- gets boosted to some office-well, it's as a community and they need some- mined to go back to his people in just too bad for his leadership.' thing to bring to mind and heart the eastern Oklahoma, and live before call of worship and Christian service. them the Christian life which he has "'I see what you mean . . . I'll Perhaps an individual or a group found so abundant. sure try to do this thing right,' and I might take this matter up as a proj- thought I caught a square set to his ect." *** jaw as he started putting on his foot- ball uniform to go out on the field to *** What the Indians Are Doing practice. Joe's an orphan. The first white man this Navajo ever saw he "Dorothy is one of our most pop- An Indian girl, about sixteen years ran from for dear life and hid among ular and finest students but one who old, meditating on the future has this the sheep-just another wild creature has a real problem in her future. She to say: "The preservation of the In- of the desert a few years ago. is a complete ward of the Government, dian race is necessary but, I think it her parents having died within a week must be done through the Indian "He waved his hand to me from the of each other, about five years ago. youth preparing themselves for re- field as I watched him at practice. They left six children; Harold, an sponsible positions and the more we He'll remember!" older son who is now working; Dor- prove ourselves the more responsible othy who is in school here in –; positions will be waiting for us. We *** and four smaller ones who are now cannot go on living in the past, dear being cared for by a family. They as it was to the hearts of our nature- "Our so-called sophistication also had all been separated until these ar- loving people. There is a future, appeals to the Indian, particularly the bright with dreams of happy homes, young person. They readily adopt rantrements were made. of positions well-filled, of friends our dress and manner and along with "Dorothv came here after her par- among all races and of better under- that the cigarette and liquor. I think standing of ourselves and others. We that too often all they see in us is the ent's death and has been here ever are proud to be Indian and we are outside and they follow our pattern." since. She has a pleasing personality glad to have a chance to make others and appearance and has been active proud of us too." *** in religious as well as school activities and is one that I would like to *** The Christian spirit finds exsee go back to her people as a Chris- pression in Indian life in service tian leader. Her parents were Chris- Joe, the captain of this year's foot- for others: tians and gave the children a good ball team has just returned from a beginning for that life. That hope for wonderful conference trip and tour "Two of our finest speakers among Dorothy needs the prayers and inter- which the religious work director the Indian girls–one a Navajo, one a est of Christian people." helped him attend. They are sitting Hopi, themselves inseparable pals on the cot in Joe's room. though their ancestors were bitter en- *** emies-gave earnest talks saying that "What shall I do for my life work?" "'Joe, the very fact that you have old emnities were dead and friendly We have all asked the question so had this privilege and that you have ties strengthened by Christian influ- many times. But to the Indian living been chosen football captain too has ences." in a white man's civilization it is one a little bit of danger in it for you, with especial sil4nificance. Few there did you know that?' Joe looked at his And at Christmas time Indian boys. are who face the matter as did this friend keenly, but a little puzzled. and girls at Sherman Institute pack young Indian man. Left an orphan at 'That's right, Joe. The really great boxes of toys which they send to the a very early age, handicapped most leaders are the ones who keep their Migrants in the cotton fields in Cali- of his life with a speech impediment, hearts and their sY'm.pathies right fornia. They have little to share, yet which he is successfully overcoming, close to the hearts of the people they they experience the feeling of inner with little or no money, he is now II. mix with in everyday life. If II. fellow happiness that comes from joyous giving.
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I Our World–wide Outlook A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events ~'I======~EDI=TED=BY=MR=S. =HEN=RIE=TTA=H.=FE=RGU=SON=, X=ENI=A, O=HI=O ======= WESTERN ASIA in the constitution, calling Tur- tlements have welcomed visiting key a Moslem country, was de- mISSIOnaries of the Hebrew New Day in New Turkey leted ; then religious schools, Christian Fellowship, and Jews orders, and religious uniforms, are freely purchasing the Scrip- Hope for true religjous liberty were suppressed; Friday as a tures, although Christian work in Turkey, when Christian mis- holiday was abolished. Not only in Ute villages has had to be sionaries will be welcomed, is this, but there is distinct anti- largely discontinued. The Misseen in a bill before parliament religious teaching in many of sion to Mediterranean Garrisons to offer amnesty to the 150 polit- the schools. Not long ago the and the International Christian ical offenders, exiled from Tur- government ordered the sale of Police Association report enkey in the early days of the Re- 300 mosques in Istanbul. couraging work among British public. It is remarked all over soldiers and police. the country that a new day has -Alliance Weekly. dawned, when Turkey can for- -World Dominion Press. give and reinstate those who Since the Balfour Declaration fought to prevent its emancipa- Trans-Iranian Railway tion. One Turkish paper said: Changes in Palestine since the "This amnesty creates a new Jews were promised a national Last August construction of atmosphere throughout the whole home are reflected in the busi- the Trans-Iranian Railway was country … it will strengthen ness advertisements, such as completed. The line was begun the power, the stability, the those of the King Solomon Bank, in 1927, and fulfils a dream of honor and fame of the country Zerubbabel Bank, Judea Insur- Iranians. The ceremonies atand of the revolution, both at ance, Dead Sea Bath Salts, etc. tending the opening of the road home and abroad." There is a training ship the were most elaborate, with high Sarah I, for Jewish sailors, officials present. The station was Another editor commented: flying the blue and white Zion appropriately decorated and a "The movement toward a gen- flag, operated by the Zebu- ribbon was stretched across the eral amnesty for political of- lon Society (Zebulon was the line. The crown prince and the fenses means that the way is be- seashore tribe). shah each tightened a gold nut; ing prepared for freedom of dis- the shah cut the ribbon, formalcussion. In order that this free- Not the least interesting is ly opening the service. The road dom may widen, writers and the Palestine Symphony Orches- connects the Caspian Sea with critics should be positive and tra. The hounding of Jewish the Persian Gulf, and additional creative, recognizing unity and musicians out of Germany has lines connecting Tabriz and harmony as the highest values. made of it one of the greatest in Meshed are being surveyed. The Thus will be assured the condi- the world. In less than two people of Iran take great pride tions which will produce a move- months this orchestra of sev- in the fact that this gigantic ment toward a true demor.racy." enty-one virtuosos was assem- task was completed without bor- bled and developed into an har- rowing from abroad. The in- -World Dominion Press. monious whole. This occurred creased facilities of travel will in Palestine, an insecure and greatly extend the possibilities Turkey's Materialism troubled land, in a pioneering of missionary service. stage of national life. After the A writer in the Near East orchestra visited Egypt, enthu- -Press Translation Service. Christian Council's Bulletin be- siastic Egyptians organized a lieves that the future of religion Society of Friends of the Pales- Silent Ministry in Turkey is a part of the crit- tine Orchestra.-S. S. Times. ical problem of the religious life Dr. Frederick G. Coan, for 40 of the world. Since the abolition Palestine Problems years a missionary in Iran, of the Caliphate, Turkish leaders called one day on a bigoted, .have proceeded on the assump- Present disorders in Palestine fanatical ecclesiastic-the kind tion that religion had never done are having their effect on the who would be pleased to see anything but harm, and was not Christian Church in that trou- every Christian killed. Dr. Coan needed for the future. Religious bled land, where Christian unity describes his call: teaching in the schools was re- and love are assailed by racial duced, then dropped. A phrase bitterness and fear. Jewish set- As soon as I had entered the room, he ordered the servants to leave and [648 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
told them to see that no one was in er. This teacher then settles public, who are willing to perthe yard, and that the gates were down to a long process of educalocked. Then he turned to me and tion-two years or more-when form some kind of national servsaid, "You have left the New World he instructs the entire village and come all the way here to make me and prepares them for church ice. -The Guardian. a Christian; save yourself the trou- membership. By the end of this ble:" I thought he was simply trying time, no one needs to leave his Syrian "Servants of the Cross" to turn me off. Then to my astonish- home environment, or feel that ment he said, "I am already a Chris- he is an outcaste. This organization, a missiontian." I asked how he came to it. He ary and social brotherhood of then told me a helper had given him In one diocese reported by Mr. the Syrian Church, established the Gospel of St. John and asked him Higdon they are uniting with in 1924, is asking for funds to to read it carefully and with open the church at the rate of 10,000 carryon work among the Demind; and when he reached the last a month; and in all India more pressed Classes in India. The chapter he was at the feet of Christ than 100,000 have accepted aboriginal races of the native as His slave. He could not resist so Christianity annually during the states of Cochin and Travancore, winsome a character. Had it been past three years. The changes South India, are poverty-strickknown in that fanatical Kurdish city, observed by the upper classes in en, ill-clad and uneducated. the man's own sons would have asked the lives of the outcastes turned They live in miserable huts and the governor to behead him and throw Christian has resulted in a sim- carry worship of devils to a his body to the dogs. ilar movement among the higher point of extreme superstition. castes. Under the auspices of the an- INDIA AND SIAM cient Orthodox Syrian Church Community Appreciation of St. Thomas, the Apostle of Unhampered by Politics India, the order is making a The Frances Newton Hospital sincere effort to improve these Dr. C. H. Rice, of Allahabad in Ferozepur has been serving unfortunate people. Christian College, says: women and children of this dis- trict for 44 years. Appreciation There are a dozen members of India just now is one of the centers for this service is manifest in the order. They have no propof the world where the movement for the recently added operating erty, practise celibacy, and repeace and justice is most unhampered unit at a cost of 6,000 rupees, ceive no salary. They obtain by the politics of national fear, hatred raised by members of the Canal, their daily bread from the place and greed. There are radicals who Railway, Civil, Policy and Mili- in which they work, sometimes shout, and leaders who would foment tary Departments, and the mem- from the parish church and class war, but never has India had so bers of the Indian Christian sometimes by rice collections many sons and daughters ready to communities. The medical de- and the hospitality of friends. spend themselves for the liberation of partment of the Punjab Governtheir brothers from ignorance and ment promised Rs. 2,000 toward -The Living Church. disease, poverty and social oppression. this project. The Rajah of Fa- Surely the Spirit of Christ is alive. ridkot gave Rs. 1,000, and the Gains in Assam . . . One day he will be recognized above groups collected Rs. 3,500. and loved and worshiped as now he is Part of the money was used to The Baptist Missionary Requoted and admired. improve a ward in the hospital view of India tells of a piece of for tubercular patients. frontier work that shows real Dr. and Mrs. Rice are co-au- missionary progress. In the Ao thors of the chapter on Indian -Monday Morning. and Sema Naga Hills there were Christian colleges in the current 1,218 baptisms last year, and year's mission study book. Bihar Literacy Drive the church membership in those two tribes has now reached No Need to Leave Home A mass literacy campaign in 19,316. Nearly 500 boys and Bihar Province is an idea con- girls are under Christian in- E. K. Higdon, writing in The ceived by the Minister of Educa- struction at the station school in Churchman, says that time was tion, who planned that students Impur, the largest Baptist school when Indian Christians were be induced to spend their holi- in Assam. A total of 115 Sunthe real "men without a coun- days in voluntary teaching of day schools report an enrolment try"; and that at the Jerusalem adults. There was an enthusias- of about 17,000. How many par- Conference there was a strain tic response. Since the govern- ishes in India or the United of sadness through all that the ment had no funds to combat States show equal advance? Indian delegates said, because illiteracy, the Minister of Edu- Christians in India had to tear cation issued this call: "Let us Practical Christianity in Siam themselves up by the roots, leave try to make up our lack of finantheir families, their villages, cial resources by the earnest de- Bangkok has a large Chinese their communities. sire of our youth for national immigrant population. During service." He regards this as a the Chinese New Year's season, Now, whole villages are be- sort of personal tax. It is hoped it is the custom of the Swatow coming Christian at one time. that this example will be fol- Church workers and officers to The leaders hold a meeting, dis- lowed by the rest of the general make calls in the homes of all of cuss the matter and decide they the members and friends of the are willing to leave Hinduism or church. All firms and shops Mohammedanism and become stop their work, and an excellent Christians. Then they put it up to the community. If the decision is favorable, the next step is to go to the Christian head of the district and ask for a teach-
opportunity is at hand to give and friendless-I was forcibly er songs. Then came the kin- Christian greetings. To one reminded of a man who stood up dergarten with its play songs. humble home, the home of a in one of my meetings at home The popular movement under widow with three small children, and asked whether the Chinese Jimmy Yen early developed folk went a missionary in this call- had not religions of their own songs and taught children I:),nd ing season. The home was just just as good! A fortune teller the peasants to sing. Now the one room, with no furniture ex- had told this old woman that she national defense movement is cept a few boards on trestles to would die in the eighth moon enlisting movie stars, actors, colmake a bed, a stool or two, clay this year and her coffin is al- lege men and women to lead the stove and two or three cooking ready prepared. When asked whole country into a chorus that pans. The widow makes her liv- where her soul would go, she may tend to drown the sobs of ing by going out to cut hair, and replied: 'I don't know.' " those who mourn. -The Christian Century. must leave her children at home Christian Message for There Are J oshuas Today alone during the day. The mis- Wounded sionary expressed concern about the children, and she replied: The Chinese high command Rev. William Vander Meer of the Reformed Church in Amer- "When I go I always ask my sent out a circular letter to ica, last July, like a Joshua spy- Christian hospitals and churches, ing out the land, walked 60 miles Heavenly Father to watch over asking them to cooperate in them." -Siam Outlook.
bringing the Christian message up the valley of the Kuling Riv- to the wounded. The five er in Fukien, looking for fields CHINA churches in Changteh sent two or and houses where refugees in Her Religion "Just as Good" more workers each day to write Amoy could be relocated. He found places for 3,000. In every A writer in China's Millions letters, have personal talks, and village visited he received the tells of visiting an old devotee hold services for small groups. The work developed until it hearty cooperation of officials. of Confucianism, who had lived Amoy, distant from the prinin a temple many years attend- called for a full-time worker. cipal war areas, has its own sep- All the churches cooperated in arate relief work. ing the idols. For all these years providing the salary for the she has abstained from meat, fat and eggs, in the hope of at- right man, who was found Rehabilitation of those who taining salvation; now she is 94 among the refugees. Church will go up the Kuling valley will years old, wizened, dulled, with- women are sewing and provid- require seed, food and tools, unout hope in her face. Christian ing small comforts for the til they can harvest their first women tried to tell her of the wounded men. crop of vegetables. Old temples -Monday Morning. are to be repaired and made into love of Jesus Christ and the homes. The diet in these camps peace that He alone can give. Turning to Song calls for canned meat. Around One of the women, Mrs. Su, has an old Christian mother 93 The crash of bombs and the Amoy there is no longer a taste years old. As Mrs. Su looked at cries of the mangled continue to for fish, the reason being that this other old woman, tears so many dead bodies have been came to her eyes as she said, be heard, but above it all is "Oh, myoId mother is a hun- heard the voice of song. The washed out to sea. dred times better off than this! Chinese people are learning to -Church Committee for sing in chorus as they have China Relief.
She has the peace of God in her never done before. A training Refugee Children heart." Then she sat down by institute in Hankow has been the old lady and patiently tried turning out song leaders. Col- A letter from a Presbyterian to tell her about the peace of lege and middle-school students mission school, now being used God which passeth all under- in south, central and west China as a temporary home for tefstanding. The poor old woman have been teaching group and ugee children, indicates the nalooked absolutely blank, and mass singing. Folk songs, patri- ture of some of the problems. said she was too old to do any- otic songs, workers' songs are When youngsters were brought thing now. They assured her stirring the people's enthusiasm. in from the bombed areas, the that she need not do anything, Dr. T. T. Lew gives credit for teachers expected to see them but trust in Christ. They taught the beginning of this movement rejoice over the chance to live in her a simple prayer-"Lord to the Christian Church. In a safety, where there were play- Jesus, save me, and forgive my recent discussion group of dele- grounds, trees, food. Not at all! sins," which she repeated many gates-elect to Madras he said, Many of them had been living times. "The introduction of group sing- by their wits, and had grown "As we sat there," says the ing by the Church of China has cunning and combative. Fights, missionary, "with the idols meant a great deal to the life of greed, the notion that the school around us, and thought of this China." He went on to describe was a jail, were things to be poor old woman giving her life how children used to sing hymns dealt with. But little by little to them and fasting from meat while at play, regardless of their cleanliness, play, food, hand- and eggs-now weak and old, theme, because they had no oth- work and scout drill produced a
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
very different set of children. JAPAN -OHOSEN at home whose ideas and motives I When their school home was cannot follow nor condone. To dechanged for a more permanent State Oontrol of Religions nounce war and its perpetrators is one under the Children's Relief not enough. I must find a substitute Association sponsored by Mad- The draft of a proposed new for war. ame Chiang Kai-shek, there law affecting religious organizawere real regrets on both sides. tions has been made public. This How Peace Will Oome is the fourth time during the -Monday Morning. past 40 years that a law control- World Outlook contains the ling religion has been proposed, following letter of a Japanese Honan Mission Jubilee and each time it has been de- Christian minister in war serv- feated in the Diet. Heretofore, ice: This year marks the jubilee of the attempt has failed because the Honan Mission of the United of an article in the constitution There are many American and Eng- Church of Canada. Some of guaranteeing freedom of reli- lish missionaries everywhere in China, those who went to China in 1888 gious belief to the individual. but Japanese soldiers are not perare alive and well, and look with The proposed new law avoids mitted to call on them or go to church troubled hearts on the China of the dilemma by limiting itself to without special permission. This is 1938. The first period in the his- the regulation of the public cere- because we are very nervous to stir tory of this Mission with the ar- monies and the doctrinal prop- up international problems. As you rival in China of Dr. and Mrs. agation of the various religious know, most of the soldiers are rough Jonathan Goforth, Dr. McGil- organizations, not the personal and uneducated, and do not know forlivray and others; this phase of faith of the individual. Under eign manners. the work ended when the Boxer the present emergency it is aluprising overran all North Chi- most certain to become law. The The other day I called on Mr. and na in 1900. Two years later Christian churches, along with Mrs. H., the missionaries here, with work began anew on a larger all other religious bodies, will the permission of my officer. We had scale, but with the outbreak of then operate under a permit a long talk. They welcomed me heartthe Great War in 1914, the sup- issued by the minister of educa- fully. There were a few Chinese ply of new missionaries was cut tion, will be amenable to govern- Christians present. I was greatly enoff, but at the end of the war, ment inspection, and will have couraged and comforted by a touch of the Forward Movement Fund both doctrine and worship prac- real Christian brotherhood. I am sure made reinforcement once again tices subject to official control. that peace will come only through possible. The modern develop- Conversely there will be certain Christianity. Because of this I feel a ment of the Mission began with tax exemptions and other priv- great sense of mission. I think you the construction of Weihwei and ileges that have not hitherto must have some friends in China. Changte Hospitals. been extended to Christianity. Please send me their names and ad- It is possible that there will be dresses. Every night there is shoot- Events of July, 1937, changed no particular inconvenience ex- ing, but my heart is quite peaceful bethe whole picture, but members perienced under the new regula- cause of my faith in the Cross. I read of the Mission have not lost tions, though the churches my Bible every morning, and am courage. All the staff are re- would prefer to be free from praying all the time. maining at their posts. such governmental control. J apan Selling Out in India -United Church Record. -Charles Iglehart. As an indication of Japan's Kashgar Mission Closed Kagawa Proposes Peace desperate situation, one of Eng- land's leading papers prints the The Swedish Mission in Kash- It is reported that Kagawa following: gar, Chinese Turkestan (Sin- has laid proposals for peace kiang Province) was attacked with China before the Japanese A correspondent who is managing and burned by the Moslem lead- premier-without result. In a director of a famous firm of merer Mamud Sidjan. Governor- letter to friends in the United chants in Bombay gives news of some , General Sheng suppressed the States, Kagawa writes: interest. His letter reads:-"A sig- Moslem rising in September, nificant thing is happening here with 1937, but the local authorities Truly no group of Christians can be the quite large Japanese business subsequently closed the hospital isolated. Just in the measure that the community. They are selling off all and printing office and scattered links that bind these groups are their house and office properties, upthe Christians. The British Con- forged in love and understanding and country cotton factories, cotton mills sul-General in Kashgar rendered sympathy, will the influence and pow- here. It may be in order to get money help to the Mission, but even- er of Christianity continue. Though with which to buy cotton. For months tually the situation deteriorated you hear of individual Christians now they haven't had the money with and most of the missionaries wooed and won by the growing spirit which to buy a bale. .. . . They are were compelled to return to of nationalism, do not despair. In all obviously getting into a terrible mess Sweden. Forty years of efficient lands and in all ages, there have been financially, with a million men in the and devoted service in one of testing times for Christians and not field in China and the whole country the hardest fields of China has all have stood the test. . . . My own run by the fanatical army leaders, thus been tragically interrupted. personal views are well known. I and no money with which to buy the would be a disciple of love to all peo- raw materials for their vast indus- -World Dominion Press. ple, and this must include even those tries. Their exports, from which they get their money, have in recent months dwindled to nothing, and they have little raw cotton left."
The Kobe Cloudburst Kobe has a population of about 790,000. The city lies crescent shaped between the hills and the Inland Sea. Last July, a cloud-
burst caused the hill streams to would be seated beside me. I tion was given as to baptism, rush down into the city, carry- saw at once that it was the man the preparation and motive for ing trees and debris into the who had murdered my father, it, and what it involved, the in- streets until some sections were and I had sworn to drink his quirers withdrew sadly, and no buried six feet under. About blood. But as I withdrew down more has been heard from them.
150,000 people were made home- the church, a voice seemed to less; electric and water supply say to me, 'By this shall all men "Insurrectos" Become was cut off. An old well, un- know that ye are my disciples, Methodists used for many years, in the if ye have love one to another'; Enthusiasm, progress and ma- and as I sat down near the door, turity marked the 1938 sessions yard of a Presbyterian mission- a Man upon a cross rose before my eyes, and I heard Him say, of the Methodist annual conferary's home served the neighbor- 'Father, forgive them, for they ences in the Philippines. For know not what they do.' Then I the first time, these met in sephood; and this furnished the returned, and we took the Lord's arate places, and both were hon- Supper together." ored by the presence of goveropportunity to hand out Chris- nors and other officials of the -The Presbyterian. provinces where they were held. tian literature to all who came for water. In this crisis, some Japanese Christians opened a vacation Bible School to take responsibility for the children, Looking toward indigenous lead- ership, plans were discussed for while the adults dug themselves Bible Circles of Five out. -Monday Morning. "Circles of Five" have become electing a Filipino bishop in popular in Java. They are 1940. ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC g.roups of five young people in Although the year under re- view was marked by a series of Bridge Builders in Papua the higher classes of elementary earthquakes, typhoons, floods and secondary schools, who meet and fire, statistics show a de- Mr. C. F. Rich has served cided gain both in self-support nearly forty years in Papua un- to study the Bible under one of and in membership. In less than der the L. M. S., and is still full their number as leader. Each forty years Methodism in· the of plans for that island's future. circle becomes a sort of union of Philippines has grown to a He writes: secrecy and fidelity of uncom- mon strength, marked by per- church of more than 90,000 Once it was said of a patriarch, staunch members. "He digged us a well." In hot, wet sonal devotion. They become Papua, there would be scant praise brethren. They meet each week, -Christian Advocate. for a well digger, but in years to and attendance is a sacr(;)d duty, come they may be saying of their missionary: "He builded us a bridge." not to be missed. Printed out- National Hospital Day Why? On one of the main roads a lines of Bible study are sent to dangerous creek had to be crossed, and all efforts to bridge it had come each circle and these are dis- The Philippine Commonto naught whenever floods came. cussed at its meetings. Coordi- wealth celebrates an annual Na- Then the missionary, with the help of nation is effected by a monthly tional Hospital Day, when all villagers and his old automobile, set gathering of the leaders, most the hospitals of Manila are open to work. The old car hauled tons of of whom are under twenty years to the public for inspection, and sand, timber and cement; the people carried tons of stone with which to old. are rated by a committee headed raise the road approach to the bridge level. In a little over seven weeks of The number five was chosen by the Director of Public Welhard labor, the bridge was ready for use. "Quite interesting," some will because in Java it is a sacred fare. For the third successive say, "but hardly a missionary's job." But the bridge will stand for many number. It is the number of year, St. Luke's Hospital has years, not only to ensure safe crossing, but as a visible emblem of a fingers on one hand, and ex- won the highest award among bridge of understanding over which the Papuan may pass from ignorance presses unity. Also, it was the hospitals having a capacity of and darkness into freedom and light. number of the prayer circle in f'100 beds, or more. In announc- -L. M. S. Chronicle. Antioch, from which the Holy ing this award, Dr. Aguilar Revenge or Love? Spirit selected and commissioned Director of Public Welfare de: A missionary to New Zealand tells of a Maori Christian who PauL-World Dominion Press. clared this to be a model 'hoshad taken a front seat at the communion service. Suddenly, Requirement ~oo Hard pital, above competition. What he was seen withdrawing to the rear, then he came forward and a contrast to the days of Spanresumed his original place. Asked afterwards why he had The Protestant Episcopal Mis- ish rule forty years ago! done so, he replied: "When I sion tells of a group of people at -The Churchman. entered, I had no idea who Baguio, P. I., who recently came NORTH AMERICA to the Church to ask how much would be the charge for baptiz- Is America Christian? ing a young Chinese who wished to marry a Christian girl. It There is a strange mixture of was explained to them that there paganism and Christianity in was no charge, but that baptism America. Not long ago at To- was not just a routine conven- awnadocc, eCeoloofrfaicdioa,lsthareraloncgaeldWwPitAh ience for those who wished to marry. When further informa- the leaders of the Utes (In-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
dians) for a three-day season of already formally approved, at that attempts at law enforcesports events and bear dancing least in principle,· the constitu- ment are futile unless the moral at Easter time, culminating on tion of the proposed World sentiment of the people is back Easter Sunday. Wishing to have Council of Churches drafted at of it. -United Presbyterian. Easter observed in a manner Utrecht, Holland, last May. more fitting its significance, They are the following: Presby- Fresh Approach to World James Russell, local pastor, re- terian Church in the U. S. A.; Needs quested the official in charge of Presbyterian Church (South), the government agencies to post- Congregational, Northern Bap- Two Methodist missionaries pone the sports event, and allow tist, United Lutheran, Evangel- from Burma, Dewitt and Edna the Easter meetings to assume a ical Lutheran Augustana Synod, Baldwin, have created the "Lisle more religious aspect. This he Evangelical and Reformed, Re- Fellowship," a six-weeks "rerefused to do. Whereupon, Mr. formed Church in America, thinking" conference at "Happy Russell explained to the chief United Presbyterian, Protestant Valley," Lisle, N. Y. Sixty coland tribal council of the Utes Episcopal, Disciples of Christ lege men and women, members that throughout the United and Methodist Episcopal. of ten different races or nations, States, and the world people re- representing 13 churches and 26 gard Easter as a holy day, and Missionary News from Wall colleges, have been devoting celebrate then the rising from Street themselves to the theme of the dead of the Lord Jesus "World – mindedness," consider- Christ, just as at Christmas time Perhaps Wall Street, the finan- ing the meaning of Christianity they commemorate His birthday. cial center of New York, would as a solution for the new world's The Indians listened attentively least likely be expected to fur- needs, and the kind of individand then they asked the local nish missionary news, yet read- ual a world citizen ought to be. head of the WPA to postpone ers of the daily Wall Street the sports events: but he still Journal saw this heading in a The educational methods of persisted on having his program recent issue: "One Thousand this group are worth watching. carried out at the time set. Bible Translations." The follow- Instead of telling young people ing is a quotation from the ar- what to think, there is offered a The Indian leaders then de- ticle: whole series of projects by vised this plan. They would tell which students may learn to their people not to go to the In its headquarters in London the think for themselves, and arrive sports field until after services British and Foreign Bible Society at their own conclusions. Inhad been held in the church now has copies of the Scriptures pub- cluded in this is training in field from 9 until 10: 30 a. m., and lished in whole or in part in 1,000 dif- work. Four days each week, they would stop their bear dance ferent languages. The last two trans- after a preliminary week of at 5 p. 'ill. so that their people lations were of native tribal tongues training, the students go out by could have supper and attend in the Belgian Congo of Africa, themselves, taking full responchurch service again at night. known as the Ngwana and Sakapa sibility for their personal and As a result more people than tribes. This Bible Society was group relations, to work togethusual attended the church serv- founded in 1804 when copies of the er through churches in towns ices, both morning and evening. Bible were available in only 72 lan- and villages covering a radius of guages. The number increased to 100 125 miles of Lisle-most of cen- Paganism among many of the in 1824, to 200 in 1871, to 300 in 1892, tral New York and north cen- 200 Indian tribes in the United to 400 in 1906, to 500 in 1917, to 600 tral Pennsylvania. Careful ar- States is as degraded as that in 1928, to 712 in 1936 and to 1,000 rangements are made by Mr. found in central Africa. Their in 1937. Baldwin with pastors in adreverence for material objects is vance, interchurch hospitality as bad, their medicine men are Evidently, the Wall Street being arranged wherever posno different from the evil witch- Journal considered this of as sible. -Christian Century. doctors of the dark continent, much news value as dividend and their gross superstitions are announcements. Twenty-four Hour Service depressing. Obstacles to their evangelization include, not only "League of Decency" The First Methodist Church the character of the people, their of Hollywood, Calif., is like the language and nomadic habits, Because the alarming increase fire department and some resbut most discouraging of all the of vice and crime is preventing taurants in that it functions fact that the United States Gov- law enforcement and undermin- twenty-four hours a day, 365 ernment is actually trying to ing the efforts at character build- days a year. This service is preserve old pagan Indian cus- ing, the California Church Coun- rendered in the spirit of Christ toms. cil has formed a "League of and does not end with distribut- Decency" to enlist the churches ing baskets in the holiday sea- Approve World Council of in battling against these evils. son. A few of the things done Churches Last year, juvenile delinquency may be mentioned: over the entire state increased Twelve Evangelical Commun- from 10 to 15 per cent. The The chairman of the commitions in the United States have state authorities are becoming tee was called to a home where more and more lax in their the husband and father was out efforts to control liquor and gambling, and it is recognized
of work, a child sick, and the the Hotel Commodore. In 1836, would not claim to have orig- mother, discouraged and de- they supplied the old Hotel Astor inated it. It was Jesus Christ spondent, had purchased chloro- and there are now 426 hotels on who first said it," and opening form which she was about to use the list of those being served. his Bible the missionary showed to commit suicide. The chloro- It is interesting to know that the verse to the young Mexican.
form was taken away and the many of the Bibles disappear, so After reading it through three child given medical aid. Eventu- that the question of replacement times he exclaimed: "How wonally, the father found: a job and comes up about every third year. derful if everyone knew and the family is now on the road to As to definite results from this used that rule !" economic security. -Monday Morning. work letters received indicate Other services have been: great help in many instances. wheel chair furnished, medicine Hotel managers report that they Porto Ricans Meet Their bought, utility bills paid, helped are often asked for a Bible, if pay rent, helped find new homes, Quota helped keep young people in high one is not found in the room. Cases have been substantiated Bishop Colmore of Porto Rico school and college, furnished where the reading of a hotel is now in the 25th year of his layettes, secured employment, Bible has been the means of re- episcopate. He fee~s that spiritmade funeral arrangements- straining a person from suicide. ual life on the Island is becomthe church paying for the grave, This custom of Bible distribu- ing deeper and more vigorous settling a disputed doctor's bill, tion is now so widespread, settling an insurance claim for a through the New York Bible So- each year; this is indicated in widow. ciety and the Gideons, that a part by the 1,078 baptisms in hotel is not considered properly that diocese last year. Bishop A few more statistics may furnished unless each room con- Colmore challenges the maingive an idea of the magnitude of tains a Bible. land of the United States to this work: 6,233 miles have show a record equal to this. The been driven by one member of Church at Metlakatla, Alaska number of communicants inthe committee in making 1,373 creased by 263 or four per cent visits; 173 different families The Indian Church at Metla- as against an increase of one have been helped in which there katla, near Ketchigan, Alaska, are 339 adults, 337 children; was founded by William Duncan per cent for the whole Church. 1,019 of these visits were for seventy years ago. Its first carrying supplies, 354 for inves- twenty years were directed by Porto Rican Christians, in tigation and counsel. A total of the Episcopal Church of British spite of their terrible poverty, $3,165 in cash has been used. Columbia. It is now under local take pride in giving their full control, and has twelve elders. quota year by year, and as much Its newly installed pastor is a more as possible. Besides, they Congregationalist from Minne- sent gifts last year for flood re- One Result of Home Missions sota. Funds from William Dun- lief, and have contributed to the China Emergency Fund. Here is an illustration of what may be accomplished by home -Spirit of Missions.
mission work. Thirty-five years can's estate support the church, It's Training That Counts ago, the Lafayette Avenue Pres- which is independent. Duncan byterian Church of Brooklyn "My understanding of the sent a young man, Harry S. established a sawmill and can- principles of justice probably Murdock, to Buckhorn, Ken- ning factory which pay the cost differs somewhat from yours, tucky, to preach to the backward because I was trained in a people there. After thirty-two of city administration, and sup- Presbyterian Sunday school," years of service he died, leaving ply water and electric light, so said a prominent Porto Rican an entire presbytery of 37 lawyer to a member of the cabchurches which had their origin that every home has electricity, inet. Here is the cabinet mem- and there are no taxes.
-Presbyterian Tribune.
under his ministry. There is LATIN AMERICA ber's reply: "If your underalso at Buckhorn a school of 400 standing of justice differs from pupils, an orphanage, hospital, If Everyone Obeyed the mine, it is because the teachers mission farm and various other Golden Rule! in the Presbyterian Sunday institutions. "By the way," said a young school where I was trained were In honor of this founder, Ken- better than those who taught federal employee to a mission- you." -Dr. Angel Archilla. tucky has named a new state ary in Mexico, "I have been told road Murdock Trail. that in the United States they "Applied Meditation" in Cuba have a beautiful motto-per- More Bibles for Hotels haps a law or decree-some- At the close of a religious Placing Bibles in hotels is a thing about doing for others conference in Cardenas, Cuba, practice of more than 100 years' what you would like them to do the young. people in attendance standing with the New York for you. Can you tell me what agreed that the most helpful fea- Bible Society. Just before this is?" To which the mission- tUre had been the hour of "ap- Easter new Bibles went for the ary replied: "The government plied meditation" in the mornfirst time into the 1,956 rooms of officials know about this law, but ing, when each sought a place
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
of prayer. It was here they said widow and several children liv- of a permanent Bible Room in they found their place in future ing in surroundings not fit for the British Museum. The exhi- Christian work. Opportunities animals, undertook to clean bition at Sion College includes were offered to enlist in the dif- things up. She got clothing and some of the most famous ediferent activities of the Church. shoes for the most needy, and tions ever published, one being took one of the children to pub- the "Great Bible," printed in Among their practical under- lic health clinic. "She's really 1539, partly in London and parttakings was the pUblication of a ill-take her to the hospital," ly in Paris. In 1540, it was reweekly paper to be financed by said the clinic doctor, but at the printed in London as "Cranthe young people themselves, hospital there was no room. mer's Bible," and contained a and promoted through the activ- Back she had to go to her miser- preface by that ill-fated archities of their societies. This able home while the liguena con- bishop. Copies of the four polyweekly will take the place of the sulted the Red Cross. "Send her glot Bibles are in the exhibit. supplement in the monthly mag- to our clinic," they said, but on azine, Herald Cristiano. clinic day the child was too ill The Bible Room at the Mu- to be moved. So the League seum is designed to show the -Monday Morning. woman, not to be daunted, is history of the Scriptures in Eng- herself giving what treatment lish from earliest times. Half Indians Seeking aNew and help she can, teaching the the exhibits are in manuscript Religion mother at least the rudiments of form. The middle English period sanitation, and living up to the is represented by psalters. Then A group of Indians – the League motto, "Saved to Serve." there is a series of Wycliffe edi- Aymaras-who live behind the tions, which were forbidden unmountains that divide Lake Titi- -Presbyterian News til the 16th century, when one caca from the fertile lowlands Service. copy, here shown, was presented of Bolivia's interior, sent a few to Queen Elizabeth. soldiers to the war between Bo- New "Y" in Buenos Aires livia and Paraguay over the The printed editions began Chaco. One of them came with The Y. M. C. A. of Buenos with the only surviving fraga tale of a new religion, which Aires realized a dream of many ment of Tyndale's New Testahe began to tell his neighbors. years when it opened its new, ment. Cromwell's injunction is He told them that these evangel- modern building last June. It is shown beside the "Great Bible." icals did not lie or steal, that strategically located in the heart A woodcut on the title page they did not drink, not even at of the city and greatly extends shows Henry VIII handing the feast times, that they did not the service of the "Y." About Bible to Cromwell and Archbisquarrel with each other, and 5,000 people visited the building hop Cranmer; while below, a that they were happy because on the opening day, and some crowd of people have streamers God loved them. 1,000 made use of the athletic issuing from their mouths bear- department the first day it was ing the legend: "God Saue the Evidently the story made a available. Public confidence in Kyng." great impression on the Indians the Association's work is eviin this village, for they soon be- denced by a government grant Quakers in Spain gan to try to live according to of $92,000, of which the first inthe principles of the story, and stallment has been paid. Local It was a year last August left off drinking and stealing donations of $60,000 more have since the first group under the from one another. They have been received. Non-partisan Child Feeding Misrecently asked that a teacher be sion of the American Friends' sent to them. They have no reli- The Buenos Aires organiza- Service Committee went to gious guidance of any kind. tion dates from 1902, and since Spain to work on both sides of then it has constantly main- the conflict. The work is spon- -Christian Advocate. tained an all-round program of sored by the Federal Council, youth development by which and other religious and social How Chilean Women Work more than 40,000 young men organizations. In all, nine Amer- have profited. Its budget is icans have gone: four Friends, Chilean Christian women have raised entirely by fees and local two Mennonites, two Brethren a Liga, or League for Service. contributions. and one Methodist. Absolute Besides the work they do as a commitment to the way of peace group-sewing and knitting for -Christian Century. and spiritual sensitiveness have the poor, visiting jails, houses been regarded as essential qualiof correction, orphanages, asy- EUROPE fications, in addition to special lums, hospitals and homes-they training and general ability. Two lose few chances for individual "First" Bibles on Display of the American representatives service. A liguena offered to have been social workers, three take into her own home the child The 100th anniversary of the missionaries, one a peace workof a very poor woman who was setting up of the English Bible er, one a youth leader, one a stuto go to the hospital. Another in parish churches is being cele- dent and one an accountant. At set out to prevent the marriage brated in London this year by present three workers are in of a girl of fourteen to a man an historic exhibition at Sion much older. Another, finding a College, and t~e establishment
loyalist Spain, two in nationalist is lessened for those who have maintain a keen religious life in territory, as compared with the not been in this organization. each of its members, it organizes original one worker on each side. Those already in office are for- pilgrimages in Yugoslavia and bidden to send their children to Palestine and also "retreats." The first great need was found church schools. Its members undertake to pray to be for milk. Four milk sta- every day and to read religious tions have been established, and The above mentioned visitor books. Many villages have been women come as far as six miles, to Austria quotes verbatim one transformed, new churches have bringing undernourished babies of the leaflets which is being cir- been built. When a lecture was to these depots, the only places culated in Austria containing given on the organization and in that part of Spain where milk "50 points" directed against objectives of the Pilgrims, the is obtainable. Workshops for Christianity. This leaflet is one speaker ended with the quesrefugee women and girls were of a number that were issued to tion: "Do you believe that started and a boys' workshop the girls' section of the Hitler Christ will vanquish all difficulproduces alpargatos, or rope- Youth: ties and overcome all his adversoled sandals. The women sup- saries?" Fifteen thousand anply bedding for hospitals under Christianity is a religion for slaves swered with one voice: "Yes, the care of Friends which are and fools. For example, it says, we believe that."-Advance. run by English nurses. "The last shall be first" and "Blessed are the poor in spirit." New Oppression in Russia -Christian Century. Christianity is equivalent to Com- According to a recent news Protestant Committee in munism. bulletin, instruction in atheism Belgium will be required in all schools of German culture was on a high level Soviet Russia, beginning with In accordance with a recom- before Christianity, and has been an- 1939. A pedagogical institute mendation made last year by the nihilated by it. for instruction in atheism is to Congo Protestant Council, a be established to prepare teach- Committee has been formed in There is no Christian culture. ers for their new duties. Belgium, known as the Comite Christianity was nowhere desired, Consultati/ des Missions Prot- but pushed itself in everywhere. Jaroslavsky, head of the Soestantes du Congo Belge. Re- Christianity has corrupted the Ger- ciety of the Godless, has declared garding this Committee, the mans, acquainting them with concep- that atheism in Russia is now in Council suggested: tions, such as theft and adultery, the last stage of its struggle which were previously unknown to against religion. The year 1942', That its purpose be to create and them. he says, will mark the jubilee of maintain contacts between the Evan- How did Christ die? Whimpering the Soviet Union and the great gelical Churches in Belgium and the on the Cross. And how did Planetta festival of the victory of athe- Protestant Mission work in Congo. (the assassin of Dollfuss) die? He ism. By 1967, after half a cen- cried out, "Heil Hitler! Long live tury of communism, he predicts That it guide by its counsel Chris- Germany." that the 230,000,000 population tian men and women from the various The Ten Commandments are the of Russia will be completely godchurches in Belgium who offer them- expression of the lowest human in- less. Churches and cathedrals selves for missionary service in Con- stincts. will then be only a casual rego. A good people does not need a membrance of an early period. Saviour; only a bad people. There is one important omission That it make the Protestant work Nero was quite right to persecute in the plan: God is not taken inin Congo more widely known in Bel- the Christians. to account. gium, especially by the press, and defend its cause when required. Some of the "50 points," the AFRICA correspondent notes, are too ob- The Committee will work in scene to print; yet these leaflets Fellowship in Egypt cooperation with the Congo are issued to boys and girls at Council, and three of the larg- the most impressionable age. One of the most remarkable est and most important Belgian services of modern times was Protestant groups have appoint- Yugoslavia's Pilgrims held this year in the Anglican ed representatives to serve on Cathedral in Cairo. The service the Commission. Those who like to claim they was planned by the "Fellowship are descendants of the Pilgrims of Unity," which draws into its -Congo Mission News. will be interested to know of a ranks the Greek, Armenian, Cop- new development in the Ortho- tic and other Eastern Churches, Nazi Influence in Austria dox Church of Yugoslavia called as well as the Presbyterians, the "Pilgrim's Movement," Anglicans, French Evangelicals, Nazi authorities in Austria which is increasing in effective- GeI1man Lutherans, Methodists gain their point in a roundabout ness. Its influence is felt among and the Church of Sweden. way. One who has recently re- the country people as well as turned from that country re- among the intelligentsia, and its Seven languages were emports that no Catholic is ap- monthly periodical has a circula- ployed in the service. The openpointed to important office, and tion of 35,000. The aim of the this is the procedure; no church Movement is to promote a life trained boy may belong to "Hit- that is truly Christian, on the ler Youth," and only "Hitler basis of the Gospel. Its first Youths" can hold office; the principle is that all propagation prospect for other employment of Christianity must begin with a transformation of personal life. In additio~ to seeking to
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ing part was corporate thanks- Jesus Christ. Quietly and unobtru- fact that so many countries, giving in which the Greek, Ar- sively His command to preach that widely separated geographicalmenian and Coptic Churches joined with the Anglican, Pres- Gospel is being carried out in Dji- ly, have combined to send 6,000,000 doses of vaccine to bouti, by word of mouth, by the wit- ness of changed lives, and by the byterian, French and German circulation of the written Word. Dis- China to check the spread of communities. Another feature tribution of portions of Scripture and cholera. Australia and Ceylon of the service was the uniting of phamphlets is carried on, and Bibles have each sent to the Chinese in English, French, Italian, Arabic, Health Administration 500,000 the choir of the Cathedral with Amharic and Gujerati have been the Greek, Armenian and Coptic given to all those really interested. doses, the American Red Cross -Life of Faith. 3,000,000 doses, the Pasteur Inchoirs. A climax was reached when in English Psalm CI was stitute at Hanoi 500,000 doses, sung. It was a fitting culmina- Africa Christian Missions Rumania 1,000,000 doses, Jugo- tion to this great act of praise in The Africa Christian Missions slavia 500,000 doses, and Turso many tongues, and the Cathe- is an independent Baptist mis- key 1,000,000 doses. Gifts of dral rang with the familiar sion operating in French West cholera vaccines have also been words. received from the Serum Insti- Africa, with its center in the tute at Copenhagen, the Egyp- -Baptist Missionary Re- capital of the Niger Colony, a tian Ministry of Health, and the view (India). cosmopolitan town of about Institute of Bacteriology at 20,000, including Europeans and Buenos Aires. Sona Bata Medical School natives from every section of West Africa. It is on the main It would seem reasonable for Government diplomas were caravan route across the desert, governments and people to unite given for the first time to grad- and Arabs from Morocco, Al- as readily to stamp out the evils uates of the American Baptist giers and Tunisia are thus of war and class hatred, with all Medical School at Sona Bata, brought into the sphere of the their attendant suffering. Belgian Congo at their first com- Mission's influence. mencement last March. Govern- -The Christian. ment officials took part in the The work is mainly among the exercises, and those present in- Djerma tribe, which numbers Per Capita Giving cluded other state representa- about 250,000 – all Moslems. tives, members of near-by Prot- Preaching services in other than There has been an increase of 79 cents in the average per capestant and Catholic Missions; the mission's own buildings are ita giving of the members of the also, the American consul and forbidden by the government; 25 leading Protestant denomina- accordingly, every opportunity tions of the United States and his wife. The five .graduates is seized for making contacts with individuals, and these con- Canada for the past statistical have all taken places of Chris- versations attract many of the year, according to figures pubtian medical service for their lished by the Philadelphia Eveown people. curious, who also hear the Gos- ning Bulletin. The 79 cents in- – Watchman-Examiner. pel. crease a person means an aver- In French Somaliland Market day provides another age gift of $13.25 and a total opportunity. The same method gift increase of $14,602,188, Informal meetings for edu- is used-the curious listening in though there was at the same cated young Arabs and Somalis, as the claims of Christ are pre- time a decline of 412,148 in the for discussion and comparison sented to a single person. Por- combined membership of these of the Bible and the Koran, are tions of the Scripture are dis- denominations. proving worth while in the pro- tributed to those who prove gram of the Bible Churchmen's their ability to read either Testaments for Jews Missionary Society at Djibouti, French, Arabic or the native French Somaliland. The num- tongue. Medical work is under- The Alliance Weekly reports bers vary according to the de- taken in a small way, each pa- the launching of a campaign for gree of Moslem hostility, but ten tient thereby providing another the prayerful distribution of a or twelve men of different na- opportunity for the presentation quarter of a million New Testationalities are regular attend- of the way of salvation through ments among Jews in various ants. Several of these have ac- Christ. A school is maintained lands. A special Testament is cepted Christ as Saviour. In in which the Bible is the text- being prepared, in which verses view of the bitter opposition cer- book. Classes in reading, writ- that signify the fulfilment of Old tain to be met, the question of ing and Bible memory work are Testament prophecies appear in open testimony is a difficult one. held for the natives, and there bold face type, thus showing the are classes in doctrine and evan- Jews that the New Testament Summing up the work of the gelism for the believers. is the completion and fulfilment past twelve months, the leader of Old Testament revelation, and of the movement says: International Cooperation that Jesus is the true Messiah, and the Saviour of both Jews Of spiritual achievement there can Those who despair of ever and Gentiles. A great volume be no computation. A large number seeing cooperation among na- of intercessory prayer is being of people-running into hundreds- tions may take courage from the sought. have been touched in one way or another by the Gospel of our Lord
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~========~==============~=====I~ The Household of Faith. By Arthur The biography is brief and to destroy or degrade men and Emerson Harris. 232 pp. $2.00. largely factual. The author, who women, body and soul. This has Fleming H. Revell Company, New also wrote the life of the late F. been clearly evidenced since the York,1938. B. Meyer, gathered this mate- days of Noah and the evil effects rial during the subject's lifetime of alcohol are very far reaching. Dr. Harris, a professor in and then died before the book Miss Reed's leaflet is full of in- Eastern Baptist Theological was published. He tells the story teresting and important facts Seminary, discusses the author- of boyhood struggles, of fruitful that speak powerfully against ity and trustworthiness of the service in four important pas- the evils of intoxicating drinks. Bible, the person and second torates, of soul-stirring religious The medical accuracy of the coming of Jesus, the message of work among the soldiers in the statements is vouched for by the Gospel, the Church as "the World War, of wide-reaching eminent physicians and the spir- Household of Faith," the wit- influence as a secretary of the itual truth is endorsed by promnessing duty and privilege of its Board of National Missions, and inent clergymen. Here is a sane members, immortality, the tran- of nation-wide travel as moder- and convincing study of a great scendent call of Christ, and re- ator of the Presbyterian Church, evil. Missionaries and pastors lated subjects. The treatment is U.S. A. who wish to warn and fortify in a popular style which sug- their people against intoxicants gests that most of them were Dr. McDowell was the author will find here a great storehouse originally sermons or chapel of several books and of many of facts gathered from scientific talks. The viewpoint is that of important papers but only two investigation and from sad exa firm conservative in theology of his messages-"A Challenge perience. So Roger W. Babson and Biblical interpretation. to Loyalty" and "The Basis for says: "We ought to work des- Some statements will probably a Better World"-are given in perately for prohibition of any be challenged by those who in- the two appendices. We ,wish evil, like intoxicating drink, that terpret the Bible differently; there might have been more of is destroying and degrading our but the author's spirit is irenic his messages on Bible truths, on youth." and not controversial. the Christian solution of social problems, and on mission work The Case Against Japan. By Charles ARTHUR J. BROWN. for Jews and Gentiles. The R. Shepherd. 242 pp. $2.50. Daniel chapter on "The Closing Years" Ryerson, Inc., New York, 1938. The Life of John McDowell. By A. was written by Dr. Charles J. Chester Mann. Illus. 12 Mo. 139 Turck, a fellow worker with Dr. If, as is commonly believed, pp. $1.50. The Westminster Press, McDowell in the Board of Chris- Japanese bureaus of informa- Philadelphia, 1938. tian Education. Those who read tion in America send to Tokyo these brief chapters will be in- copies of all publications here True stories of personal spired with new courage in the that deal with Japan, one may heroism and sacrificial service face of difficulties, and new safely assume that this volume have a strong appeal for read- loyalty to high Christian ideals will not be permitted to go outers of all ages. Here is a re- and methods in social and eco- side beyond the censor's office. markable record of a young boy nomic life. It is exactly what its title sugwho overcame serious handicaps gests, and is a tremendously and became an honored Chris- Alcohol-Its Physiological and Psy- strong "Case against Japan." tian leader in America, receiv- chological Effects and Their Social The author has had ample oping the highest honors his Consequences. By Mary Lewis Reed, portunity to ascertain the facts Church could confer. Boys will R. N. 15 cents each. $10.00 per since he was formerly professor be interested to learn how he be- thousand. Published by the Author. of history in Graves Theological came proficient in tennis-with 468 Fourth Ave., New York. 193-7. Seminary, Canton. He has travone arm; preachers will be in- eled extensively in China and terested in his victory over Christian missions are an or- was there in 1936 when the J apa stammering tongue; social ganized endeavor to save men anese landed a large force of workers will find much to learn and women by the power of the marines and personally witin McDowell's ideas and ideals Spirit of God. Alcohol, as a bevas to economics and social jus- erage, is the devil's choice tool tice.
Any of the books noted In these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
[ 5581 nessed their depredations. He uously to raise the standard of carryon this work to an unusual rightly considers that the con- degree. This book shows how flict now being waged is not the musical appreciation and to add this has been accomplished. Dr. beginning but rather the cul- Chisholm has made an outstandmination of a long series of ag- reverence and beauty to the ing record as a physician and gressions. He therefore devotes has been elected a Fellow of the the first part of his volume to a ministry of sacred song. American College of Surgeons concise survey of the historical but his chief interest is not the antecedents of the present situa- In a book of this limited com- curing of men's bodies, importion. He recounts the Japanese tant as that work is, but the occupation of Korea and Man- pass the treatment of historical healing of their souls through churia, the notorious Twenty- the preaching of the Gospel of one Demands, the attack on material must necessarily be out- the Lord Jesus Christ. To a stu- Shanghai in 1932, and other dent of missions the book is of . events. Then he proceeds to de- lined, yet the selection has been interest in showing how a misscribe the "undeclared war" now sion hospital can and should be, in progress. He vividly pictures made with unusual skill and not only closely united with the the ruthlessness of the Japanese, evangelistic work of the whole their indiscriminate slaughter of there is a valuable bibliography mission station but should itself helpless civilians, their abuse of become a center of active evanwomen, and the baselessness of for those who wish to make gelism, and the means of foundthe specious reasons they ad- ing new churches in hitherto unvance to justify their course. It more extended study. In com- reached districts through the is a gruesome story, and frank- contacts made with the patients. ly ex parte, but it is buttressed mon with most intelligent stu- The book reveals anew the possiby uncontrovertible facts, and bilities in personal work, even in by citations from official docu- dents in this field Mrs. Adams the most difficult conditions and ments that are of historic rec- it will furnish another link in ord. The indignant protest of deplores the flood of superficial the long and well tested chain of the author sometimes verges on evidence to the supernatural life the declamatory, and he uses too and transient hymns which and power inherent in the Word many lurid adjectives, but it is of God. hard to be moderate and judicial have appeared in recent popular in writing about the crowning This vivid record of a physiatrocity of this generation. collections and calls attention to cian's experiences deserves a wide circulation among young ARTHUR J. BROWN. the unquestioned fact that only people. They will be attracted by the well told narratives and Studies in Hymnology. By Mrs. hymns which are rooted in the it should arouse new interest in Crosby Adams. 96 pp. $1.00. the cause of Christian missions. Cokesbury Press. Nashville, Tenn., Scripture have permanence and Seeing souls reclaimed through 1938. the Gospel are the rich rewards spiritual value. of a life given to the proclama- An important contribution to tion of Christ in the non-Christhe growing literature on hym- A variety of settings of the tian lands. nology is this highly informing volume by Mrs. Adams. While Twenty-third Psalm used by the T. STANLEY SOLTAU. prepared as a textbook for study classes, it should have a wider Church during the centuries are "By Faith"-Henry W. Frost and the mission in broadening musical China Inland Mission. Dr. and intelligence among all Christian a striking feature of the book Mrs. Howard Taylor. Illus. 8 vo. groups. Pastors, choir leaders, 364 pp. $1.25. China Inland Mischurch officers and all who have and well illustrate the eternal sion. Philadelphia, Pa. 1938. to do with the service of worship will find here a wealth of vitality of the earliest manual of "There were grants in those valuable material-in fact, an in- days" when the China Inland troduction to Christian hymnol- praise. HUGH R. MONRO. Mission was born. Here is the ogy. The spiritual discernment story of fifty years of work of and sympathy with which Mrs. Vivid Experiences in Korea. By Dr. the Mission in North America, Adams deals with the great mu- W. Chisholm. IIlus. 146 pp. and of Henry W. Frost, for most sical heritage of the Church is $1.00. Bible Institute Colportage of that time the efficient Home the reflection of a lifetime of Assn., Chicago. 1938. Director for North America. It rich musical and cultural asso- is a remarkable, intimate story, ciations as author, composer, For fifteen years Dr. Chisholm well told, showing the rewards teacher and lecturer. She has has been a member of the Chosen of faith and courage, the labors won a high place in that devoted Mission of the Presbyterian of love and the reality of God's group who have labored assid- Church in the U. S. A. He has guidance and power. Much of been living in Syenchun, North this story is gathered from Dr. Chosen, where the work has seen such a remarkable development. The book is both a strong apolo- getic for medical missions and a splendid spiritual tonic as well.
Dr. Chisholm has written in a graphic conversational style which is easy reading and gives the reader many interesting glimpses of Korean country life, as well as some of the joys and discomforts which are the lot of any missionary engaged in coun- try itineration. The suggestive portrayals of various phases of native life and of Christian ac- tivities.
One of the outstanding fea- tures of the work of the Presby- terian Mission in Korea has been the emphasis placed upon per- sonal evangelism as the duty of every missionary and of every native Christian. All mission institutions, including hospitals and schools, have been used to
Frost's autobiographical notes, made by non-Catholics) that aids of coercion and punishment. letters and other records. . . . Far better is it to defend "the Protestants were as bad," the truth by loving, exploring, Henry W. Frost was born in declaring and obeying it, than Detroit, Michigan, of godly par- the writer demonstrates that by rousing against it, through ents; was graduated from the imposition of restraint, the Princeton; went into business persecution of Catholics by Prot- enmity of the rebel and the still and politics and then into work more subtle enmity of the cowfor God and the China Inland estants differed at vital points ard and the hypocrite." Mission. Here is a story of God's dealings. with the Mission from persecution the other way KENNETH J. FOREMAN. and the man; of the lessons he learned; of his growing faith about. Not only was persecu- Out of the East. India's Search for and courage and the fruitage in God. By Wm. A. Stanton. Illus. the work. It is a spiritual his- tion (where it existed) by Prot- 192 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell tory and is rich in spiritual les- Co. New York. 1938. sons to Mission Boards, to estants less severe than by churches and to individuals. Dr. With a knowledge of the In- Frost, and his wife as well, are Catholics, but it was evoked by dian people developed through shown in their quiet gentleness; forty years of missionary servtheir loving, sacrificial service, Catholic aggression, prompted ice in South India, a clear mind, their humble faith, and cheerful a warm heart and a graphic pen, obedience. The growth of the by Catholic example, was will- Dr. Stanton describes India's China Inland Mission has been search for God as he has witremarkable. Its record is in- ingly discontinued, and on prin- nessed it. The author and his spiring. There are rewarding wife went out under the Ameriglimpses of such men as J. Hud- ciple cannot be renewed. As to can Baptist Board in 1892 and son Taylor, D. L. Moody, Wm. J. settled among the Telugus where Erdman, and others. Those who past and present the evidence is there has been such a remarkread this history will find their able response to the Christian faith strengthened, their ideals irresistible. As to the future message. of service elevated, and their spiritual life stimulated. policies and probabilities, all as- Dr. Stanton sees the dire need of India for Christ and he notes Roman Catholicism and Freedom. sertions must naturally be a signs of the religious hunger of By Cecil John Cadoux, M.A.Oxon., the Hindus. He has seen the Hon. D. D. Edin, Professor of matter of opinion; but where great Christward movement of Church History at Mansfield Col- the Untouchables and its influ- lege, Oxford University. Third this is based solidly on the anal- ence on the Sudras. He is con- Edition with additional notes. 201 vinced of the fact that the only pages. 5 shillings net. Independ- ogy of past and present experi- abiding and transforming re- ent Press. London. sults in mission work come ence, and the likelihood that through the work of the spirit This is a book you will seldom of God. see advertised and very seldom basic principles will not be abanreviewed, for reasons which the After a general description of author himself points out. It is doned, the argument is sound. India and its modern progress, a frank warning against the Ro- Dr. Stanton gives the evidence man Catholic Church, not by And such a base this argument of India's search for God as seen some fanatical irresponsible in their Hindu sacred books and pamphleteer but by a professor has. Dr. Cadoux makes a strong in their religious worship. He of Church history in one of the tells of the awakening of the world's greatest universities. He case, virtually incontestable. His outcastes and among caste peogives a factual record of the Ro- ples, of the rescue of Indian man Catholic Church's deliber- thesis is that since Rome's the- womanhood and of the upheaval ate and official opinion, during in Bengal. Then he very effecthe nineteenth century, on the ory of infallibility and of the tively tells the stories of some subject of persecution; together Christian converts from Hinduwith the evidence of actual perse- right to persecute remain the ism-Dr. K. C. Banurji, Naracution practiced by that Church yan Vaman Tilak, Pandita Rain areas as widely scattered as same (except that the death pen- mabai and Sadhu Sundar Singh. Malta, Ireland and Madagascar. Here is an excellent book for No medireval bogies are resur- alty may not again be invoked), reading circles and for mission rected; the illustrations are con- study classes. temporary. Catholic propagan- wherever Rome gains power she da is likewise described, in many The difference of race contributes forms. Against the retort (often will again attempt to crush out to the richness of the world. There is no ground for assigning intrinsic all other forms of religious faith. superiority of one race over another. -Sir Walter Moberly, London. Notes bringthis third edition up to date, answering some of the criticisms leveled at earlier edi- tions,and paying attention to the relation of the Roman Church to events in Spain and Abyssinia.
While the writer's special inter- est is naturally in Great Britain, and although the Catholic popu- lation of the United States is still a minority, the warning is not less important for us. If the entire case is as mildly put as in the points where the writer crosses the reviewer's knowl- edge, the book is certainly an un- derstatement rather than an exaggeration. The basic and es- sential point however is not a matter of individual incidents but of fundamental principles.
The difference between Catholic and Protestant here is well ex- pressed (p. 123).: "If Catholics have in their dogmas the faith they profess, they ought to be willing to trust to the power of their truth to cthoenveinxcteranmeoeun~ without needing
Reed Honored The Printed Page is a
The name of Mary Reed of that never tires, never flinches, never grows disheartened. Chandag Heights, India, is high- It travels cheaply and works while others sleep. ly hOlored, especially among friends of the lepers. She will The American Christian Literature Society for Moslems be 84 years of age on December 4th, and her birthday will be cooperating with the Nile Mission Press and interdenominawidely celebrated. From many tional Committees on the field is subsidizing the production of lands messages of love and ap- Christian literature for many lands and in several languages. preciation for her fifty-five years of missionary service will come Will you help to meet the challenge of increasing opportunities to to this white-haired heroine who send the Gospel in print to Turkey, Egypt, Arabia, India, Iran? learned forty-eight years ago tliat she had contracted leprosy REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.O., President while serving as a missionary of MRS. WILLIAM BANCROFT HILL, Honorary Vice President the Methodist Episcopal Church. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, First Vice President Instead of bewailing her lot, REV. THOMAS S. DONOHUGH, Second Vice President Miss Reed returned to India to REV. JAMES CANTINE, D.O., Cor. Secretary serve the lepers. God answered MRS. JAMES M. MONTGOMERY, Treasurer her prayer and the disease was arrested so that she has been Make checks payable to the American Christian Literature Soable to spend nearly a half cen- ciety for Moslems, and send them to the Treasurer, Room 1019, tury in this service-and with- 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. out a furlough. In America there will be celebrations of the anni- lB. Lesson Books, Scholar's Read- Dannie and the Alabaster Box. Conversary at Lowell and other ing Book, 2d., Scholar's Questions, stance Savery. 62 pp. 9d. Picker- Ohio towns associated with Miss 1d. S. P. G. London. ing & Inglis. London. Reed. A commemorative tablet is to be placed on the site of her Everyday Life in India. Two Outline For This Cause. Inabelle Graves birthplace and home at Lowell. Friezes. 18. S. P. G. London. Coleman. 199 pp. Pamphlet. 25 A dramatization of episodes in cents. Boardman Press. Nashville. Miss Reed's life has been pre- Let Us Build. P. E. Burroughs. 154 pared by Miss Lulu Irwin, Mid- pp. 60 cents. Broadman Press. Gateway to Tibet. Robert E. Ekvall, west secretary of the American Nashville. F.R.G.S. 198 pp. Christian Publi- Mission to Lepers. Ganga Ram, cations. Harrisburg, Pa. one of Miss Reed's India boys, Himself. The Autobiography of a writes: "Miss Reed educated me Hindu Lady. From a Classic in Joe Lives in the City. Jeanette Perand taught me to trust and know Marathi. By Ramabai Ranade. kins Brown. 36 pp. 25 cents. IlIus. God, the Father of us all. My Translated by Katherine Van Akin Friendship Press. New York. daily life speaks of her good Gates. 252 pp. $2.00. Longmans, teaching and glorifies the name Green & Co. New York. Report of the Keswick Convention. of our Saviour." 1938. 308 pp. 28. 6d. paper, 48. Annual Report of the China Inland boards. Pickering & Inglis. Lon- New Books Mission. 1938. Edited by L. T. don. Lyall. 110 pp. C. I. M. Phila- Calendars-Young Folks Calendar; delphia. ' The Meaning of Moody. P. Whitwell Grace and Truth; Daily Manna; Wilson. 157 pp. $1.50. Revell. 18 ea.; Golden Grain Daily Medi- The Christ. A. Wendell Ross. A Ne,! York. 'tation, lB. 6d.; Golden Terx;t, lB. 3d. Harmonized Study of the Gospel Daily Light Almanac, 13hd.; Our Records. 222 pp. $2.00. Fleming No Speedier Way. Golden Jubilee of Home Almanac, 1d.; The Bible H. Revell Co. New York. the Christian Literature Society of Almanac, 2d. Pickering & Inglis. China, 1887-1937. 144 pp. $1.20. London. AdvlE'ntures of Service. Stories of Christian Literature Soc. Shanghai. modern Pioneers. D. M. Gill and The Directory of World Missions. A. M. Pullen. 127 pp. $1.00 cloth, Out of the East. India's Search for Edited by Joseph I. Parker. 255 pp. 50 cents paper. Friendship Press. God. William A. Stanton. 192 pp. $2.00. International Missionary! New York. $1.50. Revell. New York. Council. London and New York. Blue Skies. Louise Harrison McCraw. The Presbyterians. The Story of a Indian Uplands. Some Stories of the 262 pp. $1.00. Zondervan Pub. Staunch and Sturdy People. Wil- Church in Chota Nagpur. Edward House. Grand Rapids.' liam Thompson Hansche. 194 pp. H. Whitley. 67 pp. S. P. G. Lon- $1.25. Westminster Press. Phila. don. Bird 'Voices, ,sonnets, Battle-Dore. William Bacon Evans. 68 pp. 25 A Sari for Sita. Nina Millen. 36 pp. Indian Brothers. Story Lessons for cents. Friends Book Store. Phila. 25 cents. IlIus. Friendship Press. Little Children. Dorothy Meadows. New York. 31 pp. S. P. G. London. "By Faith"-Henry W. Frost and the China Inland – Mission. 364 pp. Tales from Many Lands. Stories for Conquest of the Jungle. Stories of $1.25. China Inland Mission. Phila. Juniors. IlIus. 127 pp. 50 cents. the Kingdom of God in Chota Morehouse-Gorham. New York. Nagpur. Dorothy Harris. 70 pp. A History of the Expansion of Chris- tianity. Vol. II. Kenneth Scott Tales from India. Basil Mathews. Latourette. 492 pp. $6.00. Har- 96 pp. 50 cents paper, $1.00 cloth. per & Bros. New York. IlIus. Friendship Press. New York.
~ ~bri~tma~ ~ift ~uggt~tfon
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The Missionary Review of the World — June 1938
1938
The Modern City Number Christ at the Center of City Life Aubrey S. Moore Meeting the Modem City Problems Herbert E. Eberhardt. The Youth Problem in the City What Church Federations Can Do Robert V. Russell God and Company……Unlimited Walter R. Mee Serving Christ in Crowded Streets M. W. Pullen Preaching the Gospel to City Folk Putting the Gospel to the Test Robert A. McKibben Contacts with Industrial Workers Harry A. Ironside When a Policeman Is Transformed J. F. Harrison The Inner and the Outer City A. J. Muste A United Church Project Paul Buffa What a Suburban Church Can Do Best Books on the City Problem Ernest G. Guthrie G. R. Larson 25 Cents a Copy Frank A. Fitt Charles H. Sears $2.50 a Year '
to Remember September 21-28 – General Council, PARENTS~ ••
United Church of Canada, Toronto, June 2-General Synod, Reformed Canada. In the Foreign Mission Field Church in America, Asbury Park, N. J. October 5-12 – United L u the ran Endorse Calvert: School Church in America, Biennial Con- Home Study Courses June 2-Fiftieth Anniversary of the vention, Baltimore, Md. Women's Missionary Society, Gen- Eor Childrel!l eral Synod of the Evangelical and October 14-20 – American Lutheran Reformed Church, Akron, Ohio. Church, Biennial Convention, San- Calvert School, through its Home Instruc- dU!lky, Ohio. tion Department, will give your child a superior elementary education ••• by mail, June 7-27-Indian Workers Confer- regardless of where you may live. Modences. Four Regional Conferences ern, approved courses from this famous of the National Fellowship of In- , Personal Items school are being used by parents allover dian Workers. (1) The Oklahoma the world with outstanding success. Conference, to be held at Dwight Mr. Robert L. Latimer for 45 years Training School, Marble City, Okla., treasurer of the Board of Foreign Give your children the advantages of these June 7-9. (2) The Southwest Re- Missions of the United Presbyterian interesting lessons, carefully chosen books, gional Conference, at the Navajo Church has retired and his place has and attractive materials. Instruction is Methodist School, Farmington,N.M., , been fill~d by Dr. R. W. Caldwell, Fi-, under the personal guidance of teachers in June 14-16. (3) Pacific Northwest nancial Secretary of the Board. Calvert's prominent and successful private Regional Conference, at the Nez day school in Baltimore. Perces Camp Meeting Grounds, *** Craigmont, Idaho, June 20-22. (4) Write today for booklet of complete in- The Midwest Regional Conference, Dr. Mills J. Taylor, Associate Sec- formation. Costs are low. at the College of Agriculture, Uni- retary of the United Presbyterian versity of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., Board of Foreign Missions plans to CALVERT SCHOOL , June 24-27. These Conferences are visit the mission fields, leaving Ameropen to all friends of the Indians. ica about May first, with Mrs. Taylor ISOW. Tuscany Road ' and returning in January, 1939. Baltimor. + Maryland June 8-Synod of Christian Reformed *** United States. At Amarillo, Texas, Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 6,500 persons heard the Gipsy, and Dr. Paul J. Braisted, General Sec- many more were unable to get into the June 9-15-Norwegian Lutheran retary of the Student Volunteer Move- auditorium. Synod Convention, Mankato, Min- ment, has been elected Campus Sec- retary for the University Christian Sir Wilfred *T. *Gr*enfell, who has nesota. Mission to succeed the Rev. J. Max- served 45 years as a voluntary med- June 15-22-General Council of Con- well Adams. Dr. Braisted will give ical missionary in Newfoundland and gregational and Christian Churches, only a portion of his time to his new Labrador, recently celebrated his 73d office. birthday on an island off the coast of Beloit, Wisconsin. Georgia. Because of a chronic heart *** ailment, he may never be able 'to re- June 16-24 – Winona School of Mis- turn to Labrador, where hospitals, sions, Winona Lake, Indiana. Mrs. . Bi~op Henry,W. Hobson, of Cin- schools and nursing stations bear his Wm. Eckert, 1612 South 11th St., CinnatI, has been elected president of Maywood, Illinois. the "Movement for World Christi- name. anity," an interdenominational organ- June 18-25 ~ Geneva Summer School ization created in 1934, as a result of Obituary Notel for Missionary Education, Geneva the Laymen's Commission Report on Lake, Wisconsin. Write for infor- Foreign Missions. Bishop Hobson has The Rev. Dr. Eddy H. Greeley, for mation to Mrs. Paul H. Wezaman, attracted wide interest by literally fifty years a missionary of the Meth- 177 So. Humphrey Ave., Oak Park, carrying the church to the people in a odist Episcopal Church in Liberia and specially constructed trailer, called Rhodesia, died on April 8, at; Old Ill. Umtali, Rhodesia, at the age of 80 years. He was born at Owakonna, June 22-29 – General Synod, Evan- "St. Paul's Wayside Cathedral," re- Minnesota, in 1857, and was a cousin gelical and Reformed Churches, placing the cathedral in downtown of Horace Greeley. After graduation Columbus, Ohio. Cincinnati, as reported in the REVIEW from Hamblein University, St. Paul, he sailed for Liberia in 1888. He June 25-27-National Council of Fed- for April. *** introduced new plant life into Old erated Church Women, Eagles Umtali to add to the variety of native Mrs. J. P. White, editor of the foods. He was known especially as a Mere, Pa. Women's Missionary Magazine of the hymnodist and translator and for United Presbyterian Church. who has some years wrote the Sunday school June 25-July 2-Mt. Hermon Feder- been touring the foreign field of the lessons for missionaries and teachers. ated School of Missions, Mt. Her- Church, arrived in America on April mon, Cal. 14. Miss Anna A. Milligan, former C. Luther Fr*y, P*h.D* ., who did con- Educational Secretary of the United June 26-July 1- Church Conference Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis- siderable work on the census of re- of Social Workers, Seattle, Wash- ligious bodies in the United States ington. and for five years was professor of Sociology in the University of Roch- June 28-July 3 – International Con- sions. who has spent the winter in ester, died on April 12, after a brief vention of Christian Endeavor, Egypt, will make a wider visit of for- illness. From 1922 to 1933 Dr. Fry Columbus, Ohio. eign ,missions before returning to was Director of the Bureau of Stand- ards of the Institute of Social and Re- July 11-19 – Northfield Missionary America. ** ligious Research of New York. He Conference, Northfield, Mass. Miss H*. was the author of "American Vil- Corona Rayle Cook, 16 Farnham Dr. James Rushbrooke, Execu- lagers," "The United States Looks tive Secretary of the Baptist World at Its Churches," and other volumes. St., Portland, Maine. Alliance, went to Bucharest to study He was born in Philadelphia, the'son the situation faced by Baptists in July 12-August 17 – Winona Lake Roumania, ana was granted an inter- (Concluded on 3d cO'IJer.) School of Theology, Winona Lake, view by King Carol and the Rou- Indiana. manian premier. The difficulties now seem to be under control. August 23-29-World Conference on International Friendship Through the Churches, Larvik, Norway. Evangelist G*ips*y *Smith. now 77 September 6-20 – World's You n g years old, declares that he has never Women's Gh r i s t ian Association, addressed greater crowds or more Canada. , September 11-16-International Con- eager young people, and has never vention of the Disciples of Christ, seen greater results of presenting the Gospel than in his latest tour of the Denver, Colo.
MISSIONARY I want to express a word of appre- Malwa-the Great
REVIEW OF THE WORLD ciation for the REVIEW and what it means in the program of missions. When Ihe good wOl'k VOL. LXI JUNE, 1938 No.6 Leaders in our missionary societies and groups throughout the country p.o calls yo. Basi … sail Publication and Business omc_ subscribe to it regularly. During our Third and Reily Sts., Harrlsburc, Pa. annual convention in June, when our This year marks a full century of P & 0 new program of missions is inaugu- service to the lands beyond Suez! When- Editorial and Executive omc_ rated, special prominence is given to ever you are called to the other side of the 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. the place that the REVIEW has in help- world, choose this traditional route. Cross Entered as second-class matter at ing to create effective missionary pro- to England by Cunard White Star … and grams. It is our sincere wish that the then embark in a great liner of the P & 0 Post Omce, Harrlsburc, P•., under REVIEW will continue to hold this im- and British India fleets, led by the new Act of March 3, 1879. portant place in the program of mis- 23,500-ton Stratheden and Strathallan, sions. featuring air-conditioned dining saloons 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. in first class, hot and cold running water Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. ADAM W. MILLER, throughout, built-in out-of-door swimming Published monthly, except August. Secretary of the Missionary pools, children'.s playrooms! Regular ser- All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. vice to Egypt, Sudan, Persian Gulf, India, British agents – Marshall, Morgan Board of the Church of Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, China, and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, God. Japan, Australia, East and South Africa, London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Mauritius. Special reductions and gener- 10 shillings • year. *** ous baggage allowance for missionaries.
MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- I have been reading the February Convenient through bookings can be ar- LISHING CO., INC. REVIEW today. Have greatly enjoyed rangedbyyourtravelagentoranyoffice of it. It is filled with material that helps BOARD OF DIRECTORS the missionary hope and spirit. The CUNARD WHITE STU UNE ROBE'RT E. SPEBR, Pre••dent articles are helpful and discerning. A. L. WABN8HUl8, Vice-Prerident "The World-Wide Outlook" pages are General Agents W ALTBR McDOUGALL, Treasurer especially helpful. The Moslem Num- DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secr8tarll ber has also been very useful to mis- 25 Broadway and 638 Fifth Avenue, N. Y. sionary groups. PAUL J. BRAl8TBD SAMUEL McCruu. CAVlIBT REV. STEPHEN J. COREY, D.D., Secretary of the United Christip,n D. J. FANT )lR8. ORRIN R. JUDD Missionary Socie·ty, Indianapo- WM. B. LIPPHABD lis, Ind. ERIC M. NORTH SAMUEL M. ZWEMII1I *** Editorial Chat I read THE REVIEW with great in- terest and profit and wish you all suc- "We have the honor to present"- cess in the conduct of this fine magaour City Mission Study Number of the zine. REVIEW. As usual, more papers came in than one issue–even a larger one H. D. DAVIES, –can accommodate. But it is a large Chicago Regional Secretary, Misand important subject, and worthy of careful study. Other articles on the sions Council of the Congrega- City and the Church will appear in tional and Christian Churches. the July and September numbers. They are some of the best-do not THE PRESBYTERIAn miss them. See the list of held-over articles mentioned on our back cover. -:- The only weekly in the Presbyterian Church. Previous spec*ial *mis*sion study num- .:- Its message is based upon bers have been in great demand, and the Revealed Word of God. some have been sold out before late orders could be filled. Order early. .:- Goes into every state in the Uni6n, U. S. possessions *** and many foreign countries.
The following are some unsolicited Subscription rate – $2.50 comments on the REVIEW recently re- Ministerial rate – – $2.00 ceived: SOc. exfra–Canadian postage *** $1.S0 extra– Foreign postage I follow the articles published in THE PRESBYTERIAn the REVIEW with great interest. Last week I wrote up a note for the Evan- 121 7 Market Street gelical and Reformed Messenger Philadelphia, Pa. recommending the REVIEW to our pastors and general readers. Nothing [257 ] would please me more than to learn that it had won new subscribers.
F. A. GOETSCH, Associate Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions,Evangeli- cal Synod of N. A.
*** The REVIEW is so valuable to us in our Mission Study that we are turning to you for help in planning our program for next year.
MRS. W. J. GOODWIN. Louisville, Kentucky.
Aerial Surveys
THE MODERN CITY – LOWER NEW YORK – AND ITS TOWERS (One building may accommodate 15,000 tenants and employees) Wide World Photo HUMANITY IN A MODE,RN CITY – TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK, ON NEW YEAR'S EVE RPVIB ORLD VOLUME LXI AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 6 JUNE, 1938 Topics of the Times CHRIST AND THE MODERN CITY their parks, or with their night life; with their Two American cities (New York and Chicago) commercial activity and culture or with suffering each has a population larger than the whole of humanity; with their magnificent houses or with the United States in 1780. Fourteen of our cities their slums; with their educational institutions contain more people than the estimated popula- or their jails; with their rapid transit or their tion of the whole Roman Empire in Europe at rapid moral decline; with their churches or their saloons and brothels? We know how He dealt the time of Christ. New York City has a larger with Jerusalem, the Royal City. He came there population than Central America, or Arabia, or the whole of Australia (which has nearly the area to teach and to heal, to rebuke and to warn; He wept over the sin and hardness of heart of the of the United States). people; He suffered indignities at the hands of There are ninety-six cities in the United States the chief rulers in Church and State, but He de- with over 100,000 each and 500 cities each with lighted in the children; He loved even His eneover 15,000. These cities represent not only a mies and gave His life to save them from sin and great mass of humanity but here we find, in al- death. Would Jesus look differently on the cities most any large city, men of all races and lan- of today with their mixed multitudes? guages, in all degrees of poverty and wealth, of ignorance and culture; almost every type of reli- 1. If Jesus Christ came to America today, we gious faith and superstition is represented- know that He would first of all look on our city voodooism and theosophy, spiritism and demon- with clear discernment. He would delight in true worship, Islam and Hinduism, Shinto and Confu- beauty but would distinguish between the tawdry cianism, as well as every kind of Christian sect. material things that pass away, and the beauty of life and character that abide. He would see What elements of good and evil are contend- clearly the difference between the wealth that ing for the mastery in these centers of population men seek after and the riches that abide; between -banditry and honest business, commercialized the power that politicians and magnates crave vice and purity, selfish capitalism and philan- and the power that brings life out of death. He thropy, self-seeking labor and sacrificial service, would distinguish between the churches that can anti-God activity and Christian missions! boast only of wealth and social prestige, with What a field for Christian witness and activity beautiful equipment and elaborate ritual, and is presented in the modern city! How would Jesus those churches that may be worshiping only in a Christ look on our American cities if He should transformed saloon but where Christ is exalted, visit them in the flesh today? We know how God where the Gospel is preached and where men, looked on Sodom and its wickedness, and on Baby- women and children are being born anew through lon, the "mother of harlots," in spite of its pal- the power of the Spirit of God. He would disaces and hanging gardens; on Nineveh with its tinguish between empty eloquence and the quiet godlessness and ignorance; on Jerusalem, the testimony of some obscure saint. backsliding city over which Christ wept. How would He look today on New York, Chicago, De- 2. Jesus Christ, today, if He visited our city, troit, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, St. Louis, would look on the multitudes with compassion as He did in ancient Palestine. He would weep with New Orleans, Los Angeles? Would He be most those who weep and rejoice with those who have ~1JlJ?ress~d. w~th ~heir skfline and the beauty of true cause for jOf. H;e would s~I!athiz~ wit.l1.
~ 259 ~
the sufferers and with those who are oppressed lowering standards in morals and in legislation, by money-getters or political bosses. He would the mad rush to increase armaments and growing distinguish between those who are sinned against, threats of international wars-all these and other and those who lead others astray; between the troubles tend to make men so fearful and full of "bandit" who has had little chance to know a bet- self-pity that many of us are tempted to forget ter way of life, and the honored "bandit" in high the more critical condition of others. As a result places who sins against light. He would denounce we neglect to help them in their hour of need. the hypocrites of all names and stations, and Many appeals have been made to bring help to would say to the misled and underprivileged, "Go, the suffering Chinese in this devastating, unjust sin no more." and cruel war that has been thrust upon them. The Red Cross and other philanthropic and mis- 3. Jesus Christ today would come to our city to sionary agencies are appealing for help for the give instruction and encouragement where they millions of Chi1tese sufferers-the vast hordes of are most needed. He would cheer the struggling wounded, the famine stricken because of war, pastor and the troubled parents. Where the truth those suffering from venereal disease (due largely of God is proclaimed and the love of God is mani- to the invading soldiers), and from cholera and fested' His presence would give light in darkness other epidemics. Doctors, nurses and funds are so that people would flock again to His standard. sorely needed to care for these wounded and dis- He would give hope to the faithful who are eased, to supply ambulances, medicines, bandages, tempted to discouragement, and would point out food and general hospitalization. The need is the way of victory through sacrifice. He would greater than ever and yet the response from make clear again the spiritual forces by which America has been smaller than in any previous He will overcome the world, and would call men crisis. Only about one-third of the $1,000,000 for to "leave all and follow" Him. which appeal was made, has been given. There is need for $5,000,000 from America. Chinese We have every reason to believe that if Jesus doctors and nurses and missionary forces are do- Christ came to our city today-unless He came ing their utmost, but they are hindered by lack In power to wipe out all evil and to establish His of supplies. Relief funds are now practically ex- Kingdom-He would look with compassion on the city and its inhabitants, and would preach and hausted.* The accompanying map shows how teach and work to make the Father known, and to bring new life and godliness to fruition as widespread is the area of conflict and how gener- He did nineteen hundred years ago. Would we ally the missionaries have remained at their posts receive Him differently than men received Him to minister to sufferers, in spite of personal disthen? tress and danger.
But if Jesus Christ is God and meant what He The Chinese Christians are also doing their utsaid then He is here today-not only in our city most. The following extracts from a letter from but in every city; not only in our cities, but in a Chinese Christian, Rev. Andrew Gih of the ,our towns and villages; He is in every home and Bethel Mission, Shanghai, shows how the work of church, every shop and factory, every school and Christ goes on, in spite of difficulties. Mr. Gih office, and in every individual where He is re- writes: ceived and is given the right of way. Today, as then, "to as many as receive Him" to them does When the war broke out in Shanghai, our people (of He give the right to become Children of God- Bethel Mission) had to flee to the International Concesfrom every class and tongue and nation. Would sions for safety. The hospital staff (in four hospitals) He offer any other remedy for sin and misery to- went right on with their work for wounded soldiers and day than He offered in the first century? Would our Christian nurses had the joy of serving and witness· He not tell His followers today in our cities to ing to the wounded; our evangelists were also busily enfollow Him and to make known the Way of Life gaged in preaching in many of the 200 refugee camps. to others by teaching men in private and in pub- The largest of these camps had fifteen thousand refugees, lic to know Him and to observe all the things He the smallest several hundred. Many broken hearts were has commanded us? Only when Christ is recog- bound up with the healing Gospel of Christ. We could nized and received by all the multitudes in our not carry on our schools as the section where our Bethel cities, will they truly become cities of God. What Compound is located -was badly bombarded, our Orphanage are we doing to help fulfil the purpose of God and was burned, and other buildings were damaged. All our the command of Christ to make known the Good belongings were looted and the Japanese still occupy our News and the power that He came to proclaim? beautiful Compound. The Hospital workers are still car- rying on in our branch Hospital in Shanghai but our OUR RESPONSE TO CHINA'S NEED Orphanage, Publishing Department, Bible Seminary and Evangelistic Bands have all been moved to Hongkong. • Rising taxes, increased cost of living, unemploy- ment, strikes in industry, depression in business, We thank God that He has preserved all our lives and we are able to carryon the work. Some evangelists are now preaching in the interior; one Band in Yunnan, another in Szechuan and others in Kwangsi, Kweichow • Contributions should be sent to mission boards having work In China. or the National Red Cross. Washington. D. C.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
There is only one way to overcome evil, and that is with positive good. There is only one truly good and that is God. Love is the only remedy for hate; life is the only effective antidote to death. Jesus Christ is the only salvation for in- dividuals and for the world. Therefore mission- aries go into all the world to spread the truth, the love, the life of God. as these are made known in Jesus Christ.
• .N _' JEWRY IN DISTRESS! WHAT OF IT?
, ;HE~~I ' …, American Jews, 4,500,000 in number, are out . .. . .. .. . ,—",""–. to raise $9,600,000 in 1938. This vast sum is for . –. ,-) relief of os,tracized and persecuted Jews in Europe and to aid in their settlement in Palestine or else- .. . " where, as circum.stances permit. -"~' -.: .: ~…~ The tidal wave of anti-Semitism has spread to Ii.~- Germany, Austria, Poland, Roumania and begins even to inundate Great Britain and America. The 'QR zons (8'-4"") OF CHlM essential cause of this widespread anti-Semitism is the economic distress in the world today. In UIlLOCUIOIOPAJIIIIllW prosperous times anti-Semitism rarely occurs. Hitler's racial ideology is another factor, as is the PROf'IstAJlftllS8101SWIOlS unfortunate behavior of some individual Jews. Business shrewdness, and in some cases dishon- kebdot "'p""e1Ittaoit,. esty, are other factors, but who persecutes all wtth_o…….. p"rlUU>ellt Gentiles because of shrewdness or personal dis- honesty? =:::~~"tl::~:nt In Poland there are 3,500,000 Jews, of whom .~. . .NU) …U.t …rIt. 1,000,000 are starving, who are involved. Rou- mania has 1,000,000 Jews while Germany has WHERE JAPANESE AND MISSIONARIES ARE OPERATING- only 350,000 and Austria about 200,000. All these DIFFERENTLY are menaced and for them American Jews are seeking to raise $9,600,000 this year. Incidentally and Chehkiang Provinces. They have been facing danger!; since 1914 American Jews have provided $87,- from air raids, but all witness to the power of the Holy 000,000 for the relief of European Jews. Spirit in changing many lives. Owing to the abnormal conditions, the traveling is difficult, so that it took sixteen In Germany, in addition to the Jews, there are days to reach the place of the first campaign in Kweichow. about 1,000,000 non-Aryans, and in Austria 600,- Another Band is going to Hunan and the fourth to the 000 or more. Any man, woman or child with at northern part of Kwangtung Province. We do not know least one Jewish grandparent, or one who is marhow long we will be allowed to preach unmolested. We ried to a Jew is classed as a non-Aryan and theremust spread the Good News before it is too late. The fore receives the same treatment as a Jew. Japanese give no liberty to the Chinese preachers in occupied territories. Pray that God will grant peace in the Thus there are approximately 7,000,000 folk in Far East and pray for those who are lifting up Christ Europe who, because of Jewish ancestry near or among the Chinese. There are wonderful opportunities, remote, are unwanted by their fellow citizens. especially in the interior of China. People are receptive And partly because of anti-Jewish sentiment, but to the Gospel and they realize life is uncertain and prop- more largely because of unemployment crises, erty is not dependable. Thank God "we know whom we they are not wanted anywhere else. Even in Palhave believed and we are persuaded that He is able to estine the number actually able to enter there in keep that which we have committed unto Him against one year has been reduced from 61,000 in 1935 that day." to less than 10,000 in 1937. Moreover, the Jew- Arab conflict in Palestine, coupled with the British It is more and more evident that it is impos- Partition proposals, has served to arouse the Mossible to carry out any isolation policy-either lem world and to increase the anti-Semitic sentinational or individual. War in one country will ment there. involve other nations, however much we may strive to prevent it. Famine and economic The net result of all this is a growing fearfultroubles in one land affect others. Disease will ness, uncertainty and insecurity in the hearts and spread in spite of sanitary measures. Immoral- minds of Jewry throughout the world. ity, selfish ambition and false philosophy cannot be confined within any national boundaries. Irreligion and anti-Christian, or anti-Jewish, propaganda spreads from party to party, from class to class, and from country to country, when not checked by positive faith and by the dissemination of God's truth.
Why should Christians be concerned with the ous in providing hospitality to these victims of fate of Jewish and non-Aryan victims of anti- a present day cruel autocracy? We especially need Semitism; why should we take upon ourselves to be on guard lest this unchristian racial dis- the responsibility of caring for these non-Aryans? crimination gains a foothold here. Propaganda is First of all because we are Christians and many a vicious thing and is powerful in formulating of these non-Aryans are Christians by faith. J ew- public opinion. We should strenuously oppose the ry is aiding admirably and sacrificially the Jewish anti-Jewish propaganda in America; we should victims, and has even helped non-Aryan victims, pray for persecuted Jewry and for a change of though the latter are definitely Christendom's re- heart in their persecutors. Here is a great op- sponsibility. But up-to-date, Christendom has not portunity to show the spirit of Christ and to do, been as generous as Jewry. The result is grievous individually and collectively everything we can distress and suffering among the Jewish, non- to combat the causes and consequences of anti- Aryan and Christian refugees. What right have Semitism. Tli'e-se are inescapable responsibilities Christians in America to protest against anti- of all who claim to be Christian.
Semlitism in Europe while we do nothing effective- CONRAD HOFFMANN, JR. ly to aid the victims of such racial discrimination?
We need to be reminded of the good Samaritan as weU as of the Levite and the priest in our Lord's FOURTEEN POINTS FOR FOREIGN parable. There is an American Committee* to aid MISSIONS Christian refugees from Germany and this committee needs financial help to meet the growing 1. Every book in the New Testament was writdistress. A few instances of the flotsam and jet- ten by a foreign missionary. sam of human wreckage in the wake of the present tidal wave of anti-Semitism, are the fol- 2. Every letter in the New Testament that was lowing: written to an individual was written to a convert of a foreign missionary. 1. Mr. F- is a pharmacist, non-Aryan, but a Christian by faith having won the Iron Cross, the Front Trench 3. Every epistle in the New Testament that was Fighter's, and the wounded-in-service medals. As a non- writteB to a church was written to a for- Aryan he was no longer allowed to run his private phar- eign missionary church. macy in Germany, and was forcibly compelled to sublet. Now he is in America looking for work and hopes later 4. Every book in the New Testament that was to be joined by his wife and two sons as soon as he is written to a community of believers was able to support them. Before he could leave Germany he written to a general group of foreign mishad to pay 81% of his funds as a "flight tax." sionary churches.
5. The one book of prophecy in the New Testa- 2. Mrs. U- was a Christian Gentile woman, married ment was written to the seven foreign misto a Jew in Vienna; her husband is no longer allowed to sionary churches in Asia. work. She is a teacher of Germanics, but being married 6. The only authoritative history of the early to a Jew she, too, is not allowed to work. Christian Church is a foreign missionary journal. 3. Mr. T- was a government expert on Social Security 7. The disciples were called Christians first in and Socialized Medicine; a non-Aryan Christian, and a a foreign missionary community. member of the German Confessional Church group of which Dr. Niemoller is the leader. Now he is in America 8. The language of the books of the New Testaas a transient but hopes soon to be admitted on the quota ment is the missionary language. and then to find work. 9. The map of the early Christian world is the 4. Rev. F- was a non-Aryan Protestant clergyman in tracing of the journeys of the first mis- Germany. Not being allowed to preach there, on the advice of his pastoral colleagues, he went to Vienna to work for a Swedish Society and did remarkably well. sionaries.
Since Hitler's annexation of Austria, this pastor has been 10. Of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, every compelled to flee to Prague and then to Sweden. apostle except one became a missionary.
We might go on and cite case after case of 11. The only man among the twelve apostles who people who need help, financially and above all did not become a missionary became a spiritually. In New York City, the Jews have traitor.
established a reception service and a center for 12. The problems which arose in the early Church Jewish refugees, but nothing of the kind has yet were largely questions of missionary pro- been done by the Christians for the Christian cedure.
refugees. 13. Only a foreign missionary could write an Should not Christians of America, the: strong- everlasting gospel.
hold of liberty, equality and democracy be gener- 14. According to the apostles, missionary service is the highest expression of Christian life.
• Mr. Frank Ritchie. Secretary, American Commlttl'le fOr German WILLIAM ADAMS BROWN. Refugees. 287 Fourtli Ave.. New York City,
at the Center of City
By AUBREY S. MOORE, Chicago Superintendent of Chicago Home Missionary Society, Methodist Episcopal Church A YOUNG man, a college and theological ent languages. The first church has a fine build- school graduate just beginning his minis- jng with more than fifty rooms, including a large try in the city, came to discuss his work. gymnasium, a swimming pool, a cafeteria, an as- As he sat in my office, looking out across the roofs sembly hall that will accommodate more than one of the buildings, and yet seeing not the buildings thousand people and a beautiful chapel. This but the streets filled with boys and girls and men building is filled afternoons .and evenings. More and women, he said with something of compas- than one hundred and forty classes, club meetings sion in his voice as well as in his gaze, "The Peo- and group meetings, exclusive of devotional meetpIe! The People!" jngs, are held each week. The total registered at- tendance for March, this year, was 10,623. The I instinctively turned to a picture which hangs program includes classes in sewing, cooking, on my office wall-the picture of another young printing, dramatics, bookkeeping, stenography, man looking across a valley at another city more vocational guidance, knitting, playing the harthan two thousand years ago. As this other monica, first aid, etc. These boys and girls are Young Man looks at the city He weeps and says: kept off the streets, which of itself is worth while, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this and at the same time they are learning something thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!" of value under leaders who know the importance I breathed a prayer that this other young man, of character development in the lives of young with his splendid preparation for service might people. be held steady, that his vision might be kept clear, his heart be kept pure, and that his enthusiasm In some Institutional and Community Churches, might be inseparably joined to the purpose of that one finds a program that is broad enough in scope other Young Man who will ever weep over the and sufficiently varied in character to appeal to city until it shall become like unto "the Holy Jeru- all age groups. Last summer one pastor gave a salem, descending out of Heaven from God." series of open-air Gospel addresses with a stereop- ticon. He reported an attendance of over 8,000 "Home Mission Work in a City" seeks to place per week. Early in March one church office re- Jesus Christ at the center of the City's life. Home ported twenty-two baseball teams already regismissionaries are not primarily interested in any tered for the coming season-one of the sure signs particular creed, but rather in making Christ of Spring. dominant in the lives of individuals and groupsthe determining factor in their conduct. The task The city is becoming disturbed over the alarmwill not be completed until politics, industry, so- jng increase in Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile cial life, and religious life shall acknowledge Him Crime. Two weeki; ago, in one issue of a daily as Lord and Master and seek to do His will. paper, there were the names of forty boys, with the average age under sixteen years, who were There are certain types of work in the city to arrested for crimes all the way from petty theft which those who are in any way responsible for to murder. It has been estimated that six thou- Mission Work today must of necessity give sand six hundred Protestant boys and girls will thought. appear before the Juvenile Court of Chicago in 1938, and that of this number more than two The Institutional Church is perhaps the most thousand will be there for the first time. In conwidely known agency of the Church in the con- ference with a Probation Officer a few days ago gested centers of the great city. One such typical I was told of the attempts being made to save church, with a seven-day and seven-evening pro- these boys and girls from the careers towards gram every week, is located in the midst of a which they seem to be moving so rapidly. By the group of many thousands of people among whom time many of these boys come before the Juvenile more than twenty different languages are spoken. Court it may be too late to do much for them. Another typical church is said to be the only Eng- The difficulty is farther back. lish-speaking church in a community of more than 250,000 people speaking more than thirty differ- [263]
The first evidence of a wrong tendency in the to perpetuate the use of any language other than boy or girl that comes to the attention of the au- the English language in churches that must ulti- thorities outside of the home is truancy. This is mately minister to English-speaking American said to begin at seven years and reach its "highest citizens.
incidence" at thirteen or fourteen. Truancy! Among the problems which we face is that of Delinquency! Crime! This is the order. The the slowly dying church in the downtown or nearone leads naturally to the other. In a careful downtown district. In one denomination in a study, covering a period of several years, it was typical city more than twenty churches have been found that more than half of the Juvenile Crim- either closed outright or merged with other inals had been truants. In an effort to get to the churches during the past twenty years. The root of the matter students are finding themselves merger plan is frequently resorted to as a faceface to face with home situations and community environment. A Protestant representative at the saving devic~t It has its appeal. However, in so Juvenile Court and at the Juvenile Detention far as the merged church is concerned the results Home, a highly trained, consecrated young are about the same. A 'group of members are transferred to the strengthened organization but woman, follows the cases assigned to her to the many scatter and find new homes, if at all, elsehomes and to the communities from which they where. The churches at the heart of the city die come in an attempt to cleanse the fountain at its first. And then slowly but surely the circle is source. Case after case could be presented that enlarged until in due season one can scarcely find would bear eloquent testimony to the effectiveness a "going" concern among the few remaining of this program of Mission Work in a great City. churches in or near the downtown section. And No longer do immigrants fill the already con- this is true in spite of the fact that the population gested centers of our cities. With the decrease in in the neighborhood of these churches may have immigration that problem is giving us less con- doubled or tripled or even quadrupled in the meancern, although in some of our largest cities more time. It can all be explained, but to explain it is than seventy percent of the people are either foreign born or the children of foreign-born parents. not to solve the problem. The "mixing bowl" is at work but its task has not been completed. The children of these foreign- Thirty years ago a certain large church in the born parents attend our public schools, they play near downtown section of a great city was packed in our streets, and breathe the atmosphere of our to the doors-gallery and all. The city authori- American cities until their very freedom creates ties were said to have stationed policemen at the an unhappy situation. In some localities our mis- doors to prevent dangerous overcrowding. This sion worker's chief task seems to be that of a church included among its members men and mediator who seeks to enable these alert children women from every walk in life-railroad executo adjust themselves to the demands of their for- tives, financiers and men prominent in the busieign-born parents and to assist the parents, with ness and professional life of the city. Today a an "old country" background, to understand their mere handful of good but discouraged people own children as they react to their new environ- carryon in a building that is rapidly deteriorat- ing; and yet there are more people per square ment. mile in that neighborhood today than ever before. The families of wealth have moved to the suburbs Lost Moorings and the local group can no longer support a resi- Many thousands in these groups, if they ever dent pastor. This church would be pronounced had a vital religious faith, have broken from their near dead. And this is but an extreme example religious moorings and are helplessly afloat, dere- of what one finds all too often in our large cities.
lict fashion, or are openly disregarding all moral What had really happened in this case? Slowly and religious claims upon their lives. Work but surely the people who had supported this in- among these people is fascinating. The young stitution died or moved from the downtown sec- people form a most inviting and responsive group, tion to the less crowded areas or to the suburbs.
while a right approach to the adults will assure a As the older group moved out another crowded in.
heartening measure of success. For many years But this new group was made up of renters and it seemed to be necessary to provide a foreign- roomers who were incapable of carrying the finan- born leader for these people. Today, however, cial burden if they had been willing to do so. So with few if any immigrants to deal with, and with with the steady decrease in support came a cor- an increasing number of young people, American responding retrenchment in the program until to- born and trained in our public schools, it is be- day there is none. Had it been possible for the coming less and less necessary to present a bi- members of this church in the heyday of its pros- lingual program. The day has come when many perity to have created an endowment, and thereby believe it to be not only unnecessary but unwise made possible an income sufficient to provide a
CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF CITY LIFE
continuously effective program, might there not The Social agencies are doing excellent: work. have been a different story to tell today? Or, sup- In our own city there are said to be twenty-two pose there had been funds available from the districts with a population of 50,000 to the square Mission Boards to supplement and stabilize the mile in which the environment is detrimental to decreasing income of this church, what would the best interests of the· growing boy and girl. have been the result? Community projects under the guidance of the de- partment of Research Sociology of the Institute We must face our responsibility for these down- for Juvenile Research have been located in three town areas. Just so long as there is a constituency of these districts and in each of the three truancy, for which we are clearly responsible in any com- delinquency and crime have steadily decreased. munity, just so long must we remain in the community adapting our program to the needs of the The Christian Church has ever pioneered in people whom we seek to serve. And in order to needy fields until an awakened Social conscience do this it becomes equally clear that funds in in- came to recognize the responsibility of the comcreasing amounts must be available from outside munityas a whole. But after the city, through its sources to supplement the decreasing incomes of various agencies, has done its best will there not these churches until, if possible, a local supporting remain for the Church the task of evangelizing constituency can once again be developed. successive generations? This, after all, we may find is its primary function. Indeed the chief In our thinking of Mission Work in a City, at- task of the Church seems to be to work itself out tention is often fixed upon the so-called blighted of a job. In the Seer's vision of the Holy City areas or areas of deterioration which are usually there was no temple. It was no longer needed. the truancy and crime centers.' Frequently too However, that day in the modern city seems to be little attention is focused upon the Boulevards. a great way off. "The Kingdoms of this world Slum minds are not all confined to so-called slum are" not yet "become the Kingdoms of our Lord, areas. The "certain rich man" of the parable and of his Christ." Until that takes place there was farther from the Kingdom of God than Laz- will continue to be a place for "Home Mission arus. We have also a mission to the Boulevard Work in a City." sections of our cities. Many Boulevard dwellers are heart-hungry for a little disinterested friend- PERCENTAGE RURAL AND liness and for a sane interpretation of the Word of God. A surprising number of them would be URBAN POPULATION willing to render a high order of sacrificial service for their Lord and Master if given an opportunity. 8Y 10 YEAR PERIODS We have no more right to neglect them than we have to neglect any other group. Jesus was per- 1c!&O – 1930 fectly willing to have "the Rich Young Ruler" use his money to aid the poor. Is it not reasonable to '''Dr. 5H 4167. suppose that the wealth of Boulevard friends would be acceptable to Him if given in the proper 1900 13LO 1.9Z0 1.9"0 spirit? The consecrated wealth of the Boulevards could be used to transform the slums. RURAL In the field of Social Service and Charity uBB"50? 514 56.2. changes are rapidly taking place. Community Chests and Community Funds are used to support l~OO J6.90 1900 1910 1920 H30 the more elaborate rather than the less highly organized forms of ministry. These funds are URBAN usually not available for religious work or for programs too closely connected with the religious activities of the church. The tendency appears to be to divorce social and charity work from the religious program and to place it under the direction of trained social workers who are responsible to their own organization. If social agencies and civic organizations are to assume responsibility for the physical and economic well-being and for the social adjustment of the underprivileged, what is to be the future of Christian Mission Work in the City? Will it mean that the churches must withdraw or confine their efforts to a technically spiritual ministry?
Modern City
By REV. HERBERT E. EBERHARDT, B.D., Indianapolis, Indiana President of the International Union of Gospel Missions DISTANCE lends enchantment, even in mis- product of tlte groups to be considered later. It sion fields. When we hear of poverty, of is to these youth that the city missionary must squalid homes and dirty children, of dis- appeal, by games, playgrounds, picnics, singing, ease and sin in India, many feel a peculiar thrill! class work, vacation schools and summer camps. Describe the same conditions in India-napolis and we shudder; we draw our skirts about us and A mission visitor in Rochester, N. Y., calling are tempted to "pass by on the other side" as we on underprivileged homes, invited a girl to the cry, "Unclean!" How oft we have heard it said, mission Sunday School. The child asked, "What "Well, they don't need to live that way," or "They kind of a show is it?" In that she typifies thouought to know better," or perhaps, "If they had sands of other children. But she came, and to saved as I have"! the surprise of all, won first place in the vacation Bible school. That may be true, but the conditions are here and we must face them. Every great city fur- Ira Smith, superintendent of the Children's nishes a real missionary field, one that most di- Gospel Mission of Newark, N. J., led a child to rectly affects all of us. We have often said of the Christ in an open-air park service. That child crowd of transients in our city missions, "If we later brought the entire family into the mission don't take care of these men, they'll take care of and in time the mother, of foreign descent, was us." At the mourner's bench of one of our rescue employed by a large church as its city missionary. missions a penitent surrendered a loaded revolver, confessing that he was on his way to commit a A New England Methodist pastor, graduate of robbery when arrested by the music! Most mis- Union Seminary, came to Christ in the Wheeler sions have in their "museums" guns, billy clubs, Mission at Indianapolis when a small boy, the blackjacks, whiskey bottles, dope and what not, first of an entire family.
There probably is no field so promising and so productive as this among the boys and girls whom as evidence of the direct bearing which city mis- the church often cannot reach except through the sion work has on the lives of all of us. city missions.
These home-mission groups are varied, and Some Problem Homes much larger than one might suppose. Let us consider briefly six such groups. They represent Closely related is the American problem home, more than one half of our population, when we the result of poverty or heredity, divorce, irreconsider that the total church membership of the ligion, sin and unbelief. No prayer, no Bible United States includes only about one half. Many reading, no worship – God's Name used only in an election has been "swung" by a minority group profanity! This is becoming an increasing probholding the balance of power. Skilled politicians lem. It is known that many of the boys on the know the importance of winning the colored vote road today are the direct result of broken homes. -many times enough in itself to secure a victory Social workers hear over and over again, "Dad in election. This same principle applies in the and Mother separated." Some one has aptly said field of missionary service. Special populations, that we ought to sing, "Where is my wandering large or small, may vitally influence the welfare mother tonight?" of the entire community. The city missionary has an entree into these The Non-Churched Children homes, sometimes through death, or arrests or a child in the vacation Bible school. A social We consider first the thousands of children and service contact, such as is made possible by the youth in our cities who are not under the influence Council of Federated Church Women of Indian- of the church and do not attend Sunday School. apolis which employs its own representative in a In them lies the future of our cities; they are the city mission, often proves an open sesame to an seed-bed of our future problems, and hence should otherwise impregnable heart or home. A table or be considered first. They are also the direct by- chair, or garments, or a friendly visit may inspire [266 ] confidence and awaken interest, when all else employed, always welcome and specially well fails. "I was hungry and ye fed me." These treated, the mission says, "The church does care, people are not dressed for church; they have no we are interested in you, Christ has a place in money to give; they are not concerned; often His program for you." This attitude is of practhey do not feel wanted. The writer was once tical value in that it proves its faith by its works -meals, beds, clothes, free service of many kinds.
There is no better preventive of radicalism and atheistic Communism in America than this quiet, Christ-like influence of our Gospel missions and other Christian social service. It is unob- trusive, not heralded with banners, but no one can estimate the amount of preventive work ac- complished. A lighthouse is not only to be cred- ited for rescues made, but for the many more wrecks prevented. Every city mission is a veritable and effective lighthouse.
It is a known fact, demonstrated repeatedly, that there are far fewer arrests or calls for police aid (if any at all) in mission shelters than in gov- ernment or purely charitable shelters. The unem- ployed respect and respond to the kindly attitude of a Christian. .The "cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple" has more than one reward!
The Drink Evil in Our Cities Social workers know that repeal of the Eight- eenth Amendment has brought marked increases WHICH WAY ARE THEY HEADED? PhDtography by H. E. Gray. Waifs-not in India but in Indianapolis. THE OLD DOOR AND THE NEW pastor of a city church where considerable ob- The mission stands on the spot where stood the old saloon. jection was felt because these folks were coming into the church as the result of a schoolhouse mission service.
If the home is the foundation of our nation, then surely here is worth-while missionary service. We remember that Jesus accepted an invitation to the Pharisee's house, and that the Scribes said, "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them." He knew the importance of such work.
Among the Unemployed This group, numbering several millions, possibly 12,000,000 today, has been too much neglected, and is potentially the most dangerous, forming a natural hotbed for radicalism. Any failure on the part of our missionary program here may prove disastrous. When the priest and the Levite "go by on the other side" and an anti- Christian Samaritan proves the true neighbor, the results are not so good.
For many years the only agencies caring for these unfortunate classes were those with a religious motive or impulse, particularly our Christian rescue missions, which Bishop Freeman once termed, "The Church in Overalls." To the un-
in the inevitable results of liquor; prohibition Has the church cared? Has she prepared worktimes at their worst were remarkably better than ers for this special field? Has she offered youth under license; the evils of the old saloon are back a vocation here? The Church Federation of Cinwith multiplied dangers, supported by radio, auto- cinnati maintains a prison chaplain, a unique mobile, the modern press, lowered moral stand- work. The Indianapolis Federation supports a ards, and the changed status of women. full-time Christian social worker for court service.
The tavern, the dance hall, the "new deal" Above all, the Gospel provides the needed and gambling mania, the false concept of morals, all only remedy. But preparatory to that, kindly tend to produce a tremendous challenge to the guidance, appreciated letters, sympathetic parole, wisest and most intense missionary program- changed environment, medical and psychiatric missionary, because the power of Christ, and not treatment, fellowship groups, all have a curative reform or legislation, is the ultimate solution. as well as :q!,eventive value. A survey might re- veal two thuigs: that most missions are engaged Beginning 65 years ago with the establishment in some form of prison service, and that most by Jerry McAuley, himself a twice-born man, of prison services, in and out of prison, are conthe now famous McAuley Water Street Mission in ducted by gospel missions. New York City, much of the work of rescue missions has been made necessary by liquor and its Transients in Our Cities naturally attendant evils. When a man has been A great army, thousands of them, men, boys, of "beaten and robbed" where else can he go? When all ages – not tramps – are wandering over this no one else cares, when he has no funds, where country. Many are seasonal laborers traveling to can he go but to a Gospel mission? If he does not go there, what is his future? A MISSIONARY LEADING A SERVICE IN A CITY JAIL But, thank God, when he goes, often a miracle find the next temporary job. Many are the prodtakes place and a new man is born. "If any man uct of the divorce evil-increasingly so! Most of be in Christ, he is a new creature," and indeed them are unemployed. Mission records show he is. Recently we met a man who has been an among them college graduates, business men, proactive member of a Methodist church for forty- fessional men, and all classes and types. The dethree years. He staggered into a small rescue pression has greatly increased their number. mission hall some years ago. Now, seventeen years later, he is a Sunday School superintendent. There have been three stages in their treatment. There are thousands like him-once drunkards, First, the care offered solely by missions, the Salor worse, who are now ministers, evangelists, song vation Army, the Volunteers, and other Christian directors, honored laymen, mission superintend- agencies, for many years. They have been fed, ents, missionaries. "Oh, say but I'm glad," and housed, clothed, but above all, evangelized, with many other Gospel hymns have come from the marty happy results. fervent pen of such a twice-born man! Here surely is a field for missionary specialists-and Second, the strictly social or community shelter how productive! "I was sick and ye visited me," of recent yeirs, often with no religion, but with said Jesus, our Lord. boxing, movies, games, and other diversions. This has proved expensive and nonproductive. The Prison Population Third, and more recent, the Transient Pro- J. Edgar Hoover's recent figures as to the num- gram of the United States Government, the first ber of men and women incarcerated in the United national effort to solve this problem. It only in- States are staggering. Even worse are the records creased the problem, however, and was abanof potential criminals, paroled men,· and affiliates doned. Thousands of men, particularly young now on our streets. But we are thinking here of men and boys, welcomed the opportunity of beanother larger group whom we mission folks know all too well-the families of these men and women form a much, much larger group. They comprise a larges~'tion of our population but they obviously tryt6 conceal their identity. They are out of touch with and probably beyond the reach of the church.
To neglect them is to fail Christ and to endanger ourselves. "I was in; prison and ye came unto me" still carries promise. of reward. At such a time hardened hearts are often tender; homes are lonely and open to a kindly word. Here is a rich and ready field for Christian service.
MEETING MODERN CITY PROBLEMS
coming the guests of Uncle Sam. The complete people from every state in the Union may be lack of any religious program also proved de- touched in a short period in one locality. "A moralizing. stranger and ye took me in" becomes a reality here. They literally come from "the highways Now we are in a fourth stage wherein the tran- and the hedges," often to receive more than the sient problem is again being handled, in most proverbial "pie-in-the-sky," the knight-of-the-road cases, by the Christian agencies with the coopera- slang for religion. THE UNION CITY MISSION BUILDING, MINNEAPOLIS We have enumerated briefly six of the most tion of Central Registration Bureaus to avoid needy and most promising of special populaduplication of effort. There seems to be no ulti- tions in our key cities. There are others, of mate solution of the transient problem, but there course, but seventeen years of direct contact, are certain desirable steps that may be effective- handling more than 100 men each day, toa careful case-work program, the outlawing of gether with hundreds of problem families, hitchhiking, a thorough work program, and the have indicated that these fields are probably correction of social conditions which create tran- the most neglected and yet perhaps the most siency. But most promising of all is a strong productive. The city missions that specialize evangelistic approach, with the belief that chang- with these groups have been rightfully termed ing the man himself is the surest way of changing "The Churches at Work Downtown." Their conditions. This has been proven in sixty-five interdenominational character, practical apyears of mission services, where it is believed that proach,city-wide appeal, and combination of "placing a new man in the suit is better than relief plus, offers the Christian church an placing a new suit on the man." Here is a great immediate and most vital open door for anmissionary field for the church, with most unex- swering the age-long question of the Old Tespected possibilities. Take at random, for example, tament, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and of a few cases in one Middle-West mission. Among the New, "Who is my neighbor?" the thousands of men apply.ing for aid we find a Perhaps this rapid survey will at least be sugminister's son who had "hot-footed" from a col- gestive and will stimulate a new interest in anlege where his father was formerly treasurer; a other phase of "home missions." Study groups college professor who had formerly taught one of the directors of the mission; the brother of a very JM ' THE JERRY MCAULEY ' ,MISSION, NEW YORK CITY prominent social worker; the black sheep of a f~mi1y whose name appears on a county court- maybe led to seek further knowledge of the facts house cornerstone; the son of.a member of a state and some day there may be a mission study course legislature; .the son of a form'er American consul on this specialized field. The possibilities of direct at Bremen; an escaped convict who voluntarily Gospel preaching and witnessing may be carried returned to a state's prison; a former pastor, an back to the church with a fresh emphasis. Epworth League president. The field for service is unlimited and the opportunities are amazing;
Youth Problem of the
By REV. ROBERT V. RUSSELL, New York Director of Religious Education, Baptist City Societies THE youth who lives in a modern city is never because they are overwhelmed they tend to turn entirely free from congestion. He is subject to the more sltperficial, the more obvious things,. to a kind of machine-gun rat-a-tat-tat of ap- Into the midst of all this is set the Christian" peals-to pleasure, to material gain, to various Gospel, mediated to youth of the city in various groups or enterprises in the body politic. In his ways. Set down in the midst of his community world he is always at the edge of – or possibly is a church. It may be a big city church with under-a kind of smoke-pall of futility, emanating more edifice than program or itll~y be a center from the slow-burning fires of disillusionment or of activity under Christian auspic~s 'with a seventhe ashes of cynicism. day-a-week program crying. <;>u.f for adequate He needs room, psychological room, for his self equipment. Or it may lie somewhere between to expand, his soul to grow. He needs criteria for these two. But the church represents the voice his choosing, a norm for living amid changing of the Christian Evangel, however weak or stam- codes and conflicting standards. He needs a cause mering it may be in the midst of the city clamor.
(oh, how he needs a cause!) that is not restricted Those who know the life of the city are likely to to one arc of life, but which gathers up all of life say, "If that were only true, but are there not when he gives himself to it, that integrates all great stretches in the city, where the message of the phases of living for him in one resolve, that Christ is needed most, that are practically un- answers youth's question, "What am I to live churched?" This is so-and even more than this for?" -for according to delinquency maps the areas of Moreover, today's youth lives in a not-normal highest incidence of juvenile delinquency are world. Not that it is abnormal or crazy; nor is often shown to be those areas from which the it necessary to hope for "back-to-normal," but churches have most consistently moved away.
to the young pe'rson from fifteen to twenty-four But this is not all of the answer, for church socie- years of age, things do not seem to be what he is ties and city mission societies have made it pos- told they once were. Half of the people seem to sible to maintain churches in places where the be wishing for the return of something that once community itself could not possibly support a was, and the other half seem to be looking for- minister and staff to carryon the type of pro- ward, with varying degrees of eagerness, to some- gram that is needed.
thing that is to be. Youth wonders. One phase of the youth problem is this matter Asked about his outlook upon life recently one of communities of special need. One cannot look of these young people said, to the writer: "Well, upon the city without recognizing that in most the future is not clear because things seem to be cases the distance between streets that are proudly all changed around. We hear about the days of shown to visitors and areas that are shamefully prosperity-high wages, plenty of jobs-but we below the standard in living conditions is only a do not know about that by experience. Most of matter of a few blocks. Neither can one look the friends that I had in high school are looking upon the youth of the city as all set in a one-tone for some kind of a job, or are working at any pattern. They constitute a variegated design- kind of a job for very low wages. We wonder a kind of kaleidoscope of interrelated back- what the prospects are ahead." grounds, national, racial and cultural. In New "Youth of the city," according to another speak- York City, for example (where probably this is ing as a member of a discussion panel, "is looking more pronounced), a study of the 1930 census for a good time (considering it as a birthright); figures shows that of the youth living in the five looking for a job; and looking for something to boroughs who are between the ages of fifteen and believe in." twenty-four, 73.2% are either themselves foreign A denominational adult leader of youth re- born or one or both of their parents come from marked recently that the youth of today are over- oth_er lands. In the Bronx the percentage is 82.6 whelmed by the complexities and the difficulties and in Brooklyn 78.8, while in Manhattan, alwhen they try to look objectively at their world; though the percentage is somewhat lower (63.3ro) [270 ] another element is introduced in the 12.2% of tional. One of those whom the writer has ques- Negro youth in this borough. What varieties of tioned regarding this problem replied that he felt social heritage, national customs and behaviour that youth's most acute need was for a meaningpatterns are represented by figures like these! ful fellowship in which his own individual life There is also the youth who come from "the may count for something. It was the opinon of this man, a youth leader, that youth are not able farm," which gave up 40 % of its youth (in the to feel always the sense of this larger fellowship in their own church. It may be because the youth group from ten to twenty years) to the city in group in the church is quite small or it may be the decade between 1920 and 1930. In New York because the adult members of the church do not City again the religious pattern is varied. The appear to give sufficient place to youth in the life Welfare Council reports in its publication, Better of the church and the management of its affairs. Times, of April 5, 1937, a study in which it was Every field worker in the area of youth activities found (by visiting each hundredth residential ad- is familiar with the complaint of the young people, dress in the city and questioning the youth from after they have had an experience in a city-wide sixteen to twenty-four years of age), that 49% re- fellowship or camp or summer conference, that when they return to their own local church they ported themselves as Roman Catholics, 31 % as do not seem to be able to make the church people understand their desire or to comprehend their Jewish and 1870 as Protestant. No doubt these situation. It is here that the city-wide or regional figures would be different for other cities but it is groupings of young people function from time to obvious that for any city of significant size there time, in youth councils, week-end conferences, or may need to be a considerable revision of former larger gatherings. The smaller groups of youth assumptions as to religious majorities. realize that they are part of a larger fellowship; they meet youth of other churches or of other de- Here again, the Church Society or the City Mis- nominations; they are inspired by a leadership sion Society has been the carrier of the Christian that it may not be possible for the local church to message. Many immigrant groups have colonized provide, and they meet and plan with leaders who are in constant touch with youth, know their probin areas consistent with the economic limitations lems, and "speak their language." There is a placed upon them, and it is almost impossible to growing fellowship-growing somewhat slowly it picture the conditions of physical congestion and must be said-around the United Youth Program spiritual depression under which the children projected by the Christian Youth Council of North grow into their youth. Here is set down the bi- America. This is related to the International lingual church under the ministry of a foreign- Council of Religious Education representing a speaking pastor, oft-times with a staff of one or large number of denominational groups and remore workers trained in religious education and lating itself to the major Christian youth orsocial service. A dramatic illustration of the re- ganizations. sults of this kind of work was given at a recent dinner meeting of the Baptist Social Union and Youth and the Local Church New York City Baptist Mission Society when some forty young people, both men and women, Of course the most effective and most direct representing a dozen different national groups work with youth will be done in the local church, from these by-lingual churches, sat upon the platform. Five young people gave responses to the especially in the suburbs or semi-suburban areas. theme of the evening; one of them (Czechoslovak) For while the suburban youth is not city-bred in was engaged in banking; one (Italian) was a the truest sense, neither is he rural- far, far teacher in a city high school and the others were from it! He has been infected with the cynicism, either studying or held positions in business es- disillusionment and unrealities of urban philosotablishments. All had found opportunity for phies without knowing personally so much about growth – psychological room – in a Christian the conditions of city life whch have given rise to church supported by a city-wide organization. these attitudes. This type of youth must be caught The writer knows of one instance in which a by an attractively presented, intelligently con- "gang" of what some might call "hoodlum" youth, ceived and largely youth-directed set of activities was invited by the pastor of the neighborhood which leads him to recognize the church as the church to transfer its activities from the street best place for him to spend a good share of his (where it was causing some annoyance) to the leisure time. A typical program of this type is inside of the church building. Subsequently this being followed in one of the churches in New group became one of the "clubs" of the church York City. A Sunday evening program consists and some of its members found places of service of a supper, a chapel service, and interest groups. in the program of the church itself.
Another phase of the youth problem is being attacked from another angle – that of youth fellowships, both denominational and interdenomina-
The terminology is that of the sea with "courses" There is also an imperious demand for a listed which may be "charted" under the direction changed philosophy of human relationships-ecoof a "crew" of leaders and with "cruises" begin- nomic and social. The survival of the fittest thening on certain dates, continuing for a number of ory when applied to human relations is untenable. weeks, and then terminating, to be followed within A disturbing phase of the life of the city youth is a week or two by another "cruise" with a different the seeming tendency to forget one's idealism set of interest groups. One virtue of this program when one begins to prosper materially or is reis that the interests are selected by a group of the ceiving some special recognition. Jesus met it in young people of the church and are built around the Rich Young Ruler. Here was a personable, their own suggestions. There are such topics as : "successful" young man, confronted with the "Choosing One's Life Work"; "Social Problems charge of disregard of his social obligations. At of Our City"; "Love, Courtship and Marriage"; the close of the interview the young man "went "How Can I Find God?"; "Boy and Girl Relation- away sorrowf-ul." One wonders whether he was ships"; "Science and Religion"; "The Art of not saying also in his heart, "The man must think Praying." Each interest is carried for a few I'm a fool!" weeks and the young people are invited to remain each Sunday evening as long as there is a hot-spot This insidious thing that we might perhaps call of interest to hold them. This church is a magnet a personal-prosperity-inspired unconcern is apt of centripetal force every Sunday evening for to become a part of the maturing process of the from one hundred to one hundred and forty young most promising individuals among city youth and people. youth will respond to a program in which it must be recognized not only as a characteristic they have a part with informed, dynamic leaders. of the urban psychology but also as a moral chal- lenge which, if it is not met adequately, becomes One of the most acute needs of youth is for en- a spiritual defeat. One of the most decisive op~ terprises in which they may have the opportunity portunities of the Christian church is the inspirfor the practice .of democracy-in which they may ing of the youth of the city by helping them to feel themselves factors. Unfortunately in many share the comradeship of adults who are themchurches this is what they do not find. selves successful-"men among men"-but who are also Christ-inspired persons, engaged in a mu- If it is true that youth is "looking for something tual quest for the highest realization of the "statto believe in," then the church stands on the thres- ure of the fullness of Christ"-not for themselves hold of an oportunity – the opportunity to con- alone, but also for the other-the "forgotten"- vince youth that here is a democracy in microcosm man. in which he can have a part, a cause to which he may dedicate himself, a Master who will not let What is this if it is not the missionary motive, him down. the witnessing urge, the continuing determination of those who have "been with Jesus" to share that Two or three things need to be emphasized in which we know. The youth problem in the city Christian work with city youth. There must be is a challenge to the Christian forces for the dea larger place for youth in the program of the velopment of a spiritually adequate leadership. church. It is a truism to say that the church can- "The blind cannot lead the blind," for to those not live unless it can succeed in holding its youth, who "study to show themselves approved," God yet it seems to be recognized generally that one opens many doors. of the church's outstanding problems is its youth problem. On the other hand churches that are Youth time is decision time. Through the home, most successful in work with youth are those who give to youth a voice in the councils of the church the Sunday School and the communicant's class, and present an interpretation of the objectives of the church in terms that youth can understand this important work of teaching and winning and claim for himself. must go on perennially. In one large city of New There is need also for a comprehending and sympathetic adult leader·ship for youth. It is a York State, which is an important educational question whether youth comes more in contact with the minister, trained and consecrated to his center, an interview program is being carried on work, or with an adult lay leadership which has not been trained and whose consecration may this winter in behalf of youth. Over nineteen leave considerable to be desired. In spite of what has been said for the larger recognition and par- hundred written applications were sent in by ticipation of youth in its own program the youth problem will never be solved by youth themselves. youth within thirty days after the plan was in- The most serious aspect of the youth problem is an adult problem. augurated, requesting interviews with some Christian person – pastor or teacher – to help them with personal problems. These interviews are being conducted on Saturdays and Sundays by a group of devoted individuals who know the prob- lems of youth. When we work with childhood and youth we are not "saving the lost but saving from loss." JESSE M. BADER.
CLERGYMEN LOOKING INTO INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS AT CARNEGIE-ILLINOIS STEEL CO
What Church Federations Can Do By WALTER R. MEE, Chicago, Illinois Executive Secretary of the Chicago Church Federation THE story of one great American city is, in of labor relations, strikes and struggles for power its general phases, the story of every large between labor and capital. metropolitan center in the country. Rapid growth, expanding industry, improved transpor- These are some of the city's characteristics tation have all combined to produce, in the last which confront the modern church. These are a five decades, characteristics in every American few of the practical problems upon which the city which challenge the Church and confront its church must strive to bring its Christian influministry. ence, while, at the same time, discharging its su- preme responsibility for the Christian life and There is in every large city the tendency of spiritual growth of city men and women. populations to shift .rapidly as more prosperous families move out to finer residential areas or sub- To Christian leaders faced with such changing, urban districts. Into the abandoned central wards ever-troubled and needy communities, there has of the city there come, on the other hand, great become increasingly evident the conviction that numbers of foreign-born, with large families of individual churches or even individual denominalower economic status, seeking the city's cheapest tions cannot make any great and lasting impreshousing. In complex,conglomerate patterns they sion on such city problems. Here is a need that settle close to the business district; later they too can be adequately met only by programs of cooppush outward into adjacent areas as soon as their eration uniting the resources, the ideals and the economic fortunes permit. Thus population tides energies of every church, every denomination, of a city constantly ebb and flow. The result is within the city's limits. Where the Christian community disintegration, deteriorating housing, church is most staunch and where its program is delinquency and racial conflicts, as central areas most effective today, we find a strong Federation of the city lose their more substantial members of the city's churches, maintaining a widespread and receive newcomer groups. program under a single leadership, unitedly doing the work of Christ in the city. . There are the political aspects of a great city, with the apparently inevitable tendency in every In Chicago one finds these characteristics of the urban center toward political corruption, ineffi- large city in some of their most pronounced ciency and vice in greater or less degree. stages. Here is a Federation of Protestant churches that effectively illustrates wh,fltchurch There is the vast industrial life which all cities Federations can do to save the city. The Chicago have in common, with its ever-present problems Church Federation was org.anized in 1907 and [273 ]
4~; I[I[!rt·~; (I) ;t3;11 ~ I] ~:l?1 i e,l ~ II 77 WEST WASHINGTON STREET 18 DENOMINATIONS 1049 CHURCHES Denominations which are Members of the Chica80 Church Federation BAPTIST CHURCHES North LUTHERAN REFORMED CHURCH IN AMI CHURCH Of THE BRETHREN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES AFRICAN METHODIST [PISCOPAL REfORMED EPISCOPAL DISCIPLES Of CHRIST AmlCAN MEntODI5T [PIS. ZION REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH METHODIST PROTESTANT 'UNITED BRETHREN I EVANGElICAlSt REFORMED PRESBYT£RlAN CHURCH INU5.A UNITED PRESBYTERIAN fRIENDS The purpose offhis organization is founile IJewrious branches of the Christian churches in Chicd80 and vicinitv in d continuous co-operative endeavor to bring the Gospel to all the people and to promote the application of the law of Christ in every relation of life ,——-~ – -, I OF"F"lCE:RS I I BOARD of TRUSTEES I I OF"F"ICE fTAF"F" I I EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1 • DEPARTMENTS I CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOMANS DEPARTMENT "I"SocIALRELATIONS COMMITTEES Co-ordinating DIVISIONS COMMITTEES Ludership Traininll Vacation Schools -!1jviHes inthe Field Missionary Rtli~ious 'I15tructiOll W"kdaySchools Education Drama, Recreation Social Service and Interracia I – – – – DIVISIONS Welfare Children Social Action. BeHerFilms YounS People …. r -. — – — Adult meetmg. delegates from churche .Metropolitan Chicagos onlq Month/I} of '.Innttehredefnieoldm.mofa.CtlOhrnisatliaonr8Eadmu.czaa.ttiloonn. Workers – Boys Parental School Park Ridge School for Girls Criminal 'Court – fide/is Inn COMMISSIONS I • -. I I WORLD F"RIENDSHIP I I I 1 I R~~~~,T,NS I I~TEELRATRIAOCNJ~L I I PUBLICITY I I I I I I 1 I L I • CI.HNUDRUCSHTRAYND COMITY EVANGELISM MINISTRY IN THEd STANDING.COMMITTEE: I PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS Armistice Day J M• •t l n i i '
STANDING CQt:1t:1ITTEE~: Outdoor Evangelism Emploljed Workers:- county Jail FiElds Foreign Origin Groups and Lenten Noon-day Meetings Bridewell Communih" service Geneva School for Girls Unified Evangelistic- Juvenile Court Strategy Program Juvenile Detention Home -Survey Oak Forest Infirmary -Chaplains City Council MeetingsI–… Hines Memorial Hospital ….. Undenominational Churches …..BOY~Rdo~rhter Institutions -=– COMMITTEES l I CHURCH I FINANCE 1 1 I PROTEST AND APPROVAL DIRECTORY .
I ENDORSEMENTS I . I UNION MINISTERS MEETING 1 C.H.KETCHt.
HOW AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH FEDERATION IS ORGANIZED
WHAT CHURCH FEDERATIONS CAN DO
today is directing a program involving the inter- More directly related to the task of "saving the ests and assistance of 1,049 churches of eighteen city" from its own evils and destructive tendencies denominations, representing a membership roll are other aspects of the Federation's program. of 750,000. It is a program carried on by over The annual report of 1937 records enlargement 500 religious workers serving gratuitously on and development of a new department of Social eighteen commissions and committees. The board Service with a paid staff to correlate the work of of trustees consists of 110 influential religious and Federation committees and commissions in this social leaders of the city. field and to relate more closely the churches of Chicago with the social service and medical agen- The work of this Federation shows how closely cies of the city. Under the leadership of this dethe organization is matching the stride of the partment the Federation has maintained for some church to the growth of Chicago. To undergird years a supervision service in the Boys' Court of its work with factual knowledge, and to direct Chicago. By means of this service hundreds of more intelligently its comity program which boys brought into the court are placed under the strives to eliminate competition and duplication care of the Federation's case workers instead of receiving jail sentences. A FI L IPINO COMMUNITY CHURCH GROU P , CHICAGO One of the activities sponsor ed by the Ch icago Church Federa tion. The second major concern of the Federation is the friendly, constructive, religiously-motivated among churches while seeing to it that no area service rendered by chaplains and other paid goes unchurched, the Chicago Church Federation workers in the public institutions of Chicago. has for some years maintained a United Religious This has been a significant ministry to the inmates Survey. The survey attempts to bring together of hospitals, jails, prisons, courts, the county data of a statistical, sociological, economic and farm and other institutions for the destitute, the religious nature about each sector of the city. Against this background the Comity Commission sick and the erring. has analyzed the history, the program and the fu- What of the many human problems and civic ture service of the Protestant churches in each area in order that such information may enable dangers which arise from the racial composition denominational leaders to eliminate more intelli- of large cities, from its labor crises, from its gently competition between churches while better political complexities and its immoral influences? adapting programs of stronger institutions to the Here, too, the church must have a militant, united particular needs of their communities as indicated voice. In Chicago active departments, commisby the surveys. sions and committees of the Chicago Church Fed- eration bring to a focus the concern of ministers For the first time in history a group of metro- and members of all denominations, providing politan churches is basing its effort to "save" a media for investigation and dissemination of incity not alone on spiritual fervor and theological formation to every church, and offering a recogtechnique, but on a careful study of the facts con- nized organ through which protest or approval of cerning the life about them, replacing a policy of the city's churchmen may be expressed in effeccompetitive drift with one of cooperative inten- tive manner to city officials and law enforcement tion. The Chicago Church Federation is combining, it has been said by a prominent denomina- agencies. tionalleader, "the method of the scientist and the An annual city-wide observance of Race RelaviaiQn of the prophet." tions Sunday, including an interchange of pulpits between scores of white and colored ministers, and numerous meetings throughout the year, in- crease the understanding and brotherhood that must ultimately prevail between all men, regard- less of color or nationality.
A special commission of the Federation closely studies industrial problems and the role the church should take in industrial conflicts. In many instances the standards and practices of Christianity have influenced the trend of the city's industrial life and affairs, outside of the tradi- tional vista of the community church. Frequently the City Federation of a large urban center, in behalf of hundreds of city churches, can speak challengingly and vigorously for arbitration, for the privileges of labor or the rights of capital, for the improvement of working conditions and the passage of satisfactQry laws.
Through letters, conferences, interviews with thousands of human souls living in its congested city and state officials and by means of the city's neighborhoods. In the end it will be the building newspapers, the Federation may lead strenuous of more religious cities which will ultimately prove fights upon undesirable elements of city life. Last to be the most valuable contribution of Church year the Federation led in the movement to repeal Federations. an ordinance licensing gambling establishments, to close offensive theatrical productions, to stim- Surely, in the fields of evangelism, of Christian ulate more aggressive citizenship, and to protect education, and of spiritual life, the value of coopthe honesty of public elections and the security of eration between evangelical denominations by the ballot box. means of central leadership becomes clear; for the city presents a tangled, sharp animosity to the Because the school system of Chicago-with its practice and teachings of Christ. apparent political influences, the tendencies of its curriculum, and some of the standards of its op- When individual churches unite, when denomeration – recently became a civic issue, it was inational lead'ership cooperates in city-wide relicharacteristic of Protestant leadership in this city gious mass meetings, in interdenominational days that the united denominations s,hould turn atten- of prayer, in downtown Lenten worship services, tion to this phase of urban life. A committee on in far-reaching Preaching Missions and Schools Public Education was organized to provide a of Christian Living, in radio broadcasts and clearing house for churches which take public edu- young people's conferences, as is true in Chicago, cation seriously, and to point out channels through then our Christianity assumes a dramatic appeal, which both churches and individuals may render a magnitude and a forcefulness which enable it to useful s'ervice. arouse the indifferent city.
In addition to these activities, which some may In these two phases of city life-its practical, consider as' "extra-curricular" tasks of the church everyday problems and its great s,piritual needin its work in the great city, there remain the City Federations of churches continue to provide fundamental religious needs of thousands and effective leadership and dramatic techniques to save American cities of this generation.
"God. & Company, Unlimited"
By MILTON W. PULLEN, New York City Pastor of the Central Park Baptist Church, New York CAN you imagine a business house that would ten lepers who asked for cleansing "Only those of bar the door to its neighbors, or a com- you who have been baptized are eligible for heal- mercial firm that would insist that all of its ing." The only credentials the dying thief on the customers become members of the company? The cross presented were in the form of a prayer and Church, which is the biggest business in the on the strength of it Jesus promised him "Paraworld, is doing exactly that. The Founder of the dise." Church proclaimed "My House shall be called the House of Prayer for all people." Too often this In any great city a local church in a community has been changed to read: "Accept our creed and of homes may consider itself the center of a posyou will be welcome in our church." sible "100,000 customers." So long as human hearts are incurably religious and so long as men "God & Company, UnIt'd." needs to be written and women and children sin and suffer and seek in large letters over the doorway to every church -just so long the Church has a responsibility to building. After 1,900 years the vision of the every person within reach of its doors. Founder of the Company has been lost. Hospitals do not require patients to "belong" Jesus did not require a certificate of church before they may be admitted to the Operating membership from the 5,000 before they could Room. The simple fact that a man is sick opens share in partaking of the loaves and fishes. The every door and puts at his disposal the skill of the Sermon on the Mount was preached to the dis- surgeons and the facilities of the institution, often ciples, but we hear no protest from the Great without money and without price. A hospital con- Preacher when the multitude listened in. It siders itself, and is considered by the community, would be difficult to imagine Jesus saying to the a health Mecca for folk of all races, creeds and
"GOD & COMPANY, UNLIMITED"
cultures. On the other hand, a church in the neighbors, many of whom are neither Protestant same block is usually considered the personal nor Christian. The attitude of the neighborhood property of the Methodists, or the Baptists, or the originally was one of apathy and of suspicion. Catholics or of some other proprietory group. It Our problem at first was to build good will; to does not take the 100,000 possible customers long that end we set about getting acquainted with the to learn that their need is not necessarily a guar- folk round about us. We visited every store withantee of help. The Church seeks to make new in a radius of several blocks, but we did not ask members who will become regular "sitters" at the business people for anything except their worship services and regular contributors to the friendship. We offered to give them the names budget; consequently, the average Pastor gen- and addresses of our Church Members and sugerally must busy himself with the routine matters gested that they circularize these church neighinvolved in keeping the church solvent and suc- bors of theirs by mail as often as they liked. We cessful. This too often means just one thing- joined the local Chamber of Commerce and atperpetuating an institution largely for the sake of tended meetings regularly. Officials of the the institution. Chamber were used occasionally as special Speak- ers at Church Suppers, club affairs, etc. We ac- Many a conscientious minister rebels and longs cepted an invitation to sit on the dais between the to be the Pastor of the whole community. He Mayor and a United States Senator at a testiloves the people outside his church about whom monial dinner to a local politician and we are inno one else seems to care. The tragedy is that in clined to think that it was our presence that made too many cases the Church no longer exists for the dais the only table in the hotel dining-room the community-rather, the community must that was not drenched with liquor. "support the Church." The problem is too largely "Come, Get Acquainted" one of money since churches have bills to pay, repairs to make and salaries to meet. Many a An approach to the rank and file of the neighpastor is placed in the embarrassing position of borhood was made through the distribution of feeling obliged to spend much of his time and attractive cards with a "Come Get Acquainted" energy in raising money. A rich old vestryman invitation. We sent out members of the Church with a grouch thus often has first claim on the who went from door to door with a smile and a pastor, rather than a gang of street boys shooting friendly invitation that was seldom rebuffed. "craps" on the church steps. When there was a death near the church, we An increasing number of ministers are rising went to express sympathy, and upon the invitato protest against the old order – young fellows tion of the family we remained to conduct a brief just out of Seminary, middle-aged rebels of ex- funeral service. When a fee was offered, we gave perience, and old veterans with vision-are say- it back saying, "We want no money for help and ing to the churches of America, "The Church was sympathy in times of death." The news spread made for Man, not Man for the Church." They that here was a church that did not have its hand are insisting that the raising of money is inci- out for money and that only wished to be friendly. dental, while a ministry to the sick and the suffering and the seeking is the real work of the Church. Our next approach was to the children. This is They are insisting "Open wide the door and say a prolific neighborhood and the coming generation with Jesus 'Whosoever will, let him come' even is everywhere under foot. We built a gymnasium though he comes only for what he can get and may with shower and locker-rooms and said to the never join or give the Church a nickel." "But," children, "Come in and play." When they dissome official of the church may say, "this is sui- covered that a Jew and a Catholic and an Unbecide. What about the money we need for local ex- liever were as welcome as any of our own Sunday penses and for our Missionary Budget?" As a School children, they literally laid siege to the matter of fact, if the Church has done its work church pleading for a club and a Leader. We well it will have fewer financial worries. A Chris- advised them to ask permission at home and at tian who is thoroughly Christian is a generous church to join a club in our building and we urged Christian, but an unregenerate Church Member them to make it clear that, although every club who can "take his religion or leave it" must be would be led by a Christian Leader and would feaeternally urged to give to the Church and its work. ture a brief period of worship at each session, no Or a church may have a top-heavy budget. boy or girl now attending another church would be asked to join this church. Next we purchased The church I serve is attempting to render a a moving picture machine and once more circularcommunity service to its 100,000 possible cus- ized the neighborhood with news of the "Chiltomers. Located on the congested East Side of dren's Hour," with the two-cent Movies each Manhattan Island in an area of deterioration, this Thursday from 6: 30 to 8: 00 p. m. From 250 to church is the center of· much of the life of its 300 children come to this activity each week.
They sing lustily patriotic and religious songs, A Library is maintained where decent books listen to the Bible or hero story, bow reverently are loaned. Sunday School, Sunday morning and during the prayer and laugh uproariously during evening Worship Services, Church Prayer Serv- the four reels of motion pictures. At intermis- ices, Apartment Prayer Services, and all kinds of sions invitations are given to the children to at- religious meetings are regular weekly activities, tend Sunday School and to join various clubs. and everyone who comes into the building is in- When they leave, the children are given a letter, vited to attend.
signed by the Pastor, inviting the parents to vari- Why did this church, twenty years ago, attempt ous church meetings and activities if they do not this sort of an approach to its neighbors? Partly attend another church. We send home also "Hello, because its Leaders believed the church possessed Neighbor" cards inviting the parents to come to a treasure too valuable to be selfishly hoarded the neighborhood meetings in the Church Audi- within its walls for the benefit of its Members torium each Sunday night, with moving pictures only; partly~-because of a small Spanish boy and as the attraction and a twenty-minute worship his gang who were trouble makers. They almost service and sermonette as a feature. always found the church door locked and so they Young people were invited to join dramatic pounded on it, threw rocks at it and even cut their initials in it. They found a can of paint and covclubs. The girls were organized into cooking ered the front door with specimens of futuristic classes, sewing classes, singing classes; children art. Decidedly out of patience, the church-worker were put into children's choirs, a week-day school in charge hid just inside the church and, when the of religious education and, during the summer, a gang returned again to the fray, the worker gave Daily Vacation Bible School. Down through the chase. After running a block he caught the years many have shown themselves ready to join leader, a Spanish lad of about ten, and brought instruction classes in preparation for Church him back to the church in righteous wrath and Membership. virtuous triumph. "Now," he chortled, "now we will deal with this gang of rowdies." He was just Women have been organized into Mother's calling Police Headquarters when he thought to Clubs, Bible study groups, and a White Cross ask the boy his name and why he and his gang Sewing Circle. The men are invited to join a hated the Church. The boy replied tearfully,"My Men's Club and have fitted up the Tower Room name is Emanuel Jesus. We do not hate the of the church with fresh paint, new furniture, a Church. We come to play on the church steps bepool table, checkers and chess and a radio. The cause there are no playgrounds and we find exciteroom can scarcely accommodate the growing ment pounding on the locked church door." The group of neighborhood men. worker was stricken to the heart. Suddenly he saw a great light-it was not the gang of boys Young people, with no possible privacy in their who was guilty, rather the church that kept its "railroad fiats," have enthusiastically painted and door locked against the neighborhood. He realfurnished a "parlor," just inside the front door ized that he had kept "Emanuel Jesus" loc~ed outwhere they enjoy clean social contacts, and where side the Church of the original Jesus who once upon occasion they may even do their courting. said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and Dozens of them have gravitated to the three Sun- forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of day-night Societies. Here, under competent Chris- Heaven." tian leaders, they spend an hour in worship and in the discussion of topics vitally interesting to them. Some of these topics follow: "Is War a Necessary Evil?"
"Can Crime and Poverty be Cured?"
"What Has the Church to Offer to Youth?" The ninety-six metropolitan districts of 1930 "Is a Lie Ever Justifiable?" contained almost 801'0 of the total urban popula- "Who Is My Neighbor?" tion. "What Is the Value of a College Education?"
"Is Jesus the Answer to World Confusion?" In view of the nearly 301'0 increase of urban "What of Love, E'ngagement, Marriage and Divorce?" population during the last census decade (from The charm of these meetings is their frank and 54,305,000 in 1920 to 68,955,000 in 1930 or a gain unrepressed discussion. in urban population of 26.91'0) and in view of We also set ourselves to find jobs for the job- the American assumption that all cities grow, one less, so far as possible to feed the hungry, to give is quite unprepared to learn that many cities fared friendly help to the juvenile delinquent and to se- badly during the decade. Nearly one-half of cities cure scholarships for young people interested in with 10,000 population or over-354 out of 746- a college education. Everyone with a problem or failed to keep up with the population increase of a heartache is encouraged to talk it over with the the nation as a whole, while 512 cities from 25,000 workers. For years the Pastor's Office has been population to 100,000, actually lost population in- thronged by lines of troubled folk. cluding four cities in the 100,000 group.
Christ in Crowded
By DR. ROBERT A. McKIBBEN, . Los Angeles, California Superintendent of "All Nations Foundation"
I F JESUS were to walk the streets in the neigh- laundry workers were started, a girls' club, a borhood of "All Nations" in Los Angeles, he boysl club, and a small library to make possible a would find forty thousand people crowded into closer acquaintance with those less fortunate. one square mile, descendants of almost every race As new needs were revealed, new opportunities on the face of the globe; these include thousands were recognized. With Christian faith and intelof unattached transient men, ten to fifteen oc- ligence, a ministry was begun to that community cupying a room built for two; young women which outgrew the buildings and facilities of the forced to ply their trade as prostitutes or prefer- church. The old property was sold and two apartring that manner of livelihood to other personal- ment buildings and a play area were purchased. ity-destroying trades; mothers seeking to protect A "Church of All Nations" was started, and by their daughters amid conditions of vice and crime; those who disapproved it was called "The Church residents who have sought this area hoping to of All Notions." hide themselves in such surroundings; aged persons barely eking out an existence; children try- The need for additional workers and for new ing to play Indian or tag and barely escaping buildings became apparent. The site selected was death as they dodge in and out among trucks and justified when later studies revealed that more autos; youth wondering how they are to get a boys and girls per thousand population were gostart so as to marry. ing to the juvenile court from this area than from any other in the entire city. After Dr. and Mrs. In this part of the city, Christ would discover Oxnam had completed ten years of Christian minno house built in the last forty years, no home istry in this area, and had successfully led in a with less than two persons. per room (including campaign to build, equip and staff a Christian kitchen or dining room), no lawns or parks, no service station in the heart of the city, he was playgrounds other than one connected with a called to the Episcopacy of his church. small school. He would find one liquor establishment on the average to every two hundred and Today the All Nations Foundation includes the seventy of the population; here the theaters Church of All Nations, the All Nations Boys' Club, schedule "strip-tease dancers" for the benefit of the All Nations Community House, the All Naunattached men; here are quack doctors and heal- tions Clinic, Hollenbeck Center and Sunset Center, ers, night missions that deal out bread and soup and the All Nations Camp. All of these are owned as, bait not only for those whose souls need sal- and operated by the Methodist Episcopal Church, vaging but for those whose money support such some units being supported by the Community proje~ts. Jesus wept over the City of Jerusalem Chest, Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions Clubs, and and He would have just cause to weep over this women's organizations. Service is rendered with- "City of the Angels." The church in the city out regard to class, creed, or color. today must fight and fight hard alongside other organizations if the many degrading influences af- The second ten years has now been added to the fecting the life of individuals are to be overcome, record of service. Houses are twenty years older; if conditions are to be altered, and if the city the population is transient; the problems of unbeautiful is to be created where there may be life adapted men, prostitution and liquor have inabundant. creased with population; play area has lessened by incoming warehous-es and industry. These Twenty years ago a young minister, the Rev- hardly indicate progress but in this neighborhood, erend G. Bromley Oxnam, later a Bishop of the where juvenile delinquency was at its worst, the Methodist Episcopal Church, came fresh from the Judge of the Juvenile Court has said, "All Naseminary and, with his wife was assigned to the tions is spoiling my business." area described. His church was rapidly being deserted by "We Americans" as they moved into After the completion of the new buildings and better communities. Noonday luncheons for the equipping and staffing for the larger program, the public school authorities noticed a decided change for the better on the part of the youth who [279 ]
were participants in the activities at All Nations. for folk from our neighborhood to adjust to new There was a change for the better in attitudes and communities and to life in a new church. Their habits of the children and in personality traits. habits and attitudes are not readily accepted by A study under the Department of Sociology at the the new group; they are not given social status University of Southern California revealed that and there is often a lack of warmth in the wel- in five years time juvenile delinquency was re- come accorded them. Thus much that has been duced 65% within a mile radius of "All Nations." gained may be lost, but there have been gains for A View of All Nations the Master individually and socially. It is recog- nized that one can point out individuals about The work at All Nations was registering effec- whom a thrilling story can be told-ignoring the tively in the area of life with which Jesus was hundreds with whom we have failed. There have most concerned and upon which he placed the been failures, particularly among the adults. All greatest value, the personal life and character of Nations has,been more concerned with youth. In an individual. The All Nations Foundation is one of our offices there is being accumulated "be- community rather than institutionally centered. fore and after" pictures. Boys and girls are seen Its program aims at the individual and his needs as they have come into activities – with their rather than the mass ap.proach. A glance at All clothes in tatters, dirty, physically retarded in Nations as an organization may most clearly de- school and dwarfed in outlook on life; somehow scribe how its work is carried on. they have caught something best described by the Each of the seven units of service has its, own word "spirit" that has changed their personality executive board which is responsible to the board and purpose as they have grown with us. The of trustees for devising programs and activities, "before and after" pictures show something of recommending its personnel and its budget. The what has taken place. The Gospel of Jesus and Church of All Nations is a completely organized the Spirit of Christ have registered outwardly as church which seeks to link individuals and fam- well as inwardly in the life of the individuals.
ilies to the church of their own choice. If that is Some time ago an anonymous donor made not possible and there is no choice, then every ef- available $40,000 to make a -scientific and thor- fort is made to link them with this Church of All oughgoing study of the youth of our community.
Nations'. Because of the transient population the The first 200 youth studied revealed that they had church membership will always be small and no 1,154 problems – mental, physical, social, spir- stable membership can be built up. itual. We at All Nations, the school authorities, The Boys' Club and Girls' Club each has a three- the family, and other organizations who might be story separate building to house their activities. serving the family, recognized less than 20% of Hollenbeck and Sunset Centers are located two those problems. In other words, the youth of our miles from the main buildings, while the moun- community were facing an 80'10 handicap.
tain camp is ninety miles away. About two hun- For instance, there was a young Japanese lad dred volunteers serve in varying capacities in the who never participated in the normal group or several units and there are twenty full-time paid club life other than merely attending. He was staff members and twenty part-time staff. Dur- never elected to office and could not even read a ing the past ten years there has been an increase verse out of the Bible. Now that nationality is in the budget-from $35,000 to $65,000 a year. in no wise retarded mentally. As we studied this During the past five years a $20,000 camp has youth we tried from every angle to discover what been constructed. These facts are further evi- was wrong. Finally a very simple test was given dence that this type of approach to anti-Christian which revealed a slight speech defect. Six months and anti-social life is not only recognized by in a university speech clinic eliminated that de- church members but by non-church members an~ fect in a lad who had been retarded four years in folk of other faith, who do not hesitate to con- school. Another lad who was rapidly developing tribute to its support. There has been no financial an inferiority complex eagerly entered into life drive nor is anyone in the field for finances. The within his own age range, was elected an officer program and its results in terms of Christian per- in his club, and was one of the first to request a sonality is its own credential. high school young people's organization. The Christ would not find in this area a large num- simple defect might have wrecked the personality ber of persons connected with the church within of this youth, but his growth was advanced by a this organization. As soon as a family begins to slight Christian service.
show promise of reconstruction, we urge them to Another youth, a half-breed from Texas, was move out of the coinmunity. It is not a good place kicked out of his home at the age of nine, and to raise their children, thus we cannot build up arrived in San Diego via a box car, determined to a large church membership. We find it difficult become a newsboy. Finding that the only way to
SERVING CHRIST IN CROWDED STREETS
occupy the most remunerative corner was by fight- bully leader finally turned in a gangster's revolver ing his way to the top, after twenty-three battles which he had stolen from an automobile. These in twenty-eight days he occupied that corner. two groups of youth pledged us that they would Then he moved to Los Angeles to "conquer a call off the gang warfare. Finally, as the five larger world." He was so successful as a fighter older fellows were about to leave, the boys' leader that the prize-fight ring offered him a contract. suggested that when they arrived at the high On his way to the eastern part of the city to sign school tomorrow somone would probably slip up a contract, he dropped in to our Boys' Club and behind them and call them "yellow." They disbecame interested in talking with the Director. cussed such a situation rather thoroughly. To He stayed on as a member, finally became a volun- this same bully, who professed to be a Christian, teer leader and later a part-time staff member. we suggested that here was a place where the He decided to enter the field of Christian service Master would help him. That was four years ago to youth and began an uphill fight to educate him- and not one act of hatred has been observed in self. Graduating from high school at twenty-five, these four years between these two groups, as he then went to the university, and for two years they have met one another on the street and in was young people's director in one of the city school. This former "bully gangster" last year churches. Upon graduation he became assistant served as president of his high school student head of one of the large boys' agencies and today body, winning a univerity scholarship, and today is a prominent and successful Christian leader. is studying for the Christian ministry.
There was a time when we were bothered The old Seventh Street Gang, with some fifteen with petty stealing and finally discovered that "Frenchy," one of our boys, was being used by a members, was one of the worst gangs in police clever pickpocket and thieving gang. When anything was stolen all we needed was to tell him history. They robbed, stole and were accredited things must be brought back and then more was returned than we had missed. Three years' mem- with burning down one of the school buildings in bership in the activities of this human service station brought about a transformation in the life of the neighborhood. A young lad was forced to this young man. One day he approached me, saying, "You know, I'm different." There was a new move into the neighborhood because of the famspirit in that youngster. When his club was offered a very elaborate Thanksgiving dinner he ily's financial difficulties. Like most boys he was the one who led in the movement to see that wanted company and went out into the street to what was to be provided for him and his pals, find it. Without knowing it, he became a member should be given to those who needed food much of this old Seventh Street Gang. He had never more. As chairman of the committee after he robbed or stolen before. He was a natural, norcame back from his first jaunt out into human mal boy wanting excitement and he got it. So helpfulness his remark was, "That's the first kind able was he that he became the leader of this old deed I've ever done." Seventh Street Gang. One day he dropped in at the All Nations playground and laughed and Some time ago we became aware of a feud or sneered at what was going on. He came again gang warfare among some of the youth. It grew another day and still another. Finally he joined to rather serious proportions before we discovered in the activities and soon brought one of the memwhat it was all about. A bully, an older boy, had bers of the gang with him. He too laughed and been mistreating three younger boys until they sneered and refused to participate but it was not finally determined they would stand it no longer. long until the appeal of fun got the best of him One evening they ganged up on him in the alley and he followed the leader. All fifteen of that gang joined All Nations and were later baptized. and when he came out of the hospital he decided That leader of the Seventh Street Gang became to retaliate and formed a gang with the help of a member of the board of trustees governing All four other fellows. The three youngsters, discov- Nations. ering this, organized a gang Qf ten. We called the boys in singly and collectively, even summon- These are evidences of a change in attitude, a ing the parents in most cases. When we were change in habit, and a change in personality which through, on the desk of the boys' leader there were we believe that Jesus Christ would recognize as deposited pieces of pipe a foot long, nicely taped a part of the Kingdom of God movement which he on one end in order that it might not slip while sought to create in this old world. being used, brass knuckles, pieces of steel that would fit into the palm of a hand and knives. The The Church is most effective as it translates the Gospel of Jesus Christ into practical forms of hu- man helpfulness. Such evidences of Christian love and understanding eventually find a response in the hearts of those who reside "on the other side of Main Street."
the Gospel in a City
By H. A. IRONSIDE, Litt.D.
Pastor of the Moody Memorial Church, Chicago THE new dispensation was ushered in on the wide to welcome people to hear the Gospel and to day of Pentecost in a city, and that the enjoy Christiftn fellowship. The main auditorium guiltiest city in the entire world. John Bun- has seats for 4,040 people and there are some yan has well used the term "a Jerusalem sinner" seventeen other halls and rooms used every Sun- for the very worst kind of an offender. In Jeru- day (many of them much more frequently) for salem, Ghrist had demonstrated His deity by Sunday School work, young people's meetings and many marvelous works. There He had proclaimed other 'gatherings of various kinds. It has never His wondrous message of grace. Even the chil- been found necessary to use unscriptural methods dren had welcomed Him enthusiastically and in order to draw people. From 3,000 to 4,500 many joined with them as they cried, "Hosanna people are found in this church twice every Sun- to the King that cometh in the name of the Lord." day, listening to plain, simple, Bible preaching.
Yet it was in the same city a few days later that In the morning service we endeavor to expound He was rejected, and outside the gate of that city the Word for the building up of the people of God, he was nailed to a cross. But when he appeared going through book after book of the Bible and to His disciples as the Risen One, he commanded finding constant interest in this method of presentthem to go into the entire world, beginning at ing the truth. The Sunday night meetings are Jerusalem, and to preach to all men the Good evangelistic gatherings where the Gospel is pro- News of remission of sins through faith in Him. claimed with no uncertain sound. The three R's And so the first great revival took place in that are continually insisted on: man's Ruin by sin, very city where fifty days before He had been so the necessity of Regeneration by the Holy Spirit, cruelly and wickedly crucified. and Redemption by the precious. blood of Christ; T.oday the grace of God is as truly sufficient for almost invariably there is definite response in the the city as for the rural community. In spite of way of anxious souls coming to the inquiry room, the varied attractions which the average metrop- seeking for light and help. It is my firm convic- olis provides – its theaters, its cinemas, its tav- tion that wherever these methods are followed, ems, dance halls and kindred places where every under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, people will possible appeal is made to the lust of the flesh, the find their way to the church that refuses to know lust of the eye and the pride of life-the Gospel anything among men "save Jesus Christ and Him is still the power of God unto salvation to every- crucified." one that believeth, in the city as elsewhere. Eight Not for a moment do I mean to imply that we years in the largest evangelistic center of the City should ignore men's social and economic needs. A of Chicago have demonstrated this beyond a department for ministering to those in financial doubt. There is abundant proof that men will tr.ouble is maintained in this church, and through still come to hear the Gospel and will respond to it many poor, distressed .ones have been helped that Gospel if it be preached in dependence on and numbers have been won to Christ.
God, in simplicity and in the power of the Holy Personal evangelism is emphasized and it is Spirit. Dwight L. Moody began his work in this doubtful if there are many wh.o make public pro- great city more than seventy-five years ago. His fession in this church who have not been spoken little church was largely made up of poor, neg- to personally by some friend, inviting them to the lected people wh.o had been won for Christ by meetings and trying to lead them to Christ.
Moody's faithful testimony and kindly interest; The Sunday School work has a pr.ominent place, today there stands in close proximity t.o the city's for we believe that the instruction of boys and great business district, a massive temple erected girls in the Word of God, even before they have in memory of the evangelist and to the glory of definitely decided for Christ, is like setting every- the Christ he preached. The Moody Memorial thing in order for a fire in the stove or furnace.
Church is a building which, as we often announce, Then the match of evangelism often starts the has over three hundred doors and all swinging flame which burns brightly unto eternal life.
[282 ] DR. IRONSIDE AND AN AUDIENCE IN THE MOODY MEMIORIAL CHURCH, CHICAGO Moody himself began as a Sunday School worker their courtesy the Moody Church uses this station and the Moody Sunday School today is an out- to broadcast the Sunday morning services which standing testimony to the value of his methods in thus carry the message into places we could otherdealing with young and old. wise never contact. The Christian Business Men's Committee uses another station, and so reaches In many cities, since the advent of the automo- many more. bile, open-air meetings have become alinost taboo. It is difficult to gather people together to hear the In the neighboring town of Cicero there is a message on the streets when parking space is at a splendid work of evangelism carried on from the premium and it is well nigh impossible to find a Cicero Bible Church. In fact, time would fail me place where a crowd can be gathered. But for to tell all that God is doing through many of the years every summer, open-air testimony has been independent tabernacles, as well as recognized given in various places where it is possible to over- evangelical churches and Gospel halls, the Salvacome these obstacles. Many a wanderer has been tion Army and other groups, who are constantly reached in this way. at it, not only reaching the submerged classes, but the higher-ups as well, with the glad, glorious mes- In this great city there have been other remark- sage of God's free salvation for sinful men. able movements throughout the years, and God has owned them in a marvelous way. Downtown One thing is very striking. When some in the heart of the loop, theater meetings have churches close their doors for the summer, or give been carried on by a Christian Business Men's up any attempt to hold a Sunday night meeting, Committee at the noon hour for nearly eight the churches that stand for a full, clear Gospel years, with the exception of the hot summer find that the crowds will come,and that there is months when outdoor meetings take their place. no occasion whatever to relax their activities in These meetings have resulted in the conversion of the sumWIer months. In many"instances they remany, numbers of whom return from time to time double them. to bear testimony to the reality of the change in their lives. As a result of an experience of nearly fifty years preaching Christ I have no note of pessimism to Radio ministry has proven to be a great help sound. I do not find, as some insist, that there is in giving the Gospel to the city. The Moody Bible a decrease of interest in spiritual realities. On Institute maintains its own station WMBI, carry- the contrary, I can say honestly that there has ing on a continuous evangelistic testimony, which never been a time, excepting during the special reaches tens of thousands of homes. Through great awakenings which have occurred at dif-
ferent intervals in our history as a nation, when drunkard out of the slums, get him to sign the people were so ready to listen to the Gospel, if pre7 pledge and if possible to keep it, clean him up and sented in a kindly and gracious manner by men give him a good suit of clothes, remove him and and women filled with the Holy Spirit, who have his family to a nice, little home in the suburbs, no axes of their own to grind, but who are seeking give him gainful employment, and then let him to make Christ known to those who need Him. die and go to hell unsaved-really, it is not worth while, and I for one would not attempt it." These As to the social gospel-this term which is so are serious words that we may well take to heart. widely used today is, to say the least, extra-scrip- Our great business should be preparing men for tural, and often means "putting the cart before eternity, and when they close with Christ, their the horse." Our Lord Jesus did not say to his dis- outward circumstances will soon undergo a marciples, "Go ye into all the world and seek to clean velous change. Our Lord's words are still apup the slums, to introduce better sanitary condi- plicable, "Seeks.-ye first the Kingdom of God and tions, to improve the environment of the poor and his righteousness and all these things shall be relieve the wants of the needy, to build hospitals added unto you." and endow schools and universities." He did say, "Go'ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to Let me add a word as to Christian education. every creature." But wherever that Gpspel goes, The term "Religious Education" is one that I it proves to be not only the power of God unto abominate. It savors too much of a carnal con- Salvation to everyone that believeth, but it brings ception of religiousness, as fitting a man for untold temporal blessing in its train. The best heaven, in place of emphasizing the importance social work is that which is definitely linked with of a new birth. But Christian education, if really evangelistic testimony. It is true that it would be that, is of great importance. To start with the folly to preach the Gospel to a starving man when youngest children and seek to bring them up in it is possible first to provide him with a good meal, the nurture and admonition of the Lord, ever inbut, unfortunately, the great danger is that phi- sisting on the importance of their own definite lanthropists will be satisfied with giving him the acceptance of Christ, but making them acquainted meal and forget that the need of his soul is far from their earliest days with the great outstandgreater than that of his body. I remember hear- ing truths of the Word of God, will go far toward ing old General William Booth of the Salvation building a substantial Christian constituency in Army talking to a large group of officers when their later years. The danger comes, however, lecturing on "the submerged tenth" in connection if Bible knowledge and catechetical instruction is with his "Darkest England" project. I can see substituted for a definite work of the Holy Spirit the flash in his eye and hear that powerful voice of God, producing conviction and leading the soul yet, as he exclaimed, "Take a poverty-stricken to personal decision for Christ.
Putting the Gospel to the Test By REV. J. F. HARRISON Director of Practical Work, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago HERE are some of the many experiences of large for his age, eleven, with a serious little face those who are putting the Gospel to the and quiet, dignified manner. Just as the meeting was to be closed with prayer Robert said, "I'd like test in our cities. to have Jesus for my Saviour but I've never heard In the Bible class in homes-At the close of the this story and I don't quite understand it all." Bible story the teacher gave, as usual, the invitation to any child present to open his heart and He was asked to stay and talk it over after the ask the Lord Jesus to come in. Several in the others had left. As the other children were obclass of twenty-five expressed the desire. While taining their assortment of caps, coats, mufflers, the other children bowed their heads and closed mittens and galoshes, Robert and the teacher went their eyes, those wishing to accept Christ stood up, into the kitchen to be alone. There Robert told her confessed their sins and their need of a Saviour. that his mother and father were separated and One boy, Robert, there for the first time, seemed he had been sent to a home for unfortunate chiltouched but he did not express a desire. He was dren. "The worst of it is," he said, "that Daddy
PUTTING THE GOSPEL TO THE TEXT
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE STUDENTS STARTING OUT TO CARRY THE GOSPEL TO THE CITY and Mummy seemto have forgotten me. I haven't In the jail-The following is from a letter writeven heard from either of them in over three months." Robert's big brown eyes filled with ten by an ex-convict: tears and lips tried hard not to tremble. "I have just returned from the South and There was unspeakable joy in telling Robert that God has said: "When thy mother and thy thought I had better answer your letter. I was father forsake thee, then the Lord will take thee up." He learned that God, the Heavenly Father, over at the Institute on Sunday and I heard a very wanted him to be .His little boy; that God so loved him (Robert) that He sent His only begotten Son helpful service. I am now a very devoted reader that if Robert would believe in Him he should never perish but have a loving Father in Heaven of the Testament which you so kindly gave me. watching over him day and night. He listened so eagerly as he was told how he might be taken into lt gives me great strength and courage to carry the family of God. He asked Jesus to take away all his sins and to adopt him for His own little boy on. forever. "You were a great comfort to me while I was in In the mission–One evening during the testimony meeting a man came forward to say that he prison. God bless you for helping me find the wanted to take Christ as his Saviour. He was a typical bum, intoxicated and filthy. At first the Light. My entire life and way of living have been leader thought he was a "moocher" (one of the kind that profess to accept Christ and then ask changed and I praise Him daily and pray cQnfor a dime to buy a drink) but after taking him into the back room and praying with him we tinually for further guidance and comfort. I hope found that he was sincere. you will always remember me in your prayers. He had spent twenty-three years of his life in a peniteritiary and had been out only a few Sometime I should like to have you make arrangemonths. He was lonely and despondent. As he passed the mission he heard the singing and came ments for me to be baptized." in. He felt that he needed God and accepted Jesus as his Saviour, giving his testimony publicly. In the .hospital-On a Sunday afternoon as I was visiting in the Hospital I stopped beside .the bed of a Jew. After speaking with him for a few minutes I offered him a tract. I never saw a man change so suddenly. He cursed me and he cursed God and Jesus Christ. I opened my Bible and started to read from the Old Testa- ment certain things pertaining to the Jews. He listened until I referred to Jesus Christ. After he had agreed to the fact of God, the truth of the Old Testament, and to the laws and ordinances of the Old Testament, I asked him if he ever took a lamb or a bullock to the priest for a sacrifice for his sins. Of course he had not. I read to him from the Gospel of Matthew without telling him
where I was reading. He agreed to the truth of sands of dollars in intoxicating liquor. For some the portions that I read and when I told him they days he had been under conviction of sin and this were from the New Testament he would not be- night, in desperation, he had been walking the lieve me. I left a Gospel of John and some tracts, streets seeking God. He passed a mission, and telling him I would call again in a few days. going in, explained his desires. They prayed with him but he received the idea that until he could When I returned he had read the Gospel of either speak in tongues or prophesy he was un- John and said that he believed it was true. To saved. make sure that he understood, I went back through the Bible, showing him that Jesus Christ was "the For the greater part of an hour we stood behind Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the a schoolhouse near a street lamp where we were world," and that He was the eternal sacrifice. The undisturbed, and here this man found the Light. man finally prayed and wept for joy that he had He has been a gangster, and had associated with found the Messiah. some of the bi~est politicians in Chicago, and had a great battle to fight. Later I brought hjm aNew Testament with the Psalms, and he took them as ,a man grasping for One Sunday afternoon I walked up to his apart- a life line. He fairly "ate the Word" and in three ment and found him in a very low frame of mind. weeks his Bible was almost worn out. The remedy prescribed was the confession of Jesus Christ before his associates. In the open air-One evening, after a prayer service, we drove to our district and scouted The next Wednesday evening he came to see me around for a good location. We decided that the and the first thing he said was: "Well, I have Lord wanted us to speak on a corner in a neighbor- done it. I have burned every bridge I had." After hood where Germans, Poles, Russians, Serbians, two days of thinking and praying and reading the Italians and Roumanians reside. We started with Word of God he had come to the conclusion that the song service and in a few minutes over 125 it had to be a clean break. Wednesday morning people had gathered from all directions. Three he went out to the gangsters' headquarters where special songs followed and then the message was he requested that his name be taken off the list. given and those who desired further information The men thought at first he was drunk; then, that and help were asked to step out from the crowd. he was crazy. He was offered whiskey and money About two thirds did so and personal work lasted which he refused, telling them that all the money for half an hour. We knew that the Lord had he got from them was fools' money. He then told given a special blessing and we were jubilant. them of the step he had made and that he was all We found that 63 people had been dealt with and through with them and the kind of life they led. 38 had professed conversion. Nearly four hun- dred tracts had been distributed and people had After convincing them of his sincerity he went taken twenty-one Gospels of John. Other names to several places where he owed bills, paid them . were taken and Gospels were mailed later. so as to have nothing to draw him into the temp- tation of his former life. When he had made the In the street-One evening I had a feeling that slate clean he had ten cents left which he used I must go for a walk. After about twenty minutes in calling up a former friend. I turned the corner to go to my ,apartment, but felt that I should cross the street. As I stepped "Broke but happier than in years," he said and up on the walk a man passed me and I held out a felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoul- tract which he took. After walking about twenty ders. Without a job and no connections, he faced steps he turned and said, "May I talk with you?" life with more confidence than he had ever known. This man has since been sorely tried as he has His first question was: "Must I speak in sought work. However, God has now graciously tongues to be saved, or believe in any other of provided his need. these things, such as prophesying or healing?" Does the gospel work today? Moody Bible In- I learned that this man had drunk down thou- stitute students say, "Yes."
Why cannot the young people's groups and the church congregations, unite to meet the common task of taking the Gospel to the whole community without disturbing the forms and the confessions of the individual church and the individual denomination? If we do not do this and do it quickly, how can we hope to make our city part of the kingdom of God? .
Let these be our three objectives: 1. To minister as Christian individuals in so far as possible to all whose condition is a challenge to Chris- tian friendliness. 2. To bring the common conscience of the church to bear upon community conditions that are unjust and that degrade life. 3. To carry the preaching and the teaching functions of the church out to those who are at present unreached. ROBERT W. SEARLE.
with the Industrial
By REV. A. J. MUSTE Director of Labor Temple, New York I GNAZIO SILONE is the foremost Italian nov- quisitive, pseudo-scientific, materialistic indus- elist of today. Being an anti-Fascist he does trialism which has been the "respectable religion." not reside in Italy. A few years ago he at- But none of these faiths is meeting the world's tained fame with a novel entitled "Fontamara" needs; on the contrary, under their leadership (Bitter Stream) which pictures village life under and amid their clashing, the world is headed for Fascism. Later he published another novel, catastrophe. "Bread and Wine," which is his portrayal of how Fascism may be overcome. The hero of the book The basic reason why these rival faiths are failwas in the secular revolutionary movement in ing to meet the world's needs and are leading it Italy before Mussolini came to power. Now, ac- to catastrophe is that they are built upon rotten cording to the story, he is back in Italy working moral and spiritual foundations; they deny some in the underground movement for a free regime, of the most fundamental concepts of the Christian but with a very different approach and methods view of the world and of man. from those previously employed. Here are some typical utterances which Silone puts in the mouth We briefly mention three points at which Chrisof his hero: tianity stands in opposition to materialistic indus- trialism, Fascism and Communism. First, the The dictator's henchman must be opposed not with other three systems all hold degraded and degrading henchmen who merely spoke differently, but with men who conceptions as to the nature of the individual, in lived and acted differently…. The evil I see around me contradistinction to the Christian view that the is deeper than politics. It is a canker. . . . There is the human being is spiritual, a child of God, having class-struggle, the struggle between the town and the moral dignity and worth. Let us illustrate. To country, but underlying all these things there is man, a the pseudo-scientific world-view of the pre-war poor, weak, terrified animal. The canker has penetrated period which saw everything in terms of mechanto his marrow. . . . All that remained alive and inde- ism, the human being is "a highly temporary structible of Christianity in me was revived: a Chris- chemical episode on a most petty planet" or "a tianity that neither abdicates in the face of Mammon, nor tiny lump of impure carbon and water." To a proposes concordats with Pontius Pilate, nor offers easy certain kind of industrialism, man is a mere cog careers to the ambitious, but rather leads to prison, seeing in a machine. Henry Ford once said, in effect, that crucifixion is no longer practised. that it is the duty of management to take the load off the worker's back and put it on the machine, For anyone who is acquainted with the modern and to take the load off the worker's mind and literature, especially that of "the Left," which has put it on the office. From the spiritual and moral influenced the thinking of industrial workers in point of view, what is left that is human in a the western world even though not many of them creature with nothing on its back and nothing on . read it, these sentences sound a startlingly new its mind? And practically, of course, this creanote. Yet dozens of quotations could be cited from ture ends on the scrapheap of industry, lucky if recent essays, poems and novels of such impor- the state adopts him as a ward. tant figures as Aldous Huxley, Edmund Wilson, John Dos Passos, Sidney Hook, Josephine John- In Fascism the human being is degraded to a son, W. H. Auden, Andre Gide, Eugene Lyons mere pawn in the hands of the totalitarian State. and others in which the same approach is implicit In Communism the proletariat, idealized in the if not quite so explicit as in Silone's book. People abstract, is in the concrete subjected to the dicin this mood are likely to be much more receptive tatorship of an absolutist Party, and in the Party to the Christian message and philosophy than the member is a pawn: if the Party says that a they have been until recently. man must steal, lie, spy upon and betray his What has brought about this new trend in mod- closest friend, he has no alternative. ern thought? We may put it in this way. The Second, all of these systems, as might be inthree modern faiths which have been rivals to Christianity on the soil of Christendom itself are ferred, regard the system rather than the indi- Fascism, Communism and the get-rich-quick, ac- vidual as important. "Keep this system, with all our marvelous inventions and progress, just as it [287 ]
is, and all will be well; we shall progress auto- man is a part. For obviously, man is a dependent, matically and forever"-is or was the naIve faith a contingent being. We did not create ourselves. of a materialistic capitalism. "Smash it all and Weare the product, the creation of something- put another system in its place and all our prob- Some One. lems will be solved"-is the equally naIve faith of the secularist Marxist. Christianity knows that Of what, then? Of whom? Creatures of mat- any "system" is only human beings living in cer- ter? "Tiny lumps of impure carbon and water"? tain relationships; unless something happens in How then can we, out of "mere matter," produce the human being, nothing has happened at all. creatures who can make moral decisions and re- spect themselves? Or is man the product of some Third, all of these systems believe in power and vast cosmic mechanism? How shall he then be- domination. They reject and despise gentleness, come more than a cog in that impersonal machine? meekness, love. They believe that "the end justi- fies the means." They think that the world can No, if our problem is what so many are coming somehow, by violence, ruthlessness, repression, again to see, what "high religion" has always _ dictatorship, reach the goal of peace and democ- known it to be, then must we not conclude that racy and brotherhood. The civilized, capitalistic there is no salvation for us from suicide, indi- world believed this doctrine so firmly that twenty vidual and collective, no means of maintaining or years ago it spent directly and indirectly thirty recovering the self-respect without which man million human lives and four hundred billion dol- cannot go on living, unless man can know him- lars' worth of wealth in a war that was to make self as the creation of Spirit, living in a universe the world finally "safe for democracy" and put which is somehow governed by moral and spir- an end to war. Having observed the results, this itual law? Is there then any escape from "the capitalistic world cannot yet make up its mind to gods many and lords many" who rule this age save renounce the method of war, even though that too in "the one God, the Father," whose very nature involves a bit of risk, any more than Russia is it is to produce sons and daughters who can re- prepared to renounce the method of dictatorship, spect themselves and love each other? Can there chekas, espionage and repression, though all it be then any Lord save the "one Lord, Jesus seems to lead to is more dictatorship, chew, Christ," who thus saw man and God and lived in espionage and repression. the light and power of that vision?
Obviously on the terms of any of these systems How else, furthermore, shall we find the dy- life becomes meaningless at last; human beings namic for building a sane and brotherly world? cannot respect themselves; they cannot make It is a question of dynamic. "Never higher than moral decisions because they do not think there in our time were the vital advantages." The vis- is such a thing as morality apart from expediency. ion of a new order has never been clearer; the Men who really think thus of themselves do not material resources are at hand. But confusion, worship God, do not create great art, do not build cynicism, ruthlessness, oppression, terror stalk democratic societies. To do these things we have the earth. "When hatred promised an immediate to believe in the dignity and moral worth of man. dividend all of us hated." We have to understand that the basic question is the nature and quality of the human being. We, who stand on Christian ground and who share the Christian experience, are alone able to The Christian message may again receive a speak with confidence to the "Wise Men" of our hearing which it has not had for some time, since day and to the industrial masses who have been 'a growing number of important writers, particu- under their influence; as Paul spoke to the men larly writers of "the Left," are beginning to pro- of Athens: "I observe, wherever I turn, that you claim again the great human and Christian truth are a most religious people. As I passed along that we must know whether human beings are and scanned your objects of worship, I actually creatures of spirit and so are capable of building came upon an altar with the inscription and living in a free fellowship; changing systems is not enough; the means that men use inevitably TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. determine the ends they achieve. I proclaim to you this God whom you worship in If we really become desperately concerned about your ignorance." the nature and quality of the human being; if we are convinced that we cannot build a new world The Church of Christ today is confronted, as merely by changes in external arrangements, that in its first days, with dictatorship, absolutisms, we must have first of all people capable of making modern Cresarisms – persecuted and hounded by moral decisions and living in a free society, then them. It will probably become increasingly diffi- inevitably the argument will have to be pushed a cult in all lands for the Church to meet the de- step farther back. We have to ask what is the mands of the State for an absolute allegiance and nature and character of the universe of which .retain its own soul. The Church may well be put again in the position of a small minority spiritual fellowship in a hostile world, driven to carryon
A POLICEMAN TRANSFORMED
its worship in the catacombs, "in deserts and Christian evangelism to the industrial worker mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth." must meet him in the arena of his intellect. It On the other hand men everywhere are sensing must prove itself competent to demonstrate the that such a world is doomed and are raising their inadequacy and falsehood of materialistic indusvoices again in the cry for the help which is to trialism, F,ascism and Marxism. It must meet be found only in the Eternal Word of God's re- the worker in the arena of his needs as a cog in deeming love, which by grace is ours. the machine of industry. It must be the voice of a church which does not attempt to defend, much A church which is not prepared to undergo the less to identify its own fate with that of a selfish terrific intellectual and theological labor involved economic order, based on acquisitiveness and in translating its Gospel into the language and strife or with a political order based on violence thought-forms of our day-as Paul, John, Origen, and dictatorship. It must be a church which Augustine, Luther and Calvin did for their day brings the economic order under the judgment of -will not be able to "speak to the condition" of Christ and must insist that in all relationships His these people. A church which, like the Russian spirit and teaching shall be the standard. On church under the Czars, becomes a mere bulwark these terms the Church will also be able to proof the existing order, deaf to human needs, bless- claim to the workers the prophetic truth that they ing or condoning the war-system, a mere tool of will reap nothing but disillusionment and despair the Cresars and the economic and political Cresar- if they seek to achieve freedom and peace and ism of our day-such a church will not be able to brotherhood by the way of dictatorship and vio- "speak to the condition" of troubled and seeking lence and hate. modern men. But a church which is prepared to think through and state the Christian faith in the Modern Christian evangelism must also prolanguage of the present age; a church that is claim to industrial workers the personal Gospelready to be indeed an international fellowship, the eternal message that each man must settle his animated by and obedient to the spirit of Jesus, own account with God; he can by no means pass ready to break loose from entangling alliances on to ,another the responsibility of his own sin or with the Cresars and Cresarism of today, and eager to "society" or "the system"; nevertheless he canto seek to realize the will of God on earth as it is not himself settle that account nor carry that in Heaven – such a church is in a position to burden; God himself by grace wipes out the accall upon modern "Wise Men" and masses alike count and takes upon His own redemptive love the to follow Christ and not Barabbas. This church burden, and so sets man, His child, free and makes will call today with more likelihood of being him a member of the church – the fellowship of heeded than for many decades past. the Redeemed.
A Policeman Transformed By PAUL L. BUFFA, New York City A CERTAIN Christian worker has taken ad- Meadows, where the new Exposition Grounds are vantage of the dearth of candidates in all being landscaped, the policeman drove his car off Fraternal Orders and made it part of his the road and stopped it on an ash dump. To his astonished companion he began to speak of his responsibility to give some of his time to large own spiritual problem. After being confirmed in his mother's church, he never entered a church. groups of men who are always looking for inter- He had tried to live a clean, upright life; he was esting speakers. He has found that the plain happy in his family life, his mother making a story of God's redeeming love, told without an- home for him. Being ambitious and capable, he thropomorphic "gaucheries," without mythology was studying with a view to advancement and and ecclesiastical trappings, always secures the therefore had not yet given thought to getting rapt attention of many rather sophisticated audi- married. He was popular with the "boys" with ences. whom he worked but, said he, "I am not popular with myself. I wish I could become different. I On one such errand, during the first week of am not at rest when I am alone with myself." last November, after he had delivered his message and while putting on his overcoat in the ante- The police officer stated he had talked with sevroom, dismally considering the long street car and eral clergymen-"all very nice men; but some subway journey from Brooklyn to the Bronx, he were too learned for me and said things which was approached by a tall man in a police officer's sounded lovely but did not mean anything to me. uniform who offered to take him home in his car.
While the two were crossing the Flushing
Others treated me like a Bowery tramp and ex- she had gained hope and that the Holy Spirit was horted me to give up my 'wickedness' ; others gave at work in her heart. me easy assurances that I was all right and all I needed was to join their particular church." He New Year's Eve came around and with it the was neither learned, wicked nor desirous of Watch-night service in the Christian worker's church membership, but he was hungry and parish. It was a Candle Lighting Service and, thirsty for new incentives and new motivations after everyone had gone home, he made his cusand a new drive. tomary rounds to make sure all was right in the building. At about one o'clock in the morning, The Christian worker, who does not believe in there was a terrific pounding on the main door of argumentation but in the unfailing power of the the church. The worker opened it and was sur- Word of God when "fitly spoken," quietly asked prised by the sight of his policeman friend accomhis heavenly Father for guidance and was led to panied by over a dozen of the toughest and shadquote (Ezekiel 36: 26), "A new heart also will I iest characters,;irom his neighborhood, together give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; with a generous sprinkling of the "caulyflowered and I will take away the stony heart out of your ear," punch drunk "punks" who love to be conflesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." sidered dangerous, without being really criminal at heart. The policeman apologized for the late- Having slowly repeated this word of promise ness of the hour but he had to finish his day's three times, he felt compelled to silence. For sev- work. He had received the Pastor's circular aneral minutes an atmosphere of tenseness and ex- nouncing the Candle Lighting Service and had depectancy pervaded the car. Then the policeman cided to come and place his candle on the Altar. spoke: He had conceived the plan of inviting the hangers- on, who, at night, are always loafing in front of a "It may be inconvenient to kneel in this car; certain saloon in the vicinity. He remarked: but I feel there should be prayer here. If I stick "They were not in a position to say no; so here my knees in your eyes, just forgive me; my legs we are!" are rather long." Having lit a candle and placed it in the proper He then asked the Christian worker to pray. place he turned to the motley crew who, in the The worker told him to pray for himself. An- penumbra of the church, looked like some of other silence followed, when there took place the Dore's damned; he told them the laws of man most beautiful thing which can happen on earth had touched many of them but evidently had -that which causes the Angels in Heaven to re- helped them very little. He asked if, like himself, JOIce. In simple, sincere language, the young any of them would give the Saviour a chance. policeman started groping for the hand of the Father, which was stretched out to him in his Three of those boys have since come to the darkness. Before the two arose from their knees, Christian worker for spiritual guidance. this valiant young man had taken his oath of allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. To the verse quoted in the car on the Flushing Meadows, the worker now would add the marvel- Thanksgiving Day came around and with it ous words of Ezekiel 36: 29. joy was brought to many, and silent, bitter sor- "And I will call for the corn and I will increase row to others. Our police friend was cruising in it." a Radio Car with his Irish partner, when the screams of women and children from the windows "The greatest church in all the land, of a tenement drew their attention; upon inves- With wealth and power in its control, tigation, it was found that a young mother had tried to commit suicide by inhaling gas and to Holds naught but ashes in its hand, asphyxiate also her little children. The Irish Unless it guards the city's soul. officer went for the telephone while our policeman proceeded to administer first aid. He succeeded in What means this stately granite pile, reviving the woman when, in a hysterical fit she To Christian worship set apart, badly bit his finger, cursing him for bringing her back to life. When he saw her physical life re- If crowded streets, mile upon mile, turning he felt immediately concerned for her Feel not the throbbing of its heart? spiritual life and, disregarding his own hurt, he raised his heart in prayer to God on her behalf. "Respond, 0 church! these myriad calls After completing his day's duty, tired and hungry, Appealing, come from street and mart, the officer, before even taking food, made it a point to pick up the Christian worker and take Where every man whom sin enthralls, him to see the woman who had been snatched from Expects a welcome to thy heart. such untimely end. He found that, in her despair, Reach out, 0 church! this is the hour To make thy ministry complete!
God waits, to furnish thee with power, To lift the city to his feet."
A SKETCH OF THE CONCENTRATION
THE GOODS AND ILLS OF . URBAN LIFE / INNER CITY AREA OUTER CITY AREA RESIDENTIAL SUBURB~ " FOREIGN BORN MINGLING OF NATIONALITIES NATIVE AMERICAN POOR HOUSING APARTMENTS-HIGH RENT SPACIOUS RESIDENCES —……… ~ Af~ POOR HOME FURNISHINGS LOW RATE OF HOME OWNERSHIP LOW AATEOF HOME OWNERSHIP1HIGH RATE OF HOMEOWNERSHI! , DOWNTOWN MUNICIPAL COMFORTABLE FURNISHINGS 'f/<-P~.~ ~ . CROWDING LIMITED SPACE MUCH SPACE PER PERSON POOR LIGHT AND AIR LESS SMOKE AND DIRT PURER AIR BUILDINCS (:)", ('" POOR PLA'1 FACILITIES LIM1TED PLAY FACiliTIES GOOD PLAV FACILITIES LIBRARIES .~.~, – MUSEUMS NO TREES AND GRASS FEW TREES-SMALL VAROS TREES AND CRASS 0~ DIRTV STREET~AlLEYS CLEAN STREETS THEATRES ~ti;E§~<~:_:> IHIGHHIDHGEIHAGTHHINRFBAATIRENTBTYHDTUREBAAETTREHCURLOASTISE I BIG STORES LOW BIRTH RATE lOW BIRTH RATE LOW INFANT DEATH RATE OFFICE BUILDING CENTRAL BANKS LOW DEATH flATE BY TUBERCULOSIS TRANSPDRTATIO CENTRE ~~ ~'yZ HIGH DELINQUENCV RATE JINCREASING DELINQUENCY RATE, LOW DElINQUENCV RATE -' ~'~~~,,»'/INADEQUATE FOOD AND CLOTHING/ADEQUATE FOOD AND CLOTHING / PLENTY OF FOOD AND CLOTHING/ I MUCH UNEMPLOYMENT I I LITTLE UNEMPLOVMENT ;/ I I I MEDIUM RELIEF ~ATES ~ HIGH REUEF RATES LOW RELIEF RATES LOW WAGE II I MODERATE INCOME HIGH INCOME I I '"' "OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF' LEADERSHIP RAPID MOVEMENT FROM / LOW "MOBILITY RATE CONCENTRATION OF -ILLS" PLACE TO PLACE / ICONCENTRATION OF "GOODS"j The Inner and the Outer City By REV. ERNEST GRAHAM GUTHRIE, D.D., LL.D.
General Director of the Chicago Congregational Union I T IS impossible to describe a Modern American ulation, an accumulation of problems of poverty, City in terms that would be true of all, for they delinquency, and crime. So hostile is this environ- differ widely in what they do to and with hu- ment to human life that, no matter what racial man life. Nor is it easy to describe in general group takes up its aoode in these areas, no matter terms. the varied relationships of the Christian how good the stock from which they have come, Church to these differing patterns of life. We sooner or later the same signs of deterioration becan, however, recognize certain facts that create come starkly revealed. And yet out of these very one of the major problems with which the Church areas have come some of the best life we have, has to deal. There is a flight of human life to- rising on ladders visible and invisible to high wards the suburbs, under the drive of the home- place in industry and commerce, in the arts and making instinct, carrying with it many of the religion, in the public life of the city and the naablest citizens, and much of the wealth and other tion. The outer area of the city, with singular resource that was formerly available for the In- exceptions, in industrial suburbs, and even "subner City. The ultimate result is, that the city has urban slums," is marked by the power of wealth, two sharply contrasted areas. The one is marked the advantages of education and superior trainby poor housing, suffocating densities of pop- ing, and, often by a" deep ignorance of, and de- [291 ]
tachment from, the massed disadvantages to is never primary, although often it grows with human life in the central area from which they the growth of all the rest. This means that every have escaped. suburban church has one such relationship to an The resources of the Christian Church have in institution of the Inner City, and the strongest the main followed the course of this economic and churches may have four or five. On the other social drive. The great churches of the suburbs hand, every institution in the Inner City has, in are, in the first instance, the products of this turn, some three to six suburban churches as an movement, and it would not be difficult to substan- inner circle of dynamic fellowship. This Plan is tiate the thesis that these churches have not only fostered within the general organization of the been built up at the expense of the old mother church for the whole city, and is guided constantly churches of the Inner City, but are still dependent by a Cooperating Committee of eighteen repre- upon them for much of their best Christian lead- sentatives of the suburban churches, but the point ership. This movement of the Church life leaves is that these relationships are direct. They grow behind it a situation that is tragically familiar. at both ends through deepening understanding The older fortresses of the faith and service are, and knowledge, and above all by mutual respect with outstanding exceptions, being constantly de- and mutual service, as common participants in pleted, not only in financial resources but in the one faith and one Christian trust.
character of their ministerial and lay leadership, The various strands of this fellowship are all at the very moment when they are facing new important and for different reasons: and often alien populations and the vast complexity of human problems that are the result of the (1) The local boards of the Inner City institubasic movement referred to above. The total re- tions are drawn from the several churches to sult is that the Christian Church is weaKest, in which they are related, and are so carefully chosen every form of resource, in the very area of the that it is not too much to say that many of these most bitter and complex human need. institutions have a calibre of Christian men and women directing them that is, on the average, But that the Christian Church is not satisfied higher than that of anyone of the suburban to leave this situation as it stands, that it is seek- churches related to them. Nor are these men and ing a way and is finding a way to return in the women concerned with finances and bills alone. power of its faith and service into the Inner City Here is one powerful enough to change the whole there is abundant evidence. It is the purpose of attitude of the police to a foreign group the instithis article to briefly indicate some of the ways tution serves. Another caused even a Judge of a in which this is being, and can be increasingly court to be disciplined for unseemly reference to done by a si.ngle communion, by a united Prot- the race for which the Center was maintained. A estantism, and by the still more comprehensive third reaches into the City government, to correct action of the religious leadership of the city as a the menace to health of open drains and sewers. whole. Still others, of the right training and gifts, help the institution to evolve from simply doing am- The Strategy of a Single Communion The first necessity is for any given communion bulance work for those wounded by hardship and to establish an adequate stake of its own life and evil into a powerful center of thought and action, service in the Inner City. If we leave aside, for striking constructively to eliminate the sources of the moment, the older original churches, this stake misery at their origin.
is represented by a group of institutions that (2) A second and a golden strand is the stream range all the way from Rescue Missions and For- of volunteer assistance in the service of these in- eign-Speaking Churches, to Neighborhood Houses, stitutions. The original settlement movement was which are the Church's forms of the Settlement an effort to give to the blighted areas of our cities Movement, and smaller churches of the conven- the kind of intelligence, high moral character, and tional type. One of the vexed questions within trained service and leadership for education, several of our communions at the present time is recreation, and community reconstruction, of to determine in what proportions its resources which these areas had been depleted. To the set- should be divided between churches that build the tlements of London came some of the best life of fellowship and institutions whose ministry is Oxford and Cambridge Universities. In these poured forth, without hope of any kind of return, training grounds were created some of the great out of the chalice of a self-forgetting service. Proconsuls of the empire who, like Milner in Af- Our problem is to create a vital sense of fellow- rica, however highly placed, never forgot how the ship between these two arms of the Church's serv- other half lived and the high trust they held for ice. In one communion what is known as the Fel- that other half. 'From these suburban churches lowship Plan binds these two groups together in have come volunteers, equaling and sometimes a multitude of strands of which the financial bond surpassing in number, the regular staffs of these
THE INNER AND THE OUTER CITY
MEXICAN BOYS AND GIRLS ENACTING THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN FIRMAN HOUSE, CHICAGO institutions, who have given their talents freely ways consciously and wisely kept subordinate, to communities which yesterday they did not even nevertheless grows in a myriad ways. Equipment arrives, from baseball bats to an organ, for the know existed. institution; boys and girls are given opportunities (3) A third important strand is the leadership to recover their health; scholarships are founded by which the more talented may climb towards at both ends of the relationship. The fellowship high careers; golden ladders are let down into the is conceived to be mutual, and it is increasingly darkness, not one, but many. And when any great becoming so. The business of the leader of the single undertaking for some desperate need of a Inner City institution is to enlarge the social con:" single community is set before the communion as sciousness and quicken the social conscience of a whole, it is not the four or five suburban the suburban church; and, where the leader of churches that are its inner circle of fellowship the suburban church rightly uses his opportunity, alone, that respond, but the entire fellowship of his church, at meeting after meeting, in group churches, rising in a single year to contributions after group, is exposed to the cruel pressure and amounting to $75,000, beyond all that is given by the disfiguring results of the city's pitiless forces, the central organization of the Church. As one on other neighborhoods. But always these tragic of the active leaders in this plan has said, "Its scenes are depicted by a leader who offers through basis is found in the fact that fundamentally each his own institution an arm of Christian service one of us regards himself as a part of this great and power that day in and day out is battling city and the city a part of himself." against these evils for human life. As a consequence, many of these churches are beginning to We turn, for a 'moment, to the old mother ask for surveys of the neighborhoods in which churches in the heart of the city. Some of these their related institutions work to go beyond vague are still strong in membership, in resource and impressions and face directly the bitter facts. influence. They have maintained themselves, amidst the currents and the tides that have swept (4) We can hardly wonder that, where these, others into weakness or oblivion. They are susand other strands, of direct fellowship are grow- tained by the loyalty of members who live in the ing in strength, the financial exchange between these two arms of Christ's service, which is al-
suburbs, but whose spiritual home is in the heart bankruptcy and moral and spiritual treason that of the city. And how greatly some of these old it is? Are no great spiritual questions being churches are maintained, a center of tranquility asked,if not in the churches of the suburbs, then amidst the increasing perturbation, full of deep in the souls of suburban men and women as they and great ministries to myriads of lives otherwise drop off, at their quiet stations in the evening, without close human ties, sanctuaries of all forms and pass, through long avenues of beauty to their and moods of worship, on whose altar, as one of homes, or as, in the morning, their train stops their ministers has said, "will burri unobtrusively for a moment to give them a close sight of the but perpetually, a flame symbolizing the everlast- blighted areas of the great city's life?" ing presence of a Friendly God." Perhaps there is no greater service rendered by the suburbs to In one of our great cities the united religious the Inner City than by those who maintain such leadership has set itself to analyze the forces that loyalties, as long as life lasts, and who are sup- make and mar the city, to give a synoptic picture ported in their loyalty by the approval of minis- of the vast orga'frism, as a whole, and this picture ters and churches in the suburbs who look not at is being painted by economists, by industrialists, their own things alone. by politicians, mid all that great company who know how the segment of its mighty life with On the other hand, is' there anything more which they are familiar came to be, what exactly tragic, and, in a great sense, more unnecessary, are the sources of its evils, and from which directhan the dying back of these great centers of wor- tion its salvation must come. ship for lack of support? One by one they perish within their own little denominational fellowships It is only as the organic wholeness of the city that can no longer maintain them. Will the day slowly forms itself in the minds and hearts and never come when these things will be counted challenges the wills of the total leadership of the among the scandals and the high crimes of our Church, in all its branches, and in all its locations, divided Protestantism? Is there not sufficient that the great Kingdom of cooperative life, topower, despite the tribal spirit that still infects wards which the true Church ever lives and them, working with the rising tide of protest serves, will come to pass. In Elizabeth Goudge's against their divided and composite futility, for "A City of Bells," it is said of the old Canon of the Protestant churches to take their stand on the Cathedral, as he moved, one Christmas eve, this at least, and determine that, no matter who through the slums of that Cathedral city: "He comes or who goes, as long as human life inhabits hated segregation, inevitable though he knew it these inner areas, there shall be enough great to be. He hated the barriers of time and age and churches to give a united witness, a united serv- class and language. He longed for the time when ice, and enduring expression to the high resolve all the different lights carried by man in the pagthat, under God, it will not let the heart of the eantry of life should grow into one." city go. No greater service could the churches of the suburbs, as a whole, of every and all commun- Enough has been said above of the active and ions, render than to take an unbroken stand that serving church in the city to show that those diftheir gifts shall not be made to the Inner City ferent lights have grown into one, wherever privexcept under the high policy and technique of, a ilege has shared with those who lack it, wherever United Church. love has found the way to blend life's myriad lights together, in the fellowship that is of, in, Different Lights Grow Into One and through Christ. But these things, of which we dream, and for which we work, in the great- But these are at best but superficial movements ness of our hope, will never come to pass until the towards the greater solidarity of life, that must power of God in Christ so invests His Church be realized in the Modern City. The church in the that we shall learn anew what the Church is and suburbs must delve deeper into its owngonscience can be when it becomes in reality "the act of God and ask, of those who can answer it, "How came in Christ in the midst of time." these things to be?" What industry was it that enticed these 200,000 Negroes from their cabins There are churches which say to their people in the Southland and hurled them, helpless, into the great maelstrom of the city? By whose mor- that one of the requirements of Christian fellowtal and human enactment do both Church and City have on their hands, this multitude of ap- ship is service for which no material reward is parently insoluble problems? paid. One church has, in addition to those who "By whose retreat from citizenship of the great city into the toy citizenship of the beautiful sub- give service in its own program, nearly one hunurban village, does municipal government become the combination of graft and cloaked crime of dred and fifty members who regularly each week are working in the community as volunteers in Christ's name. They are teaching the blind, work- ing in hospitals, calling on the aged, leading groups in boys' and girls' clubs, helping out in other churches. ROBERT W. SEARLE.
A United Church
By the REV. GORDON R. LAHRSON, New York Minister of the Henry Street United Church I NTERDENOMINATIONALISM has often been greener pastures. Why move as long as the com- an interesting subject for speculation and de- munity is filled with human beings whom the bate. The recent conferences in Oxford and Church of Christ is supposed to serve, regardless Edinburgh indicate certain avenues of cooperative of their social or economic rating? effort upon which all Protestant groups may travel. Too frequently, however, the much-ado These two churches have had a flexible minisabout denominations getting together has been try which has sought to interpret the message of like Mark Twain's observation concerning the Christ in light of the human problems and condiweather, it is a subject of much talk but nothing tions in the community. No church can long exist is done about it. While a feeling of helplessness in Manhattan with a static program. Traditional may be justified in the attempt to bring about practices must often yield to newer methods; and ecclesiastical union between certain denominations, church union is being successfully attempted yet, is not the glory of a rich tradition for any .inon the common ground of Christian service. stitution a ministry of service with enough viSIOn Two of the oldest churches in Manhattan, the and understanding to adapt itself to the deepest Mariners'Temple (Baptist) and the Sea and Land needs of men? (Presbyterian), have now joined forces in a united Christian program. The ministers and Mariners' Temple was built in 1795 as the workers in the two churches have been brought Oliver Street Baptist Church and is the oldest together and a coordination of activities has been Baptist edifice in New York City. It was rebuilt affected. While each church maintains its eccle- in 1844, and since that time has been known as siastical identity, all worship and service enter- Mariners' Temple. It is frequently referred to prises have been combined under one adminis- as the "Mother of Churches," several Baptist churches in the city having sprung from it– tration. American, Chinese, Danish, Italian, Norwegian, In evaluating this significant step of church Lettish, Swedish and Russian. Baptist work in Sweden, Norway and Denmark was begun by seaunion, one must recognize the drastic changes men who were members of Mariners' Temple. which have taken place in downtown New York, During the pioneer days, other members of the affecting every aspect of community life. With "Mother Church" were instrumental in organizing the shifting of Anglo-Saxon populations away churches in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. A very from the downtown area, the vast majority of impressive work was carried on among seamen in churches have joined in the exodus. This commu- the early days and from this ministry came the nity upheaval, however, has not resulted in a name by which the church has been popularly dearth of human beings. Great masses are forced known. The daily and nightly ministry to hometo live in these congested areas, in a setting which less men has been an outstanding feature of the lacks many cultural and spiritual advantages. work, and throughout its history this church has People with small incomes must dwell in these opened its doors to people of high and low degree. deteriorated, tenement districts. The same has been true of the Church of the Only a few of the old churches have been able Sea and Land. The present building goes back to to remain to interpret Christ's way of life to the the year 1817. It has had a dramatic history. throngs of human souls who must live in these Frederick Bruckbauer's book, "The Kirk on "haunts of wretchedness and need." Among the Rutgers Farm," portrays the thrilling story of few the Mariners' Temple and the Church of Sea this church up to the year 1919. George Alexand'Land are outstanding examples. Facing the ander, in his introduction to the book, made this social changes of more than a hundred years in revealing observation: the lower east side, these churches have stayed on the job, adapting their ministry to meet the needs In its first half century it sheltered a worshipping conof the changing population. They did not run gregation of staid Knickerbocker type, which, though blest away when their leading members moved to with a ministry of extraordinary ability and spiritual power, succumbed to its unfriendly environment and per- ished.
[295 ]
In its second half-century it became the home of a flock who come for aid. A large number have been of God, poor in this world's goods, but rich in faith, to whom the environment even when changing from bad to given a new hold on life through this work. worse, was a challenge to faith and valiant service. ("The The week is filled with many activities, includ- Kirk on Rutgers Farm," Frederick Bruckbauer, page 5.) ing movies for children, Weekday Church School, The Sea and Land has carried on work not only Boys' and Girls' Clubs, Greek Service, Spanish for English-speaking peoples but for Italians, Service, meetings of Italian groups, Women's So- Greeks, Russians, Spaniards and Jews. At pres- cieties, Gymnasium Classes and Socials. ent, the Italian congregation ranks as one of the strong, foreign-speaking Protestant groups in the The work with children and young people is one city. For many years Sea and Land also had an of the most challenging aspects of the program, important work with seamen when such a minis- for the building of Christian character in childtry was vitally needed. Always the purpose has hood and adolescence constitute a major function been to serve the people of the community. Mr. of every Christian church. Bruckbauer fittingly expressed the spirit of the church. The lower ea~ side is rapidly changing. The new Knickerbocker Village, with its 1,600 fam- ilies, has already made a difference. It is like a lovely oasis in the midst of a desert. The Henry Never has this been a selfish, self-contained organism, Street United Church is providing a place in its but a living, throbbing influence that went out beyond the program of worship and service for the unshadow of its gray walls, prodigal in giving to others the churched people who live there. At present, good things of the gospel that were fostered there. Many scores of old tenement buildings are being torn a church at home and abroad has cause to bless Market Street for the men and women that she brought up in the down, and a re-zoning of the entire district is benurture and admonition of the Lord. ("The Kirk on ing proposed, making it predominantly residential. Rutgers Farm," Bruckbauer, page 105.) If these plans are carried out, a new community Today, the Henry Street United Church brings will come into being. Whatever the changes, together these famous institutions. Once again, Henry Street United Church will once more seek they have met the need of a change which means to adapt its ministry to meet the needs of the more effective service. Each group discovered people.
that it was seeking to do alone that which could be Many hope that there will be enough social accomplished more effectively in a cooperative imagination to provide the kind of housing that enterprise. There has not been the disposition on will be decent and respectable and at the same the part of either church to bemoan the loss of de- time within the economic means of families now nominational glory. Rather, there is a sense of living in the tenements. Those who work in pride in being a part of a denominationalism that underprivileged areas are keenly aware that has the glory of an interdenominational spirit and Christianity must do more than extend the hand a cooperative movement for the common good of of personal kindness. These people need also a the community. social and economic environment with the kind of This Union has made possible stronger leader- soil in which the seeds of personal character can ship and the interchanging of ideas and the fel- grow. When such conditions are provided, the lowship under a united staff of workers. Both beauty and power of the Christian life will find buildings are used: Mariners' Temple (at 3 Henry the best opportunity for expression. Then the Street) and the Sea and Land (at 61 Henry missionary efforts of the church will count for the Street) are only one block apart and the two most. "Men do not gather grapes of thorns or buildings provide adequate equipment for the figs of thistles." Truly this principle applies to work. The Sunday program includes Church social as well as to personal living.
School, Morning Worship, Italian Service in the The vision and support of this united enterprise afternoon, Young People's Meeting and Evening come from the New York City Baptist Mission Worship. Society, the Church Extension Committee of the The ministry of the United Church to homeless New York Presbytery and the New York City men is unique. A Service is held for them every Mission (interdenominational). The work of the night in Hubbell Hall of Mariners' Temple. Food Henry Street United Church is indicative of the and free lodging are provided daily for as large a indispensable part which City Societies have in number as can be accommodated. During the win- bringing the Christian message to our crowded ter as many as 200 men are kept for a single night. urban communities. The splendid way in which Friendly counsel is given to individuals as young these societies have been working together in and old pour out their heart-breaking stories of sponsoring the work reveals a significant phase misfortune. The purpose of this ministry is to of interdenominational cooperation. We have dis- aid in the rehabilitation of manhood. Frequently covered that such church union is a great success men of fine education and culture are among those when expressed in terms of Christian service.
"What Can a Suburban Church Do?"
By the REV. FRANK FlIT, D.D.
The Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan T HIS church is situated three miles from the applies to all of life across the whole world, the official limits and nine miles from the chief groundwork is laid for a vital and intelligent serv- shopping center of the fourth largest city in ice to the multitudes who live in the near-by city.
the United States. It stands on the rim of a half- The condition of the world since 1914 has been circle of twenty square miles containing nearly compelling us to loosen and to thrust away our two million people. Within that half-circle are theological strait-jackets. Now, in this year gathered races and religions from all the world. 1938, as all of us are compelled to gaze at the very We have almost a thousand adult members, per- pit of hell by the terrible course of events, we see haps fifteen per cent of whom would be reckoned clearly, as never before, the true meaning of in the well-to-do class. A similar proportion Christ's message of salvation to mankind. That would be counted at the other end of the economic message means redemption for a man's nature, scale. The remaining seventy per cent of the for his home, for his school, for his shop and members belong to the middle-class group, neither store 'and factory and for his local and state and rich, nor poor. All local groups are represented, national government. It is a message for a man take part in the services and sit on the official and for the society in which he lives. It is for the boards. We have a very adequate church house individual and for all men. This is the conviction in which a program is carried on seven days a by which we Christians truly live and serve. week. In its tradition and opportunity there is nothing in what this particular church may offer Bonds of Service and Understanding to the near-by city which cannot be offered by al- Such a conception of the Christian Gospel is most any of the thousands of Protestant suburban certain to bear fruit in a process of education and churches surrounding the ninety-four cities of the service between the suburban church and the city. United States which in the 1930 census had a pop- It is quite incredible that such a Gospel should be ulation of over one hundred thousand. Some proclaimed and accepted without a constantly inchurches, more favored by resources and per- creasing interchange of information and effort. sonnel and opportunity, can offer more, and some Like other churches this church has its regular churches, less favored, can offer less. services of prayer and praise and instruction.
Th~ First Essential Here are some sample speeches addressed to groups in the interests of the city in recent weeks. Surely the first essential of such a church in its In their aggregate they were heard by the maoffering to the city is that the Christian Gospel jority of the adult members of the church. proclaimed from its pulpit, believed in by its members and assumed in its program from begin- "Making a Department Store a Civic Institution," by ning to end, is as broad and deep as human life the publicity director of a large department store; and its varied needs. Although the Grosse Pointe Farms church must of necessity bear certain "Mosaic or Melting Pot," by a member of the Detroit labels, in the sense that it is Presbyterian in its Council of Social Agencies; connection and witnesses to evangelical Christianity, there is nothing denominational in its offering "Life in a Settlement House," by the director of a setto the city. We believe that the Christian Gospel tlement; is greater than anyone parish or any single denomination, and that the flow of a redeeming and "Security amidst Uncertainty," by the special supertransforming Divine Grace can come down all visor of the Detroit Edison Company; channels that minister truly to mankind in the name of Christ. When such a conception of the "Cooperatives in Michigan," by an authority on coop- Gospel is proclaimed and believed, when the as- eratives; sumption of the entire parish is that the Gospel "The Church and Youth Delinquency," by a member of the Social Service Department of the Detroit Council of Churches; "The Negro of Detroit," by an authority; "Human Interest in Industry," by the personnel director of a large automobile company; "Bargaining between Employer and Employee," by an official in a large industry; [ 297]
"The Christian Approach to the Jew," by a Christian perance organization. Again the list might be minister, formerly Jewish; considerably extended. Almost every man and woman who holds an official position within the "Detroit's Challenge to the Churches," by the director membership also holds some official position in of the Church Extension Board, given before the the agencies which minister to Detroit's need, and Sunday morning congregation. many other men and women in the membership, holding no special responsibility within the parish, In the yearly program of activities there are are giving hours of their time each week to some many carefully planned service projects. The var- outside service. ious groups within the parish are brought into contact with the city needs and institutions. Some Two decades ago a distinguished English samples of this in recent weeks are listed. preacher who exercised a remarkable ministry on New York's Fifth Avenue is reported to have said The Married People's Class visited the Florence that one of his major problems was that he did Crittenton Home on a Sunday afternoon; not have sufficient tasks to offer to his people. That can only be true if the tasks are limited to The Women's Association visited a Community the local church organization. After all, there are House in an underprivileged district directed only a limited number of services within the local by our denomination; church, and the larger the parish the less is the proportion who can serve. But outside the church, A Professional Women's Club sponsored a Sun- particularly if that church be in or near a city, day night story hour at a Protestant Chil- there is no limit upon the opportunity for service. dren's Home; The mission Sunday Schools, the hospital boards, the settlement houses, the Y. W. C. A., and the Sunday School classes visited Negro churches, Y: M. C. A.-there is almost no end to the open- hospitals, old peoples' homes, settlements, ings. Heroic workers among the underprivileged bringing toys, clothing, etc. are sighing for the active personal assistance of the men and women of the churches. Let it be The list could be made much longer. Through- understood that every church member is expected out the year numerous organized trips take place. to serve his fellows by attaching himself to some The effort is made to give every member of the agency which ministers to human need. church a chance to become acquainted with the needy phases of Detroit's life and to appreciate The Offering in Money the methods by which the Christian forces are meeting those needs. It is safe to claim that no The question of the financial responsibility of adult member of the parish has any excuse for the suburban church is left to the last. That is pleading ignorance of the open sores of civiliza- where it belongs. First must come the proclamation in the city so close at hand. tion of the Christian message and the obligation to shoulder the responsibility. Then must come The Offering in Personnel the education in vivid terms of the proportions of the responsibility. Then must come the actual When such a Gospel is proclaimed, and when working amid the need. Then, last of all and with such an inter-related program of education is af- this careful preparation, is the' basis laid which forded, it is to be expected that earnest-minded makes the financial appeal compelling. Convicand devoted men and women within the church tion, education, participation, giving-those are membership will offer themselves for service and the four steps in the full rich contact between the accept positions of responsibility in those religious suburban church and the city. And the methods and philanthropic organizations which minister by which the money will be collected will be nudirectly to the needs of the city. A trustee and merous. Who can chart them? In the local treasurer of our church is the active head and church there is the official treasurer of benevoldirector of the Detroit Community Fund under ences. There are the gifts from Sunday School which some eighty agencies minister to the life classes and other groups. There are the appeals of the city, many of them under Christian aus- from the agencies outside the church. There is pices. The president of the trustees is also presi- the Community Fund through which most givers dent of a leading hospital board, and a former in these days prefer to donate their largest subpresident of the trustees is president of another scriptions. In addition, there are the ,anonymous hospital board. The teacher of a woman's class offerings which keep coming in, the private exin our Sunday School is president of the Detroit pressions of an earnest generosity which the giver Y. W. C. A. The president of our Women's Asso- would reveal only to God. Who can measure all ciation is also president of Detroit's Women's City of these? After all, it is not the method, but the Club and a former president of our Association motive behind it, which counts. is president of Detroit's Colony Club. A woman member of the church is president of Detroit's Protestant Children's Home. Another member is treasurer of the same institution. Still another member is president of the Allied Youth, a tem-
It would be quite impossible, even if it were de- of the evicted family into their new home. After sirable, to reckon up the giving in money to the that he slipped away without even stopping to tell needs of Detroit by the members of this parish. his name. Adding together amounts that are known, through the church treasurers, through the Detroit Com- Just as there is courage and practical kindness munity Fund and through other channels, it would so, too, there is happiness and love. But the handequal several times the budget of the local church. icaps are too great-the blight and misery and In all probability it should be much greater than waste of life are tragic. it is. There are few among us who really give away money to the point where it means personal The people whom you have met in the foregodeprivation. Let us be grateful for the number, ing pages are not creatures of the imaginationfound among rich and moderately circumstanced they are actual human beings. In some instances and poor, who really give to the point of sacrifice the details of their stories have been somewhat and set the standard for the rest of us. altered. In no instance has a story been exagger- ated. And they are not all dwellers in one city. This is a brief report of what one suburban Moreover, their counterparts may be found in any church is attempting to accomplish in the direc- one of the 6'06 communities in the United States tion of the great city on the border of which it having a population of 1'0,'0'0'0 or more-part of an stands. Undoubtedly other suburban churches are aggregate population of more than 64,'0'0'0,'0'00. doing more. Some suburban churches, because of limitations beyond their control, are not able to Has not every city its lonely aged, its physicaldo as much. The point is that every suburban ly, socially, and economically handicapped, its negchurch must do what it can. The order and lected and delinquent children? Are there not in method of procedure, as it has been found fruitful nearly every city one or more groups which suffer in at least one such church, has been pointed out. from prejudice and discrimination? It has been The Christian Gospel, wide, deep and high, in its said that "every American community has its New Testament power and glory, for every aspect slums or substandard area." And every city has of human need; the carefully planned, educational its impoverished families whose income is less connection between the agencies of the church and than the amount necessary for the maintenance of the agencies of the city; the going forth of con- healthy life. secrated men and women within the church to minister where they are needed, offering their These then are neighbors to us all! varied talents to the varied opportunities; and lastly, and as a natural result, the giving of money MARK A. DAWBER. to support the good causes. Surely this is what any suburban church can do for any city. What we Christians have to give is Christ and NEIGHBORS IN THE SLUMS what we have to tell to this urban world is the It is well to remember that there is probably story of Christ. We want to give to the present more courage to the square foot in the slums than on the avenues. And there is abounding kind- world once again the teaching of Christ. One of ness among the poor. Dickens said, "What the poor mean to the poor only God and the poor the reasons why some of the strong and powerful know." people in our big or little communities have been I remember a man who, coming home after a fruitless quest for work, found an unknown neigh- so hesitant with respect to what their duties are bor's goods upon the sidewalk. The evicted family were just sitting there, dejected and helpless. in a modern world, with its constantly demanding The returning job seeker took the situation in at a glance, rolled a barrel to the middle of the side- social changes, is that they have not paid adequate walk, placed a pan upon it, and appealed to everyone who came along the street. When money attention to the teaching of Jesus Christ. The enough had been secured he searched the neighberhood until he found an available fiat, paid a most sure approach we have to make to the people month's rent in advance, and then recruited a gang of men who moved the household possessions in our churches, when we wish to impress upon them the real significance of what is called the social gospel, is what Jesus himself taught. We begin with the assumption that when the Lord Jesus spoke He knew that He was speaking with authority. We are having to begin to present that argument all over again. I heard one person, who was engaged in the marvelous task of religious education, teaching the Christian religion to chil- dren and young people; one of the first things he told them was that they "should not assume that what Jesus said was right," but that they must hear Him critically. It is a help to me to know that Jesus was right, that He really spoke with authority. J. V. MOLDENHAWER.
MONEY IS MYSELF – IS IT MINE? * How can we raise a generation of men and women who will understand the truth about the stewardship of money? Here is a financial creed for Christians who wish to be good stew- ards: 1. Money is not "filthy lucre"; it is not the "devil's coin"; it is stored-up power. Money is much more than a standard medium of exchange. Money represents coined manhood. The five or ten dollars or more paid me for a day's work represents so much toil of my hand and brain. Through money I can also employ men to toil for me. Thus it sets me free from the limits of place so that I can heal the sick in China, or teach the children of India, or light up the dark places of Africa.
2. My money is mine only in trust; it belongs to God, sinc~I myself belong to Him. He created me, and created wealth. Christ redeemed me-purchased me with His own life- blood.
3. God is expecting me to use this money-this stored-up power-to build His churches and preach His gospel, to train His workers and send them out to teach and heal, and to save His children and help establish His rule of righteousness and brotherhood and peace.
4. To use my income aright so as to please God is one of my first responsibilities as a Chris- tian. Until I make up my mind to do this, my prayers and confessions and claims will be like saying "Lord, Lord," while not doing the will of my Father.
5. God tells me to set aside a definite proportion of my income for His work. By this I acknowledge my debt to God and His sovereignty over all my possessions. By acting on this principle, I also guard against selfishness. Giving away money on impulse and without prayer and regularity is not in harmony with the importance of God's work.
6. The proportion of my income set aside for God's purposes should be not less than one- tenth and may be much more, according to the standard given in the Old Testament. I am re- ceiving far more from God than did the ancient Hebrews or the men of any former generation, and God expects me to give not less than one-tenth and more if I am able, for my debt is great and the need is great.
7. I should seek to use money for God as carefully as I use my resources in my ordinary business. I should study the needs of the Church and the world-wide work of Christ so that I will give wisely. If I give systematically and pray with my giving, God will multiply my gift and bless the results.
8. But money is not only a means of service, it may also be a dangerous weapon. It com- mands so many things that men often forget the real values which it can never purchase: the riches of righteousness, love, happiness, a clear conscience and fellowship with God. Three rich men stand forth in prominence in the Gospel pages. One was a fool who bartered his soul for barns and acres; one was a man hard of heart and blind, who saw neither God nor his beggar brother at his door. The third lacked the courage to leave his wealth and choose the higher good by following Jesus.
9. Money spells opportunity. Today, when money offers men so many chances for self- indulgence, it also brings great opportunities for loving service. Never were doors, at home and abroad, so wide open and so appealing. Never were the forces for education and evan- gelism and Christian service so well organized. Never were there so many men and women waiting to be put into service through the use of money.
10. Money also spells obligation. Not only are the Church and Jesus Christ saying this, but the State is saying it, and so are conscience and common sense. Christian faith and loyal- ty are not shown by those who leave large gifts to heirs who have not earned it, who do not need it, and who cannot be trusted to administer it wisely. But the greatest responsibility is not in leaving money behind when we can no longer use it; the greatest obligation is in the use if it while we live. What a tremendous obligation rests upon the man who has been entrusted with wealth or the ability to get wealth. The war against poverty and suffering and igno- rance and sin is with us all the time; money is one great weapon against these, when entrust- ed to wise heads and loving hearts. It is a powerful means by which my life may be given to God and made more fruitful and beneficial to mankind.
• Adapted from the United Ohurch Reoord.
Ways of
'fested Met1wds for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO NEW HOME MISSION women will have a part in writing the reading up on the subject will BUILDING MATERIAL programs for the eleven meetings of convince you of its significance the year. .. . Mrs. Dan Brummitt, and its possibilities. Program The Department Editor is national vice-president, will plan the handicapped, as always at this lessons and point out "The Skyline of builders will be interested in the City." Bridges in History and Legend, time of the year, by the fact that "Widening Horizons" will be a two- by W. J. and S. R. Watson, a book brimful of poems, stories, the program builders to whom months' study of the fields and projshe usually turns for "Effective quotations, etc. Ask for it at Ways of Working" have not yet ects of the women's missionary enter- your public library." (Suggested prise of the M. E. Church:. this 'U!i~l include both home and !oretgn actwt- had opportunity to familiarize ties. for reference only.) themselves with the new study "New Horizons in Christian Relabooks and incorporate them into "The function of bridges may workable plans in time for the tiohs" will be a two-months' study of be described as the starting of a June issue, copy for which must the missionary work of the women of stream of human traffic hitherto be sent weeks in advance of pub- the M. E. Church South and the Meth- impossible; the surmounting of lication. Some of the denomina- odist Protestant Church. This is to a barrier, the linking up of two tional magazines ann 0 u n c e give understanding and preparation worlds divided by a gulf." (Enfrankly that "While information for future relationships with all the cyclopredia. ) as to themes and titles of text- women of United Methodism. books can be furnished, the "There can be little doubt that study courses cannot be ready An Achievements Poster upon which in many ways the story of bridge earlier than June." Hence it goals accomplished may be marked building is the story of civilizawill be necessary to supplement will again be included in the study tion." (Franklin D. Roosevelt.) 'our material on the Home Mis- course. sion topic, "The City," with Most of these programs verify other timeless plans which can Bridges the theme in that they disregard be adapted to any program pres- the invidious distinction between entation, and await the harvest This has been chosen for the the "home" and the "foreign" from summer conferences for theme of the women of the sections of the world-field and more specific outlines. Northern Baptist Convention present a blended and unified for 1938-39. It is a particularly theme. Much abbreviated, they "Forward Looking Plans" fertile and adaptable one. run as follows: Under this title Woman's The builder who first bridged Ni- THE INTER-BOROUGH BRIDGE Home Missions says: agara's gorge, The Bridge which Connects Our Before he swung his cable shore to City with God's City shore, "A Prayer for the City," from Sent out across the gulf his venturing kite Bearing a slender cord for unseen hands To grasp upon a farther cliff and draw The ,Forward Looking Committee A greater cord, and then a greater Prayers of the Social Awakenfelt that the task they faced this year yet; ing, by Rauschenbusch. was somewhat different from that of former committees. Naturally, they Till' at last across the chasm swung Ten-minute Talk, "The City" should be forward looking in offering The cable-then the mighty bridge in (its growth in the last decades, plans for the year's study in methods its importance in our civilization and achievement. They should also air. today. The sociology teacher in cultivate a spirit of readiness for new So we may send our little timid near-by high school or college adjustments that would help every would have material for rewoman to look farther in her own mis- thought sponse. See "City Man," chapsionary service and relationship than Across the void, out to God's reaching ters 1 and 2). she has ever done before. "New Horizons" therefore was the theme chosen hands, Ten-minute Talk, "What Our for the coming year. Send out our love and faith to thread Church Can Do for the City" (t h r 0 ugh establishing new Mrs. Merle English, secretary of the deep, churches, through the Christian Wesleyan Service Guild and a mem- Thought after thought until the little ber of the "Spiritual Life Committee cord Has greatened to a chain no chance can break, And-we are anchored to the Infinite!
EDWIN MARKHAM.
will write the devotional book, "New "If on first thought 'Bridges' Center, by helping our bilingual Horizons in Worship." Conference women, missionaries, seems an unusual theme for mis- neighborhood church. If you sionary programs, even a hasty live in a city secure a map and national officers and local auxiliary [301 ]
locate the projects of its city means the professors as well. every woman into the church, in mission work). Education must be evangelized." friendship, getting our neigh- Ten-minute devotional. (The Bible begins in a garden but (E. Stanley Jones.) bors, in evangelism, getting the soon drives man out. It then tells about cities. It ends with Panel Discussion: Why Is strength of united effort in orthe City of God coming down out of heaven. Gen. 1: 1-5, 27-31. Education a Legitimate Interest ganized missionary work, to get Amos 5: 4-24. Rev. 2'1: 1-7. Pray that our cities may become of a MissionarySociety? (Choose power for all in Jesus Christ God's cities.) at least five intelligent persons (the devotional). THE PEACE BRIDGE seated around a table discussing ON THE BRIDGE The Bible in Many Languages this question. They might con- Missionaries, reaching the sider (1) need of trained work- This program is on the responpeople, had to become the philologists and translators of the ers in local churches, (2) train- sibility of each individual for world, in order to supply the Bible. Thus they built the lexi- ing of future lay readers in our Christian Citizenship. It lends cons and grammars and translated the Bible into over 100 lan- home mission fields, (3) need of itself especially well to another guages in Africa and more than a score in India-more than 600 trained native leaders in the for-'" consideration of "The City." A living languages the world over today. Thus they surmounted eign field, (4) our contribution round table discussion on "The the lingual barriers and built bridges of intercommunication as (insert name of the denomina- Needs of Your Community" is and possible understanding. tion) to denominational schools suggested, with sub-topics as Through the printed word, inclusive of magazines and papers, in America, our educational follows: we are helping to build the foundations for Christian literature work abroad, to union Christian (1) The Temperance Advocatein lands where reading will be colleges. Other suggestions are What is being done in temperance one of the chief methods of edu- (1) a reception to the graduates education, the number of local places cation. Acts 2: 5-12. Psalm 19: 1-4. Dan. 7: 13, 14. in the local church, (2) presenta- dispensing liquor, etc. t I·On f the work f th e IocaI st u- Ar(e2)thTehekinMd ootifonpicPtiucrteusreshSowcnouitn- Five-minute talks on (a) the your community the kind you want American Indian Bible, (b) the 0 0 young people to see? etc. Spanish Bible, (c) the Burmese Bible, (d) Bible translations into dent counsellor, (3) arousing the language of India. interest in some near-by denom- Review the work of the Com- inational college.) (3) The Reporter on Gamblingmittee on Christian Literature Closing prayer for youth What is being done to obliterate it for Women and Children in Mission Fields, as this is the project around the world. This program locally? for the World Day of Prayer. Iends 1·tseIf to theCl·ty t heme. you(4r ) grTohuep, Pyeoaucer cPormompaugnaitnyd,istta-kinIgs In advance, ask the member- THE SILVER BRIDGE part in the study of international reship to bring Bibles in other lan- This is a meeting for exhibi- lations? In the Peace Movement? guages. tion of White Cross gifts (for mission hospital work) , and (5) The Member of the League of THE BRIDGE IN BUILDING Women Voters-The voter's obliga- tion in community and national af- Our Students suggests that they be arranged fairs. "The Christian Church must set· its own house in order and as for a shower, with ribbon tied THE OLD COVERED BRIDGE get ready for the greatest crisis to each hidden gift. Give each in history. . . . It must win the Village Work in India students. The students have member a ribbon and let her changed. Never have they been hunt for the "shower gift." On With masses of India crossing more open and responsive than each gift has been fastened a tag the bridge from ignorance and now to a message that is sincere, containing a fact or two about superstition to new life, the topic real and adequate. . We must the missionary for whom it is in- symbolizes the old ways giving launch a" nation-wide movement tended, the tags to be taken home place to the new. to win the high school, the college, the university students to as souvenirs. When all packages 1. Describe life in villages of India. have been found, group them ac- 2. Review work of our Christian centhe Christian Way. And this cording to their destination ready for presentation by the ters in that country. president to the guests of honor 3. Ten-minute discussion of the values (impersonated by members of of Christian centers in rural com- the society), each such "guest" munities. responding with an account of 4. Moving picture or stereoptic·on lec- her work and the joy the gifts ture on "Village Life in India." 5. Base devotionals on the villages in which Christ lived and worked.
will bring. A summer Christ- THE TOWER BRIDGE mas tree or an umbrella ar- ranged like a tree with gifts tied The Ministry of Healing a Tower on may be substituted. of Strength to All Nations Prayer that the gifts may Arrange program specific to bridge the distance and carry the medical mission work of the love of Jesus to those receiv- your denominaton, having "A ing the articles. Consultation of Doctors in In- dia," contrasting hospital work THE SWING BRIDGE used by missionary pioneers and ours today, impersonating actual HTo-geth-er-to-get-her"
This may consist of five-min- medical missionaries nQW Qn ute talks in regard to getting their felds.. etc.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
THE FOOT BRIDGE books, to be hunted for and read "I also knew a Methodist; He couldn't sing, he said. It Connects Our Neighbor's when all are found. He'd holler 'glory' loud enough, Home with Ours The missions end of the en- To almost raise the dead. "Seeing You r Neighbor," velope tells the story of life But as to his apportionment, "Loving Your Neighbor," "The Neighbor's Response," might be abundant or its lack. Though his barns were waxtopics under which to consider Stewardship ought not to be ing fat, this theme, the last being by women in the old-world costume thought of primarily in terms of His s h 0 uti n g wasn't loud and the new. enough possessions. Neither can it be thought of apart from posses- To ever help raise that!
sions. Charity that begins at home, THE TOLL BRIDGE and stays. at home, dies of close "God bends from heaven above confinement. . A Visualization.of the Budget and says: MARION LAWRANCE. 'I gave thee the gift of Life; On a map of the world mark *** Art thou not blessed in many your location and church, then William Allen White, in mak- ways?
from this take bright ribbons to ing a magnificent gift to human- Are my heaven and earth at the countries in which your home ity, said that there are three strife?
and foreign missionaries are la- kicks in every dollars: one kick I gave thee of my seed to sow; boring, giving number of mis- when you earn it; one when you Bring thou Me thy hundredsionaries in each country, the save it; and one when you give fold.' high lights of their work, etc., it away. *** Can I look up with face aglow closing with a meditation on And answer, 'Father, here is "Are We Faithful Stewards." Give more if you would have gold?' " Opening of gift boxes. more, Spend less and you will want *** THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE Time: A recent Sunday morn- less, "Christ – the Invisible Bridge Keep all and you will lose all. ing. Place: A near-by drug store. that Leads from Earth MAE ROTHROCK. Customer: "Give me change for a dime, please." to Heaven" *** Clerk: "Certainly, and I hope Reading of Longfellow's poem One of the biggest and short- you enjoy the sermon!" on "Follow Me." est sermons ever preached was *** Solo, "Were You There When that by Dean Swift on an occa- They Crucified My Lord ?" sion when a special appeal was Dramatization-"The Proces- being made for funds. The The Miser: sion of the Ages," covering wom- Bishop of London had been in- "Pity that poor old man whose en of Christ's day, saints of the vited to give the sermon of the golden store, middle ages, frontier women, occasion, but when he failed to If stacked, were high as foreign-speaking neighbors in appear, Dean Swift was called yonder minaret; America today, women of other upon. He mounted the pulpit Yea, pity him; he covets lands, women of the Church to- and said, "My text is, 'He that more and moreday, etc. (This is to be secured giveth to the poor lendeth to the His soul has never had a from Baptist state promotion Lord.' Those who believe in the birthday yet." offices, but could readily be im- security, down with the cash!" *** -From "The Window of provised as desired by those out- Y. W. A."
side the denomination.) "We can do more than we've The Secret of Power The suggestion is made that ever done, this meeting be held in the form And not feel a whit the The secret of Christianity is of a Spring Breakfast, asking worse; that you can have Power if you women to respond briefly to the Loving never emptied a heart, are willing to accept Jesus Christ topics of Love, Joy, Peace, Go- Nor did giving empty a as a Lord and yield the absolute ing, Coming, Getting, the last purse." allegiance to him. Do you think talk being on "Christ." Each *** St. Francis or Luther or Carey woman lights a candle in a "Once I knew a Baptist; or Wesley did what they did in seven-branched candlestick as He had a pious look, their own power? These men she finishes, the central candle He had been wholly im- were certain that they did not. representing Christ. mersed- And so were Moody and Philips Sayings on the Subject Except his pocketbook. Brooks. So in fact are all those of Giving He'd put a nickel on the plate who really produce abiding re- And then with might and sults. One and all, they say, "It Arrange the s e attractively main is God who worketh in us." And and let members of the circle He'd sing, 'When we asunder God will work in you if you de- read them. They may be in a part sire to have him.
basket, on flowers, or hidden in It gives us inward pain.' ROBERT W. SEARLE.
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BULLETIN Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, Nmv YORK, N. Y.
——-~·-.–I~ THE CITY AND OLD face the inevitable and do all in ting acquainted. The Indian our power to help in the adjust-" school and the missionaries could AMERICANS ments which must be made. help by letting city churches know where their people "go There is much discussion re- Although the majority of the garding "minority g r 0 ups." into town" to live; then be will- Who are they? A Mashpee Indian young men and women ing to go nine-tenths of the way. (American) ,Indian boy on Cape from the schools return to their The Indians are reserved and Cod was refused work recently home communities or take posibecause he was an alien. An fear they are not wanted. Give Oneida woman in Milwaukee tions in the government service them a place in the church and was asked how long it was since there are many who are seeking a share in its work. Do not treat her people came to this country. education, professional or busi- them as novelties. They make She answered, "several years"; ness training or work in the not wishing, she told me, to em- true and loyal friends and it is barrass those kind white ladies towns and cities near or far worth much effort to secure this by telling them who she really from the reservations. In some loyalty and friendship for our- s tat e s, Oklahoma especially, selves and our churches. was! many Indian families live in the "But how do they happen to As proof of what can be done towns which have grown up on we can look at the clubs of Inbe in the cities?" is a question their former reservations. They dian girls in City Y. W. C. A.'s. often asked. And the next one are at home and yet are pracis, "Are there any in my town?" The oldest club in the Oakland, For many years some of us have tically strangers in these new California, Association is the had countless opportunities of communities. Children are en- Four Winds Club. Reno, Neintroducing our friends to the tering into all phases of public aliens among whom they as a vada, has two clubs, the newest minority group have come to school life but few of them have one for the Indian girls in public find work and to live in the found their pIa c e in the school. The Los Angeles Club is strange new world which has churches. grown up on old camp grounds perhaps the oldest. It was where the deer and the buffalo Studies of various kinds and around 25 years ago that Cynare no more. Why do they come? in various cities have been made thia Big Tree was president. regarding their Indian citizens Years ago I asked Miss Julia Her husband posed for the Lathrop what we could do to and transient dwellers. The statue, "The End of the Trail," keep Indian young people from most complete is that made by but as he had short hair, Cynthia going to the cities. "Nothing," Mr. G. E. E. Lindquist, of the posed for the long braids. They she answered quickly, "Why Society for the Propagation of should they differ from any were beautiful as she presided at young people in feeling the lure the Gospel, of Oklahoma City, the club meetings. Syracuse, of the city?" This was even be- with the cooperation of the Min- New York, has the most eastern fore the movies were as wide- isterial Alliance, the Y. M. C. A., spread as they are now, with of these clubs, which are to be their pictures of the wealth and the Y. W. C. A., and the Indian found in many cities east, west, wonders of the city, and before Service Employment officers. It north and south. Then there drouth and dust bowls and grass- is impossible to give even a sum- are the cities in which the Inhoppers were driving all before mary of the report in this arthem. dian girls have become so much ticle, but it shows that other a part of the community and the Miss Lathrop did not mean cities should be studied in the Association that they join clubs that we should not make every same manner, and ways opened effort to keep Indian Youth from and classes with girls of all races the economic struggle to which by which the churches can serve and no longer feel happier in they were wholly unaccustomed, this group. It was found that segregating themselves. but she did mean that we must the majority of the Indians in Oklahoma City were members of This transition from segrega- the Mission churches at their tion to complete friendliness homes-the very missions prob- with all, is taking place in the ably to which these city churches public schools and should con- were contributing. tinue and increase. But most of What can be done about it? all it should be encouraged and First, look about you-a scien- fostered in our town and city tific study or just a friendly get- churches. There are few reser- [304 ]
BULLETIN: COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
vations left; the number of "full and an appeal from an American opposite a great school center. blood" Indians will continue to citizen brought action. Then, I Disquieting rumors of events godecrease. They are fellow citi- ing on in the school were conzens, fellow Christians with all found that the property was stantly brought to the men and our church people. Let us do owned by one of the large women of the community. Peoour part in making them feel ple spoke of the high school and that all are one in Christ. schools in the East-a Christian shook their heads. Some of the college which sounds a fine mes- leading officers of the church Prepared by Miss Edith M. Dabb, member sage of social reform; I found, sent their boys away to acadof the Committee on Indian Work of the too, that this was one of the emies. But what about poorer Home Missions Council and the Council of school's investments which had families who could not afford W'omen for Home Missions. never paid. There are other private schools? Had the' church any obligation for these chil- Making Your City God's City problems in connection with bet- dren? In our country with its ter housing. Recently elaborate separation of church and state, Did you ever think what housing programs in many cities has the church performed its your city would be like if it were have replaced slums with large full duty to the school by its God's City? Sunday services in the commu- spacious buildings, but have they nity? John, the Apostle, had such a ministered to the need of poor vision on a Sunday afternoon people, or made a little more God's city will be a city of long ago-a vision not alone of comfort for families of the mid- neighborliness. Many an urban his city but of all the world. dle class? Is Italy making more dweller of today might ask the "The kingdoms of this world are progress in housing than Amer- age-old question of the lawyerbecome the kingdoms of our "and who is my neighbor?" I Lord and of his Christ, and he ica? What must your city do to live in a community of 5,000 peoshall reign forever and forever." house its people in a way com- ple, housed in two blocks. After It was a distraught world that six months there, I am ac- John faced. His own city, mensurate with abundant liv- quainted with only two of the Ephesus, was rich and beautiful. ing? 5,000 people, and I have met It contained one of the greatest them in connections outside the libraries in the world and a uni- If your city is to be God's city, community. In earlier days oldversity which was a famed cen- it must have every provision to fashioned neighborliness solved ter of Greek culture. But John many relief and health problems. knew also of the distressing need make sick people well and to Are our substitutes today as efof its poor people, of the many keep well people from getting fectual? youth in that city who had no sick. What wonderful things opportunity for abundant life. God's city will be a city of Was he thinking of his city on philanthropists and doctors have that Sunday afternoon when in done for the poor of our genera- w 0 r s hip. We do not lack a vision he saw "The new Jeru- tion! What fine laws we have salem, coming down from God, to help maintain health! But churches in our cities.. If you out of heaven, made ready as a even yet the middle-class man bride adorned for her husband" ; who cannot lay claim to a free will look out of the window as and when he heard voices say- hospital bed must spend in a ing, "The tabernacle of God is few months of illness the earn- you ride along on the train, you with men, and he shall dwell ings of a lifetime-his security with them and they shall be his will be surprised how often on peoples"? Have you, a Chris- for old age. tian of today, any such vision of the skyline, the steeple or the your city becoming God's city? God's city must be a place of economic justice. First Avenue, tower of a church may be seen. In God's city abundant life must be possible for everyone. with its lines of miserable tene- Exquisite in architecture are Can that be true in the housing ments leans heavily against the the churches in our cities. But conditions of your city? "You beautiful modern buildings of what proportion of the people in can kill a man as easily with a the city attend those churches on house as with a pistol, only the Second Avenue. anyone Sunday? How far does process is longer and more pain- There are other forms· of jus- the influence of the Master reach ful," someone has said. A few outside the walls of those years ago, in calling among some tice in the city of God: political churches to the children playing Italian friends, I found them liv- justice, legal justice. Does your on the streets, to the brokening in a tenement the sanitary hearted or distraught cooped up condition of which was so un- city boast of these? What a in apartments near by? It is wholesome that it was affecting dream Israel had when the peo- not more churches or more beauthe health of all the families liv- ple believed that their God might tiful buildi~gs that we need, for ing there. Intensely disturbed be their king, and that their worship, but more of the spirit by the dreadful condition, I ap- prophet who guided their actions of the Christ. "And I, if I be pealed to the Board of Health, on earth might be God's repre- lifted up, will draw all men unto me." How can you make your sentative. Will we ever have city God's city? political justice until some of that conception comes to Amer- Prepared by Miss Alice W . .s. Brimson, ican cities? member of the Executive Committee of the If your city is to be God's city, Council of Women for Home Missions.
it will be a community where education is carried on in a way to lead young lives into rich, in- telligent social living. In a cer- tain city, a large church was just
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~~~J~.I~,===============–==E=D=IT=E=D=B=Y==M=R=S'=H==EN=R=I=ET=T=A=H=='_F=ER=G=U=S=ON_,_X==EN=I=A_,_O=H=IO==================~ AFRICA when the waiting room is full at an end by the Italian conquest, Medical Work in Morocco 7: 30 in the morning. a party of the workers were Conquest by Healing tells the "Each morning w hen the '. able to take up their quarters story of the beginnings of med- women have gathered we have a in Khartoum with a view to ical work for women and chil- short service of prayer, gospel starting fresh work in an entire- dren in Fez. In 1888, Miss teaching and hymn-singing. The ly new field on the Ethiopian women generally listen well; we border, in the Anglo-Egyptian Emma Herdman, of the North know that some of them come Sudan.
Africa Mission came to Fez to only to hear the teaching, and A considerable delay has oc- start work. There were no make the need of medicine an curred before any effective work roads, 0 n I y cam e I or mule excuse for coming. After this can be done, but now, after the little service we take about twen- necessary negotiations h a v e tracks; no inns or hotels. Trav- ty-five women into the dispen- been concluded, permission has elers were obliged to car r y sary and attend to their ail- been given by the Sudan Gov- ments. Teaching and hymn-sing- ernment for a station to be everything they required. Miss ing goes on in the waiting room opened in the Maban tribe, at a Herdman and her two compan- with those who are left behind place called Boin. The area ions had to consent to being accompanied by a Moorish soldier, till the first lot have passed out north of this is dominated by as a sign of authority for the by a second door. There are not Mohammedanism, and permis- great results to be seen from all sion has not been given to beundertaking. He was so old and this fifty years' work; but we gin work there. Permission is infirm that the ladies had to believe that the old Indian Mo- being sought to open a mission help him mount his horse, but hammedan was right when he for the K 0 mat rib e. The said, 'In the Day of Resurrec- Maban and Koma people have he served as notice to all they might meet that they were un- tion many Christians will arise much in common. They are pader protection of the government. from Moslem graves.' " gan, wholly uninfluenced by Mo- When they arrived in Fez, Unusual Methods hammedanism. they found that no one would The difficulties that have to be rent them a house, so they had to put up with a caravanserai. Here is the way one foreign overcome are the cost of maih- Later, the Sultan let it he known missionary in Africa obtains a taining a base so far from civithat anyone who wished to rent hearing for the Gospel message. lization, the hardships of travel, them a house had nothing to fear the home building problem and from the government. S 0 0 n The natives were timid, and not learning the unwritten lanafter that Miss Herdman and easily approached, so when mis- guages.-The Christian. her fellow workers opened a dis- sionaries trek softly through the pensary, which is still going on. For several years, two days were jungle to a cluster of huts there Uganda After Sixty Years given to men; now, there is only is usually a quick exodus of the Women's Dispensary. Miss S. M. Denison has this to say women and children in panic at Prebendary W. Wilson Cash, of the work: sight of a white face. Cupping Secretary of the Church Mis- sionary Society, closed an evan- "There are now s eve r a I his hands over his mouth the gelistic mission in Uganda with French Government Dispensa- missionary shouts after them; a sermon in the great Namirries and two Hospitals for na- "Have you heard the goo d embe Cathedral, with over 2,000 tives in the city, but this has news?" Fern i n i n e curiosity reverent Africans pre sen t. not lessened the numbers of causes them to halt cautiously, Looking down from the pulpit those who come to us. We still and the speaker adds, "About have from 800 to 1,000 patients God's Son?" This has often he saw, in review, the work of each month. There would be proved to be the beginning of a sixty years of the Uganda Mismore if we could manage to at- new group of believers.-Alli- sion. Here are some of his imtend to a greater number; each ance Weekly. pressions: day people are turned away New Field of Work (1) Every tribe in Uganda was represented at the service, When the promising work of tribes that for hundreds of years the Sudan Interior Mission in had been incessantly at war. Ethiopia was rudely brought to (2) All the people present [306 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
were free, men and women. man was referring to a solar great family, and cook their Forty chiefs had liberated every eclipse of a few years before. meals around the same fires. slave because they were fellow- This proved to be the case, and Often a patient comes with his Christians. he was greatly interested in the whole family, that he may have scientific explanation. The mis- company along the way. (3) Many in the congregation sionary then went on to say that had formerly been haunted by he had come to tell him of the At the larger hospitals are superstition, had tried to propi- true God, who made the sun, training schools for nurses, and tiate evil spirits by human sac- and the moon (which they call here the mission has an imporrifices; now they all worshiped the sun's wife); as well as the tant part to play. If a native God as revealed in Christ. stars, the world, trees and nurse has not been brought up rivers; the God who, in His under the influence of the mis- (4) This self-supporting and love, had given His Son for our sion and learned to know Jesus self-governing c h u r c h raises salvation. A young man who Christ, the chances are that he more than 9,000 pounds every had listened intently, said: "The will degenerate into a practitionyear for the maintenance and old men in this country would er, doing things not much differextension of its work. greatly rejoice if you would ex- ent from the old witch-doctors. plain this affair to them. It Christianity has indeed taken would be well for you to tell us -Congo Mission News. root in Uganda, and church about the true God." members are reaching out in all Greater Freedom in Angola directions to witness for Christ. Medicine in the Bush They have carried the Gospel His Excellency, the Governor not only to all parts of Uganda, Modern medicine in the Con- General of Angola, in reply to but members are serving as mis- go is being practiced along sev- an appeal by the missions for a sionaries in the Sudan, the Bel- eral lines. There are the hospi- ruling on the question of evangian Congo, the Pigmy Forest, tals in large centers, for the na- gelism, in which work they have in Ruanda and Urundi. Recent- tive as well as for the white been hindered by officials in ly, some men walked 300 miles population; the bush station certain parts of Angola, has sent to appeal for more missionaries. hospitals; the rural dispensa- the following communication: They were not thinking of white ries and the visits of doctors and men but of Africans as mission- sanitary agents in the villages. "Doubts have arisen as to aries for their fellow-Africans. whether foreign missionaries The large hospitals compare may do evangelistic work out- -C. M. S. Outlook. quite favorably with the average side of mission stations journey- hospital in Europe; and the ing through the native villages. When God Died rural dispensaries where native It is understood that as evangel- nurses are in charge might be ism is the way in which mis- R. V. Reynolds, a writer for compared with first-aid stations. sionaries propagate their reli- World Dominion, visited the The bush station hospital serves gion, they may, as many as are Marakwet tribe in Kenya, a as a sort of approach in reach- competent for such work, carry region which, so far as he knew, ing the native sick. These latter on such among natives in their had not previously been visited are usually in the charge of mis- settlements." by' any missionary. An old man sion doctors, and are carried on said to him: "I am very much as regular missionary w 0 r k; This permISSIOn does not puzzled over God's death." Al- and while the greater part of mea n that missionaries may most as much puzzled as the old the work is done for the natives, build, or own houses for evanman, Mr. Reynolds asked, "Did there is always a certain amount gelistic work in the villages. God really die?" "Oh, yes," was to be done for other mission- That would require special authe answer, "several seasons ago a r i e s, and occasionally for thorization. at the second hour of the day white traders. At these bush God became very ill and died." hospitals, the x-ray, special lab- -World Dominion Press. As he said this he indicated the oratory procedures, all the modtime by pointing where the sun ern mechanical appliances and Education of Women would be at eight o'clock in the sometimes even electric lights morning. He was then asked are in most cases things to be "Educate a man you educate whether God remained dead. desired, but not obtained. an individual, but educate a "No," said he, "after a while he woman and you educate a famgot better and came to life A bush hospital is a very ily." This axiom governs the again; but I am overcome to democratic p I ace. Here are Native Administration Commisknow about this affair. It is a gather.ed· people of many tribes sion in regard to the education bad thing when God dies; so and languages. Knowing that of women in South Africa. The many things go wrong. Locusts they may have to stay some time Commission urges a more thorcome, and famine." at the hospital, they bring with ough training of women teach- them things to work with, such ers, the establishment of more Remembering that this tribe as the making of mats, baskets, primary schools, the opening up has an undue reverence for the etc. They live together as one of secondary education to girls, sun, amounting almost to sun- the training of nurses and teachworship, it occurred to the mis- ers of domestic science; also, sionary that possibly the old the thorough teaching of domes- tic arts in all schools for girls.
However, the Commission turns tiniest village may have a place American missionary organizathe cold shoulder to the idea of of meeting. co-education, in spite of the suc- tions are at work there, the cess of the Church of Scotland Here is an extract from a let- largest single cultural and reli- School in Kikuyu. ter of one of Mr. Gale's con- gious investment being the Jeru- -South African Outlook. verts: salem Y. M. C. A.
The Malagasy Church "We think of the work of the The fact that the work in Gospel achieved here by our fa- Who Are the Alaouites? Madagascar continues to progress in spite of the fewness of ther. More than a hundred A sect of Islam, followers of European workers there indicates that the Malagasy have de- churches he has built in our Ali, are known as Alaouites. veloped considerably of late in the matter of self-control and land, and year by year each of They are illiterate, and under self-support. these churches beheld his face the bondage of powerful over- The 14th of August last was and heard ~rom his own lips the lords. From these people came the centenary of the death of Word of LIfe. W~er~ver. there . patients to the Kennedy Memo- Rasalama, the first Malagasy Christian martyr. The whole of was a human habItatIOn In the '> rial Hospital in Tripoli, and to the Malagasy Protestant Church remembered this great event in Marofotsy land.. even to the them went evangelists to follow the i r church history. About 40,000 people gathered on the smallest hut bUIlt of grass and up the contacts made in the hoss pot w her e Rasalama was speared to death, remembering leaves, the;re he stooped to.enter pital. Young women from the with gratitude her faith and all that it had meant to them; and that. he mIght lead our trIbe to Junior College tried for several at the same time proving that her death had not been in vain. ChrIst. He showed l?ve to the summers to raise the social level The task of the Malagasy most debased, and kIndness to of the women in a needy Alaou- Church is one of the first mag- those who ,oppose<l: the Gospel, ite village. Throughout the ennitude. A spirit of materialism and nationalism is affecting the that. he mIght brIng them to tire district colporteurs toured, life and outlook of the people, C~rIst. ~ar G,od se.nd us a man giving out portions of the Scripand additional w 0 r k e r s are WIth a spIrIt lIke ,hIS. M,ay the tures, and proclaiming Christ. greatly needed. work of redempb?n wh~ch he Pastors worked from two cen- be.gal!, be accomplIshed. I~ our ters, and later the British Syria Friends Service C.ounsel. trIbe. -World Domtnwn. Mission sent a nurse evangelist, Church Planting in WESTERN ASIA and a young convert from Islam. Madagascar Following all this seed-sowing, W. Kendall Gale after leading Hard Pressed Palestine the Presbyterian Mission has some of the Malagasy people, opened a new center in Massyaf, step by step, to a realization of Writing in the New York Sun a government center to which sin, and from that to a Saviour on "The Truth About Palestine," Alaouites come to transact their from sin, asks: "Would you like Mr. Phelps Adams says that business. Except for the family to have a church and learn more four opposing elements are in of the evangelist, not a single about God and this Jesus; to the unfortunate clash in the Christian lived in this town of know what is really sin that you Holy Land, One is the pressure 3,000. may not be wrong before Him, of 16,000,000 Jews seeking to and about the way of salvation make Palestine their national Within two months the evanand eternal life?" home; another, the 100,000,000 gelist had made amazingprog- Arabs who know that the coun- ress. He had gained the friend- An eager "Yes" is the usual try is too small to accommodate ship of the best people and of response, for these are strange all the oppressed Jews in the government officials. His wife things they have heard and they world today; the third, the had enlightened the women in wish to know more. Then out British Empire, which finds Pal- various phases of family welcomes a sheet of paper; every estine essential as a military fare. Already, there is marked name is taken down, with age base in the eastern Mediterra- improvement in behavior, cleanand name of village. French law nean and fourth, the expanding liness and a spirit of helpfulpermits worship in a hut, if ten Italian Empire. The situation ness. Here is pioneer evangeladult si2'natures are secured (or is complicated by the ambiguous ism that promises large returns. crosses in lieu of signatures). promises made to both Jews and Eighty signatures assures the -Syria News Quarterly. erection of a church, so that the Arabs. In return for Arab aid Christianity in Iran to the Allied cause, the British promised to recognize Arab in- Rev. H. H. Riggs, accompa- dependence; while to the Jews nied by representatives of the they promised to establish for Near East Christian Council, them a national home in Pales- the British and Foreign Bible tine. Thus the final fate of Pal- Society, World's Sunday School estine depends upon reconciling Association and some other or- these two promises, or the vic- ganizations, made a visit to the tory of one of these four oppos- missions of Iran, and has record- ing forces. ed some of their impressions.
About 10,000 Americans are First in importance was the living in Palestine, of whom unity of s p i r it noticeable 9,000 are American Jews. Eight throughout the country between
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
the missionaries and members There is ready sale for the Bible, good. Women from the four of the local c h u r-c he s; also and small groups of people are corners of India came to the among the different elements of meeting regularly to study it in latest session in Nagpur. The the Iranian Churches. An evi- many places. resolutions dealt with primary dence of this unity was seen in The Bishop of Iran gives a education, the main emphasis a communion service attended typical incident. being for free and compulsory by the group. The five elders "About two years ago nine education throughout the land, were an Assyrian, a Kurd, an people came to an important and that these primary schools American, an Armenian and a town and were accepted by the be open to both boys and girls Hebrew Christian. The same church council the r e as in- of every caste and religion. Res- spirit was seen in many of the quirers. Last autumn a colpor- olutions on soc i a I questions churches visited. In some of teur visited the place, to find formed another large group.
these the majority of the mem- about twenty men who all con- Subjects dealt wit h included bers of the church are converts fessed .to their faith in Christ. rural uplift, condition of women from non-Christian religions of They said that no one had been in jails, prohibition, d rug s, Iran, but in perfect fellowship out to visit them, and that they cruelty to animals, equal rights with them are others whose an- had not been able to get teach- for women, age of marriage and cestors have for centuries been ing; and so they had decided to many other things.
Christians. While in some places appoint one of themselves as a The conference stands square- differences of language have led leader, and to obtain a sp€cial ly for prohibition and for peace.
to separate churches, act u a I place, to which they could in- Here is a message from Nagpur union in some others and the co- vite new inquirers." for American women: "We are operation of all these different The newspaper Iran reports a convinced that increasing armaelements everywhere, are proof great advance in adult educa- ments of warfare by land, sea of the strength of the Christian tion. In June last there were and air, and the harnessing of movement in Iran. 1,597 classes and an enrolment the knowledge of science for the Another striking fact in the of 93,371. The Institute of purpose of destruction are not Preaching and Public Speaking going to bring peace to a strickchurch situation in Iran is an received 4'00 students. Primary en world. We feel that it is element of both strength and school enrolment also increased through the weapons of love weakness. Relatively few of the by 15,255, and that of middle alone that a new order can be churches have full-time ordained schools by 3,271. Teheran Uni- ushered in. Standing on the ministers; but the leadership of versity enrolled 1,549 students, the Church is nevertheless Iran- of whom 86 were girls. Boy threshold of another year we ian as to administration, and Scouts are popular and number dedicate ourselves to non-viomuch of the preaching is being 18,354. lence in thought, word and deed, and appeal to women throughout done by laymen who feel that the world to join hands with us, the responsibility rests upon INDIA, BURMA, SIAM for we are confident that this them. doctrine alone can quell the de- sire for possession, can save the The visitors were also im- All-India Women's Conference nations from racial jealousies pressed by the fact that while and communal strife, and pro- Thirteen years ago the Di- tect humanity from oppression some converts had been cast off rector of Public Instruction in and exploitation." by family and friends, for others Bengal called on the women of the acceptance of Christianity India to "tell us with one voice -World Call. had not necessitated a break of what they want, and keep on family ties; and few seemed to telling it until they get it." This Woman's Place question the right of any indi- challenge led to the formation of the All-India Women's Con- Woman's place is not in the vidual to choose the religion he ference, which has from its be- home in rural India; it is in the thought to be the true one.
Inquiring. Minds in Iran ginning concerned itself with field, to supplement the family education and social reform. income. In the rainy season Better roads, more rap i d Political activity is taboo. The when field work is impossible, transit, increasing number of Conference has been laughed at she has her only chance to break schools, a wider outlook through and called futile, but has accom- the monotony of her life by gosnewspapers and new freedom plished a great deal. No one can siping with her neighbors. "Cotfor women, all are having their estimate how much it has helped tag~ Industries" seemed to be influence in opening the minds to shape public opinion. the answer. A special fund proof Iranian villagers. With these There are now 118 branches vided by three rural missions changes has come a spirit of in- scattered over India. The an- paid for the training of a teachquiry, followed by a readiness nual meetings of these branches er and she in turn taught three to listen to the Gospel. Public have d eve lop e d leadership g i r I s what she herself had preaching is not permitted ex- among women, trained them in learned. Two of them, with a cept in the few villages where public speaking and in service. Bible woman, went to a near-by there is a church, but Iranian Women of all religions plan and village to teach the women some Christians may teach their faith. work together for the common simple crafts, while the third
stayed at home to teach her the depressed classes, and social that one of its number has been neighbors. At the end of the six reforms on many other lines. appointed as Chairman. He has weeks' experiment a number of long been recognized as an able women not only had tangible re- The thought of educated peo- and responsible statesman. His sults of their efforts in handi- ple is arrested, and centers for wife has also been honored by work, but passed a creditable the cultivation of deeper spir- being chosen President of the examination on the Gospel of ituality are multiplying. There All-India Christian Association. Mark, which had been taught are multitudes of followers who them as they sat weaving. The are reading the Bible and other -The Indian Witness. whole project turned out to be a Christian literature who do not "seven days wonder" to the com- call themselves Christian, but Industrial Project at Cossipors munity. who are influenced by His life and teaching. The India Industrial Mission -Presbyterian Board News. Beautiful churches, 0 f ten at Cossipors, which is training Century's Work for Girls somewhat adapted to Indian ar- chitecture, are r i sin g every- ~elf-supporting evangelists, has An ancient Ahmednagar prov- where. Many congregations are erb said: "A woman's wisdom seated on the floor in Indian sent out a traveling workshop should not extend beyond the style, and use Indian music and oven"; and an Indian gentleman Indian forms. Christian gather- wit h f 0 u r trained mechanic was heard to remark: "To teach ings are notable for order, cleana donkey is just as possible as to liness and attractiveness of ap- preachers. It undertakes to reteach a woman." The refuta- parel, especially notable among tion of this idea can be seen in the women. Many village wom- pair metal work, overhaul mathe 76 girls who have just en come to meetings with bright passed their examination at colored or clean white saris. The chinery, do general repairs in Ahmednagar Girls' High School, men and boys show commendaas well as in the happy homes ble care in their appearance and the line of cement, wood and presided over by girls trained in clothing. Followers of 0 the r India's Christian schools. The faiths, attracted by such gath- paint work. This is done during secret lies in the fact that conse- erings, are increasingly attencrated educators have passed on tive, respectful and approacha- the day. Evenings and Sundays to the women of India the story ble, undoubtedly impressed by of Christ's redeeming love, dur- the influence Christianity' is are devoted to evangelism. ing this School's hundred years' having upon the masses, and history in training several thou- seeking to know the reasons for A second-hand Ford van and sand Indian girls. it. The cumulative effect of a century or more of intensive trailer were fitted up with living -Dnyanodaya. evangelization is manifest to ob- servers who are able to look be- accommodations, tools and weld- Christianity's Growing low the surface. Influence ing p I ant. The preacher-me- Two Reforms Undertaken "One cannot travel widely chanics work on various repairs throughout India and Burma in The United Provinces Govthese days without being im- ernment is undertaking two spe- along the way, in order that pressed by the enormous sweep cial reforms w h i c h have the of Christianity in one way or support of all the better ele- they may be entirely self-sup· an 0 the r," says a Methodist ments of the country. A prohi- Board Secretary, who recently bition program is being worked porting. Excellent results are made a visit there. He found out, and is in the experimental strong, well-equipped central stage in a number of districts. reported. -So S. Times. churches, colleges, high schools, It should be noted that the liquor middle and primary schools, evil has not yet gained the hold Sangli Movable School theological and other training on the general population that it schools, hospitals, dispensaries, has in occidental countries. Having seen the Booker T. asylums for the treatment of Was hi n g ton "Agricultural leprosy and tuberculosis, centers The other proposed reform is School on Wheels" actually at for the reclamation of criminal the abolition of bribery among work in a small village, Dr. J. L. tribes. Christianity has been government officials. This vice the leading force in rural and has a very deep hold, and little Goheen was moved to secure a agricultural experimentation, in or no effort has heretofore been similar one for the Sangli In· village reconstruction, in special made either to create public dustrial and Agricultural School forms of work for women and sentiment against it or to pass with which he is connected; and children, in the production of laws to eradicate it. An Anti- this hope was realized in 1931. literature, in the attack on illit- Corruption Committee is to be It is not an exact duplicate of eracy, the relief and uplift of appointed, and the Christian Washington's School, but in the community rejoices in the fact main, the idea is the same. It has been fitted up so as to be of special use in the way of prac- tical teaching and demonstra· tion to the people of village In· dia, through the use of charts, posters and pictures on all kinds of subjects pertaining to village life. It carries samples of seeds of improved and tested varieties of field and garden crops and specimens of potatoes and sweet potatoes, groundnuts, wool, cot- ton, etc. There are books on ag- ricultural and similar subjects in Marathi and English as a ref· erence library, and there are simple and useful books on many subjects for sale. There is a medicine chest with much need·
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ed remedies, a gramophone and limit the number admitted. The us. What our inherent powers a magic lantern and cinema total enrolment of the entire of endurance, philosophy and paprojector with small special elec- School was 328 at the close of tience have enabled us to do in tric generating unit. last year. Most of the appro- the past they will fortify us to priations from the Board went do in the present, as well as in The school will stop from 30 into scholarships for children the future." to 45 days in any given place, from out-villages, and sixty boys this depending on the size of the and girls w ere helped, who The Church and War Relief place and interest shown. otherwise would not have been able to attend school. Even with The National Christian Coun- -Indian Witness. this help, parents are required cil, representing sixteen Protes- to pay something toward the ex- tant denominations in China, has Medical Outposts penses. The chief problem is to been ever since the recent Sino- secure sufficient funds to main- Japan war began, a clearing- On the northwestern frontier, tain the kind of school that can house for information both in five hospitals guard as many successfully compete with the securing news from almost all mountain passes, and receive pa- government schools. parts of China and in forwardtients from countries which, for ing news. It has constantly rethe most part, do not acknowl- -Siam Outlook. ceived detailed information reedge Christ and where Chris- garding conditions in the war tianity may not be preached. CHINA area, such as has not come to any Most of these patients, if they other agency in China. It has embraced Christianity, would Spiritual Mobilization sifted this material and prepared meet death upon their return. for publication in the foreign Slowly but surely, medical treat- In an address made on March daily press in China as well as ment and the kind atmosphere 15, Madame Chiang Kai-shek in a considerable number of Chiof a Christian hospital are work- said spiritual mobilization is of nese church papers. ing changes. Suspicion is giv- the most vital consequence to ing way to friendliness, sullen- China, and announced a move- In addition to its work of pubness to smiles, until the patients ment to stimulate public interest lication, it has conducted a leave with a new outlook on life. and active participation in three weekly broadcast both in Eng- Sometimes patients are entirely major national requirements: lish and in Chinese since Sepchanged even in a week, and for the practical application of the tember 5, to support the morale such results these frontier mis- tenets of the New Life Move- of the Christian Church. When sion medical centers are worth ment; the continuance of reso- news of indiscriminate aeroplane while. lute and unfaltering resistance bombing b e cam e generally against the Japanese invaders, known, there was panic in many Chiengrai Christian School and the planning of realistic church centers, and these broad- measures for reconstruction and casts helped many Christian Definite progress has bee n rehabilitation in the vast areas groups to stay at their posts, made in improving the standing that have been deliberately laid especially when associated with of this School during the past waste by the Japanese. hospital and refugee work. year. The English and Bible departments have had the help of Here are a few extracts from Perhaps the one Christian ora teacher who spent five years her address: ganization in China with the in the Philippines preparing for greatest difficulties to face is the such leadership. It is difficult to "Our barbaric enemies have Y. M. C. A. This is because of include much religious teaching boasted that they intend to beat the hatred of the Japanese army during regular school hours, be- us to our knees and break our toward Chinese students. All cause of strict rules laid down spirit. We shall show these the big patriotic movements and by the government, but in the enemies, as we shall show our disturbances in China have been boarding department and the friends, that in the blood of our initiated by students. A large Christian Endeavor Soc i e t y fellow men and the ashes of our number of schools and universimuch of such teaching is worked burned homes has flowered a ties in the occupied areas have in. All the teachers are active new national spirit. suffered damage or complete dein the religious work of the com- struction, and several of the munity, and many of them help "We shall show them that the leading institutions have moved in the out-village churches on new China that was in the mak- far into the interior. Sunday. The School furnished ing, before war was invoked to the superintendent and several destroy it, is still marching on- Southern Methodists Lose teachers in the Sunday School, wiser, more patriotic, and un- Heavily officers of the King's Daughters a!raid. We Chinese, .in our long and Christian Endeavor leaders. hIstory, have survived great nat- Before the outbreak of hostili- Thus, the School might be called ural and political calamities; we ties last August, the Southern the backbone of the church in have triumphed over prolonged Methodist Episcopal Mis s ion Chiengrai. adversity, and we have carried maintained 60 churches, over 30 our culture and civilization and chapels, three large hospitals, There is also a kindergarten, our nat ion a I entity safely one un i ve r sit y, ten middle which has become so popular through the ages, no matter that it was found necessary to what nations rose or fell about
schools and more than 30 pri- that last year in two places the looked about for ways to cause mary schools in the populous Band left behind groups of from his houses and lands to be con- Shanghai – Nanking – Hangchow thirty to forty inquirers, and fiscated on the ground that he area. Today, as a result of Ja- this year in another place a had no legal right to them since pan's invasion, all but one of the group of some twenty-five. Of he became a Christian. A few churches, all but two of the edu- these a few already have been of the leading Buddhists in the cational institutions, and all baptized. Foster states that he country went so far as to say three hospitals, which had taken is particularly impressed by the that they would rather a whole 89 years, considerable sums of extensiveness and thoroughness village became Christian than money, and the enthusiasm of a of the Band's house-to-house vis- that one of his rank should re- large number of American mis- itation. Their presence has been nounce the faith of his father. sionaries and Chinese to build an inspiration. Still, this intelligent and cul- -The King's Business. tured young man with two years up, have been either completely destroyed or partially damaged Outlook in Tibet '>of Christian experience tells his by shell-fire and aerial bombs. fellow Christians that when he Material losses alone, accord- In spite of a relatively slow was suffering the intrigues and ing to a conservative estimate, rate of progress and many dis- persecution of his erstwhile relareach the figure of over $300,- appointments, the Superintend- tions and friends, his greatest 000. All enterprises, religious, ent of the Moravian Mission in support were the words of the medical and educational, under- Tibet reports that the outlook is text he had chosen: "Rej oice taken by the American Southern bright, and work among the in the Lord alway: and again I Methodists in this region are at Tibetans exceedingly w 0 r t h say rejoice." present at a standstill. It will while. One most encouraging -Moravian Missions.
take several decades to restore feature is the sense of responsithe losses sustained. JAPAN-CHOSEN bility that has developed in the organized churches, with their Thirteen Commandments "Spreading Light Mountain" ordained native ministers, evan- Japanese leaders, threatened The Biola Evangelistic Bands gelists and elders. by fascism and distressed by the are groups of from six to ten Tibetan evangelists are mani- continuance of the war which was expected to speedily reach a men, trained at Hunan Bible In- festing greater readiness for victorious end, have formed a stitute (which is the China self-sacrifice. Two have recently "Central Federation of General branch of Los Angeles Bible In- Spiritual Mobilization," and this stitute). Many have questioned left their homes to serve in has promulgated the following lonely places; one to open up thirteen "commandments": whether these bands are still at new work and the other to take work during the present strug- charge of a difficult field when 1. Every morning give prayers to gle. Dr. Frank A. Keller, of the missionary goes home on the Imperial Grand Shrine and pray Changsha, writes that five of for the safety of the Imperial Family. furlough. Another wishes to these bands are now at work in learn rock carving, so that he 2. Hoist the National Flag properly peace and safety. Small self- may carve wayside pulpits. At on holidays. supporting churches are being Leh, all the Christians from var- 3. Worship the deities and endeavor formed in districts where the ious stations assembled to con- for the harmony of the family. Gospel was unknown previously. fess their shortcomings, and to Band number 4 began work in pray for renewed spiritual life. 4. Live on a budget, pay cash, save October from Liu Kuang Ling regularly, and buy National bonds. -The Indian Witness. 5. Wear simple clothes and avoid foreign-style hair-dressing. as a center, the name meaning Tibetan's Maiden Sermon 6. Observe wedding, funeral and "Spreading Light Mountain"- a prophetic name, for in eleven Not long ago a member of one other home affair!! simply but sol- emnly. weeks the Gospel story was told of the oldest and most aristo- 7. Reform the mad custom of late to bed and late to rise. in 4,265 homes where it had cratic families in Western Tibet 8. Economize on metal, wool, cotton, never been heard before. Fifty conducted the Sunday service in inquirers came to a definite de- the small church at Leh, Ladak. paper and fuel and utilize wasted and His text, "Rejoice in the Lord other buried things. cision; two sorcerers were con- 9. Endeavor to prevent fire and prepare for air raids. verted and two homes were alway; and again I say rejoice," cleared of idols. Before the seemed paradoxical for most of 10. Rear the children to be strong band left, a little self-supportng his experiences were of the sort in mind and body. to make o.ne weep rather than church was established. A well- 11. Have bodily exercise every day to train the mind and body.
to-do convert is supplying a rej oice. Two years ago he be- 12. Economize in drinking sake. 13. Be friendly to neighbors and room for the services. came a Christian and his Bud- help one another. Reports from other bands are dhist relatives contrived to equally gratifying. Their work involve him in a charge of em- This may be regarded as pav- is appreciated by missionaries, bezzling state funds. The fact ing the way for making the sacas well as by the Chinese. Rev. that he was acquitted only served rifices the government expects J. N. Foster, the superintendent to make them more determined to demand. -Christian Advocate. of the Yiyang Circuit, reports to bring about his ruin, so they
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Urged to Keep Silent a building that will head up the work satisfactorily become A Japanese writes to Amer- Christian Endeavor, Y. M. C. A. voluntary leaders in the local ican friends: and Junior Boys' work, and also village churches from which serve a-s office space for mission- they come. Under the auspices "I would urge you to use the aries and nationals in the vari- of one Mission alone-the Amerutmost caution as regards what ous other activities of the ican Presbyterian – nine such you say or do concerning this Church. It will be operated schools are held each year. One crisis. At this juncture Japan under the management of the for girls reached its high water is taking action at the peril of Bible Institute, so there will be mark last year, with an attend- her future destiny, according to no competition and fullest coop- ance of 67 for the five weeks'
whether she succeeds or fails. eration, especially in educational work. It is not surprising that As a matter of course, the whole facilities. in numbers and spiritual force nation is aroused. Without this the Korean Church is one of the feeling of intensity Japan could Education in Korea strongest.
not fight the war, though our The Evangelistic Farmers' AUSTRALIA AND government does not declare it School at Masan, Korea, has THE ISLANDS a war. The whole of Japan is bought ten acres of very rich soil now resorting to a procedure for experimental farming; the New Field Opening unanimously supported by our income is to be applied to the people, and not a single soul is maintenance of the S c h 0 0 1. The decision of an Australian suffered to protest. If anyone Buildings to be erected will be of you feel inclined to protest according to Korean rural style. firm to search for oil in Papua against this course there may be no other way than for you to re- Since there are more than ten has made possible a considerable main silent. At any rate, I do churches in this vicinity, the stuheartily request you to remain dents will have opportunity to do extension of the work of the completely silent. religious educational work. The Unevangelized Fields Mission "On the other hand, if you ob- School will also send out wellject to this course, you may ex- trained farmers whose influence there. This company will shortly press your attitude on the will do much to improve farm ground that you are a foreigner, send out a large number of men but please bear in mind that life. such liberty of speech, if exer- The only Christian college for to prospect, and their equipment cised by you, will not be acceptable nor will it be recognized in women in all Korea is Ewha Col- will include six large launches; this country. Still I hope that lege. At present, it fairly brisnothing unhappy will come and where prospectors go, the about between you and our peo- tles with great ambitions from ple. It is our urgent prayer that within and great expectations missionaries can go. Hitherto in our relations to each other we may get along smoothly and with from without. Graduates are they have been greatly hindered the utmost friendliness, without expected to enter the field of any ill will and with no mis- church and community service because of poor means of transunderstanding until the present trouble is ended." or rural welfare. This calls for port – small and dangerous an extension center for commu- -Bulletin of English Meth- nity work; also, a course in canoes. -Life of Faith. odist Mission, Canton. nursing and public health. Em- C. E. Convention in Melbourne phasis must be placed more upon the Christian nature of the The first Christian Endeavor School, since the secular and hos- Society in Australia was founded tile forces continually multiply. in 1888, resulting directly from a Christian Endeavor Constitu- -Korea Mission Field. tion which a sailor from New- buryport, Mass., had carried in his pocket. In 1893, the United Society of C. E. was formed in Australia, and a year later a World C. E. Union. In 1894, Coordinated Effort Korea Sets Example Australian Christian Endeav- orers had launched their mis- A missionary in Taiku, Korea, In the creation of its Bible sionary program in a most pracwrites that one of the most hope- Schools, the Manchurian Church tical form, when a society was ful projects of the past year has has followed the example of organized among the Aborigines been the effort to consolidate the Korea, a Church which in pro- at LePerouse, New South Wales.
Christian activities of that city, portion to its size is the most This being Australia's na- especially among the young peo- vigorous in the Orient. For tional jubilee year, dating from ple. A man with both univer- years the Korean Church has the first settlement of this com- sity and seminary training was made it a practice to send work- monwealth, it is fitting that the secured to organize this work, ers to its annual schools for spe- fiftieth birthday of Australian and permission was secured cial training. Usually, these C. E. should be observed by en- from the Board to use the Bible schools last six weeks,and stu- tertaining the tenth World Institute compound as a center dents are expected to attend Christian Convention. This is from which to work. Earnest them for two or three years in to be held in Melbourne, August efforts are being made to erect succession. Those who complete 2-8 of this year.
New Hebrides Mission LATIN AMERICA Negro Missionaries to Indians The New Hebridean of today Evangelizing the Firemen Negro missionaries are workis a different person from his forefathers, who murdered the Doors do not open easily for ing among the aboriginal Inpioneer missionaries, John Wil- the Gospel in Mexico, but Mr. F. dians of Central America, the liams and James Harris in 1839. J. Huegel writes of one that Valiente tribes, who live in the His environment and manner of forests of Panama. There are living have altered, largely opened in Mexico City when he about 10,000 of these, and their through outside forces; some became acquainted with the fire mode of living is hardly changed have been for the better, but chief, with four stations and 250 sin c e Christopher Columbus others have been disastrous. landed on their coast in 150l. Depopulation has gone on stead- men under his charge. He is Mr. E. S. Alphonse is a Methily, until no longer do crowds eager for his men to have the odist pioneer among these peoline the beaches when a vessel ,.ple. When he first went there arrives. But amid changing con- Gospel. In all four of these sta- twenty-one years ago, the Inditions, the upbuilding of Chris- tions systematic Bible study has tian character goes on. The begun. Says Mr. Huegel: missionary has a two-fold task; first, to bring Christ into the "One afternoon in the hall at dians called him a crow, because hearts; and second, to stand as Santa Julia just as I came to the of his black skin, and were suspithe natives' friend against harm- close of the message and was cious of him. Now there is a ful outside influences. If it were about to make a call for the men Christian community of 500, and not for these influences it would to accept Christ as their Saviour, a number of Christian schools. be possible for native Christian the fire alarm rang. You can Mr. Alphonse was the first to leaders to hold their people in the imagine my feelings, for nat- study their language and reduce Way of Life. These natives very urally every man leaped for his it to writing. A grammar, sevquickly learn foreign ways- boots and helmet and before I eral books of the Bible, a hymn whether they be right or wrong. could catch my breath, was gone. book and a catechism have been They had gone to put out a fire produced in the Valiente tongue. -United Church Record. and I had come to kindle one. -The Life of Faith. Filipinos Seek Union "Some 200 Testaments have Last February Philippine been given out and the eagerness Opening Doors Christians made another significant advance on the road of co- of the men for study promises a In Colombia, a number of facoperation and union by forming tors are contributing to wider the Philippine Federation of harvest of souls for the Kingdom opening doors than ever before Evangelical Churches. This is the third in a series of three or- of God." -World Call. ganizations set up since 1901 to guide the Christian movement in Santo Domingo on the Air to the entrance of the Gospel. the way of unity and peace. The Improved methods of transporfirst was the Evangelical Union. It grew into the National Chris- For two and a half years the tation, especially the building of tian Council organized in 1929. Now the federation marks a still Evangelical Church of the Do- highways, are making many new further growth and the pros- minican Republic has been regions accessible. Fanaticism pects of comparatively early preaching the Gospel over the is gradually giving way, even in organic union of all major denominations are hopeful. air. In all this time, except for the isolated areas; and the new The object of the federation is two nights when the government constitution adopted in 1936 as- "to unite various Christian bodies and agencies in the Philip- shut off all the radios in Tru- sures liberty of conscience in the pines for the twofold purpose of securing comity, cooperation and jillo City, the capital, the weekly matter of religion. Two selfeffectiveness in their operation, and searching out possible bases program has gone on. From supporting and self-governing for organic union with the view to bringing the churches to such Venezuela, Colombia, Central churches were organized last union in due time." America, Cuba, Porto Rico, even year in the state of Tolima. -Christian Century. from the United States and as Missionaries and national far away as Maine, have come workers are constantly meeting requests for special hymns. new problems. There is a greatly Worship groups meet in the awakened interest in education homes, and follow that broad- on the part of the people in gen- cast; one group in Venezuela eral; parents are pathetically writes that this broadcast is the eager for their children to have only worship service they have. the opportunities which they did A group of Cuban Christians not have. Parent-teacher meet- who lost their church building in ings, enlarged libraries, im- a hurricane meet for this serv- proved equipment of schools and ice, and a restaurant proprietor philanthropic projects sponsor~d in Porto Rico sent a small con- by students all indicate a pro- tribution from his patrons who gressive trend.
listen to the restaurant radio. Two new buses added to mis- He is confident that there has sion equipment will greatly aid been at least one definite decision in evangelistic work, and the for Christ as a result of the pro- Spanish publication Evangelista gram. Colombiano will bring the Gos-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
pel to many living in isolated "To study the possibilities of the simpler and more efficient the areas. The bookstore has in- foundation of a daily newspaper and working of the Federation. creased its stock, and doubled its a press association; These plans for a greater meascirculation. ure of cooperation have yet to be "To prepare a worship manual; approved by the churches con- -Colombian Clippings. "To promote a revised translation of cerned. When this approval has the Bible; been given the Federation will Indian Ohurch in Peru "To study social problems in the enter on a new era of usefulness light of the Gospel, and to the whole evangelical cause in Such a work has been estab- "To disseminate information con- Brazil. lished among the Indians of cerning the work done by the intersouthern Peru, after seven years national movements. -World D.ominion Press. of progressive evangelism. In 1931, these people had never MIGUEL RIZZO, JR." NORTH AMERIOA heard the Gospel message; today, there are 500 Christians in Gospel Boat on Amazon A Return to Ohrist? twelve communities, eight of which are properly organized Medical relief w 0 r k has An Episcopal Bishop of Chichurches, with their own leaders, proved to be a valuable entering cago sees, in the recent unpreceelders and deacons, conducted wedge for the Gospel message in dented church attendance during quite independently by the na- Brazil. A Seventh Day Advent- Lent, a return to religion to face tionals. In spite of the fact that ist missionary writes: the challenge of the present day. 95 per cent of the people are Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyteilliterate, the converts have "During the flood season the rian, Baptist and other churches manifested a steady spiritual Amazon and its tributaries rise are also reported to have had growth. This the missionaries about fifty feet above normal, larger congregations than in attribute to three factors: the and when these waters subside many years, with a marked deepvital prayer life of the churches; each year, there is an epidemic ening of reverence and earnestthe persecution through which, of fever. This year the govern- ness. as individuals and as communi- ment furnished us with $1,000 ties, they have had to pass; and worth of medicine, and in a five- Said the Chicago Bishop: the very high standard of con- month period we were able to duct, supported by strict disci- treat 5,800 sufferers. We have It looks as if the great religious pline, which prevails in the an electric light plant on our awakening for which the Christian churches.-Life of Faith. boat and every night we hold Church has been praying to meet the services somewhere along the spread of paganism and the defeat of The Ohristian Task in Brazil river. The light attracts the na- worldliness, is at hand. Worshipers tives for miles around. In one are revealing a new earnestness, a The Evangelical Congress of village where we were stoned new devotion to their faith which Brazil which met in Sao Paulo in six years ago we this year bap- comes only from a sense of frustra- December, 1936, was composed tized twenty-five people. tion and helplessness. It has often of official commissions from six been that man's extremity is God's different denominations. The "These Christians along the opportunity. declarations of the Congress are river believe in the 'Win One' proof of the attitude of the movement. Three of our boys I believe the hour has struck. This churches toward the ideal of co- go out each Friday night to a Lenten season should bring joy to the operation am 0 n g Christians. neighboring village where they hearts of all true Christians every- Here they are: "The situations have organized a Sabbath school, where, because God is again being enof the Brazilian Protestants, di- and the latest report received throned in human hearts. vided in various churches, is a from them tells of thirty-nine problem to be solved. It is neces- members being present." -Living Church. sary to make an effort in favor of the union of the churches Evangelical Federation Why Honor Ingersoll? through an ample formula Progress which respects principles and In March, 1937, a resolution established practices. The Con- The Evangelical Federation of was introduced in the House of gress committed to the Federa- Brazil has drawn up a modus Representatives proposing the tion the following tasks: vivendi for the churches and erection in Washington, D. C., of missions which are affiliated a monument in memory of Rob- "To investigate what is the religious with it. This has been prepared ert G. Ingersoll, the famous insituation of the zones occupied by the by a special committee in order fidel lecturer. The First Baptist churches; to solve problems arising from Church of Paso Robles, Cali- over-occupation of some fields, fornia, protests to the Govern- "To organize a general plan of evan- to ensure the adequate occupa- ment that since the plan is gelization; and to organize the pro- tion of regions not yet reached, sponsored by an atheist organigrams for teaching religion in the and to eliminate friction in inter- zation, and that organization has public schools; denominational relations. At alleged affiliations with the In- the same time, certain Articles ternational Freethought Union "To promote the Qrganization of the of the Constitution of the Evan- of Europe, and that the monuyoung people; gelical Federation of Brazil have ment is proposed as a "recogni- tion of Robert G. Ingersoll's been modified so as to make most noteworthy contribution to the emancipation of mankind
from religious superstition," A New York Church "The colony will be a place where more than 1,000 homes, they are unalterably opposed to "Resolves" built in the Moorish style of architecture, will be set up in the any legislation of that character. Christ Church, New York, very near future. Land in the Further reasons for their objec- Dr. R. W. Sockman, pastor, is Gardens Heights section has altion are expressed in these discussing world topics at the ready been purchased with mid-week services; and the con- funds representing contributions words: sensus of opinion is gathered to- to the Moorish Science Temple gether in a set of resolutions. of America, and construction on "That we recognize the impor- Sometimes these are transmitted some of the houses was begun tance of Christian faith and to the groups concerned. Some about a month ago. We feel that practice in regard to the safety of the topics already discussed the colony we are anticipating and well-being of democracy. are the religious situation in ,will provide better housing con- That we believe the enemies of Mexico; the boycott of Japanese ditions for the persons in this .Christianity seek to express goods, and more recently the De- country of Moorish descent, and their contempt for God, the pressed Classes in India. The will permit them to practice the Bible and our Christ by the erec- resolutions adopted in this in- customs and religious tenets of tion of· this glorification of Rob- stance were: Morocco. It will establish a defiert G. Ingersoll. That it is our nite religious center for us." opinion that this would encour- WHEREAS, The outcaste millions of age the youth of our land in India for centuries have been disfran- New Church for Hoopa Indians atheism, materialism, radical- chised by the Hindu religion of their ism and revolt against God and rightful position as "sons of God and The Hoopa Indian Reservation established government." in California has a population of approximately 2,000; 1,100 of -Christianity Today. joint heirs with Christ"; and these are children between the WHEREAS, 3,000,000 or more of the ages of 6 and 18. About 3,000 acres are under cultivation, but Religious Education Council outcaste people have responded to the the average per capita income of Gospel as presented by Christian mis- these Indians is only about $120 The 20th Session of the Inter- sionaries and have accepted the Chris- a year. national Council of Religious tian faith; and Education is to assemble in In the Hoopa Presbyterian Columbus, Ohio, June 28-July 3. WHEREAS, Christianity has brought Church there are 83 members, The theme for this convention is to these hope instead of despair, free- with 115 in the Sunday School. "The Christian Challenge to the dom instead of endless slavery, knowl- There are two outstations, the edge in place of ignorance, self-respect most promising of which is instead of self-degradation; and Weitchpec, where the interest has been growing steadily, espe- WHEREAS, Leaders of the outcaste cially during the past two years. A fine constituency has been de- Modern World," and eight out- classes seeing these changes have veloped and upwards of forty . urged their 60,000,000 fellow outcastes church members are enrolled. comes are hoped for as a result to abandon Hinduism and seek a new They are ready to effect a forof the deliberations: religion; and mal church organization. Mrs. Nellie Masten, a devoted Chris- 1. An improved a t m 0 s p her e WHEREAS, It is our belief that such tian Indian, has deeded the Board a site for a church, and throughout North America in which a reconstruction of the social order money is available to put up the building. The Indians will take to carry out a steady and continuous can only be carried through on the care of practically all the labor involved. program of Christian education. lines of Christ's teachings and that any other possibilities seem to be di- Alaskan Leaders All 2. A clearer understanding of the nature of Christian education and its rectly in the line of revolution or civil Graduates of Sheldon Jackson responsibilities. strife; therefore, be it School in Sitka qualify for posi- tions that call for excellent train- 3. An increased recognition of the Resolved, That we, the members of ing. One of them is responsible existence of many practical steps Christ Church, New York City, up- for organizing cooperatives in which may be taken by lay and pro- hold and support our missionaries and Alaskan villages; two are nurses fessional church workers in fulfilling their work in India in their self-sacri- in government hospitals; three the Christian challenge through Chris- ficing labors for these· needy and re- are teachers in government tian education. sponsive people, millions of whom will schools. Others are in mission undoubtedly turn to Christianity for work; one is the minister at 4. Help on specific problems which release from their present captivity each delegate faces back home which into the new liberty of the Gospel of will put new zest into the work of the Christ; and be it further churches from which they come. Resolved, That we send a letter to 5. A deepening of the religious ex- the bishops of our church in India asperience of every delegate which will suring them of our sympathy and inprovide the dynamic without which all terest in these inspiring days. of our efforts will be in vain. -Indian Witness. 6. A great stimulus to the work of Christian education in every part of the North American continent through Moorish Colony in America the publicity, before, during and after Plans are under way for the the convention.
7. Greater unity and closer coopera- establishment of a Moorish Coltion of Christian forces. ony at Yaphank, L. 1., which is 8. Delegates to the convention will to serve as a mecca for the 20,- return to their local communities to 000 Moors in Greater New York and surrounding area. The form an informed nucleus of local Grand Seik Turner-EI, spokes- leaders who understand more fully and definitely the basic principles and outreach of Christian education. man for the Moorish Council, -Advance. explains the plan:
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Wainwright Pre s b y t e ria n in two or three decades. When and Work, issues this warning; Church, another is nurse at reminded that thousands of no protest should be made on a Sheldon Jackson School. The gatherings of Christians were political basis because this would two native organizations, the being held throughout Germany, increase the danger in which Alaska Native Brotherhood and with no interference from au- Pastor Niemoller stands. It is the Alaska Native Sisterhood, thorities, Dr. Barth explained important that churches should whose objectives are competent that at such meetings the only state clearly that the reason for Christian citizenship, have al- message allowed was one which their protest is that he has taken ways been under the leadership Hitler considered "harmless." A his stand entirely on the basis of of former students of Sheldon spiritual gospel is permitted, but the rig h t of the Christian Jackson School. only so far as it does not affect Church to proclaim the Word of the actions of men on earth. God. Expressions of sympathy -Monday Morning. There is no toleration at all for on any other basis would only the teaching of real Christian increase his danger. The Ger- EUROPE ethics, which mean something in man Government should be in- the present situation in Ger- formed in no uncertain terms Something Alive in Denmark many-for example, "race wor- that concern for Pastor NiemOl- ship," anti-Semitism, the cult of ler is very widely felt. Here are some characteristics hatred, etc. of student Christian work in Dr. Henriod also calls atten-. Denmark: -Religious N eW8 Service. tion to the gravity of the present world situation, manifested by (1) The emphasis of instruc- Fascist Youth Niemoller's continued imprisontion is upon the awakening of ment after being cleared in a the spirit rather than upon the There is something ominous trial. Christian churches should acquiring of knowledge or skill. in the official report that Ger- be awake to the danger at the (2) The method of instruction many's juvenile crime record has root of such a situation in its stresses the "living word." increased 40 per cent in the past religious and ethical implica- (3) The historical approach three years. In the depression tions. characterizes a 11 instruction, years of 1931 and 1932 there was even the sciences, and history is a rise in juvenile thefts, but then Pastor Niemoller's spirit rea living subject. (4) The sub- they were driven to crime by mains unbroken, as is shown by ject matter is confined largely to poverty and hunger. Today, the the following extract from one those subjects which are useful record shows that less than 10 of his letters to his wife: to the average man in his per- per cent are motivated in lawsonal or civic life. (5) There lessness by poverty. Somehow in these last six months are no grades, credits, degrees or the ship of the Church has got afloat examinations. The primary em- Brutality has been the pop- again. The color is dimmed, the masts phasis is upon instruction and ular word of Nazi leaders, and are broken, the whole appearance is not on competition among stu- violence their approved method. not handsome; but the Lord Christ dents. (6) The fact of a group German youth follow their lead- still sits at the helm, and the ship of students living together is ers. Two or three afternoons moves forward. . . . utilized as a fundamental edu- and Sunday belong to the Hitler cational medium. The teachers You t h, irrespective of the And I think my imprisonment also utilize this opportunity by living schools. During this period they belongs to the holy humor of God. with the students and using their are trained in Nazi ideals, which First the mocking laughter: "Now influence to create a cooperative include the "instinct of freedom" we've got that fellow" and then the community. (7) The schools are against the school and the fam- imprisonment; and what are the conalso dominated by a high ethical ily. The result is now evident. sequences? Full churches, a praying purpose. They seek to give the Only the more serious crimes community. student the opportunity to know ever come before the courts. himself, and to supply him with The report says that moral of- To get bitter about such things the motivation to exert a con- fenses increased over 150 per would be shameful ingratitude. structive influence in all rela- cent, and that all crime is most tionships of life. flagrant among college students. Anti-Alcohol Museum Thus Fascism bears its fruit. -Intercollegian and Far With all the fanfare the Poles Horizons. -The Churchman. like so much, the Minister for Social Welfare recently opened German Youth and the Church Pastor Niemoller's the Anti-Alcohol Museum in Imprisonment Warsaw, one of the first of its Dr. Karl Barth, addressing a kind in the world. There are group of church leaders in Lon- In regard to the petitions pre- twenty-four departments dealdon, said that it is Hitler's inten- sented to the German Govern- ing with as many phases of the tion to cut German youth off ment on behalf of Pastor Nie- alcohol problem. Arresting disfrom all church connection, so moller, Dr. Henry L. Henriod, plays trace the history of the that the Church, becoming a so- general secretary of the Univer- battle against alcohol. Photociety of old people, will die with- sal Christian Council for Life graphs and diagrams show how alcoholism is treated. The tech- nical use of alcohol is described. The discoveries of science about alcohol are set forth. The value
of propaganda for and against disturbed by the Soviet order are where there are no 'Keep Out' alcohol is assessed. The problem of alcoholism in art and among the church members. signs against the inquisitive and caricature is presented, with abundant illustration. There is questioning mind. Disinterested a display of non-alcoholic drinks. Some fourteen departments in MISCELLANEOUS research cannot survive in an the museum are given to exhibits Good Will Commandments atmosphere of compulsion and on alcoholism in relation to repression. Particularly in the health, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, child welfare, school Dr. Walter W. Van Kirk of broad range of subjects covered life, the family, suicide, acci- the Federal Council has pro- by the social sciences, and in the dents at work, sports, business posed "Ten Commandments of humanities as well, the world and many other interests. Ap- Good Will." They reflect a spirit has recently witnessed in several propriately enough, there is a sorely needed in the present countries the progressive disinfrank appraisal of alcohol as a tegration of creative scholarmeans of raising national and world crisis: municipal revenues. ship." 1. I will respect all men and women '" -The Christian Advocate. -Christian Advocate. regardless of their race or religion.
Christians Resist Soviet 2. I will protect and defend my Pressure neighbor and my neighbor's children Salvation Army Year Book against the ravages of racial or reli- Moscow has opened a new gious bigotry. This Year Book for 1938 indrive to curb the churches. The arrests of clerymen during the 3. I will exemplify in my own life cludes a list of outstanding Salpast year, culminating in the arrest of twenty-five on Russian the spirit of goodwill and understand- vation Army events of 1937, Easter on treason charges, fo- ing. with much interesting informacused attention once more on the tion as to nationalities among status of religion in the Soviet 4. I will challenge the philosophy which the Army works, the lan- Union. It would be hard to of racial superiority by whomsoever parallel in modern times the per- it may be proclaimed, whether by guages in which it preaches and secution the Church in Russia has had to endure during the kings, dictators or demagogues. twenty years of the Bolshevik regime, yet one finds religion 5. I will not be misled by the lying a glossary of Army terIns. holding on with amazing te- propaganda of those who seek to set nacity-both holding and carry- race against race or nation against Under the heading, "Signs and ing on. According to a despatch nation. Wonders," M a j 0 r Reginald to the New York Times, great Woods, of International Headnumbers of young people still at- 6. I will refuse to support any or- quarters, describes the begintend church, as was strikingly ganization that has for its purpose evidenced by the overflowing churches on Easter Sunday. the spreading of anti-Semitism, anti- ning, in London, of work among Catholicism or anti-Protestantism. the deaf. There were 120 peo- Factors in the renewed activi- ple present at the first meeting. ties against religion are the un- 7. I will establish comradeship with Similar endeavors have, for expected stubbornness of the all those who seek to exalt the spirit many years, been a feature of people, and the signs of progress of love and reconciliation throughout in the Church. The Soviet gov- the world. ernment now frowns upon the anti-religious excesses of earlier 8. I will attribute to those who dif- the activities in Sweden, Noryears. Freedom of religion is fer from me the same degree of singuaranteed by the constitution, cerity that I claim for myself. way, Finland, Denmark and the but in actual practice the Soviet Near East. can close any church it sees fit 9. I will uphold the civil rights and on the grounds that the building religious liberties of all citizens and The Home League, a work is needed by the State. Widening of the streets has caused groups whether I agree with them or among women with 100,000 many prominent churches to be not. demolished. Recent arrests are members in the British Isles, is based on alleged plots against 10. I will do more than live and let the government. The code for live; I will live and help live. described. U n d e r the title, treason is broad and loose, so "From Fetish. W 0 r s hip to that the greater number of those New Barriers Christ," Col. Ethelbert Grimes tells of fourteen years' work in Rockefeller Foundation is West Africa, where there are finding them. Operating in fifty- 20,000 Salvationists, located in two countries, from Norway to 350 centers. An article on "Mi- the Fiji Islands, the Rockefeller gration and Settlement" reveals Foundation has been encounter- that more than 200,000 persons ing difficulties as it has tried to have been taken from over- spend something over $9,500,000 crowded areas to lands overseas a year in the dissemination of since this department of the knowledge. In some fields where work was started. It is said that they formerly went it is now fewer than 1 per cent have useless to go because the search proved failures.
for truth has been made impos- -The Christian.
sible by local conditions. While the Foundation works without Said the Robin to the Sparrow, 'I regard to political doctrines, should really like to know creeds or sects, it has become Why these anxious human beings harder and harder to follow this rush about and worry so?'
ideal. Says Dr. Raymond B. Said the Sparrow to the Robin, Fosdick: "Objective scholarship 'Friend, I think that it must be is possible only where thought is That they have no heavenly Father free t and fr~edQm ~IHl ~{CJst onl~ such as qare}) for you and w,e.,' "
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information BOOKS ON THE CITY AND THE CITY CHURCH RECOMMENDED BY THE REV. CHARLES H. SEARS, D.D.
Foremost among these books The Crowded Ways. By Charles sions. (Home Missions Council, are those announced by the Mis- Hatch Sears and The City's Church, New York City, 25 cents.) sionary Education Movement of By H. Paul Douglass. Two book'! the United States and Canada, published by the M. E. M. in 1929. City, The. Robert E. Park, Ernest designed particularly for mission W. Burgess and Roderick D. Mcstlldy courses. We list in the The Movement announces Kenzie. Chicago, University of order given by the Movement; manuals to assist in the study Chicago Press, 1925. $2.00. they may be secured from of the major books, guides for Friendship Press, 150 Fifth community and church surveys, Our Cities. Their role in the Nation- Avenue, New York City. and other helpful materials. al Economy. June, 1937. Report of the Urbanism Committee to The The American City and Its Church. It is possible for any group National Resources Committee. The basic study for adults. By Sam- to greatly extend its study of Washington, U. S. Government uel C. Kincheloe, is a careful analy- the city by use of biographies Printing Office, 1937. 50 cents. sis of city environment and adap- and autobiographies such as (Especially useful in this study be- tation of the program of the church "The Story of a Varied Life," cause of its striking maps and to this environment. Both from !:tis by W. S. Rainsford, (Double- charts.) academic and practical approach day, Doran & Company). "Ed- Dr. Kincheloe speaks with author- ward Judson, Interpreter of City Church, The. H. Paul Doug- ity. God," (Judson Press). Dr. H. lass. New York, Friendship Press, Paul Douglass' books remain of 1929. Cloth, 50 cents; paper, 25 City Man. By Charles Hatch Sears. permanent value, "The City cents. A new imprint edition, recently Church," "How to Study the published by Harpers. This is a City Church," "1000 City Church City Planning. Charles Hatch study of the intensive form of ur- C h u r c h e s," and particular Sears, editor. Philadelphia, The ban development, the metropolitan church surveys, Springfield and Judson Press, 1928. $1.25. community, with particular empha- St. Louis notable, (Harper & sis upon the eife<:!t of this environ- Brothers) . We call particular Suggestions to Leaders of Study ment upon the city man himself. attention to Dr. Wilbur C. Hal- Classes using "The American City (M. E. M. 75 cents.) lenbeck's study of Church City and Its Church"; by Kenneth D. Societies "Urban Organization Miller. Paper 15 cents. City Shadows. By Robert W. Searle. of Protestantism." Finally, ev- For the senior high school age, ery student of the city should My Community, My Church, and Me I equally valu,able for others, here is secure a copy of "Our Cities, by Wilbur C. Hallenbeck (Study a revealing series of true stories of Their Role in the National Econ- and Action Series). Paper 35 cents. city life. omy," a publication of the Na- tional Resources Committee, for Urban Scene, by Margueritte Har- Street Corners. By Harold B. Hunt- sale by the Superintendent of mon Bro. (A pictorial book for all ing. As a source book for juniors, Documents, Washington, D. C., youth and adult grades.) Paper this is particularly valuable for its at fifty cents a copy. 25 cents. portrayal of the work of churches arid social agencies. OTHER BOOKS ON THE CITY A Course for Young People on the Church in the City, by Owen Geer. All . Around the City. By Esther City Challenges the Church. Ad- Paper 25 cents. Freivogel. For primary children. dresses made at an Interdenomina- A story of how two children from tional Conference on the City A Course for Seniors on the Church the country find friendly places and Church, January 13 and 14, 1937. in the City, by Donald Gordon Stew- friendly faces in the city. Under the auspices of the Commit- art. Paper 25 cents. tee on City and New Americans of City and Church in Transition. By the Home Missions Council and the The City I Would Build, by Emily Murray H. Leiifer, published by Council of Women for Home Mis- Gaither. For intermediates. Paper Willett, Clark & Co. The book is a 35 cents. (A work book for both in- definite outgrowth of the request termediates and their leaders.) made by the Committee on City and New Americans for a study of A Junior Teacher's Guide for study- the medium-sized city. It summa- ing the Church in the City, by Nina rizes results of a four-year study of Millen. For elementary grades. Pa- 140 cities which have a population per 25 cents. of from 50 to 150,000. A Primary Teacher's Guide for Studying the Church in the City, by Esther Freivogel. Paper 25 cents.
Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
[319 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Joe Lives in the City, bv Jeanette tions, substitutions and correc- make a modern village; he in- Perkins Brown. (A picture book tion of the text are not always troduced the bicycle into Borneo for primary children.) Paper 25 easily grasped. Dr. Jeffery of and organized river fleets and cents. Cairo is preparing a critical edi- little holding companies to keep tion of the Koran text, which alive the commercial life of the (Above publications obtainable from when completed will be of great community. At the same time Missionary Education Movement, value to all missionaries to Mos- he was winning them to God, New York.) lems. It will facilitate their task spreading the Gospel of Christ of interpreting the Gospel to farther and farther into the Churching the Small City, by Wil- those who have, in their own Dyak-head-hunter filled jungles. bur C. HaIlenbeck. (A method of sacred book, countless stumbling Finally in 1935 in Sarawak, at study and survey of a smaIler city.) blocks against a' right under- the age of 63 he passed into the Paper 25 cents. Home Missions standing of the Holy Scriptures. greater Glory Beyond, but not Council, New York. 'ttntil he had seen a large part of S. M. ZWEMER. his ambitious plans mature and The Qur'an. By Richard BeIl, B.D., bear fruits. D.D. Volume 1. pp. 343, $6.00. T. Tuan Hoover of Borneo. By Frank & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1937. T. Cartwright; 186 pp. $1.75. Ab- Dr. Cartwright, the Secretary ingdon Press, New York, 1937. of the Methodist Episcopal There is no lack of English Board of Foreign Missions, was translations of the Koran. Those The work of the Christian himself a missionary for eleven by Sale, Palmer, Rodwell are missionary has never been easy, years in China. His personal well known, and each is distin- but even so, unusual difficulties contacts with Hoover left many guished for special points of val- were encountered by Jam e s memories which are brought out ue. In addition, we have had in Matthews Hoover, the stalwart in glowing, moving biography recent years four translations bearer of the Gospel into the that depicts true Christian adby Mohammedans. Nevertheless, steaming jungles of Malaya. venture as well as inspirational this is the first t.t~anslation with achievement. a critical rearrangement of the "Tuan Hoover," a Pennsylcontents of the chapters and it vania village boy, shortly after MARSHALL R. HALL. therefore fills a gap. One cannot the turn of the present century, state more clearly the justifica- heard the call to the foreign Ship East-Ship West. By Elizabeth tion for this piece of scholarly field; he obeyed and spent thirty Miller Lobingier. 87 pp. $1.00 work and its character than by years as a real pioneer mission- Friendship Press, New York. 1937. quoting from the preface: ary of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Blest with an un- This is a children's book with The translation goes frankly on the usually rugged physique and a definite purpose-to train the assumption that the Qur'an was in ability to withstand hardship, he youthful mind in the way of written form when the redactors was the ideal type for the par- peace among nations. In six difstarted their work, whether actuaIly ticular work he was called upon ferent stories, children are told written by Muhammad himself, as I to do. How well he did it, and that nations need not fight when personally believe, or by others at his how enduring are the results he they have disputes to settle. War dictation. This conclusion also has left behind must stand as a is shown to be foolish, and in been forced upon me in the course of monument which all Christians summing up a list of war's evils my work. The translation itself must may well admire. is contrasted with the blessings furnish the proof. If, by the hypoth- of peace. The book deserves a esis that the present form of the Mr. Hoover began his work wide reading among our chil- QUr'an rests upon a careful repro- in Malaya with only a moderate dren, seeing how important it is duction of a confusion of written doc- preparation, but it was soon de- that right ideals should be conuments, that confusion has been in termined that he was the man stantly set before them. any considerable number of passages to take over the difficult task of cleared up, the hypothesis will have carrying the Gospel to the Chi- Little Talks to Little Folks. By C. justified itself. All the possibilities nese immigrants from Foochow A. Puncker. 92 pp. Is. Pickering of confusion in written documents who were settled in Borneo. He & Inglis, London. 1937. have had to be considered-correc- accepted the challenge and went tions, interlinear additions, additions to work among them-on a The author has given chilon the margins, deletions and substi- crocodile-filled river in the ma- dren's talks for over 25 years, tutions, pieces cut off from a passage laria rid den jungle. Here he and the stories in this volume and wrongly placed, passages written found them, miserable, afraid are the ones that seemed to im- on the back of others and then read and alone, overwhelmed with press his small hearers most. continuously, front and back foIlowing home-sickness for their home- Realizing that the only way to each other. It is to this, rather than land. get the children's attention is to to textual defects, or to confusion in interest them, he introduces a Muhammad's own thought and style With all the strength of his va r i e t y of subjects – ants, that the dreary welter of the Qur'an huge body and stout heart he set watches, escalators, and for the so often deplored by Western writers to work. Among the material cur i 0 u s – "bent sunbeams." is due. advantages he brought to them These talks are a practical help were electricity, an ice plant, to those who would lead the Dr. Bell of the Edinburgh lights and other conveniences to "lambs into the fold." University has unraveled many of the puzzles that confront the reader, but he has also left un- solved a still larger number. His translation is accurate but not always literal, as we have in Palmer's translation. The de- vices used to indicate altera-
Book. Cbe. Upper
Church Comity. A Study of Cooper- July, August, Now READY FOR DISTRIBUTION ative Church Extension in Ameri- can Cities. H. Paul Douglass. Se tember The Daily Devotional Guide Garden City, N. Y., DoubledaYi of 1,000,000 People – Issued Doran & Co., for Institute of Socia Quarterly in English, Spanish, and Religious Research, 1929. (Out and Roman Urdu of print.) THE UPPER ROOM is beinq distributed in 25,000 churches. Church in the Changing City. Case representing every evangelical denomination. We have evi- Studies Illustrating Adaptation. dence of thousands of family altars beinq established and New York, George H. Doran Co., daily devotions in the home beinq conducted. with the aid of for Institute of Social and Religious THE UPPER ROOM as a devotional quide. The best help Research, 1927. (Out of print.) available for individual devotions.
Community Survey in Relation to Church Efficiency, The. Charles E. Carroll. New York, Abingdon Press, 1915.
Negro Problems in the Cities. Subscription price, 30 cents per year" postpaid. Pastors may secure ten or Thomas Jackson Woofter, Jr. New more copies on consignment to be paid for, when sold at 5 cents per copy. York, Institute of Social andRe- ligious Research, 1928. (Out of Send all orders to THE UPPER ROOM, Doctors' Bldg., Nashville, Tenn. print.) 1000 City Churches. Phases of Adaptation to Urban Environment. H. Paul Douglass. New York, George H. Doran Co., for Institute of So- Types from City Streets. By Hutch- troduced the pension plan of the cial and Religious Research, 1926. ins, Hapgood, New York, 1910. (Harper & Brothers. $2.50.) • • Presbyterian Church. Redemption of the City. Charles Christian Message in a Non-Chris- Hatch Sears. Philadelphia, The tian World. Hendrik Kraemer. • Griffith & Rowland Press, ,1911. 455 pp. $3.00. Harper Bros. New Cloth, 50 cents; paper, 35 cents. York. 1938. Dr. George B. Winton, missionary, , Social Characteristics of Cities. editor and educator" died March 11, William F. Ogburn. Chicago, Inter- Fun and Festival from India. Rose in Nashville, Tenn., in his 78th year. Wright. 48 pp.' 25 cents. Friend- Soon after entering the ministry of ship Press. New York. the Methodist Church, South, he went to Mexico, where he served as pastor, national City Managers' Associa- president of the theological school in San Luis Potosi, and as editor of tion, 850 E. 58th Street, Chicago, Obituary Not.. E1JQ,ngelista Me:mcana,. From 1926 Ill., 1937. Paper, $1.00. until his death he wrote regularly the (Concluded from 2d cover.) "Watch Tower" column of the No,sh- ~trategy of City Church .Planning. 'ViUe Christian Advocate. Ross W. Sanderson. New York, . . '. a of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. L.Fry and Institute of Social and Religious Rev. Harry *Co.m'p.ton, one of the Research, 1932. (Out of print.) was graduated from Muhlenberg Col- The Shame of Our Cities. By lin- lege in 1916. earliest educational evangelists in coln Steffins. South America, died December 30, in Mr. Cecil Henry Polhill, member Delaware, Ohio. He had been on the of the original "Cambridge Seven," retired list since 1919. He first served died at his, home at Hempstead, Eng- in Chile, then in Montevideo, and land, March 9. Two other members of later was president of Quito CoIIege, .!,mn~ this "Cambridge Seven" are still liv- ing, Sir Montague Beauchamp and D. in Ecuador. • * • E. Hoste of the China Inland Mission. of tbe Mr. Polhill was educated at Eaton Miss Emily L. Peterson, Presby- School and was converted and led to terian missionary in India since 1913, €bri~tian offer his life to Christian service where she was principal of the Girls' through the late Dwight L. Moody. Middle School in Saharanpur, died in He sailed for China in 1885 and served India, March 17,at the age of 58. as a missionary in Shensi, Kansu and Miss Peterson worked in the New Szchwan, where he did effective work York City Mission for five years be- fore going to India. There, in addi- lLift among the Tibetans on the western tion to directing the Indian faculty and aQout 150 students, she spent cA BOOK of worship in song, com- border of China. He retired from many hours visiting in homes, going China in 1902 but continued to give into areas where cholera and small himself and his means to promote the pox were raging in order to bring work of the China Inland Mission. comfort to the suffering; helping in community projects and working for •• • the better .education of women. Rev. Charles Scott Deming, an American Methodist missionary in •• • bining a hymnal for general Mrs. Isabel Edgar McFarland, wife church use, and a song book for evan- of Rev. A. J. McFarland, D.D., passed to the Heaven Home, in February in e;elistic purposes. Oitly songs sOund Latakia, Syria. Here they began their m the faith and inspirationaf in char- work on the Mission Field in 1906, acter included–.emphasizing Evan~el at Mersine, and at Latakia after the war. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland were ism, Missions, and the Deeper Life. Manchuria and Korea for thirty- among that band of veteran mission- Many of the new—the best of the old. three years, died in a Brookyln hos- aries of the Reformed Presbyterian pital on March 15. For a number of Church. Dr. McFarland is retiring 504 Songs Responsive Readings years he was an officer of the Chris- and returning to America this sum- tian Literature Society of Korea, and mer. Topical Index Gold Embossed Published in round notes and Roxite cloth had translated several theological edition only at $65.00 per lOO-an especially books into Korean. He returned from low price. Single copy, SSc postpaid. Manchuria on furlough last December. Writ<! today f<rr ~etumable sample copy ••• CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS, Inc. Dr. W. Courtland Robinson, for- mer editor of The Presbytrian, died in 1502 NORTH THIRD STREET HARRISBURG, PA. Delhi, New York, Marc:h 15. I!e w:as chairman of the commIttee whIch In-
LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN, OF
By ROBERT E. SPEER This is the biography of a very remarkable Christian missionary to India and for twenty years the inBuential and able editor of the Bombay Guardian. Dr. J. Sumner Stone called him, "The White Yogi."
When George Bowen died in 1888 there was call for a worthy biography but its preparation was delayed. Later all the biographical material-including his diaries, letters, reminiscences, and the books and pamphlets of which he was author-was turned over to Dr. Speer. This material has now been put into shape for publication and the result is a frank and stimulating picture of the man,-his experiences, unique character, forceful views and methods of work. Here is a life story that is of absorbing interest and will richly reward the thoughtful reader. The book is now ready for delivery. .
CONTENTS I. Family of George Bowen. XI. A Decisive Year, 1849. II. Boyhood and Youth. XII. III. Three Years Abroad. XIII. From 1850 to 1855. IV. Life in New York, 1840·1844. XIV. V. Illumination of a Hopeless Love. XV. TenYears of Independent Work. VI. Conversion to Christianity. XVI. VII. At Union Theological Seminary. XVII. The Bombay Guardian. VIII. ftisMissionary Appointment. XVIII. IX. The Voyage to India, 1847. XIX. Relations with the American Board. X. Beginning Missionary Work. Association with the Methodist Church.
Bowen as a Writer.
Correspondence with Henry W. Rankin.
Closing Testimony. • This latest work by Dr. Speer may be ordered at $2.50 per copy from THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY IS6 Fifth Avenue. New York MORE ABOUT THE MODERN CITY and HOW THE CHURCH CAN MEET ITS PROBLEMS Coming in the July and September Numbers The Church Challenges the City Dwight J. Bradley Looking to the City Tomorrow Charles H. Sears Religious Problems of a Mid-West City L. Merle Rymph What a Downtown Church Can Do The Privileged Helping the Underprivileged Frederick B. Fisher A Charge Rather Than a Retreat Samuel E. West Responsibility for a Whole Community What Does Outdoor Evangelism Accomplish Richard E. Scully WiUiam C. Munds . J. Arthur Springer ORDER COPIES OF THESE NUMBERS FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SOCIETY 25 cents a copy $20 a hundred $2.50 a year THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streets, Harrilburg, Pa.
ROBERT E. SPEER, President DELAVAN L PIERSON, Editor
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1937
1937
Mohammedan World Number The Moslem World Today Dwight M. Donaldson Some Trends in the Moslem World Edward M. Dodd Influence of Moslem Superstitions Davida M. Finney Why Preach Christ to Moslems? Samuel M. Zwemer The Christian Approach to Moslems W. Wilson Cash Moslem Reactions to the Gospel James Haldane Educating Moslems for Christ John Van Ess A Christian Doctor Among Moslems Paul W. Harrison The Power of the Printed Page Mabel H. Erdman My Experience with Moslems Frank C. Laubach Moslem Views of "Those Nazarenes" J. Lowrie Anderson Christian and Moslem Homes Eleanor T. Calverley How to Interest Christians in Moslems Estella S. Aitchison Best Books on Moslems and Missions Samuel M. Zwemet'
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to Remember WORLD DOMINION SURVEY
September 27 – October 1 – Dallas, SURVEYING THE WORLD Texas. Pres., Mrs. E. R. Alderson, 561 Goodwin St., Dallas, Texas. Here is a series of real missionary sur- veys, scientific and evangelical, written with September 27 – October 1 – Houston, a grasp and definiteness of fact, a perspec- Texas. Dean, Mrs. A. B. Haynes, tive of view and a passion which makes 618 Highland Ave., Houston, Texas. them comparable to a military reconnais- sance. One after another the great fields October 2-6 – Triennial Convention. of missionary endeavof afe being covered Women's Missionary Society of the with topogf~phical accuracy from a stand- United Lutheran Church. Buffalo. point vitally evangelical and entirely non- denominational. The books come from the October 3-Presbyterian World Com- munion Sunday. press bound like government monographs, in big type and made vivid by splendid maps.
October 5-6 – Southern Mountain Catalogue on Application Mention The Missionary Ret'iew Child Service Conference; under auspices of Save the Children Fund WORLD DOMINION OFFICES of America, Inc. Hotel McAlpin, New York. 156 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK CITY October 5-6 – Warren, Ohio. Mrs. The Rev. George S. McCune, D.D., ceived an honorary doctorate degree George Konold, 314 Scott St., N. E., LL.D., for about 30 years a Presby- from Yale in June. At a meeting of Warren, Ohio. terian missionary in Korea and presi- the Associated Boards for Christian dent of the Union Christian College Colleges in China, he made a clear October 6-12-Annual Meeting, Wom- of Pyengyang has joined the admin- statement of his Christian faith, and an's Home Missionary Society, istrative staff of the Moody Bible In- of the part that that faith had in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Se- stitute of Chicago, and will also teach release of the Generalissimo last attle, Wash. and assist in the evangelistic pro- Christmas. gram. Dr. McCune was also for a October 14-15 — Interracial Confer- time president of Huron College, '" * .. ences. Asbury Park, N. J. South Dakota, and brings real talents, Dr. Raymond C. Walker, pastor of October 21- Baltimore, Md. Mrs. experience and spiritual strength to the Market Square Presbyterian David D. Baker, 410 N. Calhoun the service of the Institute. Church of Harrisburg, Pa., was win- St., Baltimore, Md. ner of the $150 prize offered by the * … '" Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis- October 24-31-Presbyterian Centen- sions for the best missionary sermon nial Week. Mr. Dugald Campbell, agent of the preached in connection with the cele- bration of the Board's centennial. November 7-11-International Good- National Bible Society of Scotland, is Dr. Walker's subject was: "These Are Will Congress. Boston. retiring as agent for Northern Africa the Great Days of God." Other prizes since he can no longer undertake the went to Dr. George E. Sweazey, of Your Missionary Activities long pioneer journeys on the fringes Danville, Ky., Dr. George Johnson of of the Sahara Desert, and other parts Lincoln University, and Dr. Paul F. Should begin at home. Get a of Africa, as he has done for many supply of our years. He hopes to spend the re- .. . Barackman, of Brookly.n.. . New York. mainder of his days in Johannesburg, GOSPEL TRACTS James Hardy Dillard, eighty-year- .. South Africa. old president of the Jeanes Fund for Sound, attractive, convincing the Improvement of Negro Education, '" '" has received the Theodore Roosevelt Sample package, 250. medal for 1937. This medal is given Mr. Arthur T. Upson, formerly of annually for human achievement or FAITH, PRAYER and TRACT LEAGUE the Nile Mission Press, has returned the development of American char- to Palestine from England. He will acter. Dr. Dillard receives the award Dept.R.W. Muskegon Heights, Mich. be at Mt. Carmel until December 10, "in recognition of sixty years of wise and subsequently at Fairhaven, Alex- and devoted work in behalf of the Personal Items andria, Egypt. He plans to do mis- American Negro, and the creation of sionary work and to give Bible read- a better understanding between the Dr. Iran Lee Holt, minister of St. ings in various places to help weaker white race and the black."
John's Methodist Episcopal Church, Christians. … '" … ~Obituary Note'S South, St. Louis, Mo., and a former General Evangeline Booth left Rev. William Milne, a Presbyterian London on September 22 for a tour missionary stationed on the Island of president of the Federal Council of of the United States and Canada. Nguna, New Hebrides, was killed by Churches, has been appointed chair- After conducting the Salvation a native April 27. Army's annual Congress in Atlanta, man of the Federal Council's new New York, and Chicago, she will go The native was the son of the chief to Winnipeg, returning to New York of the village near the mission sta- Commission for the Study of Chris- tion, and he had seemed demented. by way of Montreal. He attacked several natives who ran tian Unity. The commission is to be- to the mission station, where Mr. and * * '" Mrs. Nottage, missionaries from angin its work when sufficient financial other island, were present on a visit. Dr. H. H. Kung, the Minister of support for it has been secured. Finance in the National Government The madman rushed at the mission- of China, and vice-president of the aries with an axe and struck Mr. Dr. and Mrs. '"Ern'"est'" Lyons, veteran Executive Yuan (vice-premier in the Milne with the axe. Government), has recently visited Methodist missionaries to the Philip- America. He is an earnest Christian Then the village chief commanded and stands next to the Premier, one of his men to shoot his son. pines, have retired from active serv- Generalissimo Chiang Kaj-shek, in responsibilities and authority in the Rev. William Veitch Milne had ice. They went to Manila in 1903 Government. Dr. Kung is a 75th de- served as a missionary in the New from Singapore, and have seen in scendent of Confucius, but in his life Hebrides for over 20 years. His fa- and work he has repeatedly testified their thirty-four years of residence to his faith in Christ and has taken (Continued on pag6 449.) his stand for Christian principles. in the Philippines a most phenomenal Dr. Kung, as a representative of his growth of the evangelical Christian Government, attended the Coronation ceremonies of King George and ramovement. In 1913 Dr. Lyons took the bar examination, thereby saving the church thousands of pesos for legal expenses, as well as enabling him to serve as advisor in critical sit- .. .. . uations.
Dr. Charles Stelzle has been ap- pointed executive director of the "Good Neighbor League" in place of Dr. Stanley High, resigned.
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REVIEW OF THE WORLD In the Foreign Mission Field Fast Days Endorse Calvert School DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Home Study Courses TO TBE VOL. LX OCTOBER, 1937 No. 10 For Children ORIENT Publication and Business Office– Calvert School, through its Home Instruc- Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. tion Department, will give your child a superior elementary education ••. by mail, Editorial and Executive Office– regardless of where you may live. Mod- 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. ern, approved courses from this famous Entered as second-class matter at school are being used by parents all over the world with outstanding success. Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. Give your children the advantages of these interesting lessons, carefully chosen books, 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. and attractive materials. Instruction is Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. under the personal guidance of teachers in Published monthly, except August. Calvert's prominent and successful private All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. British agents – Marshall, Morgan , day school in Baltimore. and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Write today for booklet of complete in- 10 shillings a year. formation. Costs are low.
MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- CALVERT SCHOOL LISHING CO., INC. 180 E. Tuscany Road BOARD OF DIRECTORS Baltimore ol> Maryland ROBERT E. SPEER, President Obituary Notes Empress of Japan-holder of A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President the Pacific Blue Ribbon WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer (Continued from 2nd Cover.) DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary • ther, Rev. Peter Milne, was one of SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT the pioneer missionaries in the New Go direct fromVancouverand Victoria in 10 days by Em- WILLIAM I. CHAMBERLAIN Hebrides. press of Asia or Empress of D. J. FANT Russia. Only 3 more days via MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD *** Hawaii by Empress of Japan WM. B. LIPPHARD (fastest ship on the Pacific) Dr. Claire H. Denman, who served or Empress of Canada. Con- ERIC M. NORTH as medical missionary in Siam for nect at Honolulu from Cali- SAMUEL M. ZWEMER twelve years, died recently in Berk- fornia ports. Low round-trip eley, California. He was first located fares include passage from Editorial Chat at Chiengmai and later established and and to Seattle. built the first hospital in Chiengmai. This number of THE REVIEW is de- He was also editor of The Laos News, ~fi+ voted to the study of the Moslems of which later became The Siwm Outlook. For rates and sailings, see the world-their distribution, char- Being an ordained minister as well acteristics, influence and the extent as doctor, he made numerous tours YOUR TRAVEL AGENT or Cana- and results of Christian work among into the interior with both foreign Mohammedans. It is an interesting dian PSaacnifiFc:raNnceiwscYo,o3r8k~tChheir- subject and will be studied by thou- and Siamese evangelists. cago, sands of Christians in America this year. The articles we present are by *** cities in U. S. and Canada. experts-men and women who have spent years of service in Moslem The Rev. Dr. Frank Rawlinson, lands. Other equally fine articles, Editor of the Chinese Recorder, was crowded out of this issue, will appear accidentally killed by the explosion of in November. Look for them. a bomb in Shanghai on August 14. He was at the time with his wife and Moslem Women and Children- daughter but they were uninjured. Mrs. Herrick Young. Dr. Rawlinson went to China under the auspices of the American Baptist Encouragements in the Work- Foreign Mission Society in 1902 and Geo. Swan. later became associated with the American Board (Congregational). Testimonies of Converts from He showed great ability in his edi- Islam. torial work and in his understanding of the Chinese. His death is a real Sermon by a Former Moslem- loss to the cause of Christ in China Sa'eed Kurdistani. and one of the tragedies of the con- flict between the Japanese and The Story of Sa'eed Kurdistani- Chinese. Christie Wilson. Ambrose Sw*ase*y, *prominent Bap- New and Old in Moslem Lands- A. T. Upson. tist and trustee of many educational and missionary enterprises, died in *** Cleveland, Ohio, recently, at the age of ninety. He was one of the world's The following shows the esteem in leading scientists, having constructed which THE REVIEW is held by readers the giant telescopes for the Lick Ob- who use it for their own personal in- servatory, the United States Observ- formation and in church work. atory at Washington and the Yerkes Observatory at the University of Chi- *** cago. He was also a generous sup- porter of interdenominational mission- "I think the Rural Number of THE ary work. REVIEW is a very fine contribution to ,the cause. I am receiving a great (Concluded on 3rd Cover.) deal of help and enjoyment as I read the various articles."-Dr. Ellsworth [449 ] M. Smith, Field Representative, American Baptist Hom.e Mission So- ciety.
*** "THE REVIEW means much to me in my work with the women of our church."-Emma H. Mills, Santa Cruz, California. MOSLEM WORLD R op SOUTH INDIAN ATLANTIC OCEAN OCEAN H· REVIB ORLD VOLUME LX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 10 OCTOBER, 1937 Topics of the Times WHY THIS INTEREST IN MOSLEMS? many other points in common with the Christian Few people on earth are as difficult to lead to faith. This too is a challenge. There is a foun- Christ as are the Moslems, and yet this year thou- dation on which to build. sands of Christians in America and England will 3. They are people of strong character. They be reading and studying about the countries take their religion and its obligations seriously. where the followers of Mohammed are most nu-. They are willing to fight for their convictions, to merous, and about the work that is being done make sacrifices and even to die for their faith. to win them to Christ. Multitudes of earnest They are not easily led to abandon their beliefs prayers will be offered for their conversion and large sums will be given to support missions or obligations as they conceive them and are diliamong them. Why? gent in teaching their children to follow their Prophet. Apostasy is considered an unpardonable It is not because of any personal gain to mis- sin and in Moslem law it is a crime punishable sionaries, or any desire for political, economic or with death. These facts constitute a challenge to ecclesiastical advantage. It is not because the Christians; they may be transmuted into Chriswork is producing large results or because the tian graces when touched by the Holy Spirit.
Church of Christ is moved by a spirit of imperial- 4. Moslems exert a great influence on the world ism for world conquest. There are at least seven reasons why every true follower of Christ should for good or for evil. They constitute a real probtake a deep and practical interest in Moslems and Christian work in their behalf to the extent of lem in Egypt and Turkey, in Iran and Syria, in earnest prayer and sacrifice. Arabia and India. In lands where they are in 1. The number of Moslems in the world and their wide distribution are challenging. At least power they offer great obstacles to progress of one in every ten of the population of the earth is a Moslem. There are between 200 and 250 mil- Christianity and to the promotion of peace and lion of these people scattered over the globe. Nort~ Africa, Egypt, the Sudan, Turkey, Syria, good will among all classes. They believe in a ArabIa, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Beluchistan, Java and Sumatra are almost solidly Mohamme- totalitarian Moslem state and in government condan. Millions more live in Central Africa, India, Central Asia, China, the Philippines, South trol by force of arms. Their influence might be Africa, Russia and Bulgaria. Many are found in other parts of Europe and in North and South turned to the advancement of the cause of Christ America. These multitudes cannot be ignored. and for the principles for which He stands. 2. They are people with positive and strong faith in God, as the one eternal, omnipotent 5. More potent than any of these reasons is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. They believe fact that Christ died for Moslems; He died that He might give tliem the life of God. They are sinners and know it, though they have wrong ideas of sin and its expiation. MthoereGoovse~reloutor Lord's command to "Go, preach every creature" certainly includes the Moham- medans today, even though there were none in existence when He first gave the command. There is no other way for Moslems to be saved than by Christ and the acceptance of His gift of Life.
in Christ as a unique prophet and in the authority 6. Another great reason is the obligation that of the Old and New Testaments. They believe in Christians have to Moslems because the contact prayer, in almsgiving, in immortality, and have of Arabians with 'a weak and distorted form of [451 ] Christianity was what led Mohammed to estab- and evidently thinks herself able to defy the publish his new form of religion. If Mohammed had lic opinion of the world. Her military party is been truly and intelligently converted to Christ ambitious to carry out its program, without in his youth what a difference that would have much regard for justice. It is reported on good made to the world ! We owe Moslems a debt, both authority that ninety per cent of the Japanese for the temporal things we have received from are opposed to the invasion of China, but the peothem and for spiritual truth we have failed to ple are kept in ignorance of the real situation share with them. by very strict censorship of the war news. J a- panese Christians, and others with more enlight- 7. A final reason for the support of Christian ened and pacific ideals, are greatly disturbed over work among Moslems is the encouraging results the aggressive policies of the military party that that have come in the conversion of Moslems to now rules Japan. These policies destroy the bene- Christ. Some outstanding trophies have been won ficial effects of the friendly advances made by in Syria and Egypt, in Iran and India. Every such Japanese Christian leaders as Dr. Toyohiko Moslem is supposed to be a missionary and, when Kagawa and Miss Michi Kawai. Apparently Jawon to Christ, should have the same zeal to ex- panese military leaders feared that China was tend their faith, in spite of persecution. What a growing in strength and was becoming united wonderful example is Dr. Sa'eed Kurdistani, the under the able Christian leadership of General- Kurdish Moslem who has become a great Chris- issimo Chiang Kai-shek and so determined to tian physician in Iran. Others are Kamil of strike while there was more likelihood of being Arabia and Michael Mansur of Egypt. There are able to achieve their purpose. multitudes more whose lights shine in narrower circles-but they are known to God. In Sumatra The modern war machine of Japan is much and other parts of the Dutch East Indies there more perfect and complete than that of China. are fifty thousand Christians who formerly were Airplanes· make it possible to carry destruction Moslems. They have their own schools and large far inland, and there seems little effort on the self-supporting churches. The influence of Christ part of the. Japanese to limit destruction to is permeating Iran, the Philippines, Africa, India, enemy fortifications and military forces. Already and many other lands to break down prejudice many thousands of noncombatants have been and build up an intelligent faith in Jesus Christ killed and wounded and peaceful villages have as the true revelation of God and the only Saviour been destroyed by ruthless Japanese airplane atfrom sin and its consequences. tacks. Foreigners and foreign enterprises have also suffered. In the north Japanese forces have Truly we as Christians have reason to preach occupied Peiping and Tientsin and are pushing the Gospel of Christ to Moslems, to carryon the their campaign north to the Great Wall and south work sacrificially and to expect that God will to the Yellow River. Without any declaration of honor our fulfilment of His will, by bringing Mo- war, Shanghai has been attacked with warships, hammedans into the fold of Christ. airplanes and cannon. Even the International Settlement has suffered and many educational THE TRAGEDY IN CHINA and missionary institutions have been bombed. The Chinese troops have offered brave and deter- Apparently the Japanese have determined to mined resistance in spite of their inferior equipgain control of China or of the northern prov- ment. They have now retired to their second line inces. Impartial observers who have followed the of defense on the west of Shanghai. events that led up to the present conflict can see no justification for Japan's invasion of China. What will be the outcome of this invasion of The excuse offered is the Japanese desire for eco- China, no one can foresee. China is too great a nomic development, their determination to sup- nation and too large a territory to be conquered press anti-Japanese feeling, and. a desire to com- in a short time. The Japanese attacks have bat the communistic influence of Russia. They united Chinese as never before, even communists have taken a strange method for accomplishing offering their service to the Nanking Government. these purposes. The first end might have been China is fighting for her life and for the pringained by friendly agreement and cooperation; ciples set forth by Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the father the second aim is thwarted and made more im- of the Chinese Republic. possible by each new invasion of China's territory and by utter disregard of China's sovereign The warfare is naturally affecting the missionrights. The third aim-to destroy communistic ary work in China. Reports come that the people influence in China-can scarcely be achieved by in war areas are filled with fear and that there methods that stir up the spirit of communism and are signs of religious revival in many places. seem to give reason for its promotion. Christians meet to worship, in spite of danger, and pray earnestly for the guidance and strength- Japan feels conscious of her military strength
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
ening of their rulers. The Protestant community meantime we can all work for greater unity numbers over one million and Roman Catholics re- through the guidance of the Spirit and through port 2,702,000 on their church rolls. Foreigners loving cooperation in the work He has given His in China number about 10,000, of whom over one- Church to carry forward. There is no room for half are Protestant missionaries. Many of these jealousy, for a desire to rule or for personal am- have left China on furlough; women and chil- bition, rivalry, suspicion and selfishness in such dren have been taken with other refugees to the unity. Philippines; missionaries on furlough are being kept home and others are being advised to leave Mr. Erling C. Olson, a New York business man, the danger zones. Probably by November first recently broadcasted over a network of stations the number of missionaries on the field will be re- some very helpful meditations on "Christian duced to 2,500, but most of these will elect to Unity," based on the one hundred and thirtystand by their flocks and to suffer and die with them if necessary. The missionary work most third Psalm. He said in part: * affected is in the area of Peiping, Tientsin, Shangh:;d and Nanking, although Japanese bombing The New Testament principle of fellowship and complanes have carried their attacks as far as Han- munion was beautifully expressed by our Lord, when He kow in the west and Canton in the south. said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." One would nat- The Christians in America and England can do urally assume, therefore, that when any body of Christians most by upholding their missionaries and the meets together they would experience this delightful comforces of righteousness by prayer. Much suffer- munion which the Psalmist so wonderfully portrayed, ing of innocent Chinese can be allayed through when he said, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is missionary and Red Cross ministrations. Gifts for brethren to dwell together in unity!" No one takes to meet present emergencies should be sent exception to this principle. It is good for capital and through the mission boards working in China. labor to dwell together in unity. It is good for any in- dividual to enjoy the fellowship of other members of his THE BASIS FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY group and preserve a spirit of unity. Such being the case, what an indictment it is against the Christian fam- Many movements are on foot for church union ily when there are petty squabbles and when the spirit of -on mission fields, in England and in America. discord and consequent disruption are present, as has been Some of these are to unite denominational fam- evident, particularly in recent years, even among men ilies, as in the Methodist, Baptist, Congregation- and women who actually have been born again by the al, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Reformed bodies. operation of the Spirit of God and the Word of God. I Some unions have already been effected, while am not talking about Christendom as we know it today. others are still being agitated. Other union move- I am not talking about the vast body of Christians and ments, as in Canada, include different denomina- non-Christians gathered together in one great melting pot. tional groups, while still other communions, like I refer to the body of Christ; to those who know that their the Protestant Episcopal Church eagerly advocate sins are forgiven, who know that they have eternal life a united church but can conceive of it only on the through faith in Jesus Christ, who know that they have basis of the acceptance of ecclesiastical ordination passed out of death and into life and therefore know that in harmony with their belief in the "historic epis- the Lord Jesus Christ is their Saviour and have acknowlcopate." edged Him as their Lord.
All true and intelligent followers of Christ ac- It is no wonder that the Church appears so impotent cept unity as the Christian ideal for which our before the world when the members of the Church are at Lord prayed three times in his high-priestly variance with one another. prayer: "That all may be one, as thou Father art in me and I in thee, that they may be one as in There can be no united Church except on a solid foundaus"-they are given eternal life in order that they tion. I do not think it is possible to have unity between may know God and be sanctified, kept, perfected. two groups of people, one of whom believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the other believes that He is The recent conferences at Oxford and Edinburgh a mere man; or to have unity between a group that looks have again emphasized the ideal for unity and upon the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross as a divine union among Christians, but seem to have found transaction, wherein God made 'atonement for sin, and a no new basis in which to realize such union. Hu- group that looks on the Cross and the death of Jesus man individuality, with differences of personal Christ as that of a martyr or a good man who died for a interpretations, tastes and methods of operation, cause. There can be no real fellowship between such must be recognized and respected until we all real- groups-but there can be unity between every member of ize that union with Christ that can find full ex- the body of Christ whose feet rest solidly upon the fact of pression in the harmony of faith, love and service the deity of Christ and upon the death which He died upon only as we realize perfect union in Him. In the the Cross.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul says, "I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuifering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to' keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
In the 16th chapter of his letter to the Romans, the Apostle gives a similar injunction: "Now I beseech you, • Quoted by permission.
brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences tion. In Java and Sumatra alone, where the contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid Dutch Christian influence predominates, there them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus are over 50,000 converts from Islam. Christ, but their own belly . . ." That is a strange expression. Mark those men and avoid them, for they do There is the challenge of Jewry-not a popular not serve the Lord. They serve their own selves in their challenge but one we must face as Christians conlust for preeminence, or their appetite for power. cerned with the spiritual welfare of the youth of the world. The key to the Jewish problem every- Again, our Lord Jesus Christ, the fountain-head of all where is the recognition of Jesus Christ as divine truth, in His great high-priestly prayer, recorded in the Lord and Saviour of all mankind. Fifteen million 17th chapter of John's Gospel, said, "Neither pray I for Jews are without the knowledge of the saving these alone, (that is, the apostles gathered around Him) grace of Jesus Christ, and yet what do we owe but for them also which shall believe on me through their to the Chosen People of God for the preservation word; (that means us) that they all may be one; as of the Old Testament, and the knowledge of Christ thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may and His Way of Life. be one in us: that the world 11WIJJ believe that thou hast sent me." What a terrific responsibility rests upon each The challenge embraces many non-Christian member of the body of Christ to observe a spirit of unity, lands such as India and China. There is the mass in order that the world may know that our Lord Jesus movement in India towards 6hristianity; whole Christ is the Son of God and sent by Him to die for us! communities are pressing forward to become Christians. The immediate need there is for When brethren dwell in unity we will determine that, Christian education and the greater development instead of causing divisions, we will endeavor to keep the of indigenous leadership. China is plastic to new unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The Holy Spirit impressions and the greatest hope of the Chrisalways makes for unity amongst believers in Christ, for tians of China is their vision of a Chinese in- He dwells in them. digenous movement adapted to meet the religious needs of the people, and effective in arousing in * SOME PRESENT-DAY CHALLENGES Chinese Christians the sense of responsibility for the extension of the Kingdom of God. Weare living in a world which is more or less in a broken state, when even the bravest are apt There is also the challenge of unreached areas to grow despondent. The difficulties and problems in Central Africa, in South America, the Islands are of many kinds-political upheavals and mass of the Pacific and other unevangelized fields. movements are ruthless in their disregard of Christianity; nations are dissatisfied with what Then there is the challenge of Europe today. they have seen of modern civilization, and are In Central and Southeastern Europe Protestantfilled with bitterness and antagonism. But a new ism is fighting for its life. Nationalism and Comproblem is becoming the most serious menace to munism are seeking to capture youth with teach- Christianity, namely, a refined heathenism. Also, ing, much of which is subversive to the ideals of in their very antagonism to Western civilization, Christ and the best interests of humanity. some non-Christian religions are absorbing the principles of the Gospel of Christ. While thus The needs of this weary, war-torn, restless refining their own religion they still stand in ab- world and the great opportunities that confront us solute antagonism to the Christian faith. In the constitute a challenge to every Christian. God is early days of the Christian Church, they, too, more concerned about the needs of the world than found that a purified paganism was more insid- we are; the Christian teaching and training of ious and powerful even than an antagonistic bar- youth is a great burden oli His heart even more barism. than on ours. One of the greatest words in Chris- tian literature is "Immanuel" – God is with us. We believe that these problems are not per- Here we find the motive and the power for Chrismanent, nor even paramount; they are passing tian education. God loved, and when He loved, phases; to followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, He served, and when He served, He sacrificed they constitute, not reasons for fears and misgiv- His best. There is but one service which is the ings, but a challenge. service of the Kingdom of God; one race, and one Cross; one world of men, and one Kingdom; and First, there is the challenge of Islam. Moham- one glorious, peerless, Saviour for the whole medanism is conscious of a solidarity and unity world. which does not exist to such an extent in any other religion. They have their sects and their divi- This world is not going to be won except by sions, but they are conscious of a brotherhood great sacrifice. We must have the spirit which wherever they are. Today the Mohammedan recognizes that only by entire dedication of ourworld is restless, but it is more responsive to the selves and all our resources can we truly serve message of Christ than it has ever been. Per- Christ. As Hudson Taylor once said, "Christ secution and opposition exist, but nothing so must be Lord of all or He is not Lord at all." clearly proves the power of the Gospel as opposi- • From an address at the World's Sunday School Convention, Oslo, by Dr. James Kelly.
Moslem World
-"if By the REV. DWIGHT M. DONALDSON, D.D., Ph.D., Meshed, Iran )Bt– Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., 1915- I T SHOULD never be forgotten that when the maintain this political and military authority, it armies of Islam were victorious in Syria and has come to be a matter of policy for Western in Persia, they took over the authority of the governments to have strict regard for the cultural old Persian Empire. This ancient empire, under and religious preferences of their Mohammedan the Achremenide'S, had been the scene of the far- subjects. Whatever criticisms may be voiced flung adventures of Xenophon and the Ten Thou- against this Western domination, it will not be sand; under the Parthians had held the haughty claimed by intelligent Mohammedan leaders that Romans at bay for more than two centuries; the Christian faith and practice are being forced upon same empire, under the Sassanidre, was forced to them. give place to the conquering Arabs. Afterwards, when this famous empire of the East became Mo- There is now no longer a Caliph in Islam, since hammedan, much of its culture and prestige sur- the Sultan of Turkey was compelled by his own vived to adorn the courts of the new rulers. Noble people to abdicate in order to open the way for the Persian families, some of them Zoroastrian and Turkish Republic. Of the entire Mohammedan some of them Christian, furnished viziers and population of the world, about 240 millions, there treasurers for the Caliphs, and scholars and trans- are nearly one hundred millions who are living lators for the libraries. under the authority and protection of the British crown and forty millions ruled by the Netherlands It is customary to ascribe the failure of the Cru- in the Dutch East Indies. Of the remaining 100 sades to a lack of effective cooperation among the millions, there are about thirty-two millions in the leaders of the Christian nations. No doubt real French colonies and protectorates, sixteen milunity in Christendom during the tenth, eleventh lions under the iron hand of the Soviet Republic, and twelfth centuries would have produced a dif- fifteen millions in China, and some four millions ferent situation. As a matter of fact unity of ac- in the Philippine Islands, in Japanese possessions, tion among the Mohammedans was but sporadic and in Europe. There remain to be accounted for and short-lived; they too had repeated failures only about thirty-three millions, who live in the that were primarily due to dissensions among five self-governing Mohammedan countries, twelve themselves. Time after time a new attack from millions in Turkey, eight millions in Iran (Perthe Christians would serve to bring them together. sia), three millions in Iraq, six millions in Af- In the course of the Crusades, each generation ghanistan, and four millions in Arabia. seemed to feel that the East and the West were, through some necessity, fighting again. On each H. R. H. Amir Saoud, the son of King Abdul side religion was part of the war propaganda. Aziz, remarked recently that "it is not easy for Now that many hundred years have passed, we independent countries to enter into a thorough look back upon those long continued conflicts and federation with countries that are only partially see how they served but one fatal purpose in world independent." When he was asked about his opinhistory. Their one abiding result was to hand ion in regalld to the suggested Middle Eastern bloc down to succeeding generations a heritage of between Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, he hatred, suspicion and fanaticism. In their atti- said that "this would be a welcome development tude towards each other East anq West, for the and would certainly receive our blessing," (Great most part, have shared this heritage. Britain and the East, July 8,1937).* While today there is no longer a great Moham- In any effort to classify and describe the vast medan EmpI·re, as l·n th.e day.s of the Crusades when the actual dominion of the Caliph extended • counAtriceosncmisaey sbtaetefmouenndt oinf tWhe. Def.foSrctsheorfmCerhhroisrtnia'sn rmeciesnsitonbsooikn, t"hTehsee from the Indus to the Atlantic, yet Mohammedan CsthimriSutliaatningMisssuiorvne. yinotfhethJefodwehronleWporrolbdl"em(choafptmeris1si0on);s atondMaohmaoms-t medans is given in Dr. S. M. Zwemer's "Across the World of Islam." civilization has continued to prevail in vast areas Attention should also be called to an article in the July number of The Moslem World, which publishes "A Statistical Survey," by that have come under the political and military Carlo Gasbarri. This article has been translated from the Italian authority of Western peoples. In order to help by Phlllip T. Blackwood and it is probably the most up to date ~~fli~!S ;~r~~ question of the distribution of Mohammedans through- [455 ]
group of mankind that make up the Mohammedan with pious cant and hypocrisy, that boy may come world, divided as they are into many sects and to regard as genuine the open honesty and fairscattered in many countries, it is easy to make play that he sees in some Christian college. In serious mistakes. Aside from the fact that ac- such a case there is much for which to be thankful. curate census reports are not to be had in some of The lad acquires the habit of the conscientious these countries, a numerical survey of the adher- quest of truth for its own sake. But something ents to any religion is apt to be misleading. There further is needed. New eagerness to learn what are millions of Mohammedans whom the puritani- is true mus,t be directed into the spiritual realm as cal Wahabis in Arabia and Iraq would not recog- well, and this must be done by those whose ways nize as true believers. Likewise the self-satisfied of living he has come to admire. Here is an op- Shi'ites of Iran and India can see little hope for portunity for the possible coordination of the boy's those who rejected and dishonored their Imams. new life with the direct evangelistic work of the The modern reformers in India have suffered mission, or better still, with the agencies of the agony of soul when they realized the ignorance indigenous Church. and superstition of thousands upon thousands of their own religious community, whose systematic Another young man may show more interest veneration of fetishes and saints they regard as and ability in social life rather than as a scholar. sheer idolatry. And orthodox groups in Egypt, He may attend a Christian wedding in a beautiful who adhere to the Koran ,and the Traditions as garden in India. There he will see Christian interpreted by the four recognized schools of law, young ladies moving about modestly but graare indignant at the man-made movements of the ciously, animated with gay hospitality, and talking Moslem "modernists." From any of these varie- freely with both ladies and gentlemen. When he ties of believers you may easily find a friend who returns to his dormitory room he may voice a prowill assure you, "In these modern times it is hard test, as I once heard such a man do, against the to say who is a Mohammedan." unreasonable restrictions of Mohammedan so- ciety, and ask, "How long will it be until we can Objections to Christianity have the same clean and natural and loyal family life the Christians have?" Notwithstanding these inherent difficulties, whether a missionary go to Cairo or to Constan- Here also is a point of contact for some discerntinople, to Beirut or to Teheran, to Baghdad or to ing Christian friend to show him, in the right way Lucknow, he will hear certain uniform objections and time and place, that it is not what comes from to Christianity for example, that it has three gods, the West but what comes from Jesus Christ that or that the true Gospel that Jesus brought down makes the big difference. This, however, will not from Heaven is no longer extant. These objec- be accomplished by mere assertion. A careful tions are usually met best indirectly, in the course study together of the pre-Christian social standof calm and patient teaching and explanation of ards of some of the modern Christian peoples may the New Testament. But almost everywhere we be necessary. The missionary's objective is not to discover also that Westernization, in the form of suggest that one social culture be abandoned for secularism and nationalism, is making serious in- another, but rather that the culture of every naroads on Islam. And if we read again the opinion tion be submitted to the transforming power of of one of our foremost American orientalists, Dr. the will of God as revealed by Jesus Christ. D. B. Macdonald, (Aspects of Islam, p. 12), we realize that what required discerning insight a In such circumstances a program of Westernizafew years ago is now written in the Islamic social tion only would be hazal'dous and inadequate. structure so that one who runs may read: And what has been said with reference to schools and colleges applies with equal force to mission Islam as a religion is not holding its own against the dispensaries and hospitals. In this field also getunbelief that is flooding in from the European civilization. ting somewhere from the Christian point of view Young men are growing up into crass and material forms means getting beyond mere Westernization. There of atheism; forms that the best intellectual life of Europe is something fine and noble in a Christian doctor's has itself thrown off. And as education spreads and attitude toward his patients that witnesses to the deepens, as history vindicates for itself its place, as the spirit of Christ. It is this that enables him to work moral feeling becomes more watchful and sensitive, so the with patience and sympathy with people who are legend of Muhammad will crumble and his character be often unreasonable and exasperating. He has seen in its true light. It is, then, for the Christian schools something else than the discipline of his profesand preachers to save these peoples, not only for Chris- sion, something that has for its purpose, not the tianity, but for any religion at all; to vindicate to them white man's supremacy, not national honor, not the claims upon their lives of religion in the broadest sense. personal distinction, but a deeply laid desire for the dominion of the healing love of God in the But Westernization cannot be depended upon to hearts and bodies of suffering mankind. produce Christians. When perchance a Mohammedan youth has a father who disgusts his son
THE MOSLEM WORLD TODAY
As we think of many famous cities in the Islamic ary epistles in the New Testament, in their salutaworld where missionaries are now working pa- tions, exhortations and farewells. tiently and devotedly as true knights of the Cross, it is a sobering thought to realize over what a These national Christians also work with the wide area they are scattered. We rejoice also in missionaries in adapting Christian teaching to the strategic advantages they now have in this meet what has been called "the new Moslem apolgreat crusade for the peaceful penetration of the ogetic and polemic." In their candid social and love of God in Jesus Christ. Important and fa- intellectual relations with Mohammedans of the miliar cities in which they are witnessing, cities present day, missionaries find that many are not of more than 100,000 population according to the as dogmatic as they used to be. Things have been last issue of The Statesm.,an's Yearbook, may well happening to give them a broader background. be mentioned: They are inquisitive and receptive in the fields of history, of science, and of philosophy; and their Calcutta ………………………….. 1,485,582 opposition to Christianity is apt to be less bitter Constantinople ……………………… 740,805 and fanatical. Bombay …………………………… Cairo …………………………….. 1,161,383 On the other hand, if Moslems are irritated into Madras …………………………… 1,064,567 explosively proclaiming their objections to Chris- Hyderabad ………….. ,"""",',…. tianity, they may say things that are palpably Alexandria …………… ,………….. 647,230 specious and superficial. They may maint;:tin that Teheran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466,894 the Christian Scriptures teach that the blind and Lucknow ………………………….. 573,063 leprous are impure and that Solomon was an Rangoon ………………… , …. '….. 360,000 idolater. As the Mohammedan takes for granted Damascus …………………………. 274,659 the dogma that the prophets were sinless, they will Delhi …………………………….. 400,415 insist that the Bible is in gross error in saying Lahore …………… , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193,912 that David became a prey to temptations and that Smyrna ………………… , ……… ,. 447,442 Aaron joined in the worship of the calf because of Cawnpore …………………………. 429,747 fear of the people of Israel. Like the Jews of old Agra …………………………….. 170,546 Moslems still exclaim that it is blasphemy to say Ahmadaoad .'……………………… 243,755 that Jesus is the Son of God, that it is directly Tabriz ……………………………. 229,764 contrary to the Koran to say that one person can Allahabad …………………………. 313,789 bear the sin of others, that it is immoral and fool- Tunis …………………………….. 219,000 ish to say that "the Law is a curse," and naively Amritsar … . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183,914 anthropomorphic to speak of God as being "tired" Howrah …………………………… 202,405 or "repentant." Poona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264,840 Soerabaya ….. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224,873 To counteract the considerable influence of Baghdad ………………………….. 250,187 Christian teaching among the students in the Diwaniya ………… '……………… 146,944 schools and colleges of India, the Ahmadi sect Fez ……………………. " . . . . . . . . . . . 353,840 make such allegations as these against Jesus: Patna ……….. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341,068 Aleppo ……………………………. 106,838 That He was given to drunkenness. Karachi ……. ,……………………. 159,690 That He exceeded all bounds in vulgar abuse of the Jews. Meshed …………………………… 177,313 That He was a coward and afraid to face death. Beirut ……………………………. ' 263,565 That He was disrespectful to His mother. Ankara …………………………… 139,000 That He was friendly with women of questionable char- Isfahan …………………………… 134,655 123,699 acter. 100,000 That His teachings were too idealistic and impracticable. That He grew angry and lost His temper. Some of the most gratifying work for Christ is That He was provincial, and that His message was only done in towns and rural districts that lie across the plains or in the mountain valleys beyond the for the Jews. cities. It is from these regions that hundreds and That He was weak and helpless. hundreds of patients come to mission hospitals; That His mission was a failure. and country boys and girls come to attend mission That Jesus did not die on the Cross, and that there was schools. National Christians, sometimes accompanied by missionaries, go out and tour from town no Resurrection. to town, or from village to village, having their part in modern apostolic witnessing. The fellow- But as a rule Mohammedan readers put a disship of believers is beautifully shown when these tinction between the Gospels and Chri.stian propamen and women, often themselves converts from ganda literature. Many of them are able and Islam, are able to be in the same little place for a ready to refute superficial and hostile objections while with some isolated Christian family, or to to the character of Jesus. They feel too much of have a series of meetings with some struggling the significance of His life and teaching to let His little group of new Christians. And when letters character be smirched "by the pen of an enemy." are exchanged afterwards, it is interesting to see that they write after the manner of the mission- "It cannot be," as Dr. Murray T. Titus has ob- served in his book on Indian Islam, "that honest
truth-seeking Moslems will continue indefinitely ulation, with sharp differences between the varito refuse to face all the facts, and pursue a policy of evasion of the real issues of history and life, ous region; in the Northeast they reach 82%, in even though such investigation leads to the questioning and study of the very sources of revelation the East 8 %, in the West 32 %, in the center 470, itself. . . . The sum of it all is, that the highest revelation of God to man is through a living per- and in the South only 2%. sonality. That the modern Moslem apologist is becoming more and more conscious of the funda- Percentage mental importance of this truth is revealed in the Moslems of population fact that he is emphasizing the personality and character of Mohammed as the means by which Morocco ………………. 5,215,000 97 God's grace was shed upon the world, and as the fact of central importance in Islam. The problem, Algeria ……………….. 5,174,872 82 therefore, for the Moslem as for the Christian investigator, is to apply the same honest and fear- Tunisia ……………….. 1,932,184 93 less critical methods to the study of Mohammed and his revelation as have been applied to Jesus Egypt ………………… 11,658,148 91 and the Bible," ("Indian Islam," Murray T. Titus, 1930). . Libya …………………. 1,205,000 94 For missionaries among Mohammedans, as for Anglo-Egyptian Sudan …… 2,800,000 66 their supporters in the homeland, and for their colleagues from the national Christians in Moslem Mauritania …………….. 254,000 99 countries, the issue is clearly drawn; our purpose is "to ,give the light of the knowledge of the glory Senegal ……………….. 915,000 75 of God in the face of Jesus Christ." French Sudan ………….. 1,061,000 42 Eritrea ……………….. 225,000 56 French Somaliland ………. 210,000 100 British Somaliland ………. 300,000 100 Italian Somaliland ………. 1,500,000 99 Ethiopia ………………. 2,500,000 37 French Guinea …………. 1,045,000 66 North Nigeria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,889,000 64 South Nigeria …………. 1,940,0000 25 Chad …………………. 925,000 72 Cameroons …………….. 500,000 25 Nyasaland …………….. 160,000 10 Kenya ………………… 1,000,000 40 Uganda ……………….. 600,000 20 Tanganyika ……………. 400,000 10 A STATISTICAL SURVEY OF ISLAM* By far the largest Islamic country in Africa is Egypt where, as in West Africa, the Moslem prob- Every good Moslem is, and in fact must be, a lems are of particular interest.
"missionary." In 1900 the Moslem world had at Since 1930 Moslem missionaries from the el-Azhar University in Cairo have been diffusing its disposal two hundred printing presses; today culture and orthodox doctrine among the Moslems of various countries. An American observes that it has eight hundred and eighty. Out of a world the "Christians are talking about converting Af- rica, and the Moslems are doing it." Roman Cathpopulation of 2,053,600,000, we can accept 240,- olic missionaries state that the Moslems succeed in making propagandists among their converts, 000,000 as a figure for Islam. while the Catholics cannot succeed even in in- structing their catechumens. Moslems in A'sia are most numerous and in- Islam constitutes about two one-hundreths of clude 17.970 of the population. one per cent of the population of North America, and one-eighth of one per cent of South and Cen- Percentage tral America, with a total of scarcely 135,583 Moslems of plYpulation members.
Turkey ……………….. 12,600,000 92 In Europe and Soviet Russia Moslems represent 2% of the total population. They include 584,000 Syria …………………. 2,159,259 77 in Albania, 1,337,000 in Jugoslavia, 690,000 in Bulgaria, and 2,400,000 in Russia. Palestine ………… . . . . . . . 557,649 70 There are no general organizations for all Islam Transjordania ………….. 2,850,000 92 with a purely missionary scope, and the attempt to create an Association for the Defense of Islam Arabia ………………… 4,000,000 100 is a failure. The only organization of the kind, which will perhaps soon become international Iraq ………………….. 2,640,700 96 through increasing growth, is the Association of Moslem Youth, with headquarters in Cairo. An Iran ………………….. 8,830,000 95 international movement has developed from heret- ical Moslem sects, principally from the Ahma- Siberia, Kirghiztan, etc. ….. 16,462,442 80 diyah of Qadian and Lahore (British India), and from the Bahai sect, of Persian origin. Afghanistan …………… 6,380,500 100 British India …………… 78,000,000 21 French Indies ………….. 15,000 5 British East Indies ……… 2,025,000 47 Dutch East Indies ………. 43,000,000 86 Philippine Islands ………. 443,037 4 China …. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,000,000 5 Chinese Turkestan ………. 1,200,000 48 The leading Moslem country in Asia is India. Moslems in Africa number about 37% of the pop- *eondensed from The Moslem World (July, 1937), New York; translated from an article by Carlo Casfarri in Il Pensiero Mis- sionwrw (Rome), December, 1936, by Philip T. Blackwood of Princeton, N. J.
Trends in the Moslem
By EDWARD M. DODD, M.D., New York Author of "To Mecca and Beyond"; Formerly a Missionary of the Presbyterian Church in Iran A GENERATION ago the world of Islam was As one surveys the wide reaches of the Moslem still predominantly a unit. Though living scene, and ponders the changes taking place, there under diverse national and political condi- appear to be four fairly well defined trends of the tions, Moslems had a strong sense of their solidar- day. This observation applies chiefly to leaders, ity. Except for certain well established heresies to urban centers and to youth. The vast rural or minor offshoots, and allowing for the begin- bulk of Islam is still conservative, orthodox and nings of revised and modernized thinking which relatively little changed. But where the city goes affected a relatively small group of intelligentsia, now the village will go presently, especially with there were no outstanding .divergencies in the the radio and the automobile and the printed page Moslem road, or deep rifts in the Moslem front. arriving everywhere. We are here concerned with In the main the religious road of Sunnis in India, these lead-trends to the future.
Turkey or North Africa, for example, ran parallel, 1. In the first place we have the conservative or rather they loyally converged on Mecca. The status quo plus the "Puritan" revival in Arabia. Sultan-Caliph was still on the Constantinople Externally or mechanically Arabia is being gradthrone; and the faithful from Morocco to the ually modernized but religiously it remains ortho- Philippines, and from Bokhara to CapeTown, dox, with the re-emphasis of the Wahabi Moverecognized and revered him as their head. It ment. The tale which at once illustrates the point, was still not wholly fantastic to talk of a general as well as the consummate skill of Ibn Saoud, has Mohammedan Holy war; indeed Turkey made an been told more than once. When it was proposed abortive attempt at this as late as the closing year to install a telephone system in Riadh, the desert of the World War. Moslems had not yet trans- capital of Saoudi Arabia, the conservative relilated the Koran out of Arabic. The veiled and re- gious leaders protested. The thing was not of the pressed status of women was still universal. Even Koran and therefore not lawful. Ibn Saoud put in heretical Shiite Persia the Old Order was not the matter to the religious test. He suggested visibly disturbed. that a Mullah read the Koran into the telephone at one end of an experimental line and another But what have we now? Shocks from without Mullah listen at the other end. If the apparatus and revolutionary transformations from within, conveyed the sacred words, surely the thing was accentuated by the WorId War but largely repre- of Allah and lawful. How could one object to that? senting the influx of the modern age, have shaken Needless to say, Riadh now has telephones. Yet and confused the House of Islam. Turkey has the ecclesiastical hierarchy is intact. One wongone secular and modern, while Arabia is Puritan ders how long this intellectual straddle can hold Wahabi. The Caliphate has been summarily abol- up, for Islam tends to give way or to be revised ished, and there are no significant efforts afoot to as it is exposed to the modern impact. re-establish it. Egypt has developed theological modernism; and Azhar University, the intellec- North Africa, west of Egypt, shares with tual nerve-center of Islam, has been made over on Arabia the characteristic of Mohammedan conmodernized lines. The Koran has been translated servatism, even though in the social externals of for the use of Moslems into Turkish and is being life it is also becoming Europeanized. translated into other languages. The veil has been largely discarded in Turkey and is officially banned In Central Asia we have the complicated situain Iran. The Turkish National Assembly has now tion of conservative religious leadership, assaulted a number of women delegates; Egypt has a vig- by the socially radical and religiously atheistic orous feminist movement. Turkey and Iran are Soviet government and also facing a considerable busily harking back to their Turanian and Iranian feminist movement. The prospects are that the origins, and are turning away from the Arabic- religious old order will be overpowered by the Islamic culture. In the Near East generally, ex- social new order. A real battle is on. cept for Arabia, there is considerable disintegration in Islam. 2. There is another group which we might call the reform or revision states, conspicuously illus- [459 ]
trated by India and Egypt, each in its own way. be called the drifters. The drifting away from They are formulating definite philosophies, which Islam is a part of what is going on all over the have been developing and spreading for a number world-the drift away from all religion. In these of years, and which are changing and diversifying Moslem countries the dominant interest is political the religious picture. The outstanding contribu- and nationalistic. Nationalism is becoming the tion of India is the Ahmadiya movement. The net new religion rather than Islam: the ardors of result in India, according to Mr. Murray Titus is loyalty, the mass demonstrations, the allegiances reinvigoration. He concludes that in spite of di- of youth-these are now channelled largely into visions and weaknesses, "Islam in India today is nationalism. There is a wholesale drift of youth better organized, better educated, more progres- away from the old religion. Outward observances sive, more reasonable and tolerant toward its may still be maintained, though many of these are neighbors than ever before in its history. Of weakening, but the inner conviction is crumbling Egyptian thought, Dr. Charles C. Adams of the away. The movie theatre is found to be much American Mission says: more exciting than the Mosque; the radio broad- "Mohammedan modernism in Egypt may be cast is more intriguing to the younger generation said to have taken form as a definite movement than the call to prayer. Inert fatalism, the resig- during the last quarter of the preceding century, nation of Islam, has a hard time surviving the under the leadership of the late Grand Mufti of automobile and modern medicine.
Egypt, Sheikh Myhammad Abduh, who died in . The Iranian Shah has made it unmistakably and 1905. It constitutes an attempt to free the reli- dramatically clear fuat progressive nationalism, gion of Islam from the shackles of a too rigid embodied in himself, rules, and not Islam. But orthodoxy, and to accomplish reforms which will there has been no official disestablishment of the render it adaptable to the complex demands of latter. The youth of Iraq says that Mohammed modern life. Its prevailing character is that of was well enough for his day, but that he is now a religious reform; it is inspired and dominated back-number; let the religious hierarchy die in chiefly by theological considerations. It differs in peace; they no longer count. But no official overt this respect from the reforms instituted by the change has been made. Syria's consuming na- Indian group of nationalist reformers, who aim tional interest is in the new political situation cre- primarily at a cultural movement, and the adjust- ated by the transition from French mandate to ment of Islam to the conditions of modern Euro- independence. The races and religions in this pean civilization. The fundamental assumption, polyglot country increasingly unite on the basis of however, that Islam is a world religion, suitable Arab nationalism, which tends more and more to for all peoples, all times, and all cultural condi- transcend religious and racial lines.
tions, is common to both movements." Similarly in far~off Java, one of the largest In both countries there are strong social move- Moslem units of the world, there is a well-devel- ments among women, which are attacking prob- oped movement to return to the pre-Islamic Na- lems of health and well-being, of polygamy, di- tional culture. There is a strong nationalistic vorce and prostitution. All of this is within the movement, which is of far more vital interest to frame-work of the established religion. the younger generation than any religion. With These two groups, the orthodox and the revised, them Islam is increasingly under criticism and in give no evidence of breaking away from Islam. the discard.
They are making their social and theological adap- 4. Finally there is the radical state, Turkey, tations from within. The state or the community which alone has turned squarely away from Islam is still a "church" state or a "church" community. as an official institution. It has not turned against ("Church" is of course used as the nearest intel- Islam, nor is it antireligious in general, but it has ligible counterpart – not because Islam has a decided that, in order to become a modern and pro- church in the Christian sense.) gressive country, it cannot brook the inhibitions, Both of these groups are strongly missionary. interference, and frustrations of the old Moslem The Ahmadiya movement is very active and the order. Kemal Ataturk has therefore set up a sec- Azhar is still a powerful propaganda center, with, ular state which, in itself, is a repudiation of basic Africa as its chief missionary field. In India the Mohammedanism, because the Mohammedan sys- new situation created by the Outcast movement tem has hitherto claimed the whole stage. A away from Hinduism, and the Ambedkar an- typical indepenuent Moslem country was ipso nouncement of their readiness to consider some facto a religious government – a "church" state; other religion, appeals tremendously to this funda- the only law was the Moslem law; there was no mental missionary urge of Islam, as well as hav- concept of a separate civil law.
ing its important political hearings. This radical national departure, coming from 3. Other predominantly Moslem lands, like the country which had so long been the seat of the Iraq, Iran, and Syria, as well as Malaysia, might Caliphate, the spear-head of the whole Moslem
INFLUENCE OF MOSLEM SUPERSTITIONS
World, struck a body blow at world Islam. India hardly be water-tight compartments. There is and Egypt and the far isles of the Pacific rever- bound to be mingling and overflowing in this day berated with the shock. Turkey was branded as a of interchange and questioning and remolding. renegade and apostate, but the fulminations were It is an intriguing question as to which if anyone futile. Turkey went serenely and successfully on of these trends will prevail to any general extent. her way, and nothing has come of the scattered efforts to revive the Caliphate. It is, of course, incumbent upon the Christian enterprise to understand these trends, and the The course which Turkey has pursued has also varied fronts which they present. It is one thing had its admirers in other lands. Iran, for ex- to deal with a zealous, intolerant Wahabi Bedouin ample, is very apt to follow the same patterns as of the far desert reaches and another thing to talk her neighbor on her western boundary. There are with an indifferent, agreeable, irreligious young not wanting those, among the younger generation government clerk in Iran, or Syria; it is still anelsewhere, who think that Turkey has really other thing to sympathize with an active woman shown the way to do the thing. social reformer of Egypt, who also presents the new Moslem apologetic; and again another thing The patterns of national development, though to be a strictly inhibited missionary in Turkey. distinctively represented by national units, can Influence of Moslem Superstitions By DAVIDA M. FINNEY, Ramleh, Egypt II ~. – Missionary of the United Presbyterian Church '~==========================~I O NE of my earliest recollections as a child is Nurses and mothers frighten their erring children of a Moslem sheikh who came to call upon with, "Be good or the bu' bu' will catch you." my father. He sat alone in our drawing- room, waiting for father's return. I did not know Only about ten years ago I was dining with a he was there, and was wandering, rather discon- number of Egyptian college students about to re- . solately, down the hall when suddenly I was star- ceive the baccalaureate certificate. Turning to the tled by a flurry of robes, quick breathing, and one on my right, I asked: looked up to see the sheikh in full flight from the drawing-room door. When he saw me, he stopped "What did you think the bu' bu' was when you precipitately, and muttered, were a child?"
"An afreet! He blew down the chimney!" Then "A negro giant," he told me, "with flashing eyes he continued more calmly, "Let me, if you please, and a red mouth." sit outside here in the hall." At once the group around us was adding detail I remember glancing into the room, astonished upon detail. A discussion of afreet followed. Made at his fright and yet wondering if after all my a little uneasy by the vividness of descriptions mother might be wrong about afreet, and my na- given, I finally remarked: tive nurse right, and that I might now catch a glimpse of one. The sunny room lay silent and "Isn't it a fine thing that today we need no empty, however. No grinning afreet perched any- longer fear the bu' bu' and the afreetl" where, not even on the little iron stove. Faith in my mother returning in a comforting wave, I There was instant silence, and then the man on murmured loftily: my right said, "Pray be seated." "But you are a Westerner. We of the East know." This incident was my first introduction to the fact that learned men as well as my nurse were "But have you ever seen'an afreet?" I asked in- afraid of spirits. credulously.
In conversation with many Egyptians, I have To my amazement he nodded. found one word an open sesame to a common "One day," he said, "I was walking across a bit ground of experience, and eventually to a feeling of waste land. Suddenly I saw an afreet approach- of intimate friendliness. We discuss the bu' bu'. ing, very tall, clothed all in white. I looked to right and left, hunting for a place of concealment, but there was none. So I cowered down and hid my face until he had passed. One must always do that with an afreet; it is death to oppose him. Once a friend of mine, who happened to be armed,
met an a/reet and in his fright fired at it. The weaned her child. Women threatened with harm a/reet disappeared, but in a short time my friend may protect themselves by wearing a bit of palm was dead. If you oppose an a/reet, within a year stalk (gareeda). you die." No bride should be approached by a person just Over and over again in conversation with all circumcized. A woman who has just lost a child sorts of Egyptians one is reminded .of the fact that or a qati/ should not enter a house where there even today, for the mass of the population, ginn is a weaning child or one with sore eyes. If she and a/reet are real, a daily concern, terrifying. does, it will become blind. My friend, Mr. Khaleel Modern education, the radio, the cinema, closer Armanios, the blind evangelist of Alexandria, has contacts with Europe, a constantly increasing use often been asked if he was blinded by a qati/. of newspapers, these factors and many others are rapidly modifying superstiti.ous beliefs. Yet in Just after shaving a man must not approach a fairness one must remember that these educative bride, a pregnant, nursing .or weaning mother, if influences reach .only the minority in any country he has not previously met them, lest they become where literacy is low. Even in educated folk, barren or lose their milk. Evil consequences may brought up by superstitious parents, such belief be avoided if the WDman enters the room of meetis instinctive and dies hard. ing and walks around the man seven times. On the .other hand, if he shaves in his own house with A few years ago the editor of a fairly well- the woman close beside him no harm is done. Or known daily, then being published in Cairo, de- the woman may take the razor used, soak it in scribed to me his visit to an old convent. water, and .on a Friday when she bathes, pour the water over her body. Should her well-being be "I went alone," he told me, "although the place threatened by a qati/, or some other woman, she was full of a/reet. But," with quiet pride he con- may escape harm by securing some blood from the tinued, "J was not afraid." other WDman and placing it in her bath on Friday.
It is the modern educated youth who more Mr. Khaleel told me of a family of his acquaintnearly achieve freedom from fear. I am not writ- ance who had a bitter quarrel with a neighboring ing of Christians and well-traveled and well-read family. One of the women had weaned a child Moslems who for years have been unconsciDus of but had not yet seen the new moon. Forgetting such fear. I write rather of the general mass, not this fact, when her neighbor gave birth to a son the small group. she went to call upon the rejoicing mother. In a short time the child died, and, even worse, at the The women and girls with whom we come much end of a year the mother was still barren. After in contact are dominated by fear of el Mushohira much consultation and thought, the neighbor's (literally, to be monthed), the Ain (the Evil Eye) visit was remembered. She was apprDached and magic, and spirits. These spirits may be El Zar agreed to do what she could to repair the damage. (the Visitor), El Ginn, or El A/reet. The masses They took some blood from her hand, and the believe in certain charms to be said or used to mother placed it in her bath on Friday. No good counteract these evil influences. They think that resulting, again the neighbor was approached and .one must be quick to observe, and punctilious in again gave blood, this time from her foot. Still performing such rites, if one wishes to avoid no good resulting, .once more she was approached, injury. and asked to contribute blood from some other part of her body. This she indignantly refused t.o The Mushohira gets its name, as far as I am do, claiming that if she were the cause of the curse, able to discover its root, from shahr, month. The blood from one part of her body would be as effiidea in its use is that escape from harm depends caci.ous as from any other. Rapidly the quarrel on seeing the new moon. The evil effects of the grew, and for three years neither family has Mushohira fall upon certain groups of people and spoken t.o the other. are brought about by certain people. Those most commonly recognized Mushohira, bringing evil, There are other unlucky deeds by which one perare: a mother weaning her child, called El Qati/; son may bring evil upon another. If one crosses a a man who has just shaved; a person just cir- river in boat or train and then at .once enters cumcized; one who is ill or with sore eyes; and a where there is a bride, a sick person, a pregnant bride when she meets another bride. Those who or weaning mot!ler, injury will result. To avoid suffer from such individuals are brides, pregnant bringing injury, this person should remain in anwomen or mothers weaning a child, and the sick. other room until the woman enters where the new- The Mushohira is caused by other means, but less comer is and circles him seven times. Mr. Khaleel frequently. called recently in the home of a woman who once was visited by s.omeone just after crossing the If a Qati/ approaches a bride ora pregnant river. In a few days the woman became blind. woman, she becomes barren; if she approaches To remove the curse, her br.other took her in a another Qati/, the milk will be stopped. To rid herself of this baneful power, the Qati/ must see the new moon as soon as she has completely
boat to cross and recross the river. He was told not speak to or interfere with them. If a person that at once her eyesight was restored. Constantly accidentally stumbles or falls to the ground there one comes across the effects of the Mushohira. is grave danger that he has injured some of these spirits. The only way to appease them is to The Ain is injury brought about by admiring sprinkle the spot with salt, water, or even sugar something not your own. This admiration is prob- and bread. Last week a woman stumbled in ably envious and therefore brings evil conse- alighting from a street-car. She hastened to a quences. It is considered much more proper and friend's house, borrowed salt, sugar and water, considerate not to praise at all, but if impelled to returned to the spot and silently sprinkled it. To do so one should preface the remark with "Yikhzi maintain silence is essential if the rite is to be el Ain" (May God put the eye to shame), or "Aini efficacious. aleykum barda" (My eye is cold upon you). People are especially liable to be possessed by One man may say to another, "Aini barda, but spirits at certain times; at marriages, perhaps you seem to be in excellent health." Then all is because at that time they are concerned about well. It is difficult to remember this instinctive their appearance and frequently look in a mirror; shrinking from praise of anything a man holds when bathing, because they may inadvertantly addear. Nor is it easy to hold a baby in your arms mire their bodies; when sleeping alone, as spirits and make no admiring comment. If your eyes are always infest a solitary place; when going to bed blue, better far not even to look your pleasure. in a worried or angry frame of mind, as the spirits find access easy at that time. To be freed from the evil consequences of the Ain, it is thought necessary to secure a piece of Should one become possessed by a spirit one garment worn by the envious one, or some dregs must appease him and remove the cause of his from his coffee cup. No offense must be given, so anger. This is done by the holding of a Zar. one must not let him know that he is suspected of There are special women thought able to reconcile having done injury. If it is impossible to secure the spirits. The one possessed gives such a woman a bit of his clothing surreptitiously, often it is an article of her wearing apparel. She places it possible to secure a bit through a bribed servant beneath her pillow; during the night the offended or a sympathetic friend. Sometimes people are spirit tells her the cause of his anger and also startled to find a small piece gone from some val- what gift will satisfy him. Next morning the ued garment. This snippet is burned and the woman tells the possessed person what the spirit smoke passed over the child. Coffee dregs are wants – jewelry, a sheep, a new dress, or some boiled and the steam is passed over the child. piece of furniture. Many women take advantage of this custom to secure for themselves things they As for vengeful spirits, the ginn and zar are cannot otherwise obtain. considered always present. The ginn live usually in kitchens and bathrooms or in lofts where sup- The Sarukh (the cry), is brought about through plies are kept. The loft of a house in which Mr. an unnatural death. If a man is murdered, the Khaleel once lived was infested with rats. Neigh- spirits which live in his blood, continue to cry bors visiting in the house heard scurryings and aloud for vengeance from the spot where his blood squeakings and were firmly convinced that ginn was shed. There is no fear of evil consequences to the house if he dies away from home, otherwise it haunted the house. becomes infested with his afreet. In the case of A little Mohammedan girl once stayed in our any violent or accidental death, the spot where death occurs remains a place of danger to all home for some time. One day she went into the passers-by. kitchen to get some water but came out hastily without it. When asked what was the matter, she These are some of the superstitions with which one comes in contact day by day in schools, homes, said, and in one's travels. Many sheikhs studying in "There's an afreet in the pot on the stove." the Azhar University are today electing the course Looking in, I saw the lid of the tea-kettle rat- in modern education, similar to that given by the Ministry of Education. Such men will not fly pretling furiously as the water boiled. When taking cipitately from a room when the wind blows down a bath, if suddenly startled or frightened, one may the chimney. A new day has dawned in Egypt, a be sure that a ginn has taken possession of one's fact which is being felt even in EI Azhar Univer- sity. Yet those who visit in homes aU over the body. country, who deal intimately with men, women, Besides the ginn, the earth is believed to be in- and children, are forced to realize more and more clearly each year how great is the hold that superhabited by other spirits. These are divided into stition still has upon masses of the population in three main divisions; El Sitt (the woman), El any Mohammedan country. Seed (the master), and El Abd (the slave). They are found everywhere, but especially in any open or waste piece of land. Here they busy themselves with their own affairs. If one is forced to cross such a piece of land alone, one may see and hear them. To avoid injury by them, one should
Preach Christ to Moslems?
By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., F.R.G.S., –..g{ Princeton, New Jersey }Sc-.- Editor of "The Moslem World"
"IF YOU will only organize Christian missions lidity and necessity of Christian missions to to the heathen in my province, instead of at- Moslems? tempting to convert Mohammedans, I will do 1. If ,the Gospel of Christ in its simplest form everything in my power to further and support (which is also its deepest mystery) includes the them, but I cannot approve or allow, at any rate Incarnation, the Atonement and the Resurrection at present, the opening of a mission to the Mo- then the world of Islam certainly needs our meshammedans." So said the governor of Nigeria, sage for it is news and offers Good News to every about thirty years ago. This policy was that of Moslem. Islam is not a Christian sect or a Chris- Lord Kitchener in the Sudan, of the British in the tian heresy. It is an eclipse of the Christ as re- Malay States, and is not yet abandoned every- vealed in the Gospel. It is an Arabian palimpsest where. superinscribed over the message of Jesus by an- The validity and the necessity of carrying the other hand. Its categorical denial of the deity of Gospel message to Mohammedans have been ques- Christ, of the crucifixion, of the finality of Jesus tioned in times past and are being questioned Christ as God's messenger and of His way of life today! The late Professor G. Kampffmeyer of through regeneration is evident from the Koran the University of Berlin in "Whither Islam?" itself.
deals with the subject in the same attitude; his The analogy of Paul's attitude toward Jew and conclusion is that missions in the Near East among Gentile holds today as regards missions to Mos- Moslems are as dangerous as they are futile and, lems and to other non-Christians. It was because for the good"of humanity, should be discontinued. the Jew had so much that was true and noble and yet needed the Gospel that Paul preached every- Dr. Hugh Vernon White, a secretary of the where to the Jew first. Their theism, their knowl- American Board, in the magazine called Chris- edge of the Old Testament, their zeal for God, tendom, plainly states that "Christian efforts to their passion for the Law did not invalidate their evangelize the Moslem have met with signal and need of the Gospel but emphasized it. This imconsistent failure. The response to such efforts plication would hold also for those Moslems of today is negligible and there is little likelihood of China, Africa and India who live in the midst of any marked change in the near future. . . . The paganism or polytheistic ethnic faiths. Christian Church ought to quit trying to make proselytes of Mohammedans. It should bring the In the Near East and North Africa, we have an best works of Christian service to the Moslem additional argument. There we are not merely world in a spirit of ecclesiastical and theological trying to lead Moslems to Christ, but rather to disinterestedness. " lead them back to Christ. Here we have the argu- ment of church history; the inspiration of the Father T. Bennerth, writing in a Roman Cath- cloud of witnesses, the apostles and martyrs of the olic missionary magazine for April 1930 says: faith; and the very stones of ruined churches and "As the conversion of the great bloc of Islamic monasteries would cry out if we were silent. nations to the Christian faith is not to be expected in our century " . . it is of the highest value that The Great Unoccupied Moslem Fields Islam at least maintains the belief in God in puri- fied forms. If this refuge of belief in God should 2. The missionary forces have hitherto moved vanish, then Western Christianity will be threat- across or around this great Moslem bloc. The fol- ened by a new seat of danger." lowing areas, or. countries in which the popula- When we compare these statements with the tion is wholly or predominantly Moslem, are still verdict of the Roman Catholic Conference, held in practically unoccupied. The missionary confer- Louvain in 1930, we find that ,there also the entire ences of Cairo, Edinburgh, Lucknow, and Jeruworld of Islam is labeled "le bloc inconvertisable." salem successively laid them all before the Church, In view of such opinions and statements, what but with little result-Afghanistan; the provinces satisfactory reasons can be advanced for the va- of Hejaz, Asir, Nejd, and Hadramaut in Arabia; [464 ] Russian Turkestan; parts of Siberia, Bokhara; blasted. The Moslem World Conference held at the eastern part of the Malay Peninsula; Socotra Mecca, and afterwards in Europe, proved a failand the Moslem populations of Madagascar, Rus- ure; none of the resolutions was carried out. sia in Europe, British and French Somali-land, Tripoli in North Africa, the French Sudan; the The Dutch Orientalist, Dr. Van der Meulen, who Great Aures Mountains, the Saharan Atlas spent many years in the diplomatic service at ranges, the central populous mountain regions of Jiddah, asks, "Are we standing at the eve of a re- Morocco, and the vast Sahara itself. These un- vival, a renaissance of Islam? No, the phenomena occupied fields have a total population of approxi- do not point this way. Except for the Wahhabi mately thirty-six million. How can we speak or movement in Central Arabia, it has all been a sing of evangelizing the whole world and leave all question of self-defense and resistance," (Moslem this outside of the program of occupation for World, October, 1936). Christ? Regarding the enormous area and population of Disintegration and Decay of Islam Indonesia, Professor C. C. Berg speaks of "de- structive forces that are at work against Islam all 3. A religion that once was the hope and glory over the world." Of the favorable factors he says of millions shows signs of breaking up. Old sanc- that they "might possibly result only in the long tions are disappearing. Their anchor-ground has run in a decrease in the rate of decay," ("Whither proved insufficient in the rising tide of material- Islam?" pp. 306-311). ism and atheism. Some tell us that there are signs of a resurgent Islam and of revival of faith in The geographical expansion of Islam in Africa Mohammed. But all signs point in the opposite has often been exaggerated. The latest statistical direction. This years report of the Board of For- survey shows a smaller proportion of Moslems in eign Missions of the Presbyterian Church states: nearly every area in North-central Africa (Mos- "There is now abundant evidence that the religion lern World, April, 1936). Dr. Deaville Walker of Islam is slowly disintegrating." wrote a few years ago: The collapse of the caliphate, and the failure of Within a comparatively short time, we pictured great all attempts to revive it, would lead to the conclu- pagan populations being rapidly Islamised. I am consion that Pan-Islamism is dead. The policy of the vinced that the position is wholly different today. Careful new government in Turkey and the complete sec- personal investigation in Sierra Leone and Mendeland, ularization of that republic points in the same the Gold Coast and Ashanti, Nigeria, and in the French direction. The Turkish press utters severe judg- colonies and protectorates of Dahomey, Togo, and the ment on Islam and its Prophet, while one by one Ivory Coast,· have made it very clear to me that the adthe old sanctions and customs of religion are pub- vance of Islam is being definitely checked, and that today licly discarded. A few years ago a British official we are winning far more Africans to the faith of Christ of high standing actually wrote to me: "Islam as than the Moslems are winning for their Prophet. Startling we once knew it is dead in Turkey; it is dying in as this may sound, I believe it to be absolutely true. Persia; it has ceClJ8ed to carry real weight in Egypt; it may survive some generations in What elements in Islam are today resurgent? Arabia; but the basic truths of Christianity will Does the old Mohammedan law or jurisprudence in the long run even there prevail." Such judg- any longer prevail under the new nationalism and ment is undoubtedly somewhat premature but it the new state? Or has the purely -Islamic-govis prophetic. erned state disappeared even in Arabia and Afghanistan? Islam faces a crisis in the lands where once it was dominant. Its efforts at propagandism in Has the social structure of Islam withstood the India and Africa "remind one of those sparse feminist movement and female education anygreen twigs sometimes still appearing at the ex- where? Can we seriously speak of "resurgent treme ends of half-dried-up boughs in trees whose forces" as regards polygamy, slavery, concubicore has for long been decaying from old age." nage, and the seclusion of womanhood? Was the Islam suffers because it feels itself under the suppression of the age-old Moharram celebrations tutelage of the West. In Turkey it suffers by be- in Persia a sign of vitality in Islam? Is the reli'- ing violated in its own bosom; in Russia from gion of Islam showing a new vitality when three Soviet persecution; and in Persia from a revolt of its "five pillars" are crumbling? The daily against the Arabic language and tradition. Mus- prayers are no longer observed as they were ten tapha Kemal Ataturk of Turkey raised great ex- years ago. The number of pilgrims to Mecca, in pectations, but he has turned out a bitter disap- spite of new facilities by motorbus and steampointment for all Moslems. The disenchantment ships, has dwindled from 250,000 to 80,000. was cruel but complete. The high hopes fixed on Mecca is losing its importance. Are the uniting Ibn Saood of Arabia to revive the caliphate were forces that remain, the Arabic language and cul- ture, the sense of brotherhood, the press and Al Azhar of Egypt-are these forces strong enough to counteract the disintegrating factors? Or will the progressive secularization of Moslem life rob
all life from the religion of Islam? Will the wan- Hospital in Northwest China, reports that Moslem ing of the Dervish orders and their suppression, as in Turkey, continue? patients crowd the doors, kiss the feet of the The fact is that Islam has been severely Christian physicians, listen eagerly to the meswounded in the house of its friends. The younger Egyptian modernists, instead of building care- sage, and that some at least find new life in Christ. fully on the foundations of reform laid by Jamalal-Dinal Afghani and the great Mohammed'Abdu, More and more thousands of Moslem youth are have ruthlessly undermined what remained intact. Mansur Fahmi, in his doctor's thesis, proved that sitting at the feet of Christian teachers in every Islam was progressively responsible for the degradation of womanhood. Dr. Taha Housain raised land. Day schools, boarding schools, colleges, and a storm of hostility by a book proving that much of early Islamic literature was a forgery, ·fabri- universities tell of an increasing number of Moscated to prop up the Koran and tradition. "The story of Abraham and Ishmael building the Kaaba lem pupils and of the leavening power of Chrisis all fiction." Ali Abd al Razik went even further, and in his book, "Islam and the Fundamentals of tian education that reaches far beyond the cur- Authority," advocated the abolition of the caliphate, "which has always been a misfortune." riculum and the campus area. Everyone should Moreover, he proposed the complete separation of Church and State, and the abandonment of the know that the emancipation of Moslem girlhood vast body of canon law. (Adams, "Islam and Modernism in Egypt," pp. 254-265.) and womanhood began in mission schools. It is When the best thinkers in Islam accept an hon- not only unkind but ungrateful and unhistoric to est historical research of all her spiritual property, it will mean a revelation of bankruptcy. trace these modern movements to hybrid sources. When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Only the real gold, the theistic Christ alone removes the veil because He demands spiritual values of Islam, will be able to withstand the heat of this inevitable furnace. A careful and imparts purity of heart. Moslems themselves study of the whole question leads to the conclusion that as a cultural and even as a political force have testified to this fact. there is yet a future for Islam, but as a religious force the future does not look promising-except The great Christian literature societies and comin Christ and His Gospel for Moslems. mittees in Cairo, Constantinople, Teheran, Shang- The Response to the Gospel Message hai, across India, and in the Dutch East Indies are 4. This great response, as we see it today, should not surprise those who believe God's prom- producing and distributing ten times as much litises and who have experienced the final fruitage that follows the "patience of unanswered prayer." erature as they did a decade ago. Illiteracy is de- Others have labored, since the days of Henry Martyn, and now we are entered into their labors. creasing. Education is becoming compulsory. Others have knocked long and loud and waited patiently before locked doors-now those very doors The stigma of disapproval now rests on old superare nailed open. Eastern Arabia, Hadhramaut, and the cities of Meshed, Iran, and Riadh in Cen- stitions that once had religious sanction. tral Arabia, are outstanding examples. There are public baptisms in places where for- The Bible has been translated into all the great languages of the world of Islam. It is the best merly the "law of apostasy" would have adminprinted of all books and has an ever-increasing circulation. One has only to read the annual re- istered public ostracism or private vengeance. In ports of the two great Bible societies to realize the miracles of grace accomplished every year by the Java alone there are 75,000 Moslem converts gathprinted Word. ered into Christian churches. In North India Every hospital and dispensary across the map from Tangier, Morocco, to the Borden Memorial there are other thousands and in Persia we can truly speak of an indigenous church-weak still in numbers, but strong in the spirit of sacrifice and boldness of witness.
Those who challenge the validity and success of work among Moslems need to remember the lines of Arthur H. Clough: .
For while the tired waves, vainly breaking, Seem here no painful inch to gain, Far back through creeks and inlets making, Comes silent, flooding in, the main.
For not iJy eastern windows only When daylight comes, comes in the light; In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly! But westward, look, the land is bright.
While for years Christians have been battering against an impregnable position in North Africa, Islam has been steadily sweeping south and pagan tribes have become followers of the Prophet and have been lost to Christ. Suppose the Church had concentrated its efforts on these tribes in the rear of the Moslem position, and had flung a barrier of Christian churches across Africa, would Islam have made the progress it has southward? Might not the Church have found in Christian Africans, the allies who would have won far greater success than white foreigners can hope to achieve?
A. S. McNAIRN.
Christian Approach to
By PREBENDERY W. WILSON CASH, London I Secretary of the Church Missionary Society I~ ~==============================~ H AS Christianity anything to offer Islam? disappointed, goes forward with undimmed faith In answer to this question, one group of and courage, proclaiming Christ and Him cruci- people fall back upon the threadbare argu- fied as the only Hope of the world.
ment that "Islam is good enough for the Arabs." This difficult situation makes us pause and study They do not think, however, that is good enough afresh the task before us. First of all, nothing in for themselves. this past hundred years in any way invalidates the The question is sometimes put in a different way Gospel of Christ. Men of many nations and races -What is there in Christianity that is not found have found a new eternal and abounding life in Islam? through Christ, the living Saviour. The experi- The Moslem himself approaches the issue from ence of men converted in evangelistic campaigns a very different angle. He is certain that Islam in Europe or America is duplicated in the lives has much to offer to the Christian world, and par- of Africans, Indians, Chinese, and many others. ticularly just now when international affairs are Revival sweeps through parts of India and Africa so tangled and difficult. and tens of thousands find peace with God. But The missionary meets the point by a bold and the Moslem world still stands like some impreg- frank presentation of the Gospel of Christ as the nable rock, almost unshaken, and as a rule undis- only adequate religion for all the world. turbed by missionary witness. The reasons for A missionary recruit, going out to a Moslem this are many; some of them must be briefly field for the first time, is shocked to find that the stated. When the Moslem armies invaded the Moslem is just as eager to convert him to Islam countries from Syria to the Sudan and North as he is to win the Moslem for Christ. This is Africa they found a responsive body of nominally only the first of a series of shocks. As he settles Christian men ready to join their ranks and to to his work he discovers for himself what he had fight for them. The armies of the prophet were always heard, that the Moslem is about the most increased daily by many who saw in Mohammed a difficult man in all the world to bring under the deliverer from the hated Byzantine rule. The Em- influence of the Gospel. peror used the Church as an imperial tool, and in A survey of the past hundred years of mission- the minds of most people Church and State were ary work among Moslems does not reveal appre- one.
ciable progress in most areas. In one or two coun- There were alsothe divisions within the Church tries there have been remarkable results, notably and the disruptive elements in its own ranks. The in the Dutch East Indies; but against this suc- Roman and the Greek churches were separated cess must be set the inroads of Islam into the and the Greek and the Coptic churches were no Christian Church in the Near East. In Egypt it is longer in communion with each other. The ornate estimated that from 500 to 800 Copts annually ritual of the Eastern churches was contrasted become Moslems. The history of Islam is one of with the simple forms of mosque worship. The ceaseless encroachments on'Christendom, until pictures and images in churches gave the impres- now we speak of Bible lands, which were once sion of polytheism, and the abstruse theological Christian, as Moslem lands. The large propor- controversies still further weakened the spiritual tion of the peoples of Syria, Palestine and Egypt life of the Church. The fact is that the Christian are Moslems today. The Christian Church of faith was so badly misrepresented by the Church North Africa has been blotted out. The formerly of the day that people could not see Christ through Christian areas of the Sudan are now solidly Mos- the maze of ritual and ceremonial, the selfish am- lem. And still the Church sends missionaries to bitions of prelates and the secular encroachments Moslems and many are willing to give their lives upon the community. Race superiority was re- to Moslem evangelization, in an effort to remove sponsible for a good deal. The Roman or Greek the reproach which lies at the door of the Church. pattern was stamped upon the churches every- And still the missionary, though often baffled and where. There seems to have been nothing in- [467 ]
digenous in the Church of North Africa; and in into a new environment, utterly foreign to him.
Arabia there does not appear to have been any The strain of this social upheaval upon a young translation into the vernacular, either of the convert is so great that it develops any idiosyn- Scriptures or the Christian liturgies. In Rome cracies and oddities in him and in the end drives people worshipped in Latin and, therefore, they him back to his old surroundings.
had to worship in Latin in all North Africa; sim- The history of Christian expansion down the ilarly, because in Constantinople the liturgical centuries does not show that the nineteenth censervices were all in Greek, they had to be in Greek tury policy was adopted in other periods. In also in the Arabic-speaking world. Any approach earlier days people moved towards the Christian to Islam by the Christian must take account of faith by communities, by families, and tribes. In such facts. They are not dead matters of history doing so they became Christian without having but living issues today, and a study of them will had to suffer a catastrophic upheaval in their sohelp us in our evangelistic work. cial life. Instead of being uprooted from their The Gospel, it is true, needs no vindication. natural environment their social heritage was Once it is given a chance in the lives of men it Christianized, while they lived in the same homes proves itself, and its validity is recognized, but as before, carried on the same occupations, and the method of presentng the Gospel is a very dif- met much the same people, yet things were differ- ferent matter; after the experience of the past ent. The homes were transformed, they worked hundred years it is surely evident that we must from different motives, and their relationships to all face anew how we are to preach the Gospel in others were new; a different standard of life came Moslem lands. into the community through the coming of Christ.
The Nineteenth Century missionary expansion While such people found by personal conversion was marked by a strong emphasis on individual- the way to God, yet they moved together, families ism. Personal conversion was the note struck; were baptized, and communities received into the evangelistic missions sought to pluck men as faith.
brands from the burning. No one who knows This contrast requires careful and detailed in- Christ as his Saviour and Lord would' wish to vestigation. Is the cause of unsatisfactory con- weaken the appeal for personal conversion, but it verts in Moslem lands due to the break up of their must be admitted that there are other factors to be social environment? If so, may it not be equally considered. Moslem converts in many cases have true that a wrong method has hindered the whole proved to be utterly unsatisfactory. Curiously progress of the Gospel. Some years ago in a vil- enough a normal Moslem often became an eccen- lage in the Near East a large number of Moslem tric Christian. Missionaries labored to win that . families asked for baptism. When I met them it convert and when he was baptized disillusionment was obvious that some were thinking of Chris- set in. Instead of fitting into his new surround- tianity in terms of "loaves and fishes," but others ings, often he proved to be restless and required seemed to be genuinely sincere. Once the news a great deal of nursing. When discipline was even leaked out great pressure was brought to bear by mildly applied he would fling off in a temper, re- the Moslems to prevent these men from becoming nounce Christianity and go back to Islam. Most Christians. Large bribes were offered if they missionaries in the Near East have had this ex- would remain Moslems. In the end .some went perience; but they have pegged away through back to Islam, but others accepted Christ. Now heart-breaking disappointments always hoping the point of this is that while the missionaries did that things would change and that a better type emphasize personal conversion the converts came of convert would appear, as in fact he did from forward as families. They lived on as before in time to time. their own village and tilled their land. They were The problem is not due to any failure of the sufficiently numerous to remain as a community Gospel, nor indeed to lack of faithfulness in the in the village. Instead of being driven from house missionaries. The Message has been honestly pre- and hQme, ostracized and disinherited, they con- tinued in their old homes which now became sented to Moslems. A certain number have be- Christian. Here the difficulties experienced so come Christians but many were failures. These often, of abnormal converts, did not appear beare the facts. What is the answer? A survey of cause in becoming Christian they still preserved the Moslem world shows that in the Dutch East Indies, and to a certain extent in Persia, this un- their social heritage.
satisfactory result does not obtain. If we examine This line of argument raises several still bigger the social environment of the converts, I believe issues. The old method of missionary work was that we shall find that, through the process of con- mainly an attack upon Islam as wrong and on the version, we have uprooted the Moslem, torn him prophet as false in his claims, and by comparison from hi'! QWn. ~pciftl Jif~ aIld transplanted him a pre~~nt~tioJl Qf Chri~t as th~ only true Saviour,
THE CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO MOSLEMS
The second half of this is all right. We believe similar experiences that Moslems claim to have. Christ to be the only Saviour, but by contrasting This may be illustrated frQm the eighth century Mohammed with Christ missionaries have created in Khurasan, where a young prince had a remarkin Moslem minds an antagonism to Christ. Instead able vision. He was out hunting one day when he of a Moslem agreeing that Christ was superior he heard a heavenly voice calling him from the purrather felt a kind of suppressed grievance against suit of pleasure to the service of God. This vision Him. Thus a wrong impression was created and came to him three times and at the third appeara missionary found himself in the prejudiced at- ance he fell to the ground and gave his life to mosphere, which frequently led to a heated debate. God's service. He then walked across to a shep- As the situation hardened the controversial herd near by and exchanged his clothes and horse method became a very common 'One in missionary for the shepherd's woolen garments; without propaganda. Argument led to counter argument, funds or material resources he set out on pilgrimand attack to counter attack, until the atmosphere age to Mecca. was so strained that it was impossible to sit down quietly and to explain the Christian message with- Missionaries need to study more the meaning out at once being involved in a bitter wrangle. of Islam because the root idea of complete sur- render to God contains a truth no Christian can lIo~ VVin nlosleDls? afford to neglect. Moslem mystics glory in the will of God and the strength of their position is How can I approach the Moslem without an- this acceptance of whatever God sends as right. tagonizing him? First, I must understand his Too often we have used the Koran simply for purpoint of view, his spiritual aspirations, and what poses of controversy, forgetting that it does conreligion means to him. We often hear it said that tain the spiritual pilgrimage of one who started Moslem prayers are a matter of words and for- with undoubted sincerity and who wrought a refmula because certain prayers are memorized and ormation in his own land such as no one either repeated five times a day. If therefore, as a Chris- before or since has ever been able to accomplish. tian, I talk about prayer to a Moslem and at the The strength of Mohammed was not merely milisame time believe that he has no real prayer life, tary prowess. He hammered out in the desert a I start from a prejudice and an assumption which conception of God that carried the Arabs to will make fellowship with Moslems impossible. I heights previously unattained, as he described God have heard Moslems pray extemporaneously, with as the Eternal, the Great, the Glorious. He drew no set form, with every evidence of intensity and men to religion by saying, "Whichever way ye reality. Here is what one Moslem lays down as a turn there is the face of God." He said: "All on rule about prayer: earth shall pass away, but the face of thy God shall abide resplendent with majesty and glory." Before the time of prayer comes the servant must be in a state of meditation and recollection, free from wander- Whatever may be our attitude toward Islam, we ing thoughts and considerations, and the remembrance of cannot help a Moslem unless we are really honest aught save God alone. Those who enter thus upon prayer in our approach. If we trade upon his ignorance from the heart, intent only upon God, will proceed from of either his or our faith, if we fail to see the eleprayer to prayer in that same state of recollection, and ments of truth and reality in his religion, if we will remain therein long after they have ceased to pray. condemn him and his faith when we do not know it enough to pass judgment upon it, we are not There is here a depth of insight into the meaning of prayer that could at once form common honest. ground between Christians and Moslems for a There is a Christian way of approach to the sharing of mutual experiences in prayer. Why should not our approach to the Moslem be by the Moslem which is noncontroversial, where we value road of prayer, by beginning with quiet and medi- all that is good in his faith and appreciate the tation, by a remembrance of the name of God, so spiritual values it contains. We need not give up that there may be between us a spiritual affinity any Christian convictions, nor need we deny our which would make discussion easy. own faith to recognize a value in his. We can well begin by learning from the Moslems, by shar- Again can we not appreciate more the teaching ing our spiritual experiences with them in such a of Islam on spiritual things? The Sufis have much way as to enable them to share their experiences in their writings that is curiously like parts of the with us. We may find much common ground in New Testament. One writer says, "The Sufi is our prayer lives, in our worship and in our conone whose heart is pure toward God"; another ceptions of God. How surprised many of us misaffirms that "Sufism is enmity to the world and sionaries would be if, when preaching about the love to the Lord." indwelling of Christ in our hearts, we heard some- one say, "I gazed into my own heart. There I As Christians we rightly place great importance saw Him. He was nowhere else." upon the need of a personal spiritual experience of God. It would help us to study more carefully Yet this comes from a Moslem. Often when we
get closer to the mystic we find a religious toler- earnest Moslems let us not forget that the witness ance that puts some Christians to shame. There of the Spirit ultimately always leads to Christ.
is a saying: "0 Lord, none but Thyself can No man can say, "Jesus Christ is Lord," but by fathom Thee; yet every mosque and church doth the Spirit. If we depend more upon the Spirit, harbour Thee." and realize that God is at work in the Moslem Where 9.oes all this lead us? Not to any form world, we shall see our task in new proportions.
of syncretism, but to a new sense of the values of We shall be content to let our lives be as living all truth, even where that is found in another seed. ,We shall not fret if converts are few at the . faith. It leads us ultimately to Christ who, in the moment. We shall not worry if men call Mo- end, must be the Crown of Islam. We lose nothing hammed, prophet. We shall see Christ supreme by recognizing broken lights of Him who is the and alive, seeking to break through in spiritual Light of the World. We do not diminish Christ's revelation and power into the lives of men. As glory when we see how God illumines every man the living truth works in the hearts, we shall see coming into the world. It is true, as St. Paul hasl men and women discovering a new meaning to said, "God has not left Himself without witness." life, as they learn that Islam must involve not only If we see evidence of the witness of the Spirit in surrender to God, but to God revealed in Jesus some of the teaching of Islam and in the lives of Christ.
A FEW FAOTS ABOUT ISLAM Islam, more than most religions, reflects the personality of its founder, Mohammed. He was born in Mecca, near the western coast of Arabia, about 570 A. D. When he was about forty years of age, he had a series of experiences which he interpreted as visions from God.
These ordered him to attack the idolatry and worldliness of his fellow citizens, and to proclaim one supreme God and a day of judgment. Converts at first gathered slowly, and they were subject to persecution.
In 622 A. D., the Hijrah, or Flight to Medina, took place, from which the Moslem calendar came to be reckoned. In Medina, Mohammed soon became head of the community and ruler as well as prophet. At the time of his death, in 632 A. D., not only Medina, but Mecca and practically the whole of Arabia, had accepted his doctrines.
The sayings of Mohammed, which are believed to have been dictated word for word to him by the Angel Gabriel, were later gathered together and they constitute the Koran. This scrIp- ture is divided into Suras, or chapters, arranged roughly according to length rather than in any chronological order. The Koran is the Bible of Islam, considered verbally infallible. Since it is often obscure, and since it failed to prescribe conduct or attitudes to be observed in subse- quent situations that arose, it was early supplemented by Traditions as to what Mohammed said or did under various circumstances. These rules of conduct were, in time, codified into legal systems.
The five principal observances of Islam are: (1) the recitation of the creed-"There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his Prophet"; (2) worship, the set forms of prayer which are to be performed five times a day; (3) alms, a certain proportion of the income being pre- scribed from those of means for the benefit of the poor; (4) fasting from sunrise to sunset during the Ramadan; (5) malting the Haj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca once in a lifetime by those who are able.
Among various prohibitions are intoxicants, usury, making of images, and games of chance. On the other hand, Mohammed's relations with women led him to permit four legal wives as well as concubines, and to recommend the seclusion of women. The Jihad, or war against countries controlled by unbelievers, has always been considered a duty. As in other religions, these observances have been much relaxed in practice.
In the first century of its existence Islam split into two principal sects, the Sunni, which is in the majority in most Moslem countries, and the Shia, containing the bulk of Persians, about half of Iraq, and smaller communities in other lands. In addition to these, there have been many other sects. _ Moslem theology has emphasized the unity and power of God, and has been especially severe on anything that seemed like polytheism or idolatry. At the same time saint worship has been quite general; there is also much superstition, together with mystical or emotional exercises.-Quoted from "The Moslem Faces the Future," by T. H. P. Sailer.
Reactions to the
By JAMES HALDANE, Mazagan, Morocco -.•~ Southern Morocco Mission; Author of "Missionary Romance in Morocco," "Morocco in Mufti," etc.
W HEN we present the Gospel of Christ to tion and have the means at their disposal to carry individual Moslems we find them reacting the effort to a climax.
to our message in a variety of attitudes Jeremiah, and other Hebrew prophets, acted and tempers. When the reaction is born of fa- sometimes in' strange manner with a view to exnaticism the man allows you the utterance of only citing their audience into a listening mood, and a few sentences, after which there is a manifesta- employed what we might call a sanctified guile to tion of petulence, rising to passion and finding its grip hearts which could not be reached by ordiclimax in vociferation and whirling gestures. The man's mind is infested with vitiated religious sentiments which, when stirred by an element that opposes them, make the body a medium for their manifestation and produce a condition akin to madness. In the presence of such a man the missionary is confronted with the question of what means he must employ to exercise these exorbitant religious notions from the mind where they are lodged.
Let it be said with emphasis that, whatever A MOSLEM "HOLY MAN'S" HABITATION IN MOROCCO attitude we take towards the fanatic, whatever means we employ to deal with such malady, it nary means. Let me give an instance – one of must be based on sympathy. A display of irrita- many used in my work among Moors-to illustrate tion, an exhibition of caustic temper or rancor, the method. far from mitigating the evil, will aggravate it. A movement from the basis of sympathy to attack I was dealing with a small group of men while religious enormities and delusions, as manifested a number of others, who were merely spectators, by the fanatic, does not imply an unsteady tread sat beside us. There was a wild scene in which suggestive of fear and helplessness. It means reason was caged and rowdyism became rampant. that we are approaching with love and under- I tried everything within the range of ordinary standing a victim who has been born and reared methods used to calm them into a listening attiunder the glare of superstition and religious in- tude but all in vain. I was faced with the alternafatuations, one who has come under the impact of tive of doing something unusual to overcome this a single idea which drives him past all other con- devastating display of fanaticism, or abandoning siderations. these men as hopeless material. I decided to imi- In deaJing with such men it may be necessary to adopt an attitude of silence, at least until some of their fierceness has subsided. In some instances one may detect, seeping through the crevices of a disordered mind, an occasional show of intelligence which casts a passing gleam upon the countenance. Just at that moment one may be able to shoot in a word like an arrow that will find its mark, touch the reason and stimulate it to accept the challenge of a new line of thought. And on occasion fanaticism may be countered by cajolery. But this experiment should not be tried by any but those who, through long contact with the peopIe among whom they labor, understand the situa- [471 ]
tate the Hebrew prophets. Taking off my boot, as if he were afraid that the usual tone of voice ignoring my audience as if it did not exist, I filled would be an interruption. With this show of init with stones. These I shook inside the boot, tense earnestness he lures the preacher on, and emptied them out and filled the boot again. With just at the moment when we are ready to urge his a show of much earnestness this process was kept surrender to Christ he riSes up, draws his fingers up for sometime. Their interest was directed into through his beard, shakes the dust from his gara new channel; they could not understand what I ments, exclaims in a loud voice, "There is no God was doing and were astonished that I had so easily but Allah and Mohammed is His prophet," and tripped away from a serious theological discus- strides away with an air of triumph. sion into the trivial business of shaking stones inside a boot. Their curiosity mounted until it could In some of our meetings, within doors and in no longer be curbed: the open, we have an audience that has come to- gether by consent to extract some pleasurable ex- "Whatever are you doing?" they asked. citement by engaging the foreign preacher in argument. On one occasion a number of young A VISIT TO MOSLEM BEDOUIN fellows came tumbling into my meeting for this purpose. As clearly as if the words had been "You are all acting like madmen and I deter- chiselled on their foreheads I read, "Weare here mined to help you ollt,~' T replied. for fun." I put away my Bible, erected the black- board, put down a sum in addition and invited This had the desired effect for it suddenly struck anyone in the company to come forward, take the them that their vociferation and whirling move- chalk and do the sum. Several came forward and ments were, in the circumstances, as foolish and attempted to add the figures but no one added futile as shaking stones in a boot. Then at my them correctly. invitation they squatted on the ground and together we examined calmly the message of Jesus. "If ever you are to rise above being water car- riers and laborers you must learn to count," I said. Another type we meet is the man who reacts to our message with a cunning camouflage, whose So we continued the exercise until they became aim is to humiliate the missionary. He makes a greatly interested and some could add up figures show of much earnestness and on occasion will before we finished. I invited them to return the sway his body to emphasize his concern for his following week to learn subtraction. soul. At the mention of forgiveness through Jesus Christ he will stare with the surprise of one who "This is the way into an office and a good job," has just made a great discovery. And as the I heard them say as they talked among themselves. story unfolds he will say in a whisper, "Proceed," They were so pleased with their progress that they all shook hands with me before taking their de- parture.
The following week they walked into my meet- ing, some of them with copy books and pencils. We put simple subtraction problems on the board. Interest reached a climax when some of the more intelligent ones were able to find the solution to what I had put down. At this juncture I wrote on the board: ADD TOGETHER: FORMAL PRAYERS, FASTS, LUST, LOVE OF THE WORLD.
SUBTRACT: DEATH.
RESULT: NOTHING.
What a discovery this was! Addition and sub- traction could be applied to theology.
Again this problem: ADD TOGETHER: SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
SUBTRACT: – THE REDEMPTION OF JESUS'
CHRIST.
RESULT: FORGIVENESS AND ETERNAL LIFE.
This proved to be the beginning of an interest- ing work among those young fellows, some of
MOSLEM REACTIONS TO THE GOSPEL
whom continued· to attend my Bible class for that, if he gives Christianity a trial and it does not years. fulfil expectations, he may find the doors of the Then there is the polite man, the person who fold he has left barred against him. He wants to wishes to be courteous and who would treat an make an experiment with a new faith, for he is outburst of antagonism from any religious quar- deeply conscious of the inadequacy of Islam to ter as an outrage against good manners. When provide the assurance of pardon that he seeks.
we introduce our Gospel to this type there is no He is like a man who, dissatisfied with the job he display of opposition and almost no evidence of interest. He simply allows you to talk on, and says, "Yes," to everything. He is like a man who, busy with his own thoughts, will occasionally make a remark to the child that chatters by his side just to show that he is not displeased at its interrup- tions, although he finds nothing in its chatter to be cherished as valuable information. When we have given our Message and ask this man what he thinks of it, and what attitude he is going to take towards Jesus, he skirts the issue by inviting us to drink tea, or by diverting attention in some way calculated to close the subject.
What are we to do with that sort of man? Va- rious methods may be employed in an effort to awaken real interest in him. I give one example: "Well, let's go inside and drink tea now," said my Moslem friend after I had made a serious en- deavor to point him to Christ. We sat down to sip tea and I put this question to him: "I'm interested in Islam; what steps would I be required to take if I decided to become a Mos- lem ?"
The question gripped him and he began to teach me with much solemnity. He had gone far when I injected extraneous matter.
"Are your shoes made of leather or cloth?" I inquired.
He talked on and every now and then I inter- jected some trivial question and gazed around me indifferently. He became annoyed and said: "You are not listening."
"It doesn't matter, just go on," I replied. There was a spell of silence and then I asked: "Do you consider me a bad listener?"
"You certainly are," came the quiet reply.
"Do you know who taught me to listen badly?"
"Say who?"
"The gentleman who sat with me outside the A MOSLEM FANATIC IN MOROCCO door a little time ago." has, would fain go out and search for another, but "So you are taking revenge?" he said with a is afraid that should his quest fail his present em- ployer might not take him back. grin. "N0, only trying to teach you a lesson."
A more interesting, as well as more hopeful, In dealing with this type, which is common type is the man who has a real interest in spiritual enough, rush tactics do not succeed. In exalting matters and who is willing to make some real sac- the capital doctrine of the agency of the Holy rifice to reach the assurance that there is a way Spirit in dealing with such men we must not over- to obtain God's forgiveness, an offer of Eternal look the means of patience and instruction from Life. But there are difficulties in the way. The the missionary's side. To expect such a man, man is encumbered by an imaginative ignorance whose mind is sodden with superstition and that dogs his steps the moment he steps out to cramped from bold thinking by ignorance, to take meet Christ. He is embarrassed with the fear one long stride towards the objective we place be-
fore him is rather too much. He states his need, types enumerated above, gathered in a meeting shows interest in the Gospel message, but shies at where the Gospel is to be preached with a view to the suggestion that he should pass immediately their conversion. Our aim is to gain a hearing over the chasm that separates Islam and Chris- from them all. It would simplify matters if one tianity. Every time the man is forced forward could separate them according to their class, and he reacts with caution. present the Gospel in a manner calculated to meet the particular needs of each section, but this is HIGHIDR CLASS MOSLIDMS OF MOROCCO rarely possible. We must take the audience as we find it. In an effort to arouse the indifferent from their torpor we may say something that will un- sheath the passions of the fanatic and so have a tumult before the meeting is well begun. Or if we stress the finality of the cross of Christ as a means of taking away sin we are likely to hear the muffled rumblings of some who consider it is their duty to counter this teaching by repetitions of Islam's creed. These cross-currents will in turn disturb the polite section of our meeting whose only desire is to conduct themselves in a proper manner, and who would probably rise up and go out if there was any sign of rowdyism.
To place such a meeting in the hands of an in- experienced missionary is to do an injustice to our cause. Some will say: "Preach the Gospel and leave it at that. Let them all have the pure Gospel: there our responsibility ends."
The fact is one considers the Gospel to be such a blessed thing, and such consequences hang upon its presentation, that it is felt to be a kind of sacrilege to offer it to a rabble.
In a meeting of the type I am describing there are two factors which determine what results will be produced. In the first place there is the factor of atmosphere; the missionary's first business is to create one that will harmonize with the exalted theme he desires to present. This cannot be One more type is the man who meets all our – approaches with deadly indifference. In extreme cases we are almost made to feel that we are A HILARIOUS GROUP INTERVIEWING A MISSIONARY speaking to a corpse! The man can be turned from one position to another, rolled over from achieved by a process of shouting and pounding. one doctrine to another, without showing interest What means, then, must we use to create an ator resistance. There was a half silly man who mosphere worthy of a serious undertaking such as lived in our village in the days of my boyhood. presenting the issues of life and death as con- We used to tease him. He had enough sense to tained in the message of the New Testament? look after a cow but little more.
"Ah, Geordi," we would say, "did you give the cow a drink?" "Yes," he replied. Of course there would not be any water in the pail. We would continue. "No," he would reply naively. That silly teasing comes back to my mind almost every time I meet the Moslem type I am now dealing with. He answers "yes" and "no," according as we suggest, no matter how contradictory the replies may be.
Now think of fifty Moslems, a mixture of the
The answer is: a vigorous and proper use of The second factor is, motive. I have not space the native tongue of one's audience. There is no to develop this point. The most ignorant audience, substitute for this. Accent is not a serious handi- not to speak of those on a higher level, is concerned cap, but to flounder about in a sea of foreign words with the motive of the preacher. This concern is is simply to tickle or irritate an audience accord- born, not of analysis but of instinct. There is an ing to its mood. An easy flow of language, studied instinctive feeling of enquiry in every audience and correct, has a tremendous effect. If one can we face as to the motive of our preaching. That is prove to the listeners that he has not only an easy why many missionaries will not develop any phase flow of their language, but also an understanding of work where money comes into play. Mercenary of its underlying significance and subtleties, the motives may easily be attributed, by primitive chances are in his favor for getting a good hear- people, to money transactions accompanying Gos-' ing. Sale points out in his introduction to the pel services. (See the New Testament on this Koran that the success of that book is due in no subject.) small measure to the jingle of its words. The opening chapter of the Koran, when well read, My aim here is to show that natives are consounds like the jingling of bells. If, then, we find stantly watching our motives, and unless we can the atmosphere in a meeting unsuited to our mes- convince them that all our work springs from the sage, we must not imagine that we are false to our motive of love, we labor in vain. That is why a mission if we introduce some extraneous matter warning about sin and its consequences, a referfor the purpose of getting the proper conditions ence to the futility of Islam or an exposure of its established. Here is a method I have employed contradictions should never be carried out with times without number when faced with a meeting any show of triumph, lest we give the impression difficult to handle: that our aim is to score points. Even when en- gaged in disputation, as must sometimes happen, The audience is a mixed multitude-antagon- our words should be the breathing of love. Livism, hilarity, indifference and suspicion surge ingstone's achievements among primitive Afrithrough the atmosphere, and one detects an effort cans were due, almost solely, to this fact: he conon the part of some to scuttle the meeting. To in- vinced them, not merely that he was an honest troduce Jesus Christ in this atmosphere would be man or a good man, but that he loved Africa and to give them the very opportunity they desire to its people intensely. wreck the meeting, for it would present the object for attack. Much to their surprise the preacher With these two factors-a suitable atmosphere, claims only that there is one God and He has no and divine love in our hearts to supply the impetus partners. The next step is to show that all the for all our work-we may say, even when statistics good things we receive in this life are from His deny their support, the faithful missionary of hand. A sense of reverence asserts itself, for this Christ "shall doubtless come again rejoicing is what they all believe. The next step is to show bringing his sheaves with him." that many of the boons that reach us, coming from God, do so through the medium of our own DISTRIBUTION OF MOSLEMS labors, as for instance when we plough. "That," we say, "is why it is a good thing to have a trade." By GOVERNMENTS We then introduce lines from one of their own poets. This creates interest. There is now an Total Moslems in the world-about ……. . 240,000,000 atmosphere of reverence and interest. We quote Moslems under British rule (including Egypt) 94,000,000 the lines again and again: Moslems under other Western Governments ., 94,000,000 Moslems under MQslem Governments ……. . 38,000,000 Mal jiddeen A parent's legacy Moslems under other Eastern Governments ., 14,400,000 Yiteem; Will finish hastily; DISTRIBUTION-BY CONTINENTS Ma yibka All will fade Khir snaa Except the trade America-North and South …………… . 130,000 Australia and Islands ……………….. . 1,030,000 Yideen. You handle daily. Europe and Soviet Russia …………….. . 12,000,000 Africa ……………………………. . 53,000,000 It may be said that there is no Gospel in this. Asia and Malaysia ………………….. . 154,000,000 True; and there is no Gospel in a banner, a bell or a band. Yet these are constantly in use in INTERESTING HISTORICAL DATA Christian work for the purpose of creating interest and a proper atmosphere preliminary to intro- Birth of Mohammed, 570 A. D. Death of Mohammed, ducing the Gospel. I have a whole collection of 632 A.D. Moslem poems, proverbs and stories which I use almost daily in my meetings, for the same purpose Hejira (Mohammed's flight from Mecca), 622 A. D. as I use low gear in my automobile; that is, to get Battle of Tours (defeat in West Europe), 732 A. D. Moslems driven from Spain (by Ferdinand II), 1492. a start. Capture of Constantinople by the Turks-1453 A. D. Young Turks proclaim new Constitution-1908 A. D. End Qf the Caliphate (Turkey), 1924 A. D. Religious freedom in Iran (Persia), 1925 A. D.
Moslems for
By REV. JOHN VAN ESS, D.D., Basrah, Iraq Missionary of the Reformed Church in America THE objective of missionary work is to bring With this as my creed, I go back tomorrow to Moslems to a saving knowledge of Christ. my school. It is the last week of my twenty-fifth But what is "a saving knowledge"? Is bap- year as a teacher of Arabs. For twenty years this tism of converts the criterion of success? Christian school was on the crest of a wave of popularity. Being the first in this region, it has Salvation is assuredly not merely a "ticket into educated or at least vitally touched about three the ark," so to speak. To "accept Christ" is not thousand young Arabs. Each of these has met merely to assent to the formula "Christ died for Cl).rist or heard His message in the vernacular my sins." Our Lord's constant emphasis on the from my own lips, months and years on end, in Kingdom implies a King and an organization, with systematic and progressive Bible study. Hundreds laws, implied strife and victory. This Kingdom of these young men have been absorbed into the begins on earth but will be an eternal Kingdom as political and economic life of the land, and you its King is eternal. When a man is saved, there- can count on the fingers of two hands those who fore, he is saved not so much "from" as "unto"- have definitely gone bad. I can explain it only on unto Life, unto obedience, to fruitfulness, to har- the assumption that the light of Christ has somemony, to eventual and complete adjustment to how produced a change on the film of their heart God. The Cross is not merely a tragic drama on and thought life. Calvary on a Friday afternoon in a city in Palestine. We read of the "Lamb slain from the foun- And now has come nationalism. The Iraq Govdation of the world," of the Word that was in the ernment, in its youthful exuberance, is establishbeginning with God, that was God. The Cross was ing schools of all grades everywhere. They are eternally in the heart of God; Calvary was its good schools, well equipped and staffed. They tragic demonstration in time. The Atonement has have behind them all the prestige and resources of a gigantic sweep, far wider than the salvation of the Government. There are many respects in a confessed minority. The Atonement is a process which, pedagogically speaking, I do not agree with of divine dimensions, a process that began with the system. But the Government has the right to God's eternal purpose of good, reached its supreme decide its own objective and to formulate its own demonstration on Golgotha, and was consummated method. In a missionary school I cannot compete on Easter morning. "If Christ be not raised, ye with the Government on its own ground, nor are yet in your sins." should 1. Two summers ago, driving along a coun- try road in Michigan, I asked a farmer, "Where So I do not visualize myself as standing on a does this road go?" He replied, "Stranger, if you dock with a boat-hook, desperately grasping at follow it long enough, this road will lead you to the souls that come rushing by. According to my the cemetery." As Christians we are often in Lord's precept and example I work for individuals, danger of going up the road to a mental cemetery, but all the time I am conscious that those whom I where lie the dead bones of dead controversies. may miss do not "drift beyond His love and care." As missionaries we are in danger of going up the Above the din and clatter of my clumsy efforts I road to a cemetery of method, if not of message. hear Christ say "I have overcome the world"- The famous Dr. Abraham Kuyper of Amsterdam the cosmos. And so I visualize the world, the said, "The fault of the Church is not that she made whole cosmic order, the whole social, economic, creeds, but that she stopped making creeds." political, as well as the religious set-up, as being brought into obedience unto Him. Anything else As a missionary educator, I am closing a chap- is defeatism and defeatism is treason. Pro rege is ter of twenty-five years, with no regrets, and with. the device on my banner. pleasantest memories, grateful that it has been my privilege to be a pathfinder, and looking around Physical death, then, can no longer be a cri- for new fields to enter and new paths to open. I terion of anything either to me or the Moslem. am deliberately cutting out the top of my tree, so My missionary work is only a beginning, and in- to speak, gradually eliminating the high school deed will never stop. Christ promised a Life that grades, and concentrating on the depressed classes now is and spoke of death that ceases to be.
[476 ] who comprise about two-thirds of the population. outside of myself, illuminating the whole and shed- They do not come within the perimeter of the offi- ding its power over myself and my pupils. But cial vision, and will not do so for a generation. there is the phenomenon. They are desperately poor but they are desperately in earnest. Their economic condition does not For years and years I had tried to present allow them to remain in school more than six years Christ to the Arab boys: His life, His Cross, His at the most, after which they must return to their salvation. A young American, fresh from college, villages or to their former economic plane, equip- with the light of heaven in his eye and the smile ped, we trust, to lift up that plane to a higher level. of God on his face, came to join me for a short Any higher education I leave to the government term. For fifteen months he taught the boys, lived schools which admittedly qualify only for govern- with them, played with them, brothered them. ment jobs and already have reached the point of Then, by an accident, God took him. The boys besupersaturation. Out of the morass of this little' gan to come to me and say, "Sir, now we underproblem I leave the government to struggle as best stand what you have been trying to teach us about it may. God; how He made Himself visible, and lived among us, and suffered with us, and died for us. And so, after a quarter of a century, I stand We have seen it in Mr. Raymond. That is what again where I stood at the beginning. I am again God did." I awoke to the fact that we cannot teaching small boys in simple subjects, and am make men hear the Atonement; we must make back in the daily irritations of discipline and routine. One of my former colleagues, a man of wide men see it. reputation, said to me: "Van Ess, I thought you had it in you to put up a college in Iraq." To I am quite unruffled by government competition which I replied, "I am really prouder of the fact and by decreased appropriations. Indeed, the dethat I had it in me not to put up a college in Iraq." With the rise of nationalism, missionary colleges pression and the consequent cuts have made me are being forced to the wall. India may be an ex- cut out a lot of underbrush, so that I can now see ception, though in the new constitution lurk the path more plainly. Even the casual remarks ominous obstacles. That they have done a splen- of well-meaning friends that the school seems to did service is undoubtedly true but how much be going backward, does not sting anymore. As room there remains for them is a serious question. But there remains a great deal of room at the a matter of fact, there is a far greater percentage bottom. This to my mind is the great challenge of Moslems in the school than ever before, and all to missionary educators today. The greatest con- available space is filled. "Why are most of your tribution we missionary educators can make is not boys barefoot?" asked a government inspector. in the doing of big things in a comparatively small "Why do all the barefoot boys come to me 7" I way, but in the doing of little things in a big way. answered. For that task we need all the mentality, and all the education and all the experience, and all the Where now does all this fit into my pretentious manhood, and all the linguistic ability, and all the creed? Next door to my house is an electric powerhumility, and all the spiritual equipment we can station. Into one end is fed the crude oil; out of command. When the world's proletariat awakes, the other end comes that strange, invisible, potent within the next generation, as it inevitably must, fluid called electricity. The cause is not at all will men, by that time, be familiar with us and commensurate with the result. The only function our message and our Lord, or will they, as in of the crude oil has been to be consumed. Some- Russia, revolt against Christianity that has cham- where along the line, in the dynamo in fact, it has pioned the rights of the privileged classes? If been transformed into energy. It is carried miles one great truth of the Cross of Christ is, in Jesus' away to the wharves where it raises heavy burown words, "I have power to lay down my life dens and lights dark streets and houses. I cannot, and I have power to take it again," surely we dis- and we cannot by education or any other method, ciples can best preach that Cross in our own daily change the world. But we can be consumed, willhumiliation. I, for one, wish to bear witness to ingly, humbly, gladly, for our efforts are made dythe compensation that comes from a humble effort namic in the Cross. "I fill up on my part that in that direction. which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh." During the past year I have had a daily experience, which you may explain as you like but which Anyone who knew Turkey before the World is, none-the-Iess, intensely real. As I teach the War knows that there was not one ray of light Gospel lessons to class after class, lessons which I on the horizon of missionary work among Moshave taught literally hundreds of times, a shaft of lems. In five short years, what happened? The light seems to come from somewhere, certainly Caliphate was abrogated, the Sultan was expelled, and a republic was established; Islam was dis- established, womanhood was emancipated, suf- frage was made universal. The Turkish revolution came like a bolt from the blue. I have heard
famous professors of international affairs confess innovations, which seemed impossible a decade or their inability to explain it. It seems plain to me, two ago, are rapidly being realized. however. For eighty years the American missionaries had been working in Turkey, and prayers, Another innovation, the lawfulness of which the tears, the sighs, the labors, the gifts of God's has been hotly contested, is the translation of the people were consumed for Turkey. They were Koran into English. After a lengthy debate in the made dynamic in the eternal Cross of Christ; the secular press, the Government and the leaders of energy was banked up behind the barrage of God's reform have gotten round the difficulty by affirmpurpose until in His own time He let it loose on ing that while the Koran can never be translated Turkey, and something more had to happen. into any other language, what is now being at- tempted is to translate the teaching of the Book A couple of generations ago a young Chinese especially for the benefit of the English-speaking lad named Sun Yat Sen learned in a mission school peoples. The large increase of religious articles in Honolulu the three uniquely Christian prin- and debates in the secular press, both Arabic and ciples: Liberty, Democracy, Social Justice; today English, is another noticeable development, and if China is in the throes of a new birth. And so it to this we add the broadcasting of the chanting of is in India, and I believe in Russia. To me the the Koran several times a day, while Christians great and humiliating fact about Russia is that the are not allowed to broadcast even a reading of the Church has let Communism steal her thunder of Scripture, we get an idea of the strength of the demanding social justice. propaganda that is being daily carried on.
From the segment of a circle we can tell from The remarkable growth in Egypt of Moslem rethe degree of curvature, not only how big the ligious societies to further the teaching of Islam circle is but where the center is. And everywhere from every aspect impresses itself upon Christian in the round world today we can see the segments residents. The most active of these is the Young being filled in, all centering in Christ, a gigantic Men's Moslem Association. It is a regular centre sweep, a stupendous Kingdom of Divine dimen- of political and religious intrigue. The same sions. spread is also noticeable in the Islamic periodicals and magazines, which are distributed far· and So I go back to my little school tomorrow, con- wide, even in the remotest villages. This new fident of contributing a small but none the less a movement has even reached the neglected southern real part to one segment, and overwhelmed by a European Moslems, and very recently these held sense of unutterable privilege. How many bap- a Moslem conference in Geneva, so that they tisms? A greater missionary than any of us said: should not be left behind in the reforms. Needless "Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach." to say, Islam is being interpreted now-a-days in terms of Christian doctrine. MODERN REFORMS IN ISLAM The agitation of the Feminist Movement against The disintegration of Islam is true only in a plurality of marriage, the prevalence of divorce very qualified sense. The old and primitive type (at present 47 per cent), and the neglect of chilof Islam is giving way to a new form of teaching dren is but like a voice crying in the wilderness, and to an interpretation in line with modern which soon dies in the arid air of Islam. The Western ideas and philosophy. This new move- greatest hindrance to Arab advance and the ment carries with it the vitality and momentum of spread of Islam has been hitherto the wide diveryouth, accompanied with the zeal, if not fanati- gence of views and the animosities among the difcism, of the old Islam, so that, in a very real sense, ferent states, but the Alliance recently signed there is revival in Islam. among all the Arab states and with Egypt joining them, presents a united Islamic front. This revival is most in evidence in Egypt, which is taking the lead among Moslem countries. It Islam is essentially a primitive religion, a fact has actually carried along with it the great centre of which all the leaders boast -and emphasize on of Islamic learning, the Azhar University, that all occasions; no wonder if we see it breaking immobile institution which has for the last thou- down under the demands of modern progress and sand years defied any scheme of reform. The cur- civilization; they are trying to reconstruct it riculum of the University now demands the study along modern lines. It will remain to be seen of science along European lines, and of modern whether such external reforms will prove the relanguages. Promising students have even been vival or the death of Islam.–Condensed from an sent to European universities, and other startling article by an Egyptian Christian in Egypt, "Gen- eral M-vssion News," 1936.
PATIENTS AT A WAYSIDE DISPENSARY IN
A Christian Doctor Among Moslems By PAUL HARRISON, M.D., Muscat, Arabia Missionary of the Reformed Church in America ~~N0. ' I DO NOT believe in forcing religion with God. I have never met a missionary who was down people's throats. I believe in med- foolish enough to suppose that a man could be ical missions though." forced into Christian faith, nor wicked enough to More mistakes it would be hard to put into two attempt it.
sentences. Ordinary missionaries force religion And if any have illusions as to the redemptive upon the sensitive innocence of the unprotected, capacity of Atebrin pills, and Elastoplast band- whereas the medical missionary who has re- ages, and Davis and Geck sutures, the medical mis- nounced the Devil and all his works, redeems them sionary has none. Men with their hernias skill- with pills, plasters, and catgut sutures. fully repaired, stab their neighbors just as fero- Neither the minister nor his medical colleague ciously in the bazaar, and marry their fourth wife, is so foolish. None of us try to force anything on a baby of twelve, with just as animal a glitter in anybody. Those who are willing, we introduce to their eyes, as they did before. None watch the Jesus Christ, with as deep and discriminating an dreadful pageant of human ignorance, and sin and introduction as desire anct background make pos- suffering, with quite so deep and terrible an under- sible. Christ's contact with them depends even standing as the doctor, none know so well as he, more on the depth of our surrender to Him, and that the wages of sin is death, and before it is the radiance of our daily walk in His company. death, it is disease.
In the affairs of the spirit coercion is poison. Be- And so the medical missionary thanks God with fore us always is the beauty of Christ's example, all his heart that he is as other men are; i. e., an as He led free men into a redeeming fellowship evangelist whose life object is to bring Christ to 479
those who need Him. Ignorance has crippled the afternoon, in the hospital courtyard, and on weekmen whom Mohammed captured so many years day evenings they saw Christ on the Cross through ago. Sin has overcome them. Their diseases the stereopticon. Smooth sailing? Not always. come from sin. So does their poverty which is A month ago our outlying dispensary in Nuchl, 75 almost worse than disease in these terrible areas. miles from Muscat, was summarily closed, and we So, also, that emptiness of soul which makes the ejected. But the people there want us to return, inner poverty of the rich, worse many times, than and it will be only a short time probably, before the outer poverty of the poor. If only Christ can we are back. fill some of these souls with the radiance of His Eternal life, they will be a light for the entire There are many areas in the world where the community, just as He promised. Yes,. and in medical missionary is still a pioneer in the simplest sense of that word. No missionary except he. can AN ARAB CHIEF, WITH DR. HARRISON WHOM HE INVITED enter. Central Arabia is such an area. Sois TO VISIT HIS TRIBES IN INLAND ARABIA Afghanistan, and Tibet, and parts of Northwest China. Often even he can go only by special invithat radiant group, Christ Himself will find the tation, and very infrequently. Sometimes he can one joy and happiness that men are capable of take his evangelistic colleague with him. On~e I giving Him. heard of a consecrated music teacher finding an entrance when even the Doctor was shut out. But What part have the medical missionaries played the brunt of this campaign is carried by the docin the great Eternal enterprise of carrying Christ tors. They visit such places on medical tours, to the Mohammedans? A genuine part and an treat those who need medical help, present Christ honorable one. We go where no one else can. to those who will listen, make many friends. Harold Storm made a trip two years ago which included pretty well the whole southern coast of On occasion theYl;re driven out, but they re~ Arabia. With trifling exceptions, that whole sec- turn.. and eventually tlieMission is invited to come tion can be reached only by the medical mission- in and establish a permanent station. Such a staary. And can the Gospel be preached on such a tion may begin with only the medical missionary tour? It can. Last year in Sur, a wild and fanati- in residence. Eventually he is joined by his evancal place, men listened to the Gospel every Sunday gelistic colleague.
It is a great step in advance when a permanent mission station is established. Then the impact of Christian family life is felt, and that is by far the heaviest piece of artillery that we have. The difference between the Christian and the Moham- medan family is an apologetic which admits of no answer. But in this station too, the active medical work of the mission hospital has a great part to play. Dozens and scores and hundreds come to the dispensary. They do not become Christians, but they do become friends. And in the hospital itself men listen to the Christian message with a more friendly ear than elsewhere, and during their days of comfortable convalescence, the same mes- sage can be repeated many times, until some de- gree of comprehension is reached. Christ walks up and down the aisles of these primitive mission- ary hospitals, and the doctor succeeds in making Him visible to some of those who are his guests.
Abdullah was such a patient. He came with the largest ulcer of the year, and we have many ulcers by no means small. His measured six by four inches. Only the swollen condition of the foot made such dimensions possible. After three months he is nearly healed. Abdullah is one of' those fine, sincere, gentle souls, who show that Christ is indeed the light that lighteth every man. The Gospel story was water to his thirsty soul. Abdullah is one of the fortunate few who can read. For weeks he was a hospital fixture, with his leg
A CHRISTIAN DOCTOR AMONG MOSLEMS
stretched out so it could lie in the sun, while he emerging medical profession in these new states earnestly studied the New Testament. He follows can reach full growth. In the meantime the med- Christ now, with deep sincerity, and just ahead is ical missionary can take under his wing these newthe realization that Christ and Mohammed do not fledged doctors, and to their science add ethics, walk the same road. Abdullah returned home two and to their ethics compassion, and to their comweeks ago. May God keep him. passion, freedom from the love of money, and if when he has finished with some of them, these Young men of the community make up the hos- things be in them and abound, he will have made pital staff. They are chosen after much elimina- a very great contribution indeed. And the most tion of inferior material, because they have unusual deftness of hand, and kindliness of soul. PATIElNTS AT THE MISSION HOSPITAL They are not Christians when they enter the hospital service. No such material is available. But important members of this group which he trains, some of these boys come to see Christ as He walks will be the Christian doctors who become under beside them, ministering to men and women who his hands, pillars in the church, and ornaments of suffer. Mobarrek is such a convert. The whole the Kingdom of God. town of Muttreh has been lit up by the beauty and simplicity of his Christian confession. Two of his The medical missionary is a member of the comrades in the hospital have already followed his great eternal succession, through which from example, and the Sultan himself has listened to Abraham to Hudson Taylor, God has unfolded His his testimony. program of Divine power and salvation. The Church of Christ has been set up in the Moham- The medical missionary is a missionary in his medan world. In Iran she has reached the magown right. He is also a member of a mission sta- nificent virility of youth. Even in Arabia the intion where team work is very important. The fant church has been born. Thus does the last evangelistic impact of such a team can be very citadel of human error and sin slowly open to the great. Only a small part of the preaching can be love of Christ. The medical missionary's heart done by the doctor. Proclaiming the truth of is filled with gratitude that in this great adventure Christ is the evangelist's task, illustrating the of the Divine Will, he has been permitted to have grace of Christ is the doctor's (though to be sure a share, and at times to carry the flag. the evangelist does that too). The intelligent and effective mercy of the hospital is a Christian les- ISLAM AS A RELIGION son of the first order. It is the hospital which makes the Christian Gospel intelligible. Moreover Moslem Creed: "There is no God but God and Mohammed there are Christian lessons of no mean order in is the prophet of God." Includes pantheism and scientific medicine per se. Truth is one thing, and animism. error something else. Noone who assists at surgical operations doubts that for very long. The Jesus is regarded as a human prophet inferior to Mopatients believe it too. Ignorance is one thing and hammed. discriminating knowledge something else, and no one knows that quite so wen as the patient to Materialistic and sensual Paradise. whom an accurate diagnosis brings relief after Five supreme duties-witnessing, saying prayers (five many disappointments. Cleanliness is different times a day), almsgiving, the Fast of Ramadhan, pilfrom filth, a rule that holds in the realm of the grimage to Mecca. (Also Holy War.) spirit as well as in the world of bacteria. There Weakness or Islwm-formalism, fatalism, militarism, senis no antidote to superstition like the microscope. sualism, stagnation, polygamy, slavery, blind adher- A louse there, looks far more dangerous than the ence to tradition. evil eye itself. St?'ength of Islamr-belief in one supreme imnipotent God, loyalty to their faith, people of one sacred book, ag- The function of the medical missionary is a tem- gressive in witnessing, courageous. porary function. He understands that. We do not send medical missionaries to Japan. Medical schools are making their appearance in nearly all of the Moslem countries. There is such a school in Teheran, Iran. There is another in Baghdad. They will give first class medical training. In such a country the medical missionary faces a new problem, and new problems mean new opportunities, if only we can see them with God's eyes. The place and the need for the medical missionary are passing away, but it will be years before the
Power of the Printed
By MABEL H. ERDMAN, Beirut, Syria i Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, U. s. A. 1Jie– I .l"". "/ LITTLE old man with greying beard and than all else I was impressed by the beauty and kindly, smiling hazel eyes sits in a wheel the purity of Christ's teaching and character. chair on the veranda of a Home for the "Suddenly I was covered with confusion. This Aged in a near East city. His face is lined, but thing which I considered beautiful, this story the Tines are those of a thinker. He is talking to which was written in my own sacred tongue, was his Moslem neighbor – a thin, time-scarred old a despised Christian thing, a false book which they gentleman whose bed has been pulled out on the dared to set up in comparison with the holy balcony. The first old man is telling something Koran! Hastily I hid it lest I be detected.
of his early life. A missionary friend listens while "Days slipped by, during which I condemned the tale is told. myself on the one hand and indulged my curiosity "Years ago I lived in the Holy City where I was on the other. Finally I decided that there was no a keeper in a large mosque. I was a devout Mos- harm in carrying the book about with me. After lem, wearing the green turban to which I was en- all, my devotion to Islam could not be questioned.
titled as a direct descendant of the Prophet. Five I managed to read all of the Gospel of Mark, and times a day when the muezzin called, I prayed then, still firm in my own faith, I made bold to with the faithful. One of my duties was to clean visit the foreign lady again and ask for other and fill the many ornate lamps which hung in that books of the same sort. I do not know what im- mosque. I was also expected to collect the rents pression I made upon her, but she received me due from houses owned by the mosque. In these kindly and without question gave me three other houses lived all manner of people, the better apart- Gospels.
ments being let to foreigners from whom we could "In a short time I had read all four Gospels and demand a high rental. One of these tenants was then I secured the Book of Acts. It was not long a lady who lived alone. I wondered why she had then before I had to acknowledge that Jesus the left her far-away home to live among strangers, Christ had won me as he had Paul of Tarsus, who, to judge by myself, loved her little. though my own conversion was much less dra- "One day, quite accidentally, I learned why she matico I was filled with a great longing to serve had come. When she gave me her rent money she my Saviour and Friend, who had revealed God to handed me a small book. I suspected at once that me in a new light-as a loving Father to whom I it must be an accursed book of the Christians, and was precious.
had it not been for the precious money and the "So strong was my new faith, so compelling His courtesy due a tenant of the holy mosque, I should plea to leave all and follow Him, that I knew I have dropped the hated thing which seemed to must make open declaration. The great mosque burn into my hand. As soon as possible I bowed became an intolerable place; the copies of the politely and left the foreign lady. sacred Koran, the shining lamps, the very rugs "There were other collections to be made that leered at me.
day, and lacking opportunity" to do otherwise, I "I knew that I must turn my back on all this.
slipped the small book into my pocket. I forgot My parents would disown me and disinherit me; about it until later in the day when I sat alone in a my friends would seek to destroy me; my wife shadowed corn~r of the great mosque. Curiosity would have to do as her parents and mine decreed, overcame my fear and I opened the book sur- and I should have to leave her and the children.
reptitiously. "Weeks and months slipped by as I hesitated.
"Many years have gone by now, but never shall My life was comfortable, even luxurious. I was I forget my first impression of the beauty of that loved, respected, trusted. In giving up Islam I '
story. It was the Gospel according to Saint Mark, should be giving up all security and respectability and as by some outer force I was impelled 'to read as I knew them. But while I debated about this through the verses which described John the Bap- other Prophet and compared His life with that of tist, Christ's Baptism, His temptation and the Mohammed, I knew what I must do; and at last calling of some of the disciples. Perhaps more I did it.
[482 ] "The result was all that I had anticipated, but Dark tales were whispered over backgammon though my suffering was great, I felt no sorrow boards and between sips of thick, sweet coffee- nor regret. There were many new friends now tales of clever thefts, of quick, sure fingers on to replace the old, whom I loved with a greater knife and trigger, of amazing feats of horseman- love than ever and forgave wholeheartedly when ship and of unbelievable endurance.
they persecuted me. Penniless, I left my home city J-'s quiet, pale Armenian wife, whom he had with all of its dear associations, and traveled taken from a refugee camp just after the World northward. Everywhere Christians who had War, had borne him a son and a daughter; but for heard of me welcomed me, but whenever I encoun- him there was no united family life; it had never tered those of myoId faith, they reviled me merci- occurred to him that such was necessary or de- lessly. I was refused shelter in every Moslem sirable. His own mother had often sent him as a home; I was shamefully cursed and ejected from boy to carry supplies of money and food, to her restaurants and all public places where I was father's home, against the inevitable day when her known. husband should tire of her. Many a day on the "For a time doubt assailed me. I wondered road he had met other boys, his friends, going on whether God had forgotten me. Things were the same sort of secret errand. Home for J – strange as I traveled away from home; I did not meant shelter from rain and cold, even from ene- slip easily into the new customs and religious mies to some extent, but little else.
practices. I missed my loved ones, particularly It happened one day that J-, natty in his well- my sons, who would now grow up considering fitting uniform, passed a meeting house in the their father a renegade, an infidel, a betrayer of center of his home town and saw a crowd of peo- the faith. Perhaps these were the hardest hours ple assembled. Curious, he looked in and saw his of my life. wife and children there. Upon questioning some "But when my sorrow was deepest, when the bystanders he learned that an evangelist had come outlook seemed blackest, God made Himself known from the far west to help the harassed Armenian to me, and I was able to rise up and follow Him refugees to return to their ancient faith in God with renewed strength and vision. and His Prophet Jesus Christ. J- was amused, "Now after all these years I can testify that and leaning against the rear wall of the building, He has never forsaken me at any time and that listened while the foreigner read a story which He is worthy of every sacrifice made for His sake. seemed to be all about a new way of Life. The I would not go back to the old IHe, with all of its preacher then talked simply about repentance and security and material comfort, for all that the salvation. It was all so easy to understand, so world has to offer. I have tried to witness to straightforward, that J – was amazed. The meet": Him, to tell others of His love and beauty, and as ings continued for several days, and J- attended life's shadows lengthen around me, I realize that all of them, hearing little more than the simple I must work harder that no time be lost." Gospel story told in none-too-perfect Turkish.
Thus the fascinating tale came to a close. When- That story was enough to change his life. From ever he can do so, this truly converted believer that time on J – knew that his old ways were not reads from his "Beautiful Book" to his compan- in keeping with God's will. To his astounded asions, and if we were there to see, we should note sociates he declared his new faith as openly as he that many a face is softened, that new light comes had boasted of his heinous deeds. He resigned his into hard, cold eyes which have seen much bitter- position with the gendarmerie, and rearranged his ness and disappointment, for the Prince of Peace whole life. There was little he could do to earn an hovers near. honest living, but he did what his hands could find to do, often enough working as a day laborer. *** After their first amusement at J-'s new A few years ago a gay young man rode daily "stunt," his former friends and associates began through the crowded streets of the northern towns to persecu~e him. Finding that he paid little heed of Syria, cursing and jostling the shepherds and to them, they spat upon him, kicked and reviled other traders who came in from the desert to sell him; caused him to be thrown into prison. They their produce. His bright, dark eyes sparkled as were humbled and astounded the more when he he drew rein, for he knew his power and his repu- turned the other cheek. He who had once been so tation for cruel justice. His uniform indicated quick to retaliate now bore the harshest treatment that he was one of the gendarmerie, and well was without reproach. His former powerful char- he known in village and town and out in the far- acteristics were changed and beautified. His rest- away places of the desert. No danger was too less energy led him on to greater and greater tasks great for him to face, no journey too distant for and sacrifices; his splendid physique enabled him his strength. Bold, winsome, rash, J – was at to endure great suffering and deprivation without once the terror and the pride of his associates. apparent harm.
In quiet moments J- sadly counted the years of Before long a crowd gathered, and J- took his life which had been spent in wickedness and occasion to tell his story of Jesus and to distribute riotous living, the blood-stained deeds of his im- tracts. The Sheikh listened as attentively as the petuous youth, and he longed to recall them and others, and when J- had finished he stood up and dedicate them to God. told an amazing story himself. J-Iater recounted this story to us in detail. Some years have passed during which -he has grown steadily in grace. He is tireless in his task About three years ago the Sheikh went to the of spreading the Gospel, his journeyings covering dyeing establishment of an Armenian Christian. the breadth and the length of his native land. On the table in the small shop lay an open book. The bitterest of his enemies are being won over, one by one, for the old charm of J – coupled with "What book is that?" asked the Sheikh, using this new, compelling love, is irresistible. Now and Turkish as readily as his native tongue, Arabic. then there is one who still distrusts, even persecutes him, but to no avail. Into prisons, among "A Bible,!' answered the Armenian. castaways of all faiths, he takes Bibles and Gos- "Is it the good book of which the Koran pel portions and religious tracts. At the doors of speaks?" mosques, in the homes of rich and powerful "Yes," answered the Armenian, a bit on his sheikhs he preaches Christ and distributes lit- guard with so staunch a Moslem leader. The Arerature. menian, though fearless in his faith, had experi- enced something from the fanaticism of Moslems. Recently he was visiting some of the scattered "Tell me about it," persisted the Sheikh with hamlets on the edge of the north Syria desert genuine interest. when he met a man whom he had not seen for "Let me read from it," answered the dyer; "it some years. At sight of that man J- thanked tells its own story better than I can." God and said, He picked up the Book and read some chapters in Genesis. As he read the Sheikh received a new "Brother, do you remember me?" vision of the greatness and the power and the majesty of God as compared with the sinfulness "Yes, indeed," responded the lean shepherd, his of man. The Armenian saw that the effect was keen eyes narrowed in his weather-beaten face, real and read on. "you used to be in the gendarmerie. I have not Later his customer returned and begged to borseen you lately, but I remember you well." row the Book. The dyer volunteered to secure for him an Arabic version, and with this copy in his "Do you remember that once a goat was stolen hands the Sheikh began at the first chapter of from you?" Genesis and read through all of the books of the Old and New Testaments. When he reached the "Ap, my friend," laughed the shepherd, "a goat last verse of Revelation he began again and read is often stolen from a shepherd in these parts. as before. What can I do? The poor have no rights." After that second reading he was convinced that "I stole a goat from you once,and I thought I the only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ. was clever to do it without being caught. My Then one night he dreamed that his city was being friends and I had a fine feast." destroyed because of the wickedness of the people, as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Great "You?" grinned the shepherd in mock surprise. was his grief and helplessness when he turned "I cannot believe it." away from the awful scene-and there he beheld Jesus upon the cross. He dreamed that he rose "But yes, I did," averred J- in all seriousness. up, threw his arms about the bleeding feet and "And now I wish to pay for that goat, and to ask wept for his sins and those of his people. your forgiveness. Here is the money." So it happened that when J- came to this town Overcome, the poor man who seldom sees even the Sheikh took courage openly to declare himself paper money, for he trades in kind and is always a Christian. "Do not call me 'Sheikh' any more; in debt to the money-lenders, exclaimed, "Is it I am a Chris-tian, a follower of Jesus Christ," he possible that one steals a goat, is not caught, and declared to the crowd. then comes back to pay for it?" The Word of God is living and active, and sharper than "Yes; it is possible," responded his companion, any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4: 12. "if one steals while he is in darkness and sin and then learns to know Jesus Christ." My Word shall not return unto Me void. Isaiah 55: 11.
What better sermon could have been preached Surely the Word of God is a powerful witness to that poor, ignorant Bedouin of the desert? to Christ and can be used to achieve great results if we can but put it into the hands of men and Leaving the desert, J- went to one of the larger women everywhere. towns and was invited to meet the head man who owns more than three-fourths of the town's land and houses. He bears the important title of Sheikh and is a man of great influence.
Experience with
By REV. FRANK LAUBACH, Ph.D., Mindanao, Philippines Missionary of the American Board C. F. M.
FOR four centuries the Moros of Mindanao pealed to the supreme court, entering a plea of fought the same relentless war with the Span- self-defense. Our case was so well prepared that iards and Filipino Christians that the Moros Pambaya was ~cquitte!i. He is now my/fast friend (Moors) of Africa had fought in Spain during the and will be yours if I introduce him to you." five centuries before Columbus discovered America. The annual war in the Philippines would So this man .]?ambaya, who so nearly spent commence as soon as the winds were favorable for twenty years in,i'Irrison, became my friend, taught the Moro vintas to sail northward, or for the me the .Maranaw language, and has been our Spanish galleons to sail southward. strongesfhulw3;rk ever since. He has toiled with us for cOU)ltless. hours in building up a Maranaw When the United States took over the Philip- dictionary, haS'-helped in the translation of the Old pines in 1898, we inherited this endless war with Testament stories and the Gospel of Luke, and has the Moros. American soldiers, with their greatly ~ided in the preparation of many other books.
.superior weapons, broke the power of the Moros But his chief function is to keep his ear to the and instilled in them a sense of fear and respect, ground for signs of opposition and to make friends though outlaws have hidden in the forests and Qut of potential enemies. No missionary in a performed exploits of murder and robbery every Moslem country can get on very well without some year up to the present day. man of that type.
In the year 1915 my wife and I visited Lanao for the first time, hoping to establish a mission for the Moros. We found the air tense, the nerves of the officials taut, the Moros sullen, and rumors of impending attacks being whispered from ear to ear. We were told plainly that no Christian missionary effort would be tolerated as it would certainly add to the fanatical fury of the Moros.
We left Lanao to work in other parts of the Philip- pines, awaiting a more propitious day.
It was not until 1929 that we felt the time had arrived. A large percentage of the trouble makers had been imprisoned or killed, and the Province had become comparatively quiet. Because there MORO GI1,;LS'l'H:tNK;iTH:EY WILL DIE U' THEIR PICTURE· IS was no school suitable for the education of our 'l'AJ(;EN,BUT 'fHEY Tf.:KE A CHANCE TO son, and also because we were not sure how safe pLlllASE THE; MISSIONARy Lanao would be for women and children of missionaries, I left my wife and son in· the northern Tclie first :rno.n~~,be:fo.:re I had found Pambaya, wer¢, among the hardest Of my life. I did not seem part of the Philippines, and entered Lanao alone. to be able to get the right beginning. I climbed The officials still expressed misgivings about any Signal Hill, back of my cottage, night after night, religious work being attempted, and permitted me with no companion but my dog Tip, and remained to begin my work on the understanding that it until long ·after dark while the finger of God would be educational and social, and not contro- painted marvelous colors against the western sky.
versial. I was a missionary of Christ, with my I recall the heartaches and the yearnings with lips practically sealed~ which my eyes roved around the lake below me, I asked a big-hearted American, Lieutenant where the Moros had their villages. The deepest Cramer, whether he knew a Moro whom I could spiritual experiences are born of pain, if one lets trust. Cramer replied: that pain drive him to God. Out of the loneliness "There is a Moro who was convicted of murder of Lanao came some of the most precious soul ex- and sentenced to serve for twenty years. Feeling periences of my whole life. During one of these that this sentence was too heavy, some of us ap- sunset trysts I was telling God aloud that He must [485 ]
guide my pathway, for the obstacles were like a sinless man to be crucified. That would not be mountains. I spoke aloud, for nobody could hear justice." He snatched Jesus out of Gethsemane, me but God and Tip. Then my lips began to sp.eak and then changed Judas into the appearance of to myself, voicing a new light which had come Jesus, and allowed the Jews to crucify Judas, as into my mind: he deserved. The Koran teaches that Jesus now sits on the right hand of God interceding for men If you want these Moros to be fair to your religion, be -more kindlihearted than the Moslem God. In fair to theirs. Study their Koran with them. Medina there are four graves: that of Mo- hammed; that of Fatima his daughter; that of I told some of the Mohammedan priests that I Omar, the greatest Moslem missionary, and an wanted to study the Koran, and the next day my empty grave. Tradition says that Jesus will re- turn, will reign a thousand years, will die, and MORO POET WHO WON A CONTEST will be buried in that fourth grave.
house was full of priests and hadjis with their What broke down the wans between the Moros Korans, all of them bent upon making a Moham- and myself more than anything else was a pammedan out of me. We found to our delight that phlet published by the Moslem Propaganda Society there was much in common in our religions. Islam of India. This pamphlet was brought to me to has about seventy-two prophets, of whom we show me how to become a good Moslem. To my found the names of sixty in our Bible. delight I was able to translate into Moro, before all the priests in my house, these important facts: Those who do not know the Koran will be surprised to find how it exalts Jesus. He was born of Islam has four holy books: a virgin, according to Moslem tradition, but he (1) Torah, or the books of Moses; was not crucified. In the Garden of Gethsemane, (2) Jabur, Qr the Psalms of David; so the tradition goes, God said: "I will not permit (3) Kita.J Injil, or the Life of Jesus; (4) The Koran of Mohammed.
"I have studied these first three sacred books many years," I told my Moslem friends, "and will tell you all I know, while you tell me all you know about the Koran."
Two or three of the men studying the Koran knew English and so acted as interpreters for the others and for me. They began to ask for a class to teach them to read English.
"Our constant warfare with the Christians has left us far· behind the rest of the Islands," they told me, "and we want to catch up."
The Moros had burned down fifty school build- ings in the years just preceding my arrival, and were for the most part unfriendly to the schools. Yet they began to realize that they were harming themselves and nobody else by this attitude. I knew that for these adults the mastery of English would be a very long process, so I said: "Suppose you learn to read your own language first with English letters. Then it will be easier to learn to read English."
This sounded reasonable, so we began to pre- pare lessons in the Maranaw language with Eng- lish letters.. Nothing had ever been printed in their language up to that time. We had to decide upon an alphabet. Fortunately the Philippine languages have adopted perfectly phonetic alpha- bets, and we followed these in all but one letter. We needed but sixteen letters in all.
At first we used the ordinary sentence method of teaching, but this seemed unnecessarily long for learning sixteen simple letters; so the Moros joined me in seeking a method better adapted to their own language. Month after month they
MY EXPERIENCE WITH MOSLEMS
toiled with me, making positively exciting prog- are you going to get· your money back? Our ress. As the course became easier the numbers imams will not teach us the Koran unless we pay who desired to learn increased, until at last hun- them in advance." dreds came to the large old building we had purchased. Thus began the first of those literacy This gives us our opportunity to tell the religion campaigns based on the principle of "each one which under other circumstances they would be teach five more" which have since spread to many unwilling to consider: parts of Malaysia, India, Africa, and Latin America. "I have studied the wonderful life of Nabi Isa. From the time he awoke in the morning until he The second year the highest Chieftain in south- closed his eyes at night he spent every minute of ern Lanao asked me to attend a three-day feast the day helping people. He was always teaching which he was holding in celebration of the opening of his school for adults. He had moved out of DOCTOR LAUBACH AND PAMBAYA, A MORO FRIEND his largest house and turned it into a school building. The day I arrived was Friday. Kakai Daga- or encouraging, or defending or healing or saving langit, for this was the chieftain's name, asked me somebody. That is a wonderful way to live. If to accompany him to the mosque, and I accepted. everybody in Lanao lived like that we would have I washed my hands and feet as is the Moro cus- a paradise. The climate is perfect, but the people tom, and followed the chief into his mosque. He hate and fight and defraud one another. Because took me to the front prayer rug, placed a black I see everybody must help everybody else, I am hat-far too small for me-on my head, and said trying to teach all I can. And I have discovered I was a "Christian pandita." By this brilliant the secret of happiness! When I was looking for name he hoped that Islam and Christianity might happiness I could not find it. It escapes like the be reconciled. He returned my courtesy by at- rainbow. And when I harm people I feel mean tending our Christian church, dressed in a magnificent shining satin coat and trousers. Since inside. But when i spend my day teaching peothat time I have accepted the invitations of many of the highest chieftains to attend their mosques. ple, my heart sings. Go out and teach others and do not take a cent for it, and see how your heart Kakai Dagalangit has one of the most brilliant will sing!" minds I have ever met. He asked me endless searching questions and told me the populations of all the principal countries of Europe – some army captain had told him what they are. This chieftain also made a contribution to education which may have very far-reaching effects.
When the depression came I had to call all my teachers and the leading chieftains of Lanao together and announce that the little money I had left would permit me to retain only three out of nineteen teachers. Kakai Dagalangit arose and said, with his usual brevity: "This campaign is the most important thing that ever came to Lanao. It shall not stop. Every person who learns must teach five others. I will see that they do."
This is how it happened that we began the "each one teach five" idea, which proved a great success in Lanao, and has proven a cheap and effective method of reaching adults in their homes throughout the Philippines and indeed in every country I have since visited.
A literacy campaign along these lines has proven to be a very fine way to make friends. If you sit beside an illiterate and teach him with patience and real love in your heart, he grows more and more surprised at this new experience, and at last interrupts the lesson to ask: "Why are you teaching me without pay? When
Thus we introduce Jesus at the point where He so tenderly, so perfectly as in the face of Jesus. is most irresistable-His great burning heart and Until men have known Jesus they have not known His loving service. We help people to act like the best fact about God, that He is, that any being, Christians long before they think of becoming even God, can be as good as Jesus! Christian in name. Arabs are poor slipshod business men. Jews There was equal eagerness on the part of stu- and Christians can beat them in business with the dents from Irak studying in the American Univer- utmost ease-:-and do! Mohammed· met Christians sity in Beirut, and Iraneans whom we met in who told him wonderful stories about the lovely Turkey. Now as I write from Dar es Salaam in Jesus-and then proceeded to take advantage of East Africa, I am having one of the most thrilling him in their business transactions. The result experiences of my whole life preparing lessons was that Mohammed, one of the supreme religious and teaching Moslem men every morning, and geniuses of all time, loved Christ and hated Christeaching Moslem illiterate women every afternoon. tians! If Christians had lived what Christ taught A leading African Mohammedan imam is collect- and lived, Mohammed might have become the ing the illiterates. With the memories of thou- greatest Christian since Paul. So ten thousand sands of Mohammedans who have looked at me times over this planet one runs across instances and held my hand in loving appreciation, I feel deeply as well as believe profoundly, that the day TEACHING MORO ADULTS IN THE MARKET PLACE for embittering controversy is past.. For centuries it was the fashion for the two religions to expose of the fact that Christ's chief enemies are Christhe worst features they could find or imagine about tians who betray Christ in their lives and their one another. The time has come to call a truce to business relations. this, and for these two religionS to appreciate one another. We ought to be fair to Islam, for we need to ask mercy in judging Christianity. We have failed so There is much Christians may learn from Islam tragically that we are asking the world to believe if they will look for it. For example a good Mos- that "Christianity has never yet really been tried." lem prays five times a day. Of course Christians We ask others to begin to try it, though Christian are supposed to pray oftener than that-but how nations have never tried it themselves. many of us do? For Moslems the one overwhelming fact is the will of God. We who have come I often hear Christians in Asia and Africa say: into contact with Islam have been reminded that "You can't trust any of them." I dare not tell the one imperative duty of a Christian is to find that Moslem what I think of him, but I will tell and carry out the full will of God in every detail you. What he means to say is: "You cannot trust -,-but how many of us do? Every Moslem is sup- any of them to allow you to despise them, outwit posed to regard every other Moslem as a brother, them, underpay them, ostracize them, and browregardless of race, nationality, wealth, or social beat them." No,he is right, you cannot. Moslems , condition. Moslems do not need to be introduced are mirrors, giving back love for love, hatred for in order to speak to one another! The Arabs inter- hatred, suspicion for suspicion, trust for trust. marry with the Africans and thus make Moslems But so are all the people of the world-mirrors! of them. Christian whites compel Africans to And the majority of ~very nation are responsible live in segregated sections of the African cities. if one treats them decently. The Christian teaching is exactly like the Moslem teaching on the point of brotherhood-but how Nobody can appreciate how valuable it is for many Christians practice it? On the other hand Christians and Moslems to cooperate in some such the Moslems are in tragic need of a vital contact campaign as this, unless he has gone through the with the Christ whom they hold in high esteem, experience. Our experience in Lanao while seekbut about whom they know so little. The more ing the best method of teaching Maranaw, was generously we appreciate their merits the more particularly fortunate. Letters began to reach us readily they will accept the Christian experience of Christ. In a very real sense therefore, we can speak of sharing with Islam.
Some people fear that words like these will paralyze missionary giving. But any person who stops giving for this reason does not need to read more ugly pictures about other religions; what he needs isa fresh experience of Christ. Those of us who have touched other religions know that never in any religion have men seen God so winsomely,
MOSLEM VIEWS OF "THOSE NAZARENES"
fromaH parts of the world inquiring about our Only by some such sharing can one discover campaign. These letters were read to the Moros, what wonderful and zealous friends the Moslems who boasted inordinately about showing the world can be, and how "Christian" many of them are in how to become literate. Some of the young men spirit. Whenever we told Mohammedans about prepared a large map of the world, and ran green our Lanao friends they worked with tireless enlines out to the countries from which letters were thusiasm in preparing lessons in other languages. received. When three years ago we announced A dozen young Moslems and two missionaries our plan of visiting other countries, all Lanao worked almost night and day preparing Malay wanted to go along! Hundreds of datos came down charts in Malacca. In VeIlore India, the Printo the seacoast, a distance of twenty-five miles, to cipal of the Mohammedan Government School and bid us farewell. They crowded the deck of the his faculty struggled and toiled and sometimes steamer, making highly exaggerated but wholly nearly fought over the difficult Urdu. The Presisincere speeches. Then they selected the leading dent of the Arabic College in Madras gathered the imam to pray while they held out their hands great lights of Urdu in a most inspiring meeting, turning their palms alternately upward and down- staged a successful demonstration, put fragrant ward as they responded to the prayer. Mingling flowers around my neck and made such speeches Maranaw with Arabic the imam asked that this as I have not heard, no, not in all ChristenQom. American friend, who had cooperated with them in making the easiest lessons in the world, should When the students of the Lahore Government have the blessing of Allah as he introduced their Training College heard the story of the Lanao method to other countries. They kissed me fare- Moslems, several Mohammedan students followed well, with their long Arab whiskers, and the me home and would not permit me to eat my lunch imams said: before taking the train. One of them wept as he begged me to change my program and visit Jind "We will pray for you in every mosque in this State at once! Two others hung on me resolutely province, while you carry our method to the until I promised to go to Afghanistan. They said world." they would write at once for the government to issue an invitation. I was as excited as they, for Then the Mohammedans stood in silent rever- few foreigners and no missionaries enter Afghanence while the Christians prayed and sang: "God istan. be with you till we meet again."
Moslem Views of "Those N azarenes"
By J. LOWRIE ANDERSON United Presbyterian Missionary in the Egyptian Sudan W HAT a member of one religious sect thinks a man here know or care about the elections in of those of a different faith depends upon America? I thought.) the prejudices in which he grew up, on his temperament and critical faculties, on his second- "But why?" I asked. hand knowledge, and on the members of the other "Because Hoover was against liquor, and the group with whom he is acquainted. other fellow is for it. I am sorry that America turned its back on Hoover and prohibition." (In- The average Moslem knows little or nothing toxicants are prohibited by Moslem law.) about the Christians of America. Only once did I In the French consulate in London, awaiting a find interest in a moral issue in America, and that, viise to our passport, we met a young Turk who strangely enough, in a small city where no Euro- had been a student in Paris and London, and was pean or American lived. We were on an evan- returning to his native land. He was interested gelistic journey in 1934 and visited a town three that we were going for the first time as missiondays' journey from the nearest railroad. Discov- aries to a Moslem land. ering that some in the party were from America, "In recent years," he said, "Moslem countries a stranger sought us out to question us about our have retrogressed. That is because Islam, our country. In the conversation he said, faith, has been weakened. Our great days of power were the great days of faith. When Mos- "I am sorry that America rejected Hoover and lems closely adhered to their religion they were took this other fellow." (What in the world does
the leaders of the world. When faith decayed, so The man of the street in the Sudan has become did their political power and intellectual leader- interested in one report that has reached him, ship. namely, that Islam is spreading in Europe and America. Where the report started I know not, "In Christianity it is just the opposite. It is but in every corner of the Moslem Sudan it has the nations who have abandoned the attempt to gained credence. In many different cities I have follow their religion that are at the forefront. been asked if I knew that all Germany had aban- France and England pay only lip service to their doned Christianity and gone over bodily to Islam. religion. They do not follow the ideals of Jesus. This is probably how the news of the rise of Nazi- And because they have left these out, they have ism and the Neo-pagan Movement in Germany has become great. This is always true." finally filtered into the broadcasting agencies of these simple people. I was at a loss to account In the Sudan, years later, I heard a strange for the origin of the report that in the United variant to that same theme. The spokesman was States five millions have declared themselves Mosnot a graduate student, as the first had been, one lem. Any attempt to deny the statement would be who had traveled in Europe and was learned in useless. Perhaps the Sudanese had heard about the branches of Western science. He was a poor the recent movement among the Negroes in Amer- Sudanese black, who had traveled little if any out- ica to claim that they are not Negroes, but Moors, side hi!,! native region, and who knew how to read with a history not of slavery, but of conquest. Arabic, but no other language. Our colporteur When such Negroes dress in Arab costume and pointed him out, sitting in the shade by the side wear fezzes, worship Allah, and go through forms of the road, and said: of worship, these things have no relation to Islam. But when we realize that they have done this to "That man I believe to be a Christian. He has get away from the stigma white Christians have read the New Testament many times, and he has put upon their race and color, we need to be bought some other books. He knows about Chris- ashamed. Jesus quoted with approval the saying, tianity, although he will not confess Christ." "My house shall be called a hous!'! of prayer for all peoples." But it is hard to find a church in Amer- We walked over and sat down on the log beside ica without the color bar. No wonder Negroes the black man. After introductions were over, the prefer to be considered "Moors" and to profess old man turned to me and said: Islam, rather than Christianity.
"You Christians are the queerest people in the Although the Moslem in the Sudan knows and world?" cares little about the Christians of the West, he has known his Christian neighbors. In Greece, "Why do you say that, Uncle?" Syria and Egypt the ancient Eastern churches "I have read your books. I have read the Gos- still exist and their members can be found in every pel through many times. I find that Jesus section of the Sudan. From these Christians the preaches peace. He tells his followers if they are Sudanese buy their sugar and cotton cloth, and to smitten on one cheek to turn the other. He com- them they often sell cattle or dates. mands that when a man asks for your coat you shall give your cloak too. He says to forgive each "Drunk as a Christian" is a metaphor that was other, and to love your enemies, and to pray for not coined from imagination. The great Christian them. Is that not true?" festivals of Christmas and Easter have too often "Very true, Uncle." been largely drunken orgies in the East. A Mos- "Before you Christians came to the Sudan, we lem funeral is marked with dignity and solemnity. thought we knew something about fighting. All "This is Allah's will," the mourners say, "and as our men le~rned how to use the sword and the His creatures we submit to it." But shrieking and spear and the javelin. Some of them knew also wailing, cursing God for having taken the loved how to shoot a rifle. But that was nothing to what one, and every sign of grief and desolation mark you Christians have shown us how to do. You the death of a Christian. No (me would ever befight with machine guns that kill people, not one lieve that they are followers of One who is the at a time, but by the scores. You bombard towns Resurrection and the Life. Often for years the with cannons fired from many miles away. You Christians display the outward marks of grief and fight not only on land, but on the water, and under priests fatten on the superstitions of the people. the water, and under the land. Nowadays you He alone can intercede effectively for the sins of even fight from the air. Yet you claim to be fol- the people, and only when his palm is crossed. lowers of Jesus, who preached love to all men." The keys of the future life are in his hand, and only gold will give him strength to turn that key. Acknowledging inconsistency of professing This the Moslem knows, and thanks Allah that he Christians, I tried to show the man my own conviction that nothing of Western civilization built on force will endure but that the teachings of Jesus are the only sure foundations for abiding life, in the East or in the West.
needs no intercessor as he comes to God. For this the Gospel in the Apostolic Era. Moslems who reason he further despises the Christian. have become acquainted with them have a better conception of what Christians are like than if they Moreover, the Moslem usually knows little about did not know any Christians. the religIon of the Christian, and what little he knows usually repels. Religious pictures, and the Conversation with Moslem converts has concandles that burn before them, leads him to think firmed my own observation. A convert who had the Christian little better than an idolator. Many learned to hate Christians, found those he met in Moslems believe that the Trinity consists of God school to be little different from Moslem boys, exthe Father, Mary the Mother, and Jesus the Son. cept that they had a better spirit of mutual coop- They reject this suggestion as vile and puerile. eration. Eighty years ago in the Sudan, Arab All are sure that the doctrine at least betrays mud- slave raiders attacked a native village and took dled thinking. Nor has the witness of Christians the women and children as slaves. Among the to their own faith usually been strong. In the group was the son of the chieftain, a twelve-year- Sudan, because they are in the minority few have old naked savage, brighter than the rest. The been willing even to discuss with Moslems the Arabs called him Ibrahim. He attributes his conthings they believe. Thousands of Moslems would version to Christ to a conversation he had while die for their religion, and in the days of the Mahdi still a slave with an untutored Copt in a small vilproved it by courting martyrdom. But when the lage in upper Egypt. In half an hour the Copt same Mahdi ordered all Christians to turn Mos- explained to the inquiring black youth the myslems on pain of death, they scurried like fright- teries of the Incarnation and the Trinity. The ened rabbits into the folds of Islam. Many re- young man's heart went out to Christ who became mained Christians secretly, and when the power flesh and tabernacled among men. His conversion of the Mahdi's sway was broken, confessed it was real, as is proved by Ibrahim's years of faithopenly again. It is the blood of martyrs, not the ful service as a colporteur and evangelist in Egypt saving of life by apostasy, that is the seed of the and the Sudan. Church. Sudanese hold to their faith so strongly, and count death so lightly, that they have no re- In recent years there has grown up a small Protspect for people who change their religion as they estant community in the Sudan. Their interest in do their cloak, when they meet the fierce wind of evangelism has thrown them into contact with the persecution. But the influence of the Eastern Moslem majority and their emphasis on the ap- Christian churches on Islam is not all negative or plication of the teachings and spirit of Christ to detrimental to Christian progress. My experience daily life has not only given them a higher standin the Sudan has caused me to moderate my own ing with the Moslems, but has influenced the memviews on this subject. The presence of the Chris- bers of the older Eastern churches. Moslems of tian in the Sudan, though he be worldly, is a the Sudan are thus having the opportunity to constant reminder to the Sudanese of the presence judge Christianity on its real merits more than of this other faith. Moreover he sees the Chris- ever before, as they see persons who seek to lead tian, not as the vile and wicked monster some- the Christ-life in their daily conduct. times portrayed in their tales, but as a man in many ways similar to himself – with the same "Never have I had a superior like this one," needs and aspirations, the same passions and said a Moslem doorman at the Government office temptations, much the same likes and dislikes, where a Prot,;)stant held a high position. "He is hope and fears. Moreover, he knows Christians always polite, always considerate, and I believe to be people of "The Book," and that interests him that he takes a personal interest in me." more in the religion of Christ. Very uncertainly at times, but on the whole effectively, the Chris- "The best loved in all Wad Medani is Mr. tian has raised the standard of monogamy in the Toobia," said a Moslem to me concerning our Sudan, which many Moslems are coming to recog- Christian pastor. He is probably the most unnize as superior to their own polygamy and easy selfish man in all the district-a man whose face divorce. Christians have many faults and the and life are stamped with the marks of the Lord Christianity they profess is often a caricature of Jesus. the real thing. That their standard of. religion and morals is far from that of the apostolic days. The Church Mission hospital in Omdurman, The Moslem of the street despises them, and not where Christian doctors give freely of time and without cause, yet, all in all they have been an strength and of their own souls to serve their Mosasset to the Gospel, and their scattering through- lem brothers,.has given many a new conception of out the cities and towns of the Moslem Sudan is a what true Christians are. Perhaps the day is not preparation for the Gospel, even as the Dispersion far distant when the Moslem will say not that a of the despised Jews was a help to the spread of certain Christian "is good enough to be a Moslem" -their highest compliment today – but that un- selfishness in a Moslem is one of the marks of a Christian. S~irit-filled Christians can bring that change about.
and Moslem
By ELEANOR T. CALVERLEY, M.D., Hartford, Conn.
Formerly a Missionary in Arabia A MEENA rocks her baby in an Arab cradle baby of her own. The Saviour Divine to whom .r-.. made of date~sticks just as the Moslem her faith looked up during those days and nights of danger and suffering at the beginning of her mother in the next mat hut rocks her little widowhood is the One of whom her neighbors hear one. Next door the mother chants softly to put her sing. Yes, Ameena means the words. Christ her child to sleep. is her saviour in a very real and tangible way. She knows from what He has saved her and she "La ilah il allah knows from what He has saved her tiny daughter La ilah il allah." who sleeps so peacefully without benefit of Mos- lem charm or amulet. Her little one is perhaps Over and over again from the first day of his life the only native child in the whole town and for the Arab child hears these sacred words of the many hundreds of miles around who will enjoy Moslem creed. "There is no god but Allah." For all Islam no other lullaby could compare with this the advantages of a Christian home. in beauty or in soothing power.
The song which Ameena sings as she rocks her little daughter is a Christian hymn. Her neighbors are beginning to learn the words which they have heard so often.
My faith looks up to Thee Thou Lamb of Calvary Saviour Divine.
Does Ameena think of the meaning of those words? Does her faith really look up as she sings to her baby girl? Does her faith lift her above the level of the sordid life with its filth and misery and wickedness which is all about her little home? THREE ARAB BOYS AND A GIRL IN KUWAIT Does it make her home different; more lovely and more happy than the homes of her Moslem neigh- Few towns in Arabia have the example of a bors? Is Christ her saviour in a really practical home like that of Ameena. She and her husband sense? If so from what has he saved Ameena? are of slave descent, and for that reason are more independent than members of Arab families. Eight years ago Ameena's first husband died. Under the prevalent patriarchal system it would It was he who had taught the young wife to become with him a follower of Christ. Gently and with great patience year after year as he and Ameena lived together among neighbors who thought them traitors and infidels because they were no longer Moslems the husband shared with be. difficult for the son of a family with social his wife the knowledge which meant so much to standing in a Moslem town to become a Christian. him. She was very shy and slow to learn but Even though a young man might be willing to live when her husband died she proved that his teach- as simply as does the husband of Ameena, for him ing had not been in vain. Although the whole to take a wife of his own choice and establish an Moslem community seemed determined to force independent home where his bride could enjoy the her to return to her former religion and accept a privilege!'! of Christian womanhood would seem to husband of their choice, Ameena stood her ground. most Arabs an impossibility. For this reason, in ' Even when death threatened, with back to the wall Arabia at least, the only Christian homes with she persisted, never wavering in her witness for which most Moslems can compare their own are.
Christ her Saviour. the homes of foreigners.
Years have passed and Ameena has another In Kuwait on the eastern coast of Arabia where Christian husband now. At last hftr arms hold a it was our good fortune to make our home for [492 ] eighteen years, the missionary family was always uttering three times the words, "You are dian object of much interest and curiosity to the vorced." His wife however has no similar right. women of the town. For two years we lived in Concubinage is taken for granted; slaves are both rented houses. These were built like other native Negroes and white women from countries farther houses with blank outside walls designed to pro- north. Women who live in the town, when in pubtect women occupants from the gaze of men. The lic must cover the entire face with a layer of black rooms surrounded a central courtyard which was cheese-cloth through which they can see dimly open to the sky. When our new home was built although their features are not visible to others. with outside windows admitting sunshine and A black cloak called an "aba" envelops their whole fresh air to every room many women visitors came to see the house whose arrangement seemed to ARAB WOMAN AT EN'ImANCE TO AN ARABIAN TOWN them so strange. person from crown of head to feet, when on the "Which is your room?" they asked the mission- street, excepting only one cheese-cloth-covered eye. ary mother, thinking that she like themselves would have but one room to call her own. Few Arab women can read and fewer still are permitted to learn to write. Fatalism restrains "The rooms are all mine; you see the family any desire for progress or for change. What is shares them all. This where we now are is the "written" on one's forehead must be endured. living room where we sit together and visit with Marriage and motherhood, especially the motherour friends." hood of sons are practically the only aim of exist- ence for these women. "You mean the reception room for men." "No, for both men and women." It is not fair to generalize about the home life "Surely you don't mean that men and women of all Islam from conditions in a backward sit together in the room!" country like Arabia. Great changes are tak- "Certainly they do." ing place in many Moslem lands. In Turkey, for "And this," continued the hostess, leading her instance, almost overnight through the adoption friends into the dining room, "is where we eat. With us, the mother sits at one end of the table and the father at the other end while the children sit at the sides." "You cannot mean that you and your husband eat together!" "Yes we do." That was hard for the guests to accept, for in their homes the men are served first and the women have their meal afterward. "They tell us," persevered the callers, "that your children are all girls. Is that true?" "Yes it is true." "Won't your husband divorce you because you have no son?" "No, he will not divorce me."
"Well then, won't he take another wife on your head?"
"No, in our country a man would be arrested for having two wives at a time. But I am thankful to say my husband does not even wish to take another wife."
"Oh! how fortunate you are!" exclaimed the visitors; and then, more wistfully, "How we wish that we were like you!"
Eas,tern Arabia is very conservative and is little affected by Western ways. The laws formulated in the Koran are still the rule for life. Polygamy is usual for those who can afford more than one wife and is also practiced by many who are poor. Early marriage of girls, not infrequently at the age of nine but more often between the ages of twelve and fourteen, is the established custom.
A man may divorce bis wife at will by simply
of the Swiss code and the separation of Church sionaries' home in order that they may become and State Turkish women were released, in theory accustomed to the association of men and women at least, from many of the restrictions we have in social intercourse and may learn to feel at ease mentioned. Legally, polygamy, the veil and un- in acting as hostess in their own homes.
equal divorce laws have all disappeared. As a Surprisingly enough the most violent opposition Turkish woman discussing modern social prob- to changes proposed by feminists in the status of lems said,* "What was moral in my grandmother's women in the home often comes from women day is now taboo, for instance polygamy; whereas themselves, especially from women of the older the perfectly normal social relations of young peo- generation. There is something not only indecent ple today would have formerly been considered but traitorous they feel in the new-fangled ideas immoral." of their sons. Virtuous women of Islam through In Egypt, Syria and India groups less radical all the centuries since Mohammed have gloried in than the Nationalists who are in power in Turkey submission to what they felt was Allah's will.
"We know the 'kind of life you Westerners live,"
said some Arab women returning from a visit in India, to a fellow passenger who talked with them on the ship. "We have seen life in your country pictured in the movies at Bombay." Then they described indecorous behavior of men and women together as they had seen it pictured on the screen.
That sort of thing would be to their minds the inevitable result of discarding the veil and giving to women a position similar to that enjoyed by men.
That freedom has its perils cannot be denied.
BAHREIN GIRLS' SCHOOL MADE OF DATE' STICKS When the veil is taken from the face of women a veil of character to shield the heart becomes imare endeavoring to secure social justice for women perative. Western civilization, nationalism and by reinterpreting Islam. Laws set down in the feminism must all have their part in bringing so- Koran to meet seventh century conditions need cial justice into Moslem homes; but all of these not be followed literally in the twentieth century together could not do for Ameena and her home they believe. And so, although more slowly than what Christ has done-that Saviour of whom she in Turkey, the status of women is beginning to be sings. raised in many Moslem countries.
In speaking of the effect of Islam on home life THE OHALLENGE OF ISLAM it is usual to consider principally the injustices imposed upon women. Educated Moslems are be- To win Moslems for Christ is a task of supreme ginning to realize that in the system of polygamy difficulty and many Christians regard it as one and in seclusion and lack of education for women, from which practically no results are to be exmen also suffer loss. In the face of opposition from pected. his superstitious and hysterical women-folk a man is helpless to apply the discoveries of modern Let it be admitted that it is the Evil-one's counscience to the care of his children. After losing terblast to the Gospel in the Eastern world. These child after chUd, in Arabia.where the infant mor- very facts make the conversion of a Moslem to tality is appalling, I have heard Moslem fathers Christ one of the most signal illustrations of the exclaim in despair, "What can I do? The women power and grace of God. In Moslem lands there are like cows!" Moreover, when men become edu- are today many men who once recited, five times cated in the Western sense as is happening more a day, with passionate conviction, the Moslem and more frequently in Iraq, for instance, they creed, but who now, with equal sincerity, are desire wives with whom they can enjoy compan- preaching Christ. In Morocco alone there are ionship. Sons frequently refuse to accept their little assemblies of believing and baptized natives, parents' choice of uneducated girls to be their who manifest the gifts and graces of the Spirit. brides. This fact perhaps more than any other Such instances are a clearer proof of the triinduces fathers to send their girls to school. umphant POWel' of the Gospel than the conver-· sion of hundreds of those, who, for various pre- Men students in Iran, I was told by the wife of disposing causes, are eagerly stretching out their an American professor in that country, are begin- hands for the Word of Life.-Condensed from a ning to bring their young wives to call in the mis- letter by Rev. E. J. Poole-Connor of the "North Africa Mission," printed in "The Christian" * Quoted from "Moslem Women Enter a New World," by Wood- (London).
small.
Ways of
'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home s. EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO "New Roads in Ancient Islam" but rather mentioned as they ap- "The People of the Mosque," by L. pear in the outlines for work and Bevan Jones-a scholarly and detailed "To the majority of our church study sent in to this Department study of Islam and a challenge to members, the Moslem World is an un- by various denominations. In Christianity (cloth, $2.00). known sphere and therefore holds little this no discriminations have interest. To us as leaders is given been made. Leaders in any com- "Voices from the Near East"-writthe opportunity of opening up this munion have only to submit their ten by Christian nationals (50¢ and fascinating and most challenging prob- materials for the Editor's exam- 25¢) . lem facing the world mission of the ination, whereupon they will be Christian Church today." given attention and publicity in "Young Islam on Trek," by Basil the interests of the common Mathews (25¢). "Glimpses of the Moslem World good. show us that change is the order of "Islam Awakens," by Herrick B. the day. Whether it be a surge of The Source Material Young – a course for senior high nationalism here, a welling up of re- school groups (25¢). ligious fervor there, a zigzag course The main study book is, of of progress and reaction elsewhere, or course, "Mecca and Beyond," by "Masoud the Bedouin," by Alfreda just an unheralded drift from the old Dr. and Mrs. Edward M. Dodd, Post Carharlr-stories of Bedouin life moorings, there is something going on priced at 50¢ and $1.00. One of (25¢) . which is unprecedented in extent and the most excellent "How to Use" scope in all the thirteen centuries booklets (15¢) the writer has "Tales from Moslem Lands," edited since Mohammed. Modern civilization ever seen furnishes the plans for by William W. Reid (50¢). is flooding un on the world of Islam young folks and adults, men and and changing the face of that world. women alike. In addition to pro- "Christian Adventures in Moslem . . . The great question is, 'Whither, gram outlines of the subject mat- Lands," by Winifred Hulberlr-a study Islam?'" (From "How to Use," ter, complete worship services, for intermediate groups (25¢). Mecca and Beyond.) poems and the like, there are suggestions for invitations in- "Doorways," by Mary Entwistle- Our foreign mission theme is clusive of 0 utI in e picture stories for juniors (75¢ and 50¢). so rich in subject matter, so col- sketches, two complete dramaorful in plans for pres.entation, tizations and plans for a variety "Musa: a Son of Egypt," by Perkso dynamic in possibilities that of others, plans for use of life ins and Entwistle-a primary course it would be wasteful to give stories taken from the book, im- (25¢). space to prefatory remarks. personations, imaginary broad- Sampling the main study book casts, airplane trips, etc., a rib- "The Story of Musa," by Entwistle or any of its supplementary vol- bon demonstration, a candle (25¢) . umes, or of the articles in the lighting service, a "convers'abody of this magazine, may well tion" between a Moslem and a "Esa: a Little Boy of Nazareth," be trusted to win students with- Christian, a "pageant of antiq- by E. Mildred Neville-for beginners out explanatory "sales talk." uity," a new "Riddle of the (25¢) . The potentialities bound up in Sphinx," matching and other the theme, "The Moslem World," "tests," an "impersonation of the A variety of others may be readi.ly are explosive enough to rend pyramids," questions for prac- located from the listings of Boards of Christendom, or powerful enough tical discussions and many other Missionary Education, or denominato furnish motive power for devices for making topics attrac- tional publishing houses. building the King's Highway tive and forceful. "Effective Ways of Working" through the Orient. So whether Supplementary books: with the Study Topics making this an entire unit of study or merely incorporating it "What Is This Moslem World?" by The Central Committee on into some addresses and pro- Charles R. Watson ($1.00 and 60¢). United Study of Foreign Misgrams, our readers cannot afford sions, 186 Massachusetts Ave., to turn it down because not rep- "The Young Moslem Looks at Life," Boston, MMS.: resenting a field of endeavor in by Murray T. Titus ($1.00 and 60¢). their own denominational work. Miss M. H. Leavis, its secretary, "The Christian Approach to Mos- states that she has had great difficulty As in last month's citation of lems," by T. H. P. Sailer – a study in securing the illustrative curios helps for the home theme, ma- with teaching aids for adults (25¢). such as enlivened our study of Africa terials are not all listed under last year, receiving either nothing or their many publication sources, [495 ] novelties in too small quantities to be because of our space limitations, advertised, but that she is ready to furnish the following aids, in mim- eographed form: Life stories of the authors of "Mecca and Beyond"-Dr. and Mrs. Dodd ………………. 5¢ Story-"He Sent the Comforter" (to be read and questioned upon) ……..•…………. 51/'
Poem-"Desert Thirst," by Mary W. Vassar (Moslem woman's dream of God) ………….. 31/'
Poem – "Our Moslem Sisters" (communion story on "Has Any One Been Missed?") ……… 3¢
Poem-"The Tapestry Weavers". 3¢ saw. She asks, "What if we could The United Christian Mission- Plays- see all around the world through win- ary Society, Missions Bldg., 222 dows in all countries? Would you like "My Baby Is Sick," by Mary to try it? Which countries would you Downey Ave., Indianapolis, Ind.: Vassar – two women and a like to see? Can you think of any doll. . . …. . . . . . . .. . . . … .. 5¢ friends you would like to meet?" A Has no work in Mpslem lan_ds but game is then played in which the chil- "Yesterday – Today," by M;ary dren in the circle represent different expects to devote two months to the Vassar – mother and daugh- nations and the child in the center study topics and will use materials ter dialogue …………… 5¢ chooses from whatever nation she pre- to be mentioned later in the year. fers, the old tune, "Go in and out the Their catalogue mentions "Moslem "Persian Proverbs and Wise Say- Windows" to be used with words be- Children"-pictures at 50¢ per set, ings" •…………………. 3¢ ginning, "Go round and round the and a "Cut-out Sheet of Moslem "The Experiences of a Moham- nations." Types" at 15¢. medan in Christian America," "What We See First through Open by Mrs. F. G. Platt. . . . . . . . . . 3¢ Baptist Board of Missionary Windows" shows a picture of Christ Place cards – picture of "Mecca and the children of all races. Leader Education, 152 Madison Ave., and Beyond" on green card with directs conversation to the idea of N. Y.: . space for name ………. each 1¢ God's garden with differently colored flowers, these being the children of all The graded missionary materials ar- A Window Transparency-the lands. "Weare going to visit this ranged by this board are for use in camels and the star (directions garden and enjoy these flowers." A Sunday schools or organized groups of for making) ……………. 3¢ song, "His Garden," is then sung. It corresponding age interests. In order- is suggested that Friendship Paper ing the publications listed, note that "The Mecca Certificate"-a beauti- Dolls be used in this connection (four all materials marked (*) should come ful reproduction in a series of four dolls eight inches high, like real chil- from the board headquarters as cited plates (9x22in.) of the certificate dren of various oriental countries, above, but books and other helps (ingiven to every Mohammedan who price 25¢ a set). clusive of publications of other demakes the pilgrimage to Mecca. The nominations) are to be obtained from art work is fine and intricate. Ex- Succeeding lessons emphasize the the American Baptist Publication Soplanation and translation accompanies needs we see through open windows, ciety, 1701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, certificate. 10¢. ourselves through open window, "The Pa., or its various bookstores. World Looks through Our Windows- Cash must accompany all orders for And What Does It See?" etc. Beginners: the foregoing materials. Auxiliary materials suggested and "Esa: a Little Boy of Nazareth" Women's Missionary Society which may be ordered through the furnishes the main story material. of United Lutheran Church, 723 For visualizations, use "Friends in Muhlenberg Bldg., Philadelphia, Lutheran headquarters are: Everyland"-12 pictures with story Pa.: on back of each, including "A Moslem Picture Sheets in "Child Life of Friend in India" and "A Friend in "Zahia" – dialogue between Mo- the World" ………….. each 25¢ Turkey," 25¢ (listed elsewhere by its hammedan bride and school- publishers, the Women's Society of the mate ………….. 3¢ or 6 for 10¢ Lutheran Picture Sheets on Af- United Lutheran Church); "Posters rica, India and Japan …. each 5¢ of Moslem Children," 25¢; and hand- Special Program Helps to Use work such as "Arabian Village Cut- with "Open Windows" ……. 15¢ Picture Maps of Africa, India .. out"-eight cardboard sheets with di- ……………………. each 50¢ rections for coloring, 50¢; "Desert This pamphlet is especially helpful Life Panel Posters"-four brown sepia in presenting the book to children. Picture, "The Hope of the World" panels, 12×36, with colored cut-outs to Its keynote is in the opening para- (Christ and the children) …. be pasted on, 50¢; "Near East Paintgraph: "Through open windows that ………… postcard size, 5¢; ing Book"-seven pictures with colorlook out into the world, we see boys sepia, 35¢; large size in colors, 60¢ ing instructions, 10¢. Other stories and girls in China and India, in Af- recommended are "Just Like You" by rica and Egypt, in Japan and Borneo. Picture games – I n d i a, Africa, Lucy W. Peabody-a book of stories The stories of their lives and adven- China ………………. each 20¢ from many lands, 25¢; "A First Book tures are told so vividly that it is not of World Friendship," by the same hard to feel that we really see them Pictures through Magic Windows author-a collection of "Just Like You through the open windows. The leader -18 Bible pictures and verses Stories" in six little books, $1.50. may also reverse the idea so that the in attractive form ……….. 75¢ boys and girls realize that children of Primary: other countries are watching us also. "Friends in Everyland"-12 sto- The book contains ten stories. Each ries with large picture ……. 25¢ The stories are found in "Missionmay be told separately or some of the ary Stories to Tell," which contains material may be combined and used Teaching Pictures on Rural Life two short stories from Moslem lands. for six or more programs. The lead- around the World ………… 50¢ $1.00 and 50¢; "Our Little Friends of er's aim is to open the windows of a the Arabian Desert" (illustrated) child's heart and help him to make Presbyterian Board of Na- which takes us to visit the children of friends with all people who pass by." tional Missions, Central Distrib- a Bedouin sheik, $1.00; "The Story of uting Department, 156 Fifth Musa," by Entwistle-eight illustrated The ensuing pamphlet suggests Ave., N. Y. (Checks payable to narratives, 25¢; "Graded Foreign ways for leaders to carry out the fore- Central Distributing Department Mission Stories" (*), to be ready in going ideal, furnishes an outline guide December, 15¢. for each program, hymns, prayers, of the Mission Boards) : Scripture, a long list of excellent The visualizations and handwork group activities in the way of poster In addition to the study books listed are "Children from Manv Lands"- making, dramatizations and construc- previously, with their respective teach- portfolio posters of children of 10 tion work, outline illustrations of ing helps, "Fun and Festival from countries, llx14 in., in colors, with posters, directions for making an in- Moslem Lands" (25¢); "Primary Pic- verse for each picture, $1.00; "Life ternational house or village, map in Moslem Lands"-21 pictures with work, plans for scrap books, etc. ture Stories – M 0 s I e m Children" descriptive titles, 25¢, and all the ma- (25¢); and a moving picture, "Islam terials listed for the beginners. A sample of some of the preliminary in Egypt" are listed. Special attenplans will furnish an idea of the tion is called to this last valuable item, Juniors: method employed: which is a one-reel film taking ap- proximately 15 minutes to show. The The Stories are "Doorways," 75¢ Introducing the idea of theme, the rental price is $1.25 in 16mm. and $2.00 and 50¢; "Graded Foreign Mission leader has the children-individually in 35mm., plus transportation charges. or in groups-look through the largest ordering from Visual Aids Division of window near them, then tell what they The Westminster Press, 925 Wither- spoon Bldg., Philadelphia, Pa.
"Living Water" is a play taking 20 minutes, 13 women, 2 children (5¢).
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Stories on Missions and World Peace" "Hostess Hints," covering menus Oriental music suitable for Moslem (*), 15¢; material from the primary and recipes for Arab cookery, 10¢. studies includes "Where My Caravan section. Has Rested," "Till the Sands of the "Traceaole Sketches" – outlines of Desert Grow Cold," "Bedouin Love Visualizations and handwork include flags, suggestions for place cards, Song" and "Kashmiri Song," with a picture map of the world-art map fruits, human figures, etc., which may other selections from collections of 30×50 in. with 23 small pictures to be readily be copied by tracing and used Oriental Music by Amy Woodfordepasted on, 50¢ "Cut-out Sheets of in a variety of social ways, 10¢. Finden. Inquire of any music dealer. Moslem Types"-20 outline sketches with directions for coloring, 10¢; "Islam," a dramatization with nar- The Religious Motion Picture "Friends of the Caravan Trails"- rator and 14 characters – outstand- Foundation has now merged its intersuggestions for handwork on pp. 21- ingly informing and worthful, 15¢. ests with those of another concern and 24, also sketches in insert sheet, 25¢; should now be addressed as Departmaterials listed under primary section. Sketches, "Mohammed" (4¢), and ment of Visualization, Harmon Founda- "Mohammedanism" (3¢). tion, 140 Nassau St., New York. It Intermediate and Young People: has a large number of religious and Story, "The Forgotten Words," 5¢. educational moving picture films in Story telling from "Tales from Leaflet (easily dramatized), "A stock, and each year additional ones Moslem Lands"-illustrated adventure Kabyle Wedding," 4¢. on the current study topics are prestories, 50¢; "M,asoud the Bedouin," Young women have a course on pared with the heln of an interde- 25¢; "The Beloved Physician of Te- "Highways and Skyways in Minaret nominational committee. heran," $1.00; "The Moslem World" Lands," including the textbook, for -a book of facts about foreign mis- 60¢. Some Rural Programs sions (*), 15rb. For Standard Bearers (of junior age), "Moslem Adventures on the By ANNYE ALLISON Visualizations and handwork include Magic Carpet of Imagination" con- "Christian Adventures in Moslem tains all necessary materials for a For primary pupils, make Lands" – suggestions for handwork, program of strong appeal to young 25¢ ; Set of Twelve Charts with folks, $1.00. poster headed "Win Rural Amergraphs for blackboard work or poster "Doorways" (50¢) and its "How to ica for Christ," showing church, making, 50¢ per set; Maps of the Use" (10¢) are recommended for the Sunday school, daily vacation Moslem World, to be colored and wired younger groups, along with materials Bible school, young people's for project purposes-wall map 30×46 listed elsewhere in this Department. meeting, hospital, orphanage, in., 60¢; large outline map, 28×32 in., 25¢; small outline map, llx14 in., 25¢ Woman's Board of Foreign colporteur, etc. Dramatize some per dozen; and some of the materials Missions, Reformed Church in features. Have group of chilfor the younger groups. America, 25 East 22d St., New dren pretending to fish or pick York: berries, and let lady enter and There is one stereopticon lecture on invite them to the D. V. B. S. the Moslem World, revised by Dr. "Camel Bells"-complete programs which is to begin the next day. Zwemer, entitled "The Spread of including semi-dramatic and easily When children arrive, seat them Islam." It rents for $2.00 and car- dramatized material, under the topics in circle with lady in center to riage both ways. Address the Vis- "Letters from a Saddle Bag," "Cara- tell a good religious story. Pass ualization Department, Council on van Trails," "Oases" and "Behind the paper and crayons and have chil- Finance and Promotion, 152 Madison Lattice," 10¢. dren draw pictures to illustrate Ave., N. Y. "God's Good Gifts" or "God's "Playmates in Mission Lands"-at- Beautiful World." Hymn, "Jesus Plays: "Black Tents" -life among tractive illustrated primer booklet on Loves the Little Children of the Bedouins in Syria; 4 boys, 3 girls, A, B, C plan, for very young children, World" ; the Lord's Prayer; 20 minutes, 25¢; "Tara Finds the and including Arabian features. simple Bible verse such as "God Door to Happiness"-life of Moslem is love," "Suffer the Little Chilwomen and girls in India; 2 women, "Under Many Flags," 5¢. dren," etc., following with the 7 girls, 2 boys, 30 minutes, 25¢. "Silhouettes," 5¢. circle talk and another hymn. "True-False Test on Arabia," 1¢ "The School of Missions"-a hand- each sheet. The brighter side of the hosbook of information on setting up a "Cross Word Puzzle on Arabia," 2¢ pital theme may be dramatized school, by William A. Hill, free (*). each sheet. by having a child who has been "Fun and Festival from Moslem cured waiting for his mother to Woman's Foreign Missionary Lands," 25¢. take him home. Nurse wearing Society, M ethodiJst Episcopal Wall Map of Moslem World (60¢) white dress, cap and apron and Church, 581 Boylston St., Bos- and Outline Maps of Moslem World arm band with red cross on it is ton, Mass.: (large size, 25¢; small, 25¢ per with him and teaches him a Bible dozen) . verse. Child presently runs to "Complete Program Outlines for "Spiritual Adventuring" is a very meet mother telling how good Auxiliaries" (woman's societies), giv- worthful manual of worship for mis- people have been to him, about ing suggestions and plans for a year's sionary societies, giving complete out- the cards, Bible verses, hymns, work, 25¢. This begins with a beau- lines, including poems and prayers, etc., which he will repeat when tiful installation service for the offi- for a year's meetings, 10¢. he gets home. At nurse's call the cers and continues through Moham- doctor enters and mother pours medan studies including "The Moslem Additional Helps and out her gratitude for a denomand His World," "North of the Sa- Suggestions inational hospital to which counhara," "Christmas and the Christ's try people with very little money Land," "Behind the Bourka," "The Further missionary dramatics, ob- can send their sick children. Sword of the Moslem." Additional tainable from sources whose addresses programs of universal application have already been given herein are: [CONTINUED IN NOVEMBER.] (omitting one specific to Methodist "An Afternoon in Arabia"-10 young plans) are on "Christian College Stu- women and girls, taking about 10 dents around the World," "World minutes-5¢ (W. B. F. M. of Reformed Citizenship," and "On the Road to Church) . Hangchow." May be used by groups in any denomination. "Christ or Mahomet – Which?" 4 scenes, 12 characters, 15 minutes-10¢ Excellent coordinated materials are: (W. F. M. S. of M. E. Church).
"Go Ye," a year's devotional out- "Kasim"-modern life in Persia, 5 lines, 15¢. men, 5 women, 1 hour-25¢ (Mission- ary Education Movement, 150 Fifth Ave., N. Y.). The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK Over half of the population of the United States is rural. Under what conditions do they live? What are their problems? What groups have special needs?
How should they be met? Is the church meeting the needs of Rural America? What must we do to Rebuild Rural America that it may be a part of a great Christian nation of which we can be proud? What lessons can Rural America teach us today? The contribution of Rural Amer- ica to urban life and the develop- fllent of the nation has been great, as has been its contribu- tion to the Christian Church, which has its roots in rural life.
CHARLOTTE M. BURNHAM.
STUDY BOOKS For Adulbs Rebuilding Rural America, by Mark A. Dawber.
A PRAYER THE CHURCH AND RURAL Dr. Dawber has for years trav- eled the whole United States as Teach me, Father how to go AMERICA a leader in rural church work. Softly as the grasses grow; He reports graphically what is Hush my soul to meet the shock This is the month when many happening to,rural America, and Of the wild world as a rock; of the women's societies will take describes rural people and con- But my spirit, propt with power, up their studies of the home mis- structive enterprises that the Make as simple as a flower. sions theme for 1937-38. The churches are undertaking. A books this year are not only in- chapter is given to groups with Let the dry heart fill its cup, tensely interesting and challeng- special needs as the Migratory Like a poppy looking up; ing, but are vitally related to our Worker, the Southern High- Let life lightly wear her crown national life and the critical pe- lander, and the American In- Like a poppy looking down, riod in which we are living. As dian. Cloth, $1.00.. paper, 60 When its heart is filled with dew many of the speakers at the Mis- cent8. And its life begins anew. sions Institutes this summer have pointed out, we can no longer The Church and American Rural Our Father, help us to root expect to hide our own family Life, by Benson Y. Landis. our lives as deeply as Thy trees, skeletons from the world, and which grow so grandly; to rise unchristian conditions in our- A leader's guide based on Restraight and true as Thy grasses, own country, and unchristian building Rural America, conwhich grow so simply; to make behavior toward other countries, taining many helpful suggestions the results of our living as-beaU- prove a stumbling block to the for study groups for city and tiful as Thy flowers. Amen. foreign missionary as well to rural churches. Paper, 25 cent8. those at home who are trying to "Sorvices fr>r th.e Open." spread the Gospel of Jesus. Migrant Laborers. They Starve T hat We May Eat.
Two million migratory workers ' on the road, in the fields and at the canneries; a challenging problem in the rural field with a description of a challenging program of action for the church. . This composite study has been written by authorities in the church and secular field [498 ]
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
and edited by Edith E. Lowry, joyed to learn that I was to go School Methods, Adult Educa- Executive Secretary and na- to Lisle, New York, for a set- tion Methods, Round-Table Dis- tional Director of Migrant ting-up conference. cussions on Work with Young Work. Paper, 35 cents. People, Handicraft, Health Pro- Nearly fifty migrant workers gram, Infant Care, Nutrition, For Young People who are to serve in the Eastern Methods in Work with Children, Migrant camps this summer ar- Methods in Recreation, First Aid Highland Heritage, by Edwin E. rived in Lisle, a typical, peace- and Camp Sanitation, and a dis- White. ful, happy, country community, cussion on our relationship to and were welcomed most gra- the community, the employer The book has literary charm and ciously by our host and hostess, and the migrant. the task of the churches in rural Dr. and Mrs. Richard Edwards. America is vividly illustrated by [This little community has a By the third day, many doubts what is happening as new high- population of three hundred and had come to my mind. Can I do ways and power lines are driven our conference, plus a young all that these other people have through the isolated valleys of people's conference, swelled the done before me and can I put in the "horseback country." Cloth, number to four hundred. You these long hours each day? $1.00; paper, 60 cents. may well see that we overflowed the Inn, the conference rooms For the last vesper service on Rural America Challenges Chris- and the village homes.] Saturday evening, we climbed up to the highest point in this local- tian Youth, by Edwin E. White. PICNIC LUNCH AT A MIGRANT CENTER ity where we seemed to be on the top of the world. I felt, almost A leader's guide based on High- The first evening we met for instantly, a great sense of peace land Heritage containing sug- vespers on a near-by hillside steal over me. My doubts seemed gestions. for youth groups as an looking out over the valley be- to vanish during this vesper approach to the study of the low. This experience instilled service and I felt a sense of re- church in rural America. Paper, in me a sense of quiet and in- newed strength to carryon in 25 cents. spired courage for the many this chosen work. "May I prove hard days ahead. Later that my mettle and may I bring these For Children evening, former migrant work- people the ideals and under- ers gave us a bird's-eye view of standing that will enable them Missionary Stories to Tell. the work and their experiences to come to a greater feeling of in the migrant centers. These fellowship with God and an Thirty-eight of the best mission- girls had worked very hard, had understanding of the meaning of ary stories to tell to primary and experienced many hard, long Christian fellowship that will junior children. Cloth, $1.00; hours that must be put in in any lead them into a more meaning- paper, 50 cents. center, and still were ready and fullife"-this was my prayer. happy to go forward into another Lifting Today Above Its Past, by year. How cheering this was One thing that Dr. Eric Grace McGavran. for me! Thomsen said in one of his talks with us shall always remain with An interesting and challenging Along about the second day a me. "If you suffer without suc- course on life in the country suspicion came into my mind ceeding, then some one after you places of America. This unit of that, perhaps, Miss Lowry was will succeed without suffering work for intermediate groups breaking us into this migrant and if you succeed without suf- contains selected oackground ma- work here at Lisle. We arose at fering, then some one before you terial and can be given without 6: 30 in order to arrive in time has suffered without succeed- additional sources, although use- for breakfast at 7: 30 and were ing." This seems to sum up in ful references are cited. Paper, kept busy each and every minute my mind our work. Will we suc- 35 cents. until 10: 30 at night. During ceed now in our endeavors with these hours, we had the oppor- these people, or will we pave the Ship East-Ship West, by Eliza:- tunity of a varied program way for some one after us to beth Miller Lobingier. which included staff conferences, courses in R u r a I Sociology, succeed? This first volume of a new series Kindergarten Methods, Nursery I cannot stop here without of source books for primary chil- dren introduces them to the sub- saying that I arrived at Whites- ject of world peace through bog, New Jersey, twelve days stories and simple facts. Mrs. ago and have worked as I have Lobingier is a skilled teacher never before for such a long and the author of Stories of stretch of time, seven days every Shepherd Life and other vol- week. I find these people to be umes. Illustrated. Cloth, $1.00; a happy, friendly, courageous, paper, 50 cents. hard-working race who seem as little children in so many ways For Reading List refer to the June number and who need our guidance and of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, understanding. pages 334-335. HARRIET CLOSTER. THE SETTING-UP CON- FERENCE AT LISLE, NEW YORK July 23 to July 27, 1937 After making my decision to devote my summer to working among the Migrants, the feeling came over me many times that I was going into this man-sized job with little knowledge of previous conditions, methods or results and was, therefore, over-
AND SIAM to save that which is lost." In India launched on its first voyage
dedicated for its work of minis- Toward Greater Efficiency Christianity is everything to the De- try. It is chiefly to the workers At Montgomerywala in the pressed Classes, It is with them in in the rice lands that this float- Punjab, a church committee is ing dispensary is sent, and their forming itself into small groups, their work, in their homes, in their need is great indeed, as they are each of which will tackle some entirely without medical help. particular need. For instance, fields. It has "found" them. Then Many of their homes are quite three or four members are to form a hygiene committee to see Christianity has found the criminal inaccessible except by boat, and that the village is kept clean and during the monsoon flood time to teach the people to realize the tribes-men who were regarded as alneed of sufficient light and air in thousands more are cut off; even their houses; another committee most lower than the beasts, men who food must be brought from great i's to find out special cases of pov- distances by boat. During two erty resulting from illness or were guilty of unheard-of evil. I saw months of the monsoon no work some other cause, and to report them to the church committee; these same men giving all their power can be done in the rice fields, and and a third group will teach the people the privilege of giving, to help each other. I heard them sing, which few have learned. and saw men whom I had been told The women are also assuming more responsibility. A Zenana would never work, working for the Committee, some· of them quite illiterate, take care of a weekly sheer joy of doing that which was usemeeting, where one leads the devotionals, another reads the les- ful. – The Chru.stw' n. son, and a third gives a talk. Once a month there is a witness A Practical Experiment meeting, when any who have received special help witness to In the Punjab a different cen- the people of the backwaters are what God has done for them. faced with terrible want. No ter is chosen each month, and all work means no money and no -C. M. S. Outlook. the congregations of the C. M. S. food. They borrow-and pledge Mission, within a radius of eight The Salvation Army away the whole of the next har- miles, assemble. The men and vest to keep themselves alive till Lord Willingdon, former vice- boys form a procession which roy of India, pays tribute to the marches around the village sing- that harvest can be sown. work of the Salvation Army in that part of the Empire. He says ing psalms and hymns. Mean- The voyage of the new boat is he has watched this work for 16 years, and declares there is not while the women and girls gath- carefully planned. There are a public official who would not er in the courtyard and sing. three "ports of call" to be visited express gratitude for such as- Then they are seated in an open each month. The boat is tied up, sistance as the Army is giving in space outside the village, which the stores and medicines are prohumanizing, Christianizing and duced and patients begin to arcivilizing those who are thought is decorated with colored paper rive. A clinic under the trees is to be beyond the reach of good flags, texts and mottoes such as: influence. "Do not get into debt," "Learn held each day for ten days, then Speaking of her visit to India. General Evangeline Booth says': to read," "Be sober." By this the boat is moved to another I never knew until I undertook this time the congregation has been place, not to return for a year. journey the meaning of the words, "The Son of man is come to seek and swelled by a good number of Thousands of people, for whom non-Christians. There is more medical help is available only singing, an opening address ex- from the two floating dispensa- plaining the obj ect of the meet- ries, are ministered to for less ing, and touching on the broth- than a month, then have to erhood of mankind through the be left "as sheep having no Fatherhood of God, addresses by shepherd."
two or three of the manads on -C. M. S. Outlook.
the causes, effects and remedies of debts, illiteracy, poverty, and Festival of Lights a closing address, giving the defi- While there are many unlove- nite Christian message. -C. M. S. Outlook. ly features attached to India's popular festivals, some of them Travancore's Floating _ have beauty and value. At Das- Dispensary ahara time children may be seen· in the evening going about car- Early this year the second rying various colored lights floating dispensary which is to which from a distance have the ply up and down the backwaters appearance of being lanterns so of Travancore, bringing help arranged as throw out light and relief to so many, was through odd openings. An inves- [500 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
tigation discloses the contriv- Bangkok Christian College CHINA ance to be simple enough. A Bangkok Christian College is The Challenge in China small earthen vessel has been looking forward to the day when their plant will be moved to the made wIth openings cut in the new site. Ten years ago new Dr. Charles T. Leber and Dr. property was purchased between side in fanciful designs. Over Bangkok and Paknam at a loca- J. L. Dodds, new secretaries of tion that seemed very remote. this is pasted colored paper and Today, with government high- the Presbyterian Board of For- way improvement, the new site the little oil lamp placed on the is only fifteen minutes distant eign Missions, recently com- from Bangkok, by motor car. inside turns this crude lantern pleted a tour of the mission The staff now includes sixteen into something quite fantastic. Siamese and three foreign teach- fields. Of China, Dr. Leber says: ers on duty, with a few others It is the custom for" children, es- on furlough. "The country is magnificent pecially of the servant class, to When the Educational Com- in its possibilities and presents mittee of the Siam Mission put go with these lights to the houses on a Teachers' Institute at the a tremendous challenge to Chris- beginning of the year, seventy of their masters and others from Christian teachers from mission tianity. The lives of Christian schools of three denominations whom they expect gifts at Das- were in attendance. faith and sacrifice that have ahara time. These children run- Nearly four hundred boys are been put into this land are bear- ning about from house to house ing fruit. The whole nation is in the darkness with these lights progressing but I have been es- make a very striking feature of pecially impressed with the rise the Dasahara festival. The chil- of Christianity. . . . It is in- dren themselves greatly enjoy spiring to see how the Chinese the part which they play, and leaders are re~ching out into the even aside from the gifts which areas of evangelism, Christian they receive, think the occasion education, young people's work one of great importance. Why and social welfare. . .. – not? -Indian Witness. "Mr. Arthur Rugh, formerly Begging for the Gospel in enrolled this year and classes are with the Y. M. C. A., but now Ceylon overcrowded. The government working independently among curriculum for the lower grades the students at Yenching, made does not permit the teaching of A Five-Year Plan of Evan- a survey of student thinking at gelism is being carried out in Bible in the regular schedule, so Yenching. He held personal in- C e y lon, all the Protestant Churches cooperating. Recent- that subject is now taught be- terviews with two hundred of ly, a long closed door unex- the students and is amazed at pectedly opened in Eheliyagoda. fore the opening of the official the thinking they are doing along A man came there from another district, bringing with him a Bi- day in the first six classes. In the lines of religion. They are ble and a very limited knowledge even asking why no greater pOSIof Christianity, but the little he the upper division there has knew he passed on. The people tive Christian approach has been been no need to make this made to them, though most of -Siam Outlook. them are not Christian. A list change. was made of 500 questions which Siam Cares for Lepers of Eheliyagoda are low caste, The Siamese Government has students are asking about reliand were at once attracted to a been watching with interest the gion. A group of educators are religion where all men are equal, chain of 23 leper clinics, laid out considering the possibilities of and were quick to see that Chris- by Dr. J. H. McKean, Presbyte- religious instruction being pertianity would bring them social rian missionary; and now pro- mitted in the schools. At a conuplift as well. So they asked to poses a plan to establish self- ference of' Christian middle be taught. One group of evan- supporting government colonies school principals in Shanghai gelists went from house to in several sections of the coun- the Mayor of Shanghai arose house; another held an open air try, with the same type of organ- and gave testimony as to his meeting. New Testaments were ization as now exists in mission Christian faith. He charged the eagerly bought. At these meet- clinics. The first step will be to principals that their duty as ings, which continued, there train government doctors and Christian principals was to make would be two or three simple assistants at the Chiengmai col- their schools Christian. One addresses, including one to the ony. Then a special leprosy of- trembles to realize what a tragchildren, who are always present ficer and committee will be ap- edy it will be if the Christian in large numbers. Between ad- pointed to make a survey, do forces do not unite and do not dresses the people would ask propaganda work among the move forward to meet the chalquestions or explain their diffi- people, and establish, as the first lenge of this present opportuculties. At the end, the village of the series, a large farm col- nity." headman would select points ony with up-to-date treatment. from the various addresses and If this plan renders mission War Against Opium compare them with Buddhist clinics unnecessary, they will at China seems determined to doctrines, pointing out the ad- least have served to stimulate wipe out the opium curse. On vantages of Christianity. the government to recognize and the eve of the New Year, before -L. M. S. Chronicle. accept its own responsibility. a large crowd at the famous Con-
fucius temple in Nanking, huge ciety," interdenominational, is JAPAN-CHOSEN quantities of opium, and para- putting into operation a plan to phernalia of opium addicts were send forth evangelistic bands of Church Worship burned. Long before this meet- trained men and women to the ing, placards were distributed market towns, let them locate Church service in Japan has and posted on the doors of every there for about two weeks and so me interesting differences house and shop, and slogans from that as a center, visit every from American customs. The written on white streamers home in all the surrounding vil- tray for offerings is always were displayed everywhere an- lages, and freely give the people passed to the minister as well as nouncing: the Word of God. They will also to the congregation. If the ush- do personal work and preach on er fails to do this, the minister 1. Beginning Jan. 1, 1937, hopeless the streets of every village. They will walk from the pulpit and narcotic addicts will be executed. will return to the market towns deposit his money. The sexes arc in the evening, where special separated in all church services: 2. Beginning Jan. 1, 1937, first-time meetings are held in halls, tel!l- men on one side and women on opium smokers will be heavily pun- pIes, schools or homes. the other. This was the custom ished; after being arrested three in America a hundred years ago. times, they will be shot. These bands have already For thirty years Japanese Chris- gone to sixty-four market towns tians have used a common hym- 3. Narcotic addicts who desire to and, as they have worked out nal. Methodists, Presbyterians, escape these penalties should surren- from those centers, 3,482 villages Baptists and Congregationalists der themselves to the city clinics for have been finished. In these vil- all use the same songs of wortreatment on or before Dec. 31, 1936. lages there have been 390,049 ship. -Missionary Herald. homes with a population of near- Parades, depicting opium addicts be- ly two million people. In the Pastors Discuss Religious ing dragged to the g;:tllows with the 3,947 meetings held there have Topics wailing families trailing behind, were been some 691,657 people who also witnessed in the cities. heard the Gospel, besides having The Church of Christ in Ja- received 571,123 tracts and Gos- pan held a Pastors' Conference The regulation, control, pur- pels. As a direct result of this at its theological seminary in chase and sale of narcotic drugs work, 12,906 of those who were Tokyo August 30 to September for legitimate purposes in the dealt and prayed with, sought 4 as a part of the celebration of country were placed in charge Christ as their Saviour. the fiftieth anniversary of the of Division of Narcotics, newly church. Leading pastors and created bureau. Immediately -0. M. S. Standard. teachers lectured on the followthe following measures were put ing subjects: into effect: (1) It restricted the Bible Exhibit issuance of certificates for the The Creed of the Church of Christ importation of narcotic drugs; An exhibition of Bibles in in Japan. (2) it prepared an estimate of Peiping this year evidenced kinds and quantities of narcotic China's interest in the Christian The History of the Church During drugs for the nation's medical Scriptures. There were 300 en- the Meiji Era. and scientific use for 1936; and tries, representing 69 languages (3) it drafted measures for the and dialects, of which 17 were Protestant Credal Views of the Bicontrol of sales of narcotic Chinese. Among the Bibles were ble. drugs. some of a costly character, and others of priceless historical val- The Differences Between Catholi- In order to check recultivation ue. The volumes were lent by cism and Protestantism as a Means of of poppy in areas where poppy libraries, universities, individ- Understanding the Gospel. cultivation existed before but uals and various mission groups. has now been absolutely prohib- The British and Foreign Bible The Main Currents and Problems of ited, the "Measures for General Society lent the famous Morri- Contemporary Theology. Detection and Suppression of son Bible of 1823 and the Morri- Poppy Cultivation" were issued. son New Testament of that same The Thought of the Old Testament date, printed from wooden Prophets. -China Weekly Review. blocks made 10 years earlier. There was also the first Protes- The Church and Culture. Market Town Campaign tant Chinese version to be pub- The Fundamental Principles of the lished. Protestant Reformation. Generally speaking, China's vas t population is grouped No V'olume, however, attracted_ Open discussions were conaround market towns. It is esti- as much attention as the Manda- ducted on The Pulpit and the mated that there are some 40,- rin Bible loaned by Generalis- Church; The Sunday School 000 market towns in China, and simo Chiang Kai-shek-the one and the Church; The Pastor and that an average of about twenty- he used during his imprisonment His Readings, and The Church five surrounding villages are fed at the time of the Sian revolt in and Society. by each market town. On mar- December, 1936. ket days, held every third day, -Translated from Fukuin the people of these villages flock -Monday Morning. Shimpo. to the market towns to do theIr buying, selling and "neighbor- Kagawa Fellowship ing." The Kagawa Fellowship in Ja- The "Oriental Missionary So- pan is an informal organization of about 150 Occidental friends of Dr. Kagawa living in Japan, whose purpose is to share with
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Kagawa in the rich experience missionaries were sent to the Manchuria, and helping to send that God has given him; to study Chinese in East Shantung, them to China and elsewhere. his program for the extension of China. This work has been the Kingdom of God, and as far maintained for 25 years and the The Australian Mission as possible to cooperate with him Korean missionaries there are in achieving this program. The ministering to 25 churches and South Kyengsang, in which fellowship assists Dr. Kagawa in groups in which are enrolled the Australian Presbyterian the translation of his writings 1,500 professing Chinese Chris- Mission has work, is the third into English, gives information tians. smallest of the thirteen provabroad and in Japan about his inces of Korea. It is the most work, and endeavors to get The Korean churches are in- densely populated, the nearest whatever financial support for digenous, self-propagating, self- to Japan and according to stahis program it can. supporting, but need more mis- tistics it consumes per capita sionaries to help in the evangel- the largest amount of beer. Effort is being made to obtain ization of 22,000,000 Koreans in These three circumstances presupport for the promising Medi- Korea, a million in Manchukuo sent their own problems. cal Cooperative Society in To- and 500,000 in Japan proper. kyo, an interesting pro j e c t In 1914, when the mission of started by Kagawa. More than -Korea Mission Field. the Presbyterian Church, U. S. seven thousand people are mem- A., handed over this province to bers of it. The society has a hos- Protestant Christian the Australian mission there pital with fifty-one beds as well were 101 churches, 1887 bapas conducting a clinic, dispen- Membership tized members and 3,816 adhersary and visiting nurse service. ents. Just now money is being raised Of 410,000 enrolled Protesto erect a residence for the tant Christians in Korea, 78 per Comparing these statistics nurses; the building will be cent are Presbyterians, 14 per with those of 1936, we find that called the Nitobe Memorial in cent Methodists and eight per now there are: churches 313, remembrance of Dr. Inazo Ni- cent of other denominations. Of baptized members 7,941, adhertobe. -Christian Observer. the total number 210,000 are ents 26,955. either baptized or members on "God Shelf" for Kitchens probation. The remaining 200,- Each of the five stations has 000 are enrolled as professing some form of institutional work. One of the large department Christians and are regular at- The Harper Memorial High stores of Kyoto is displaying a tendants. School for Girls, near Fusanmod e 1 Japanese kit c hen, chin, trains Christian leaders equipped with electric icebox, With 3,880 churches and for church and school. The Vogas stove, kitchen cabinet, and groups, the average sized con- cational Farm School for Womso on. On the walls hang an gregation numbers about 100. en seeks and saves those in morelectric clock, a thermometer, The largest congregation in Ko- al danger and destitution, and and a small, but complete "god- rea is in the city of Sin Euiju the Paton Memorial Hospital ill shelf" for the spirit of the deity with 4,000 adherents. The Sun- Chinju cares for the sick, espethat presides over kitchens. The day school enrolment of 316,000 cially the sick poor. There are shelf is complete and up-to-date in the Presbyterian and Method- also Men's and Women's Lower with miniature lanterns and ist churches in Korea is about Bible Schools. dishes for the food offerings. the same as the total number of professing Christians. Method- -Korea Mission Field. -Living Church. ist and Presbyterian mission- aries in Korea number a little ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC Korean Christianity more than 400. Many mission lands have a less number of mis- About the Philippines Of the first seven Koreans to sionaries in proportion to the be ordained to the ministry in population, but none h a v e Did you know that there are the Presbyterian Church, one yielded a better return for the three classes of people on the was sent as a home missionary expenditure of time and money. islands, each of a different colto the island of Quelpart. That or? That the Chinese have been church is now supporting 500 -Presbyterian Banner. coming to the island for years, evangelists to unevangelized dis- thus solving the employment tricts in Korea and to Koreans On Their Own problem, since a Filipino will in Manchukuo, Peiping, Shang- not work until the money he has hai and Japan proper. The A Presbyterian church in on hand is all gone? That 10,000 Methodist Church is also carry- Wiju, Korea, has a membership converts were received within ing on an extensive home mis- of 3,000. Not a cent of Ameri- ten years? That there are nine sion work among Koreans in can money has gone into the flourishing mission stations now Manchukuo. When the Korean work of that district for 20 in operation? That there are Presbyterian General Assembly years; no missionary lives witn- 7,000 Americans on the islands? was organized in 1912, three in 20 miles of it. The people That before American occupa- have erected and financed their tion funeral arrangements were own church and are sending mis- always made before calling in a sionaries across the border into physician? That only one and
one-eighth per cent of the popu- ments. In ten years they have and the imminent consummation lation are classed as Frotestant not only banded themselves into of union with the Methodist Christians? effective intelligent groups for Church of France. Nearer home, -Monday Morning. mutual improvement, but they the Alliance welcomed a new have transformed their village member in the Evangelical and Club Women in Polynesia life.-London Chronicle. Reformed Church. The Re- formed Church of the U. S. A., The Polynesians have been NORTH AMERICA recently united with the Evan- evangelized by Samoan Chris- Coordinated Missions gelical Church, was already a tians, who themselves received member.
the Gospel a hundred years ago. The International Foreign The International Women's Mission Association of North Council of Women's Missionary While the men folk have fishing America (composed of inde- Societies was recognized as the for excitement, the women have pendent undenominational mis- women's section of the Alliance, no activities which give interest sions) brings together for coun- with a provision that a certain and variety to island life. Miss E. sel sixteen mission enterprises, quota of del ega t e s shall be A. Downs, principal of the Girls'
School at Puapua, Samoa, sug- under which some 2,231 mis- chosen from the women, with au- sionaries are sent out. They ad- thority to hold sessions during gested that they form Women's the meeting of the council. Sim- Clubs, and that they should work minister over a million dollars ilar action was taken with retogether for the general uplift of annually, and go into many of gard to a youth section of those under 30 years of age, the deletheir village life, for the applica- the out-of-the-way corners of the gates of this group being authortion of simple laws of health and world. The doctrinal basis of hygiene, for mothercraft and in- all these missions is: (1) The fant welfare work, for the pres- plenary inspiration and divine ized to bring to the notice of council matters of deep concern ervation of native arts and authority of the Scripture; (2) to youth. crafts, for social intercourse and the Trinity, including the deity religious expression. They de- of Christ and the personality of -The Christian Century.
cided to call their club "The the Holy Spirit; (3) the fall of Women's Committee," and on man, his moral depravity, and Lutheran Church Leaguers each island the pastor's wife was his need of regeneration; (4) Interest in the education of made the leader. the atonement through the sub- youth tow a r d international Returning to visit the islands, stitutionary death of Christ; peace and continued support of Miss Downs found the women no (5) justification by faith in mission work through a special longer apathetic, but eager to Christ, apart from works; (6) project were the outstanding show what they were trying to the bodily resurrection of Christ, features of the twenty-first bien- do. In Nanumea they had re.- and also of the saved and the un- nial convention of the Luther vived their art of making beauti- saved; (7) the unending life of League of America at Spring- ful fans decorated with seabirds' the saved and the unending pun- field, Ohio, in July. The sessions feathers; in Nui the women were ishment of the unsaved; (8) the brought together between six making mats with patterns of personal, bodily and visible re- and seven hundred young people secret native dyes. In Nanu- turn of Christ. and leaders from the United maga there was a new taro plan- Lutheran churches throughout tation w h i c h their Women's Presbyterians in World the United States and Canada.
Committee had made in the face Council Climaxing the mISSIOnary of a good deal of jeering from Last June Montreal, most project for the past biennium the men; the women had grown Catholic of any large city in this much-valued food product North America, entertained the with a gift of more than $11,000 by dividing the swamp into General Council of the "Re- for a community center building workable sections with walls of formed Churches throughout the at T'ai Tung Chen in the foreign coral from the reef, and in them World Holding the Presbyterian mission field in Chi n a, the making soil from rubbish and System." The central theme Luther League of Arne ric a rotting vegetation; Nanumaga was "The Church in Modern adopted another $10,000 project had in the past been one of the Life." for the coming biennium. This poorest islands,. and liable to time the objective will be the famine, but here was a source of An advance was made in the complete furnishing of a medical prosperity. The women of Niu- unification of Reformed Chris- center established at Konnarock, tao were especially interested in tians. The Reformed Church of Virginia, for southern mounmaking soap from caustic soda. Denmark was admitted to mem- _taineers. bership in the Alliance, now Last year, the triennial church comprehending more than two The Convention of 1939 will conference saw women delegates hundred church groups through- be held at Long Beach, Cali- fornia.
for the first time, eager to ex- out the world. The Reformed Bible Teaching in Kansas change ideas and report achieve- Church of France announced the ments, and to draw up a list of completion of union among all Kansas City, Kansas, has comproposals for future develop- Reformed Churches in France, pleted thirteen years of religious
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
education of its school children. many new people have been seek- sacrifices, without ever obtain- The Council of Religious Educa- ing association with the church ing healing for my poor chiltion, representing all denomina- during recent months that he dren. When my second child betions, sponsors this work. The has been completely "snowed came dangerously ill, I went to Jews are interested but as yet under." Throughout the spring consult a witch doctor and asked not participating. and early summer season every him if he could heal my child. service has been conducted in a He assured me that he could, There are 74 church schools, packed church, and with the provided that I would give him enrolling 91 per cent of public coming of fall the pastor believes thirty dollars. I offered him scholil pupils. The courses are it may become necessary to con- twenty dollars, which he acplanned to correlate with the duct two morning services. cepted. I paid him half the sum work of each grade in public on the spot. But on my way school from October to the end LATIN AMERICA back to get the balance of the of April. Classroom work in- money, a messenger came to tell cludes Bible memorizing, Bible Liquor Ban in Mexico me that the child was dead. I reading, Biblical and character- saw that I was being deceived by building stories and dramatiza- Within ten years statesmen the devil. As a respected antion, notebook and expressional below the Rio Grande, led by cestor of my family was a Chriswork. President Cardenas, hope to tian, I had often heard him speak complete the prohibition of alco- of God, so I told my wife I was -Women's Missionary holic beverages. Governors of going to Port-de-Paix to find out Magazine. all states have helped by order- about Him. ing municipalities to cease issu- Texas Wars on Evil ing licenses for saloons, to cut At a service held by the Hai- down the production of alcohol tian Gospel Mission at Port-de- Texas legislators are out to gradually but none the less Paix I first heard the Gospel. "clean up." In special session surely, and to trim the sales they have outlawed pari-mutuel through higher and higher taxes. After attending services for gambling on horse races, pro- The governor of Coahuila has some time, one Sunday my wife hibited the operation of bookies, gone even farther. He has acted said to me, "Wait for me, I am abolished dog races and insti- to stop the vending of liquor on going also." Since then, not only tuted such an anti-gambling cru- all trains passing through tl}e has God in His mercy saved my sade as has seldom been seen state. The main line of the Na- wife and myself, but He has also anywhere in the whole country. tional Railways of Mexico, healed my child who was para- The Texas supreme court has carrying many passengers be- lyzed from birth. definitely ruled out lotteries. tween Laredo, Tex., and Mexico The Dallas News, the Houston City, is affected, for the route -Haitian Gospel News. Post, and other leading dailies for many miles lies through have ceased the publication of Coahuila, with a stop at Saltillo, Religious Census in Venezuela racing results. In nearly all of the capital of the state. The govthe several counties voting by ernor gives this explanation for The Government of Venezuela local option recently, liquor has his order: vendors from pass- is making a survey and census been outlawed. Anti-vice squads ing trains have sold intoxicants of all religious work and workare also being called into action. to the villagers along the way, ers in the country, collecting full checking the good work that was data regarding the work of both -Christian Century. being accomplished by means of Catholics and Evangelicals. The prohibition in the country towns. purpose is to decide on some "Church of the Lighted Since the government now con- policy regarding the admission Window" trols the railways, this order of foreign religious workers. should be easy to enforce. No disposition to oppose the The Lutheran Church of the work is indicated, but it is pro- Redeemer in Atlanta, Ga., is -Christian Advocate. posed to fix the number of those gaining state-wide recognition who may be admitted, and when as "The Church of the Lighted From Darkness to Light that n u m b e r is established, Window." It is the custom each others will be admitted only night to light up the large color- A convert from heathenism in when some of those at present in ful front window. The effect of Haiti gave the following testi- the country leave for furlough the window is so unusual that it mony on the occasion of his bap- or other reasons. has attracted the attention of tism: "From my earliest life I people throughout that section. put myself under the protection In view of the tremendous A recent monthly publication of of demons. I built a small house, need, it is hoped that new misthe Georgia Power Company, and furnished it expressly for sionaries may be admitted, espewhich lights the window, car- their reception. I had two sick cially those who are accepted ried front-cover pictures of the children one of which had never and waiting to enter. church with particular reference walked from birth. I spent to its beauty and the unique cus- everything I possessed in pay- -Moody Institute Monthly. tom of lighting the window. ment to the witch doctor and in "Voice of the Andes" The pastor reports that so Senor Manuel Aldama was born in the Basque Province of
Spain, trained for the priest- then asked, "Will you read the they can understand, they are hood, became Professor in the University of Santander, was book if I give to to you?" surprised by songs of deliver- converted to evangelical Chris- tianity in 1925, and after in- "Gladly," said the gentleman, as ance, victory and blessed assur- struction in the Bible Training Institute, Glasgow, was accepted he rose to leave the bus. ance ; they are moved by the by the Evangelical Union of South America, for work in When he had gone, the work- words of sympathy expressed by Lima, Peru. Here he took up the ing man said, "It is a funny the pastor, and cannot believe editorial work of the Mission thing, but that text was my their eyes when they see him press and the translation of the mother's favorite, too. I have mourn with the bereaved fam- Sunday school lessons. His gone a long way on the wrong ily. Thus it is that a Protestant mastery of Spanish and his fa- funeral service conducted in a miliarity with Romanism en- road since those days." The Roman Catholic country is a abled him to contribute largely woman gave him a Gospel of St. great opportunity to put the to the development of the Evan- John, which he promised to read, truth of the Gospel before the gelical Church of Peru. and went on her way praying people.
Recently, a call has come to that both might be touched by About 2,000 people assembled him to full-time cooperation in the Word that giveth Light." the only Evangelical broadcast- ing station in South America, La -Life of Faith. for the funeral of a young Voz de los Andes (The Voice of mother, whose last words were, the Andes). This Voice of the Andes operates from Qui t 0, The Gospel in Spain "Whether I die or live, I am the Ecuador, and was established Lord's." The Mayor, the Town some five years ago by an inde- Opinion is divided as to the Council, the teaching staff of the pendent worker from Chicago. religious outlook in Spain. Some high school with their 400 chil- believe that opportunity for Gos- dren, and many notables had The Board of the Evangelical pel teaching will be assured if gathered to pay homage to the Union of South America is set- the government wins, while deceased. The first meeting be- ting Sr. Aldama free for this others are convinced that the gan at the home; another meet- special service. He will combine government is not only anti- ing followed at the Mission Hall, with this ministry some service clerical, but anti-Christian. Rep- and the last one took place in for the British and Foreign resentatives of Anglican and Bible Society throughout the Re- Free Churches of Great Britain the cemetery. At each place the public of Ecuador. went to Spain recently to gain Gospel was listened to by thou- first-hand information. They sands who had followed the pro- -The Christian. were given full liberty of move- ceedings from half-past one till ment, and upon returning to five o'clock in the afternoon. As EUROPE England reported as follows: a result, the evangelist had many requests for interviews. . "The Entrance of Thy Word" We found no evidence of an organ- -Belgian Gospel Mission. A member of the Pocket Tes- ized "Godless" propaganda such as tament League was riding in an exists in Soviet Russia. We were un- Paul's Speech on Mars Hill English bus with two other pas- able on inquiry to hear of any carica- sengers – an elderly business Unlike the ancients, tourists man and a working man. The tures of God, of Christ, or of the who go to Athens are not search- business man leaned across the Virgin and Saints, such as have been ing for "some new thing," but bus and asked the woman, features of "anti-God" propaganda in for things associated with the "Would you like to read my other countries. On the other hand, past. With this in view, one of paper?" "Thank you," she said. members of our party found copies of Mr. Rockefeller's projects has "Would you like to read my the Scriptures offered freely for sale been the restoration of the Par- book," holding out the New Tes- on street bookstalls. The situation in thenon; and because it is fitting tament. He took it, and after regard to religion in Spain was that something far more signifi- glancing at the page said, "Why summed up to us by a very acute cant than the friezes of Praxit- did you give me this?" "Why English observer of dispassionate eles should be remembered, Mrs. did you give me the paper?" she views, one who knows Spain well and Josephine Demas, daughter of countered. "Because the news is is himself a practicing Catholic, in the one of the most famous archi- interesting this morning," he following terms :-"There is a strong said. "My book is interesting anti-clerical movement but no anti- every morning." He looked God movement in Spain." again at the book. "This is my mother's favorite text, John -The Christian. 5: 24. It is years since I have read it." The P. T. L. member Evangelizing at Funerals tects in Athens, has urged upon the municipality the enshrining Great is the astonishment of of Paul's speech in the rock of Catholics in Belgium when they Mars Hill. T~e press an~ a attend their first Protestant number of emment Athemans funeral. They are familiar with – have. backed the proposal ~nd the pomp and ceremonies of the dIrector of.the A~cheologlCal their own funerals, the mo- Bureau has gIven hIS endorse- notonous recital of the Latin ment. He says that £350 to £400 liturgy, the gestures of the offi- is ne.e~ed,. and h.e hopes .that t~e ciating priest and his apparent ~umc}pahtr ~Il~ prOVIde ~~IS indifference to grief. At a Prot- relatIvely mSIgmficant sum.
estant funeral they hear things -Christian Advocate.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Paid Persecutors in Galicia Church has extended its serv- while Pravda laments the inac- ice and the social side of the tivity of the "Godless League." The National Lutheran Coun- Church as a colony center has cil is authority for the report not been neglected. Spiritually, This new life is particularly that agitators in Poland are be- there are the regular services noticeable in the country. Heads ing paid approximately 120 zloty the Church Festival6bservances' of collective farms even conduct per month to persecute members and th?se on national holidays; Church Councils, and other colof the Lutheran Church and MemOrIal Day, Fourth of July lective farms permit Bible readcompel them to return to the Thanksgiving Day and the like: ing, ch?ir singing, and evening Catholic Church from which The names of Ambassador W. entertam~nts. It is also anthey originally came. In a re- E. Dodd and Consul-General nounced that the number of cent legal process it was re- General Jenkins are on the members of the Militant Godless vealed that one such agitator Church Council roll. League has decreased from was offered a bonus of 50 zloty 5,000,000 in 1933 to less than for every person he succeeded in -Lutheran News. 2,000,000. Five anti-religious intimidating to return. But even though there are constant Religious Freedom in Russia museums in the provinces have difficulties and hardships the been closed. A correspondent Ukrainian peasants are firmly The much-heralded religious in another paper notes that the steadfast, and manifest an ever- freedom promised by the new jeering at religion has largely increasing interest in the Gospel constitution of Soviet Russia gone. turns out to be a disappointof Jesus Christ. ment. Four conditions must be AFRICA Christian Convention in Italy a~op:pvrocvleosd~d,be.if~oorepenaendy. Tchheurpcoh~ Student Alliance in Alexandria The Director of Spezia Mis- htIcal rehabIlIty of the petition- as Young Emgaytpetriiaanlissttiucdaenndtsiarrree~ ers "must be above suspicion." a rule, sion writes: "Those who can go The church must be more than 15 minutes' walk from a school ligious; their education is of the freely to Christian conferences the condition of the building must be above criticism, there sort to make them vain, shallow, and share the fellowship of kin- must be no protest from the local organization of the godless. selfish. For this reason Chrisdred minds know little of the tian work among them advances According to official Soviet grave difficulties to be sur- figures, 14,000 churches and slowly. But a young men's club chapels were closed in 1935 and mounted, the severe testing of 3,700 priests, preachers' and known as the "Christian Alliance other servers of the churches of Young Men," reports some faith, the patience, and the condemned, twenty-nine of them to death. prayers involved in accomplish- progress. On the other hand a renewal mg such a gathering in Italy. of spiritual life is appearing. In Two Bible classes and other the province of Swerdlovsk the prayer – meetings are h e I d But God worked what seemed to population have requested that at~eist propaganda be stopped. us miracles indeed, in breaking ThIS movement began in the in- weekly; Copts, Moslems and dustrial districts, where almost Jews sing hymns together and down obstacles." the whole population consisted of factory workers. Collections Representatives cam e from are held among the workers to study God's Word; the numbers restore the churches and rebuild far and near, and the organizers them. A Czech correspondent are increasing. Two young men wr!tes that !Ie found a newly !Iad their hands full, in arrang- bUIlt church m almost every vil- have been converted recently lage in the neighborhood of Mosmg for the accommodation and cow. In some of the collective one a Copt, one a Greek. ' farms, club buildings are being the meals for those to whom they set up to get the church free The members of this Alliance once more. gave so warm a welcome. are asked to sign a basis stating Religious Interest in Russia T~e supreme point of the Con- that they are uniting with other It seems unquestioned that reventIOn was the service in the ligion is reviving in Russia to a young men who know the Lord degree disturhing to commu- Church of Casa Alberto, which nists. W 0 r l d Evangelization as Saviour, and desire to bring mentions a town of 4,500 which was crowded,-a long and won- has 30 religious organizations, others into the Kingdom. Twelve derful service. It included the baptism of groups of those who members have signed. -Life of Faith. at La Spezia and at Leghorn'
had recently tfhoeuncdelCebhrraitsit~nanodf Medical Service to Felahe'en ended with Dr. Harpur of the Church the Lord's Supper. Missionary Society founded a hospital in Old Cairo 48 years -Life of Faith. ago which is still known 'to Egyptians, especially the fela- American Church in Berlin heen, as "Harmel," a corruption of Dr. Harpur's name. The Despite the fact that the felaheen are a lovable and Ame~ICan Colony in Berlin is friendly people, though ignorant and superstitious; it is from growmg. smaller, the American this class that the majority of Church m that city is growing the patients are drawn. They ~tronger both financially and in are almost overcome by the mfluence. Truly American is strangeness of being put into the "Ladies Aid Society" in the form ?f an active Sewing Guild. The hbrary connected with the
beds with sheets and blankets, favor the Westernization of the ing developments, avoiding un- instead of lying in a dark and country. There is a movement necessary risk and exposure of dirty corner, surrounded with in the Egyptian University to missionaries, and at the same noise and clatter, the talking of introduce compulsory Moslem time gradually reducing ex- relatives and neighbors, and the religious equcation and to abol- penditures in view of the uncer- noise of animals and chickens. ish coeducation. The Dean of tainties of the future.
Arabic texts are painted in red Arts in the University thinks The Italian Minister of For- on the white walls, giving a there is nothing in the Koran eign Affairs has informed the touch of brightness t~ the whole; against coeducation, while the American Ambassador at Rome instead of being thought too Rector of EI-Azhar University is that "The Italian Government much bother to be looked after, against it. has decided not to entrust to for- the patients are treated kindly The Westernizing faction ig- eigners whatever may be the re- by the Egyptian staff of nurses. nores the Ramazan Fast, neg- ligion they profess, the work of Biblewomen and evangelists lects the study of the Koran, establishing schools in terri- have prayers for half an hour in seldom prays in the Masjids and tories of Ethiopia." The com- the mornings in the out-patient encourages their women to dis- munication also states: "Should departments; for those in the card the veil. An article in a pro- foreign missionaries wish to con- wards prayers twice each day. Moslem paper declares that tinue their other humanitarian Recently some of the Egyptian "Most Egyptian households, es- and philanthropic activities, out- men nurses have been singing pecially those in high life, have side the field of education, their hymns and giving a talk on Sun- no prayer-carpet, and no copy requests for permission will be day evenings to the patients in of the Koran, and do not know considered in due time and after the men's hospital. what these are." de jure recognition of the Italian -Life of Faith. -World Dominion Press. empire is an accomplished fact."
Missionaries can scarcely see Faith and Freedom Times of Trial how evangelistic and medical The February number of Protestant missions are rapid- work can be carried on success- Faith and Freedom calls atten- fully without at least some type tion to the new constitution of ly disappearing from Ethiopia. of educational institution. the Soviet Union, in which many Mussolini's own paper, the Gior'- nale d' ltalia, has carried a front -United Presbyterian.
have seen the end of the struggle page story predicting the end of Liberia's Hinterland against church and worship; Protestant work. The Swedish for protection of religious con- missionaries and three Ameri- The native population of Liviction is expressly guaranteed can independent mlSSlOnaries beria, divided into many tribes, in the new project. This in no have been expelled, and the prop- is about 1,000,000 of good, virile erty of the Sudan Interior Mis- stock. The Liberians, who are sense means that a change has sion has been requisitioned. the descendants of liberated Necome about in the attitude of offi- groes brought to Africa by the cial circles towards church and The pastor of the Swedish United States and Great Britain religion, or that the time of per- church in Addis Ababa, Kes Ba- about 120 years ago, now numsecution is past. The Soviet at- dima, has grown old and gray ber about 12,000, and are the titude remains the same. The in the service of his Lord, and ruling group of the country. new policy means that those re- knows what it is to be chained sponsible must carryon with the and driven from place to place The Methodist C h u r c h of eradication of church and reli- for his faith. His son was killed America has been active in gious life, though they must not during the riots. He spoke often spreading the Christian mesthereby injure too greatly the of the keeping power of God, sage, and churches now number religious conviction of the peo- and of his longing for the day 102. The great need is to peneple. Stalin has said, "Why when his earthly pilgrimage trate the thick bush country of should one be actively unmerci- would be ended. He told count- the interior, where live most of ful? One must explain the harm- less people how God had judged the natives who have been pracfulness of religion to the young Ethiopia, and warned the-:n tically unreached with the Goswith patience, and supply them against the final judgment. He pel. A pioneer mission penewith propaganda for a material- encouraged those who were trated for 200 miles to Ganta istic outlook as the only scientific weak, gave liberally to the poor, and there organized a station a one !" Communist patience will and not even the great slaughter few years ago, and a road for 80 in future be set against Chris- of February shook his faith in miles of this distance has been tian and religious patience; but the least. -Alliance Weekly. _ made. For three years a doctor the extirpation of church and and his wife have labored here, religion is still the purpose. Ethiopian Situation then sleeping sickness claimed them and forced them back to The V nit e d Presbyterian Modernism in Islam Board has not been willing to the States. A similar effort by abandon established work in another doctor and his wife was A conflict is going on in Egypt made three years ago to reach between those who would revive Ethiopia unless obliged to do so. the tribes in the hinterland of interest in Islam and those who They have been watchfully wait- Barclayville, sit u ate d in the
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
southeastern corner of Liberia. ble and Prayer Circle, a move- 'the blood of martyrs is the seed Sickness again defeated a fine ment which has grown out of of the Church," for not long aftwork, and the workers have been the evangelistic ministry of Mr. er Rasalama's execution church compelled to return to the States. G. A. Gush, a colporteur-evan- membership increased tenfold, gelist who was at one time a and the adherents twentyfold. The Firestone Rubber Com- farmer, and who was converted pany have cleared 70,000 acres during a mission conducted by -The Chronicle. of jungle and planted it with Gipsy Smith in South Africa, rubber trees, 15,000 acres of about thirty-three years ago. Call for Protestant Unity which are now bearing. This has Those who found Christ through greatly increased prosperity in Mr. Gush are to be found all Dr. Daniel A. Poling, inter- Liberia. over South Africa today; and national president of Christian there are hundreds, especially Endeavor, told a group of hear- -World Dominion Press. among the European population ers in Grand Rapids, Mich., re- of the eastern Cape Province, cently that Protestant Christian- Angola Leper Work where the Prayer Circle has been ity, instead of being in a posi- the result of a hunger for deep- tion to conduct a successful of- A large part of the work con- er spiritual life. fensive against the powerful nected with the Camundong~ forces opposing the Church, Leper Colony, Angola, South Af- The Prayer Circle is an unde- might be unable to maintain its rica, is undertaken by the lepers nominational body made up of own position. Among these opthemselves. It was considered many praying bands in cities, posing forces he cited militant impracticable to send nurses or towns and villages. The differ- Shintoism in Japan; a united orderlies from the station to the ent bands meet on different eve- Hinduism in India, Burma and villages; the more intelligent nings~ and each has its own Siam; a united, world Bud- Christian lepers were therefore method and procedure; but dhism; Mohammedanism, shaktaught to use the hypodermic twice a year there is a large ing off its age-old superstitions; syringe, and to administer chaul- gathering in a central place. the German Neo-pagan movemoogra oil treatment. Only ment, and Communism. Christians, and those who can -Life of Faith. read the Bible and preach the Under the slogan "Christ for Gospel, are sent out. Dlalagasy Centenary the Crisis," Christian Endeavor has adopted a program of ob- Christian lepers have also en- Among this year's centenaries jectives that have to do with gaged in evangelistic work. Re- is that of the martyrdom of Ras- world peace, cooperation in the cently a party, many of them alama, Malagasy Christian, in enactment and enforcement of advanced cases, set out on a the reign of Ranavalona I, "ty- law support for Christian mismission of testimony, traveling rant queen of Madagascar." sions at home and abroad, the from village to village, telling During her reign of thirty-three furtherance of economic justice what had been done for them, years from sixty to eighty pro- and racial good will, and the and preaching the Gospel. This fessing Christians were publicly fight against alcohol and narcombined medical and evangel- put to death; s 0 m e were cotics. istic work is meeting with great speared, others burnt, and many response. -Life of Faith. stoned. Later, 500 died from -Presbyterian Tribune. the poison ordeal. Of those who Congo Prayers voluntarily confessed the i r Interesting Documents Christian faith, 400 officers were A missionary has w r itt e n reduced in rank and 2,000 were The Life of Faith reports that down some of the prayers of fined, while an unknown number half a million private journals men and women in the Congo. suffered privation and under- and letters sent home by mis- Here are two of them. mined health as they hid away sionaries in Africa, India, China in mountain fastnesses, or up and the West Indies, during the We have two hands each full of to their necks in rice bogs. last 140 years are to be reclassiseeds, seeds of goodness and seeds of fied by experts and preserved in evil. Day by day we scatter thfs8 Rasalama, 39 years of age, fireproof rooms at Livingstone seeds. Father in lieaven, help us to sang cheerfully most of the way House, Westminster, England. fill both hands with good seeds. Daily to her execution, and when This task will take two years. I seem to scatter evil seeds, and as reaching the spot where she was The documents include letters yet I am not worthy to go and tdi to be martyred, she asked per- from the first missionaries to others of Jesus. mission to kneel in prayer, and reach Tahiti, in 1797; from Dr. in that posture she was speared John Philip, who defended the * ** to death. rights of the Kaffirs in South Africa; Robert Moffat, during As the charcoal burns in the fire of Today, Rasalama's cottage his pioneer days in Southern the village smithy, and is consumed as still stands as she left it. There Rhodesia; David Livingstone; it makes the iron hot, so let me burn is a strong church here under Robert Morrison, the first transout in Thy service, 0 God, my King the London Missionary Society, lator of the Bible in Chinese; and Lord. and Christians can worship W. G. Lawes and James Chal- without fear of consequences. mers, of Papua; and from many -Wonderlands. It has been literally true that others.
Young People's Prayer Circle Between 500 and 600 people attended the fifteenth rally of the United Young People's Bi-
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Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information I ~i==============–=-=~ TWENTY-FIVE "BEST BOOKS" IN THE STUDY OF MISSIONS TO MOSLEMS PREPARED BY THE REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D.
Editor of "The Moslem World"; author of "Arabia, the Cradle of Islam," etc., etc.
Shortly after the World War 3. The Origin of Islam in Its signon's Annuaire du Monde a German scholar, Gus t a v Christian Environment. By Musulman. Paris. 1934. Pfannmuller compiled a Hand- Richard Bell. $3.50. Macbook of Literature on Islam and Millan, New York. 1926. 8. Christendom and IrSlam. By missions to Moslems. It com- W. W. Cash. $2.00. Harpprised over four hundred pages The writer gives the back- ers, New York. 1937. and over two thousand titles. ground of the new religion in Since that survey appeared, in- Arabia and indicates the sources A succinct account of the conterest in Islam as a world prob- of its strength and vigor. . tacts between Christendom and lem, and in missions, has not de- Islam and the influence for good creased. For one who has him- 4. Islam: Beliefs and Institu- and ill mutually exerted by Cruself written more than twenty- tions. By H. Lammens. sades and conquests. five books on Islam and Missions 8's. 6d. Methuen, London. to be asked to select twenty-five 1929. 9. An Eastern Palimpsest. By "best" books is therefore some- O. Wyon. 2s. 6d. World what an embarrassing task. A careful analysis of the creed Dominion Press, New York. New books (like new art, new and practice in Islam. Full of 1928. wine, or new violins) are not information and accurate in all always better than the old. Yet its statements. A brief account of missions in the latest view may be the only the Near East with maps and true picture of a scene that has *5. The Legacy of Islam. By statistics. witnessed kaleidoscopic changes. Sir Thomas Arnold and We have therefore selected some Others. Oxford. 1931. *10. Moslem Women Enter a new and some old volumes, while New World. By Ruth scores of others here omitted are A compendium of what the F ran c e s Woodsmall. "best" in their own field. The West owes to Islam in literature, $3.00. R 0 u n d Table titles marked with an asterisk art, architecture, science, phi- Press, New York. 1936. are popular and suitable for losophy and culture. No other younger readers also. book contains such fascinating The most recent book on the material on the "glory of Islam." subject and gives the brighter r. MOHAMMED AND ISLAM: side of the picture. Needs to be 6. The Koran (translated). By supplemented by present-day re- 1. Mohammed the Man and His E. H. Palmer. 80 cents. ports of women – missionaries Faith. By Tor Andrae. Pocket edition. Oxford Uni- who live close to the illiterate Scribners, New Y 0 r k. versity Press, New York. masses. 19.36. 1929. 11. The Moslem World of To- The latest attempt to evaluate The most idiomatic transla- day. Edited by John R. Mohammed's character. It is tion of the Koran with valuable Mott. $2.50. Doran, New fair and discriminating. Shows introduction and good index. York. 1926. how much Mohammed owed to Nestorian Christianity. II. EXTENT AND CHARACTER OF This consists of a series of monographs by missionaries and THE MOSLEM WORLD: orientalists on present-day as- pects of the problem, education, *7. Across the World of Islam. the press, medical work, etc. By S. M. Zwemer. $3.00.
2. Mohammed and the Rise of Revell & Co., New York. III. MISSIONS TO MOSLEMS: Islam. By D. S. Margo- 1929. liouth. $2.50. Putnam, THEIR VALIDITY, HIS- New York. 1905. A statistical and political sur- vey of the Moslem world and its TORY AND CHARACTER. The best brief life story of the missionary opportunity. Lacks Prophet; fully documented from a clJ,apter on the Near East and *12. Henry Martyn, Confessor original sources. should be supplemented by Mas- of the Faith. By Con- stance E. Padwick. S. C. M., London. 1922.
Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the R~IllW publishers on receipt of price.
[510 ]
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
The best life of the first mod- it deserves special mention. Full They teach a lesson without the ern missionary to Islam. of inspiration. necessity of pointing a moral. Children, parents and teachers 13. Modern Movements Among 21. The Arab at Home. By Paul will find these tales delightful Moslems. By S. G. Wil- and helpful. son. $1.50. Revell, New W. H a r r i son. $3.50. York. 1916. Africa and Christianity. By Diedrich Crowell, New York. 1924. Westermann. 221 pp. $2.25. Ox- Excellent, especially on Iran, ford University Press. New York. but not quite up-to-date. One of the best books for the 1937.
*14. The Persian Journey of the study of the Arab mind and soul Dr. Westermann of Berlin, Rev. Ash ley Wishard, the author of "Africa Today," is etc. By Elgin Grosclose. by one who has lived close to this one of the best-informed and $2.50. Bobbs – Merrill, people and loves them. . most interesting writers on Af- Indianapolis. 1937. rica from a Christian point of *22. The Expansion of Islam. view. He is professor of African A novel full of missionary ap- By W. W. Cash. 38.6d. languages at the University of peal and interest. Edinburgh House Press, Berlin and the material here London. 1929. presented was given in the Duff 15. History of the Arabian Mis- Lectures in Scotland in 1935. sion. By Mason & Barney, An excellent, popular general The author dwells on aspects of 25 East 22d Street, New survey. missionary work in Africa and York. the change this work is bringing 23. The Eclipse of Christianity about in the character, culture An account of thirty years' in Asia. By L. E. Browne. and condition of the people. He pioneer effort in the hardest of $3.50. Cambridge Uni- shows the old and new standards Moslem lands. versity Pre s s, London. and ideals in family and commu- 1935. nity life; the influence of Euro- 16. Vital Forces of Christianity pean commerce and control; the and Islam. 3s. 6d. Oli- Here is the history of Islam's changes in religious faith and phant, Anderson & Fer- penetration and spiritual con- practice-from superstition, ig- rier, London. 1915. quest of those lands in Asia norance, fear, to belief in God as where the Crescent has super- presented by missionaries. Dr. Six studies by missionaries to seded the Cross. Scholarly yet Westermann includes a chapter Moslems on Method of approach most interestingly written. on Christianity vs. Competition to the Moslem heart. with sects, with Islam and with 24. The Crescent in Northwest secularism-not c h e e r i n g to 17. Indian Islam. By Murray China. By G. Findley An- read; the growth of the Church; T. Titus. 12s. 6d. Ox- drews. China Inland Mis- and the production of Christian ford Press, New York. sion, London. 1922. literature. He does not hesitate 1930. to criticize missions construc- Sketch of Missions in North- tively as a friend. A scholarly survey of the his- west China. tory, character and peculiarities The information is general of Islam in India, its distribu- 25. A Desert Journal. By Evan- rather than specific for Africa is tion, and its present-day in- geline French & Mildred too large a continent to be sucfluence. Cable. $3.00. China In- cessfully dealt with in one short land Mis s ion, German- volume. For a general view, 18. Temple Gairdner of Cairo. town. 1934. however, this volume is highly By Constance E. Padwick. commended. It shows the prob- $3.00. Macmillan, New This book is a type of many lems and the progress noted in York. 1929. that tell of the daily life of Mos- two centuries of modern mis- lems and their attitude toward sions in Africa; also the forces The life of a versatile, schol- Christians in the great unoccu- for and against Christ and the arly and devoted missionary by pied areas. Church, forces that must largely one who is herself doing work determine the future of this for Moslems in all lands through OTHER RECENT BOOKS great continent. Christian literature. Stocking Tales. A Book of Stories Ablaze for God. By Mary W. Dunn 19. The Reproach of Islam. By for Children. By J. T. Stocking. Pattison. 317 pp. 38. 6d. Japan Temple Gairdner. C. M. Illustrated by Winifred Bromhall. Evangelistic Band, London. 1937. S., London. 119 pp. $1.25. Pilgrim Press. Boston. 1937. This is the biography of Paget There is no better textbook for Wilkes written by his sister. all who desire to know Islam as Dr. Stocking is a prince of Wilkes was born in Suffolk in it is and Christianity as it ought story-tellers, with lit era r y 1871, was educated at Oxford to be in witnessing for Christ. charm, a truly Christlike spirit, with Temple Gairdner, J. H. Not a lukewarm book, but full of imagination and a love for chilfire. dren. He fascinates adults and young people as well. His death *20. Young Islam on Trek. By has brought a great loss as his Basil Mathews. 25 cents. life was a great blessing to Friendship Press, New many. These stories are a mix- York. 1926. ture of fairy tale and parable.
This earlier textbook for mission study is so well written that
Oldham and Stuart Holden and the Plan of Union between Pres- meet are not so ready to be led." went to Japan to work with Bar- byterianism and Congregational- Doubtless Dr. Wilson has also clay Brocton in 1897. Later he ism and the controversy growing met many utterly indifferent to became the leader of the Japan out of it. the Word of God, who needed to Evangelistic Band, an undenom- be a wakened to a sense of sin. inational movement which em- Part Two is made up of docu- This is probably a selection of phasized direct evangelism and ments illustrating the frontier certain experience.'3 that show the "Second blessing." He was work of the Pre s b y t e ria n the great truth to be presented a man of great ability and of churches-an immense wealth of in Bible words to sinners, namepure devotion, whose motto source material. It is of course ly the way of justification and might well have been Henry ·only a fraction of what is avail- peace through the atoning death Martyn's "Now let me burn out able and a vast deal is of neces- of Christ. These true sketches for God." He mastered the Jap- sity omitted, many times as are very informing because they anese language and he inspired much as could be included; one show how thousands of people his associates, both Japanese and would rather have some of the who have gone to church and foreign, with his own zeal, and omitted material than that which have read the Bible for years, his consecration and sacrifice is included, some, for example, have never really understood the were a stimulus to many in the from the records of the old Penn- Gospel that Christ died for the missions of the British and sylvania presbyteries and from remission of sin, and that we American churches. At home, the period and area covered in are not saved by our own goodin England or in Canada or in Waddell's "Annals of Augusta ness, but by faith in Jesus South Africa, he conducted mis- County, Virginia, from 1726 to Christ. That is the one thing sions for the conversion of non- 1871." But we are grateful for that stands out in this book. We Christians and for the deeper the mass of old documents which must add this also that readers life of Christians. He was a Dr. Sweet has presented. They will be convinced that most Church of England evangelical enable us to enter intelligently Christians do not sufficiently and was a notable illustration of into the religious atmosphere of recognize the sinfulness of sin, the great body of British Chris- our country a century, and a cen- and the necessity of the shedding tians who move out on their own tury and a half ago, to realize of Jesus' blood; therefore they lines beyond the bounds of de- the social and cultural conditions do not feel impelled to seek the nominational action. He had the of that early time and, by such salvation of others. Finally, this Keswick mind, with a turn of a term of comparison, to see how book shows that Christians his own, and he served his Mas- far on we have come in true re- ought to know their Bibles and ter with his whole heart and ligion and Christian charity. be able to diagnose a soul's need mind and soul and strength. T9 and offer the remedy. We should read such a life is to have one's ROBERT E. SPEER. definitely study the book with own lethargy and reticence :r:e- this in mind. We may well note buked and to feel the glow of the The Romance of a Doctor's Visits. the Scripture passages used. New Testament discipleship at By Dr. Walter L. Wilson. 128 pp. Dull is the conscience of the work amid the conditions of our Is. Pickering & In~lis. London. Christian, either at home or on own day. 1937. the mission field, that will not be moved to personal work by read- Religion on the American Frontier. This small, easy-reading vol- ing this book. Vol. II, The Presbyterians, 1783- ume is one of the "World-Wide 1840. By William Warren Sweet. Library of Famous G 0 s pel FRANK LUKENS. 939 pp. $3.50. Harper & Brothers, Books." The author is a physi- New York and London. 1936. cian of some years' experience Consider Him. By Vance Havner. who but devotes much of his $1.00. American Bible Conference This volume by Dr. Sweet of time to Christian ministry. For Association. Philadelphia, Pa. 1937. the University of Chicago is the a number of years he regularly broadcast the morning Bible les- For those that like a "stimsecond in a series dealing with son over the radio station of the ulus" in Bible study and meditathe different denominations on Kansas City Star, and was said tion and desire a greater fellow- to have an audience of a million ship with the Spirit of God, this the early American frontier. people. book will be of great help. In it we find one hundred medita- The first volume dealt with the Here are twenty-eight short tions on some of the great pas- Baptists and the third is to deal pen-pictures of different persons sages of the Bible. These mediwit h the Congregationalists. seeking salvation whom he led tations were gathered by a Part One (125 pages of this to assured faith by use of Bible pastor from his everyday "walk volume) deals generally with passages. The cases represent and talk" with the Master and American Presbyterianism at all sorts and conditions of life, with his people in the parish. the close of the Revolution, the but the need and the solution In a book form they will inspire Presbyterians and Westward are practically the same in all. a much greater parish. To min- Expansion, the cultural and edu- The first impression on the read- isters they will serve as seeds of cational influence of the Presby- er is that everyone of these peo- thoughts for sermons. terians in the Early West, re- ple were seekers, conscious of vivalism and Presbyterian con- their sin, and wanting peace. A. H. PERPETUO. troversy, and the operation of Some may say, "The people I
Books Obituary Notes The
Across Africa in a Lorry. W. B. Red- (Concluded from page 449.) A weekly religious newspaper in mayne. 128 pp. $1.40. Zondervan. Grand Rapids. Dr. Edward M. Poteat, prominent its lo6th year of continuous pub- in Baptist work both North and South Books for the Traveler or Sojourner for two generations, died June 26, at Iication under the same name. in China. Harriet Hardison Rob- Raleigh, N. C. After a period of son. 24 pp. 25 cents. American years as preacher, college president, It is conservative and evangel- Council, Institute of Pacific Rela- and denominational worker, he went tions. New York. to China to be a professor in Shang- ical, gets its news by telegraph hai College. His son, Gordon Poteat, is Burmese Brothers. Story Lessons professor in Shanghai College; an- and keeps abreast of the times. for Little Children. Eleanor Mar- other son, Edwin M. Poteat, Jr., is a tin. 42 pp. 6d. S. P. G. London. prominent pastor in Raleigh. It goes into every state of the Union, the District of Columbia, Fun, Fear and Faith. The Story of *** the Church in Burma. Ruth Hen- and U. S. possessions. rich. 91 pp. 18. S. P. G. London. Dr. Danjo Ebina, Professor Emer- itus of Doshisha University, died in It goes to Asia and AFrica, South Cycle of Prayer and Praise, 19'37-38. Tokyo, on May 22. He first learned 100 pp. 68. S. P. G. London. about Christ from Gapt. L. L. Janes, America, Canada and New Zealand and afterwards was a member of the Christ of the Countryside. Malcolm first graduating class of Doshisha in and into twelve countries of Eu- Dana. 128 pp. $1.00. Cokesbury. 1879. He founded the Hongo Congre- Nashville. gational Church in Tokyo, was its rope. pastor until 1920 when he became Communism. John Horsch. 30 pp. university president. He was the Subscription Price, – 15 cents. B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. author of many books on Christianity. Ministerial Rate, The Land of Umbrellas. Lessons on *** the Church in Burma. Ruth Hen- 50c. extra—Canadian postage rich. 92 pp. Is. S. P. G. London. Emile Doumergue, for 66 years the leader of the French conservative $1.00 extra—foreign postage Flaming Milestone. Report of the theological group, died recently in World's Conference of the World France at the age of ninety-three. He THE PRESBYTERIAN Alliance of the Y. M. C. A.'s. 115 was the author of the Life of Calvin pp. World's Committee, Y. M. C. A. in seven volumes, and contributed 1217 Mark..t: Str….t, Philad..lphia, Pa. Geneva. editorially to the leading journal of Protestantism in France. He was not ciety, and president of the Bible Highland Heritage. Edwin E. White. in favor of church union for the sake League of North America. 196 pp. $1.00, cloth; 60 cents, of union. His was the phrase: "Fu- paper. Friendship Press. New sion without proper evangelical basis *** York. is nothing but confusion." Sir J. Charles Clegg, president of Is Not This a Brand? Percy Rush. *** the British Temperance League for 96 pp. Is. Pickering & Inglis. sixty-three years, died at Sheffield, London. Mrs. Elizabeth Murdoch Poage England, June 26. His most recent entered into rest at her home in Co- efforts in the cause of temperance was An Introduction to the New Testa- lusa, California, on July 4, at the age the preparation of a booklet, "Out to ment. Edgar J. Goodspeed. 362 of sixty–one. For forty years Mrs. Win." pp. $2.50. University of Chicago Poage had been an officer of the Press. Chicago. Sacramento Presbyterial and for nine *** years was president. The loss of her Little Talks to Little Folks. Charles service is keenly felt for she had been John T. Underwood, founder of the A. Puncker. 92 pp. Is. Pickering faithful in the performance of re- Underwood Typewriter Co., and & Inglis. London. sponsibilities both little and great. brother of Dr. Horace G. Underwood of Korea, died July 2. Mr. Under- Lessons in Soul Winning. Will H. Dr. Frederick H'" . W* ri*ght, who ren- wood was a former member of the Houghton. 23 pp. Free. Moody Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis- Bible Institute. Chicago. dered effective service in both the sions, president of the Buckhorn As- heme and foreign work of the Metho- sociation of Kentucky, and a generous Medical Missions at Work. H. P. dit<: Episcopal Church, died June 11 supporter of work in Korea. Thompson. 82 pp. Is. S. P. G. in Ocean Grove, N. J., aged seventy- London. eight. He served as past)!· of the Gifts during his lifetime were con- Methodist Church in Rome from 1899 tinued in numerous bequests, among More Sources of Power in Famous to 1905. Some years later he becama them: $50,000 each to the Buckhorn Lives. Walter C. Erdman. 160 superintendent of the Italian Mission Association and to Chosen Christian pp. $1.00. Cokesbury Press. Nash- Conference under the Board of Home College; $20,000 to the Orphan ville. Missions and Church Extension. Asylum Society of Brooklyn; $10,000 each to the Lafayette Avenue Presby- Work of the Chaplain in the Civilian Mrs. Thomas *E. * Ba*rber, former terian Church of Brooklyn, the Pres- Conversation Corps. Col. Alva J. byterian Board of Foreign Missions, Brasted. 48 pp. Command & Gen- missionary in the Columbia Mission, the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities and eral Staff School Press. Ft. Leaven- Presbvterian, U. S. A., died in the the Brooklyn Museum. worth, Kansas. Pasad"ena Hospital, Pasadena, Cali- fornia on June 2. Most of Mrs. Bar- *** Women of the New Testament. ber's time during her 25 years on the Abraham Kuyper. $1.00, cloth; 65 field was spent in educational and Rev. Wilhelm Zoellner, D.D., for- cents, paper. 95 pp. Zondervan evangelistic work at Barranquilla, Bo- mer head of the Church Affairs De- Pub. Co. Grand Rapids. gota and Medellin. partment of the Nazi government and one-time leader in the ecumenical The West Indies. H. P. Thompson. *** movements of Stockholm and Lau- 70 pp. 18. S. P. G. London. sanne, died at Duesseldorf, July 17. Mr. William Philips Hall, for 26 The World, the Church and You. years president of the American Tract When, in December, 1936, Hitler Outlines for Group Study. 34 pp. Society, died on August 14 at Walling- ,rarned Nazi leaders to cease their at- 3d. Edinburgh House Press. Lon- ford, Conn., in his seventy-third year. tacks upon Christianity, part of the don. Mr. Hall was born at Stamford, credit was given to Dr. Zoellner, who Conn., on February 1, 1864. He was was reported to have warned the gov- Yahrbuch Der Ostasien Mission. 96 the founder and for many years the ernment that its anti-Church program pp. Allgemeiner Evangelische-Pro- president of the Hall Signal Co., vice- had gone too far. tantische Missionsverein. Berlin, president of the American Bible So- Germany.
The Man that Changed the World. Frederick B. Fisher. 208 pp. $2.00. Cokesbury Press. Nashville.
~o Noi MU4 A DAILY USE
THE •.. Cbt lIPPtf Room (America's Leading Devotional Guide) MOSLEM Will Lift the CONTENTS OF THE WORLD Level of the OCTOBER-NOVEMBER- Sfiritual Life A Christian Quarterly Review of o Any Church DECEMBER ISSUE Current Events, Literature and and Its Homes Thought Among Mohammedans Inte,.pretation of COf)er Picture, "Christ amont the Lowl," Editor: SAMUEL M. ZWEMER October 1-9 SOME ARTICLES IN THE The Christian and His Home OCTOBER NUMBER October 10·20 Herbert Udny Weitbrecht Stanton The Christian and His God By Samuel M. Zwemer Octobe,. 21-21 Missionary Adventure in the Sahara The Christian and the Christ By Dugald Campbell Octobe,. 28-31 Northern Nigerian Opportunity The Christian and the Holy Spirit By H. G. Farrant NOf)ember 1-6 Islam in India The Christian and Social Responsi. bility By James W. Sweetman NOf)ember 1-13 Moslem Women of North Africa Foundations for a Stable and Peace. By Frances E. Roberds ful Society The Joy of Preaching to Moslems N of)ember 14-20 By Stephen Khoobyar The Kingdom of God and the So· cial Order The Political Fortunes of Islam By G. L. Schanzlin NOf)embe,. 21-21 The Spirit of Thanksgiving and Hitti's History of the Arabs the Social Order By Nabih A. Faris NOf)ember 28-30 Also Book Reviews, Current Top. Working Together with God ics, Survey· of Periodicals, and the Index for the Year. December 1-11 The Christian and His Attitudes SUBSCRIBE NOW December 12-18 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) The Christian and His Daily Walk THE MOSLEM WORLD December 19-25 156 Fifth Ave., New York City "Unto Us a Saviour Is Born"
IN COMBINATION WITH December 26·31 The Christian and His Victories THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD THE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER ISSUE OF THE UPPER ROOM NOW READY FOR DISTRIBUTION $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents) First Printing This Issue 800,000 Copies BrioUh Ase"" : MARSHALL. MORGAN & SCOTT, 12 Patem.olter Buildings, London. E. C. Use One of the Order Forms Below Price in Great Britain, Eight: Shillings a Year, net ••• •• …,… . ~ ~;N~;;N·:E~~·~;;E~··· ~I~;~~~~~ ;~;s~;;;;;:.··· Issue for October, November, December I THE UPPBR ROOM, (For use of Pastor or Groul' Leader. I Doctors' Building. Order ten or more COPl••• ) I N••hville, Tean. I Gentlemen: THE UI'PBR ROOM, I am inclolintl herewith tbirty cents Doctors' Building.
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The Missionary Review of the World — September 1937
1937
Beaten But Unconquered……in China James P. Leynse The Use of Chinese Gospel Posters R. w. Porteous Experiences in the Papuan Bush Russell W. Abel Work in Ethiopia and the Sudan Tom Lambie The Conquering Power of Christ Julius Richter Women's Work in the Country Church Mrs. James D. Wyker An Arab Consults a Missionary Doctor A Monologue by James Cantine 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember Reda;m;ng an abandoned church in cenlralIllinois
September 13-1S-C 0 n fer en c e on Those Abandoned Churches • • • Presbyterian Church and the Jew. Princeton Theological Seminary. that dot the hillsides and valleys of rural YOU ARE PRIVILEGED America to-day-more than ten thousand of to sponsor this marvellous October 2-6 – Triennial Convention. them-are a challenge to Christian people of work "With Christ along Women's Missionary Society of the the Old Back Road." United Lutheran Church in Amer- all Evangelical denominations. Some are only evi- $12.50 annually maintains ica. Buffalo. dences of changed conditions. Many others mark the the work of one Sunday retreat of Christian forces. School Class. SUMMER CONFERENCES AND $25.00 annually maintains SCHOOLS OF MISSIONS The vast majority of Christian people living in cities the work of a Sunday School. and towns do not understand the serious rural need $50.00 annually maintains September 20-24-Southern California of the hour. Neither do they realize that in countless the work of an unreached (Los Angeles). Mrs. H. M. Horn, instances the A.S.S.U. has met and is meeting that community. 1955 Carmen Ave., Los Angeles, need. Old church bells are pealing again, calling $100.00 annually maintains Calif. young and old to thousands of Union Sunday Schools. the work in any given county. September 20-24 – Minnesota (Min- In a fine old brick church in a prosperous farming $1,200.00 annually fully neapolis-St. Paul). President, Mrs. section of east central Illinois, an A.S.S.U. Mission- supports a consecrated and Charles L. Grant, 610 Aurora Ave., ary recently organized a Sunday School. Thirty-six aggressive A. S. S. U. Mis- St. Paul, Minn. attended the first meeting. Three weeks later the sionary. attendance reached sixty. Now the people have pur- Will your Prayers and yout September 7 – October 1 – D a 11 a s, chased an electric lighting plant, and evening serv- support go with us to this Texas. Pres., Mrs. E. R. Alderson, ices are being conducted by a regular minister. In needy field? 561 Goodwin St., Dallas, Texas. scores of other instances, work reclaimed by our ministry has been turned back to the proper September 27 – October 1 – Houston, denomination. Texas. Dean, Mrs. A. B. Haynes, 618 Highland Ave., Houston, Texas. Evangelical in purpose, non-sectarian in method. and true to the Word of God, theA.S.S.U. is actively September 28-30-A n n u a 1 Interde- engaged in this national ministry of restoring wor- nominational Missionary Institute, ship to rural churches in forty States. Will YOU help? Woman's Interdenominational Union of Philadelphia and Vicinity. First Baptist Church, Philadelphia.
October 5-6-Warren, Ohio. Mrs. George Konold, 314 Scott St., N. E., Warren, Ohio.
October 21- Baltimore, Md. Mrs. David D. Baker, 410 N. Calhoun St., Baltimore, Md.
!In the £un~ ot gonuh un~ His qou'£~ Home Letters of AMERICAN DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS, R8l7 MARGARET DEAN McDOWELL 1816 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sunday I wish to sponsor the work of the A. S. S. U. with the , She left a Chicago schoolroom to or- unreached millions of Rural America. ganize a cooperative laundry for refu- School Enclosed find $ ___ to be used for________ _ gees in Mesopotamia—and made it pay. Union ) Send your Quarterly Field Magazine – "The Sun- , She made friends with the sheikh of day School Missionary" a tribe of "devil-worshipers" who have an ancestral taboo against education- ( ) Mail your Booklet on Annuities. and he sent his children to her school. ( ) Send Sample Sunday School Literature. Name _____________ – – __ – ____ – , She met great ones of the earth-and in treeless Mosul spent hours creating Address _________ – _ – – – – – – – _ – – – a Christmas "tree" so that the children City ______________ State ______ _ should not be disappointed. 4 CHRIST ALONG THE OLD BACK ROAD , She began modern Christian educa- ESTABLISHED 1817 PIONEER SUNDAY SCHOOL ORGANIZATION OF THE USA tion for girls in Mosul-and many rise up and call her blessed. Personal Items one-half years of service as he says that he is "no longer able to recom- , Particularly valuable in connection The Rev. A. C. Snead, Foreign Sec- mend the Board as a Presbyterian with the coming year's study of Mos- retary of the Christian and Mission- missionary agency." Mr. Woodbridge lem lands. ary Alliance, sailed for a tour of was formerly a missionary in West South American mission fields on July Africa, representing the Presbyterian Price: cloth, $I .00; paper, 60 cents 27. He expects to visit Jamaica, Co- Church in the United States of Amer- lombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, The ica, from which he resigned in 1Q33. Order from Argentine and Puerto Rico, returning home on December 7. Mr. Snead ••• THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS OF earnestly requests the prayers of THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. U. S. A. Christian people for God's blessing on Dr. Ralph E. Diffendorfer, corre- his mission to these important fields sponding secretary of the Methodist 156 Fifth Avenue New York, N. Y. where the Christian and Missionary Episcopal Board of Foreign Missions, Alliance carries on work. sailed on Saturday, June 12, for Italy FOR SALE-28 new black poplin and Central Europe, where there are pleated choir gowns; academic style, • • • . Rev. Charles J. Woodbridge, Gen- pressing problems. Dr. Diffendorfer $3.75 each; Iblack mortarboard caps, $1.50 has announced an anonymous gift of each. M. R. W. LINDNER, 425 Seventh eral Secretary of the Independent 100,000 Reichmarks-approximately Ave., New York. Board for Presbyterian Foreign Mis- $25,000-for the work in Germany. It sions, has resigned after three and will be used chiefly for improvements (Concluded on page 448.)
MISSIONARY and value. It is devoted to the mis-
REVIEW OF THE WORLD sion study topic of the coming year- The Moslem World and the progress DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor of Christianity among Moslems. These articles are by missionaries who have VOL. LX SEPT., 1937 No.9 devoted their lives to the work and who know the conditions from expe- Publication and Business Olllce– rience. Some of the articles are by Third and Reily 8ts., Harrisburg, Pa. those who have come out of Islam and have confessed their faith in Christ Editorial and Executive Olllce– as their Lord and Master. The work 156 Firth Avenue, New York City. in Moslem lands is one of the most Entered as second-class matter at difficult in any field since the Moham- medans are militant in their propa- Post Omce, Harrisburg, Pa., under ganda and as a rule are very bitter Act of March 3, 1879. antagonists against those who pro- claim Christ as the Son of God and 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. only Saviour through His death on Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. the cross. A list of the articles pre- Published monthly, except August. pared for our special number will be All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. found on the fourth cover of this is- British agents – Marshall, Morgan sue. It is advisable to order copies of and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, the October REVIEW immediately. London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, 10 shillings a year. PARENTS ••• When the good work MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- In the Foreign Mission Field calls you East … saH LISHING CO., INC. Endorse Calvert School p&O BOARD OF DIRECTORS Home Study Courses ROBERT E. SPEER, President This year marks a full century of P & 0 A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President for Children service to the lands beyond Suez! WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer Whenever you are called to the other DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary Calvert School, through its Home Iustruc- side of the world, choose this tradi- tion Department, will give your child a tional route. Cross to England by SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT superior elementary education … by mail, Cunard White Star •.• and there embark in a great liner of the P & 0 WILLIAM 1. CH..umEBL£IN regardless of where you may live. Mod- and British India fleets, led by the D. J. FANT ern, approved courses from this famous new 22,5oo-ton Strathnaver, Strath- school are being used by parents all over aird and Strathmore. Regular service MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD to Egypt, Sudan, Persian Gulf, India, WM. B. LIPPHARD the world with outstanding success. Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, ERIC M. NORTH China, Japan, Australia" East and SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Give your children the advantages of these South Africa, Mauritius. Low rates.
Editorial Chat interesting lessons, carefully chosen books, Convenient through bookings can be arranged and attractive materials. Instruction is by your local travel agent or any office of The unusual situation in China is a under the personal guidance of teachers in very disturbing factor to missionaries, Calvert's prominent and successful private CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE the Chinese Christians and to all interested in the development of that day school in Baltimore. GENERAL AGENTS great land and people. What Christians can do most effectively is to t Write today for booklet of complete in- '25 Broadwayand638 Fifth Ave., New York pray for the afflicted people that all may witness a good confession, and formation. Costs are low. stand true to the highest Christian principles. The editorial "Topic of CALVERT SCHOOL the Times" and the articles in this 180 E. Tusc:any Road number by Mr. James P. Leynse, of Peiping, and Mr. Porteous will be Baltimore -0- Maryland read with deep interest.
*** The October number of THE RE- VIEW will be one of unusual interest The Minister's Social Primer Basic, Factual Articles Which Deal With New World Economics By WILLIAM L. LUDLOW Professor of Political Science and Sociology, Muskingum College SUBJECTS 1. Marxian Communism 4. German National Socialism 2. Soviet Russia 5. Democracy 3. Fascism 6. Trade Unionism in America 7. Labor Legislation.
The first chapter will appear in the October issue of CHURCH MANAGEMENT, to be published September 17th. Others will follow in order.
Send $1.50 for special seven-months' subscription to secure this social primer so necessary to men in public life. Single copy, 25c.
CHURCH MANAGEMENT Auditorium Building Cleveland, Ohio [401 ]
NATIVES IN THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN
(See article on page 422.) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1937 Topics of the Times LEADERS OR FOLLOWERS? educated for better leadership; they are learning how to keep the mass of the people from drifting There is a loud call today for leadership–for or floundering.
wise leaders, honest leaders, unselfish leaders, It was said of a certain politician: "He would courageous leaders, experienced leaders.. They make a great leader, if only he could persuade are needed in world affairs, in politics and indus- anyone to follow him." There are two requisites: try, in business and philanthropy, in education a wise, strong leader and people intelligent and and religion. How many nations of the world are unselfish enough to follow good leadership. How in a turmoil for lack of proper leadership! In much both are needed today! The Apostle James Cuba, Mexico and many parts of Latin America says: "Be not many teachers-:-or leaders-know- there is almost continual civil war because one ing that we shall receive heavier judgment."
man after another seeks to lead the nation's des- (James 3: 1 R. V.). In many lands, and in many tiny. Europe offers many examples of strong and spheres of life, confusion and conflict arise beweak political leaders. Spain is torn with fratri- cause too many seek to be leaders rather than cidal strife and is drenched with blood because of show a willingness to be followers. We are in- the conflict between rivals who would be leaders clined to forget that "one who would command and rulers. In Germany, Italy and Russia we must first learn to obey."
have examples of headstrong rulers who are in When the late Sadhu Sundar Singh, that re- the saddle and are leading their nations-but markable Christian ascetic of India, was in whither? America, he was asked by one who heard him In Asia the struggle for leadership continues. speak: "Have you any followers in India-any Gandhi and others are striving by different meth- who follow your ideals of life and methods of ods to determine India's destiny. China is bene- service?"
fited by the influence of a strong and intelligent The Sadhu thought a moment and then replied: leader, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, but Japan, "No, I have no followers. I, myself, am a fol- under the control of the military party, is leading lower." In that answer lies the secret of leader- the country to a war that threatens all Asia and ship to meet the needs of the hour.
may involve the world. Jesus Christ did not call men to be leaders; He Similar struggles exist in America. The ques- called them to be followers. He called them to be tion of the type of leadership determines the po- "fishers of men," rather than rulers of men. He litical program in nation and city, spells failure or called them to serve men rather than to exercise success in the conflict between labor and capital, lordship over men. They were called first to be and will bring failure or success in the Christian disciples (learners), then apostles (missionaries).
Church. Who are the leaders? Why do they seek Is not this the great need in the world and in control and whither are they leading? the Church today? What might we expect if, in- Much emphasis is placed today on the training stead of setting up many "leadership conferences,"
of leaders in all departments of life. Leadership we promoted training classes to teach men, wom- training conferences are being held for political, en and children to be good followers? There is one educational and religious workers-and in many safe and sane leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. If of these conferences, men and women are being men and women would sit at His feet to learn of [403 ]
Him; if we would know how to appreciate His has resulted. The Arabs, who are traders and love and His sacrifice; if we could understand cattle-raising nomads rather than agriculturalists His wisdom and accept His standards-then the or industrial workers, have seen their prestige wrongs in our own personal lives, the mistakes in and control threatened. Their racial pride has the family, in the Church, in the State and the been hurt. They have been warlike since the days world might be set right. As we learn of Him of Esau, while Jews are non-militant. Riots and and are ready to follow Him, He has promised to bloodshed have resulted and all Great Britain's give us power to do His work as He gave power diplomacy and military strength "have been reto the early Disciples when the Holy Spirit came quired to maintain some semblance of peace. upon them. Finally a British Royal Commission was ap- The great need today is not more classes to pointed last year to visit Palestine and report on train leaders but more classes and conferences to the most feasible plan for developing the country. teach us to be true followers of Jesus Christ-as Their report shows careful study and a desire to humble Christians, as parents, as business men and solve the difficult problem-but it satisfies neither women, as workers in Church and State, as mis- Jews nor Arabs. The proposal is for a "major sionaries and as executives. In proportion as we operation," to divide the land into three sectionssucceed in learning in this school of Christ, we giving to the Jews about one-third-including the can say with the Apostle Paul to less privileged western border on the Mediterranean, from about disciples: "Be ye followers (imitators) of me twenty miles north of Gaza to Syria and the Lebaeven as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11: 1). non Mountains; giving to the Arabs two-thirds- including the land south of Bethlehem, east of THE PARTITION OF PALESTINE the plains of Judea and across the Jordan River. The British are to retain a small "corridor" from Although almost insignificant in size – only Jerusalem to the sea at Jaffa, and a small circle about the size of New England- Palestine around Nazareth, and with a naval base at Haifa. has the most strategic position of any country in This would mean that the Jews will have the the world. It lies at the crossroads of Asia, Africa Shephelah and the lowlands of the Mediterranean and Europe. The natural wealth of the country, seacoast, where Tel-Aviv and other modern Jewas well as its command of the trade routes be- ish settlements are located; also Mt. Carmel and tween East and West, have made the land a de- practically all of Galilee. The Arabs will have sirable prize. It was this land, enlarged to reach Shechem (Nablus) and Samaria, the country "from the Euphrates to the River of Egypt," that around Hebron, J.ericho, and Beersheba and the God promised to Abraham and his descendants. lands of their ancestors-the Moabites, Ammon- It was many years before the Hebrews gained ites and Edomites. The British retain control of possession and then because of their disobedience, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and the railroad they were conquered and lost control of the coun- to the seaport of Jaffa (ancient Joppa). The try many times. From the earliest days of history Jews and Arabs are both offered independent this little country has been a battleground between states, with representatives in the League of Na- Philistines, Canaanites and Hittites; between tions. Syrians and Egyptians; between Assyrians, Babylonians, and Israelites; between Romans, The Arabs object to this division on three Greeks and Arabians; between Crusaders and grounds: (1) They say that they have possessed "Infidels" ; between the Allied armies in the the land by right of conquest and occupation for World War and the Turks. hundreds of years; (2) they are in a majority and now own most of the land so that it would be Today Palestine is again a scene of strife and a necessary to evacuate 225,000 Arabs from Jewish bone of contention between Arabs and Jews, be- territory; (3) the plan gives the Jews the most tween Christians, Hebrews and Moslems. As a fertile and desirable portions and most of the result of the World War, England was given a seacoast, while the Arabs are assigned to the mandate over Palestine and the Balfour Declara- more arid sections of the mountains and the semition promised the Jews an opportunity to develop wilderness beyond the Jordan. their ancient heritage and to make it a "National Home." The persecuted and ostracized Jews of The Jews find the plan inacceptable: (1) be- Europe have taken the opportunity to return in cause the whole land is theirs by right of divine large numbers. They have built cities, developed promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by ancient farms, made good roads, established schools and inheritance and occupation, and by the Balfour universities, and have taken other steps to im- Declaration; (2) because, being driven out of prove the country and to increase prosperity. But Europe, they need Palestine as a National Home after seventeen years, and in spite of British ef- and they have shown the will and ability to develforts to maintain order, strife rather than peace op the country, which the Arabs have not; (3) because the Arabs are assigned the Jordan Valley
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
I .q z MPDI TER RA NeA N .:.' S£A 4 MEO/TERRA NEA"' .:,'.,'· o .seA " ,,~,_ -0— ,, ," . ,,,/ "oH.ebron ,t EGYPT -, ;<rBeerSheM r—–~~——–~ a ! Ie J' l ' I KEY ~EERSHE8A SU8- DISTRICT t EXTENDING roGUU' 01' AQABA _ Proposed boundaries ", Present boundari es CULTIVATION UNSURVEYEO /JO MIlFI _ Rai /ways —- Roads Courtesy ot "The New York Times"
with all the light and power plants, the Dead Sea material resources used to increase the prosperity and the mountains which are richest in chemicals, of the country. Both Jews and Arabs are so unminerals' and other natural resources. Both par- friendly to the British that they may yet unite ties want Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and oth- against them, as the Pharisees and Herodians er sacred sites. It is as impossible to give both united against Christ. Jews and Arabs all they wish as it is to satisfy both labor and capital, or both communists and God's plan is not yet made clear for His "peim perialists. culiar people" and His chosen land. Any arrange- ment, such as is proposed by the Royal Commis- The plan offered is objected to by many British "sion, can at best be only temporary. God's promise and by people of other lands who take up cudgels to Abraham was: "I will give unto thee, and to for one side or the other. Dr. Chaim Weizmann, thy s~ed after thee, the land wherein thou art a President of the Zionist Movement, finds the pro- stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting posed partition unsatisfactory but thinks that it possession, and I will be their God" (Genesis offers the best solution of any plan suggested up 17: 8). to the present. Dr. Stephen Wise, President of the American Zionists, is utterly opposed to any ECUMENICAL CHRISTIANITY AT OXFORD such surrender of what he terms "Jewish rights." The World Conference on "Life and Work" that Christians as a whole have not entered into the met for two weeks in July at Oxford, England, to controversy, but many Syrian Christians in Pal- consider "The Church, State and Community," estine would prefer to see the Arabs in control brought together some eight hundred delegates because they find it more difficult to get along and associates from many different nations, Ori. with Jewish neighbors. Neither Jews nor Mos- ental churches and Protestant communi:bns. These lems are friendly to Christian mission work; included 100 young men and women from thirty neither one favors Christian or British control; countries, who constituted a special "Youth Secbut both are willing to see Christian ability and
tion" of the Conference; there were also many ments that threaten the efficiency, if not the very delegates from the younger churches of mission life, of the Church. la.nds. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, was president, and Dr. John R. 2. That the Church consider how to meet and Mott, well known American Methodist layman, overcome the evident purpose in many lands to was Chairman of the Business Committee. The elevate the State to a divine status, thus seeking Conference was much more widely representative to give human rulers more authority than that than that which met at Stockholm in 1925; but accorded Almighty God; also how to correct the there were no German delegates at Oxford, pass- tendency to racial discrimination, social injustice ports having been refused by the Nazi Govern- and the increase of immortality in personal and ment to members of the Confessional Synod. community life.
Many important topics were discussed by the 3. That greater emphasis be placed on the facts Conference in various sections, papers having been that God is the only supreme and ultimate auprepared in advance and "Findings" being pre- thority; that religious liberty is essential to husented for discussion at the general meetings be- man liberty, and that Christians are called of God fore approval. to use their resources to help raise the status of the underprivileged, the oppressed and unlight- Among the disturbing trends in the life of to- ened brothers and sisters of the human race. day were noted: the claim of the State-as in Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey-to dominate The Conference closed with a united communion and control religion; the growth of secularism in service presided over by the Archbishop of Canall lands at the expense of religion, and the signs terbury, assisted by the Episcopal Bishop of Dorof moral anarchy which threatens the sanctity of nakaI, India. marriage and the home. THE CHINA-JAPAN CONFLICT The members of the Conference applauded those who advocated unity among Christians of all na- Since July 7, the world has been increasingly tions, races and sects; there was emphasized the concerned by another demonstration of the deneed for greater dependence on the guidance and termined military encroachment of one nation of power of God for the solution of all problems. the Far East upon the territory and the sover- Real progress was noted in the growth of friendly eignty of another at a time when other nations understanding between Eastern and Western are too busily occupied to intervene. So much is Churches and between members of French and clear to all the world, to which all further judg- German nationals. There was a call for a united ments may safely be left. And few will condemn Christian front to combat and overcome the in- the militarily weaker nation for deciding that pacrease of militant atheism and of pagan material- tient submission had ceased to be a virtue and for ism in all lands. risking all in self-defense. The infinite pity of the situation is that the blow should fall upon Perhaps the most striking proposal was for the China just at the time when her provinces and formation of a "World Council of Churches" to parties and leaders were heartily uniting in the include all non-Roman Christian churches that work of material and moral reconstruction which wish to join. This will be a world-wide organiza- had been so frequently interrupted during the tion planned and operated on lines similar to the quarter century of the republic. Inspired by the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. courage, wisdom and unselfish patriotism of Gen- It is suggested that it function through an As- eralissimo and Madame Chiang and several likesembly of some two hundred members; its pur- minded associates and by the marvelous deliverpose will be to increase. the ecumenical conscious- ance of their leader from deadly peril in captivity, ness among all Evangelical Christians, and to confident hope of a great future for China had promote cooperation among churches of all na- been rekindled. The appointment of Dr. C. T. tions, races and denominations. This Assembly Wang as Ambassador to the United States and the would meet every year and might give informa- visit of the Minister of Finance, Dr. H. H. Kung, tion service through a World Council Journal; to America and many European countries, have it might also promote world-wide conferences, contributed to a mutually helpful international such as those held this summer at Oxford and friendship, but nothing has prevented the out- Edinburgh. It is hoped that this Council would break of a murderous "undeclared war." represent the "voice of united Christendom"- outside the Roman Catholic Church. The first stages of that war in the driving of provincial forces from the neighborhood of Tient- Among the Findings submitted and approved sin and Peiping, though it involved much slaughby the Conference were the following: ter J)f soldiers and civilians and destruction of valuable property such as the progressive Nankai 1. That the Christian Church meet the present University ~t Ti~Iltsin~ have been trifles as comchallenge of the serious economic situation in all Jands and the anti-religious and secularizing movepared with the terrific conflict which broke out on ning to open as usual. The same is presumably August 14 between rapidly gathering Chinese air true of the College of Chinese Studies (Language and military forces and the Japanese warships School) though the number of new missionaries lying at the Hongkew bund portion of Shanghai venturing into North China this autumn may not International Settlement, where they had no right be large. to be. Their position rendered accidents inevitable, and bombs intended for the warships It was intended to list here the missions at work dropped in the settlement, killing hundreds of in the war zone, but since the scope of the war civilian Chinese and several foreigners including increases daily that would be a hopeless and use- Dr. Frank J. Rawlinson, Editor of the Chinese less task. Recorder, and Dr. Robert Karl Reischauer of Princeton, son of the well-known missionary in In sharp contrast with this dismal picture of Tokyo. Since then by air and land and water, strife and hatred stand out the recent picture of Chinese and Japanese have hurled death and de- Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa of Japan, and Dr. C. Y. struction at each other, and attempts have been Cheng of China, smiling radiantly, with arms made and resisted to carry the war to the national about each other's necks. A later photograph capital, Nanking, and other centers of military shows two girl scout leaders-Chinese and Japaconcentration. nese-in a similar attitude. Let us hold fast to our hope that some day the love of Christ will Many are the predictions as to the outcome, constrain these two peoples, so nearly related, to but such prognostication is futile. If "God is al- love one another and engage heartily in mutual ways on the side of the strongest battalions," upbuilding for the service of the world. China will be once more humbled and crippled. There seems to be little or no prospect of a saving THE COMING GENERATION AND intervention by any or all of the other nations; MISSIONS but the new national spirit of the Chinese people, added to their traditional ability to "conquer by The youth of today sometimes criticize the misabsorption," may bring them safely through this sion boards on the ground that youth is ignored in most fiery trial of their recent history. the planning and direction of the work. They claim that the viewpoint of the younger generation is The outbreak having come in midsummer, ignored in religion, while it is sought in business, when many missionaries were absent on vacation, in politics and in social movements. when many had left on furlough and new missionaries had not arrived, the problem of protection All acknowledge that the future of mission work and evacuation has been comparatively small. is vitally linked with the rising generations. It Only a few who occupy key positions on the field is dependent on new life being constantly supare now being returned to China, though some plied, infinitely more than it is dependent on new who had sailed before the crisis became acute will money. probably be diverted to other opportunities for service until the way is open to the old field. The But are the young men and women of this commissions in the Philippines will gladly absorb a ing generation taking an interest in vital Christia'1 large number. At this writing evacuations of work as they are in politics, sport, economics and missionaries have been very few, but the Boards social reform? In how many churches are the and the field agencies are on the alert and pro- youth a strong factor? How much are young peovided with authority and funds to meet all needs. ple as a class willing to sacrifice for the Cause of Except as mentioned above, no missionary lives Christ? How many are ready to do personal work have been lost, or property seriously damaged. on spiritual lines? Are they trained to accept and practice fundamental Christian ideas and stand- It is well to remind ourselves that the situation ards? How many of the present generation of differs widely from that of the Boxer Outbreak students would sacrifice ambition and prospects in 1900. Then, all foreigners were the object of of business advancement to start and carry forannihilative attack by the "Boxers" and the Chi- ward a Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign nese imperial troops; now neither combatant will Missions or a Young People's Missionary Moveintentionally injure the citizens of any neutral ment? Have they the idealism, the courage, the nation. Apart, therefore, from the "accidents of ability, the faith to undertake such work, in face of discouragement and opposition? warfare," the ambassadors of Christ are not considered to be in serious peril. We believe that multitudes of the youth of to- day will respond to this challenge if it is rightly Latest reports from North China state that all presented. They must first be conscious of their is quiet in and near Peiping and that Yenching own debt to Christ and acknowledge His suprem- University northwest of the city and the North acy over their lives. They must realize the need China American School at Tungchow are plan- of the world and the ability of Christ to supply that need. When they see this as clearly as they of Nations. This is the missionary enterprise of the future. see the need for world peace, for social justice, One contributor takes exception to this view, for economic improvement and for better race re- and rightly if we are to be guided by Christ's ideals and objectives as they are presented in the lations, then they will respond as enthusiastically New Testament. This contributor says: and sacrificially to the call of Christ and man's In the early days of the Church there was no social justice. Palestine was seething with social injustice, naspiritual needs as they now do to the call of Marx tionalism, imperialism, absentee-landlordism, cruel taxa- tion, frequent rebellion-but was there not a spiritual life or Hitler or Mussolini for temporal and national in the midst of it? In my experience those who have been the greatest saints have often been those who suffered advancement. There is great encouragement to- most from social injustice. I do not think that the world as we know it will ever be rid of sin, and so I cannot see day in the spirit shown by Christian youth in a hope of our being rid of social injustice. I have not much hope of the coming of a cooperative Commonwealth many colleges and in summer conferences, in so- of Nations in the terms in which we see it today. We are in a time of tremendous chaos in which we cannot yet see cieties and in churches where they find true virile clearly the direction or tell the nature of the new order which will be born, though my own hopes lie in the d:recand spiritual leadership. tion indicated here. I do not, however, regard this as the "missionary enterprise of the future." Missions are con- The missionary cause must be presented wisely cerned primarily with the religious, not with the economic.
to appeal to the youth of today. What kind of a Let the coming generation be stirred to fight courageously against the present-day crime, inmissionary enterprise will students support? is justice, cruelty and selfishness, but the hope for a new and more fruitful day in Christian advance a question recently sent out to colleges by the Stu- is in a youth movement wholly loyal to Christ and led by the Spirit of God. f1ent Volunteer Movement. The Intercollegian and Far Horizons publishes the following answer which was among those received: .
Everywhere and for the most part increasingly, capitalism, communism, fascism and nationalism threaten the welfare of mankind. Nervous breakdowns, depressions, wars-these are all symptoms of a basic economic and moral sickness. Until social justice can be established, spiritual life is impossible. The great hope of the future lies in the development on a world scale of cooperatives and an increasing socializing of the means of production, pointing Ultimately toward a Cooperative Commonwealth RELIGIOUS BODIES AND GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES IN A OOMPARISON OF THOSE REPORTING OVER 50,000 MEMBERS, 1935 AND 1936 Membership 1 Yr. Gain 10 Yr, Gain Membership 1 Yr. Gain 10 Yr, Gain 1936 1936·1935 1936-1926 1936 1936-1935 1936-1926 Baptists (19 Bodies) ….. 10,332,005 140,308 1,890,939 Polish Catholic Church … 186,000 36,000 124,426 Methodist (19 Bodies) .. , 9,109,359 41,798 1,038,740 Church of the Nazarene .. 133,516 5,867 69,958 Lutherans (17 Bodies) … 4,589,660 43,905 646,202 Mennonites (17 Bodies) .. 116,665 4,101 29,491 Jewish (Heads of Families) 4,081,242 Eastern Separate (2 Bodies) 107,675 78,087 Friends (4 Bodies) ….. . 105,917 dl,527 d4,505 Presbyterians (10 Bodies) 2,687,772 6,507 62,488 Protestant Episcopal …. . 1,918,329 21,193 52,243 Church of God (Indiana) . 82,893 364 44,644 Disciples of Christ ….. . 1,602,052 d6,700 224,457 Unitarians …………. . 98,600 38,026 38,448 East. Orthodox (9 Bodies) 1,092,349 94,262 832,955 Federated Churches ….. . 59,977 Congregational & Christian 1,010,776 d2,177 16,285 Scandinavian Ev. (3 Bodies) 55,237 385 6,452 Evangelical and Reformed 849,205 d71,384 173,401 Universalists ……….. . 51,159 68 d3,798 Roman Catholics (whole Lat.-Day Saints (2 Bodies) 777,695 12,981 171,134 Churches of Christ …… . 433,714 family) …………… 20,831,139 221,837 2,226,136 United Brethren (3 Bodies) 428,838 1,073 32,953 Total, Over 50,000 ….. 62,844,012 689,572 8,718,230 Reformed (3 Bodies) … . 366,583 81,958 110,318 Salvation Army …….. . 255,765 d3,336 180,997 Total, Under 50,000 649,024 147,832 271,636 Ch. of Four-Sq. Gospel .. . 257,635 5,255 257,635 Evangelical (2 Bodies) .. . 258,207 9,390 31,678 Church of Christ, Scientist 202,098 Grand Total ……….. 63,493,036 837,404 8,989,866 Population (July, 1936) .. 128,429,000 908,000 11,429,000 Church of God in Christ .. 200,470 170,207 -From The Christian Hemld. Breth. (Dunkers) (4 Bodies) 192,588 1,047 34,484 d Decrease. Adventists (5 Bodies) … . 195,553 5,435 49,376 Assemblies of God …… . 173,349 2,936 125,399
But Unconquered – in
By the REV. JAMES P. LEYNSE, Peiping, China Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, U. s. A.
W ITHOUT even so much as a knock at the "One day in the fall when the 'harvest of the door Mrs. Single Flower Liu, in a sky-blue five grains' was plentiful and people went merrily cotton garment, entered my study and told to their work, a student of the Truth Hall Mission me this story: School of Peiping came to our village elders. His words of new and strange things came freely out "Allow me to use some of your time, Shepherd- of his mouth. At the first watch of the night, teacher. Today, with the wind making many. a when all the people had supped, that young man whirling cloud of dust, there will be a few people would stand preaching in front of the village inn, gathering at the Hall of Glad Tidings. The saying that there is only one God of heaven and' heavens have turned yellow; the earth is almost earth; that the sun and moon belong to all the dark and the sun has only a dim light. Ai, this world; and that all men around the four seas are is truly a good room to come to on such a day; all brethren. It was truly a strange doctrine, but these books of foreign learning are a pleasure to that young man had his stomach full of good behold. I have come to you to speak about the learning and his heart was warm with sympathy. things of my heart. He knew how to speak words acceptably.
"Years ag<J, when through the goodness· of your "One evening when the moonlight was dim, I friends across the foreign sea, you invited me to went stealthily out of the family house and stood become a Christian evangelist, my joy rose to among:st the crowd like a man, so as to hear the Heaven and I determined that some day I should tell you the story of my conversion. Pray, do not student-preacher read ,from his Heavenly Book. weary of my account and do not regard it a hard- His preaching filled my heart with a peace unship to use your pen to write it down. I am but a speakable and I, humble young sister, cried out to humble woman of scanty learning and know how the Living God for help and guidance. In the to write only a few hundred characters of our lan- middle of the night my heart became so heavy guage; I am but nothing to compare with such an within me that I got up from the brick family bed one as you. and bowed myself to the ground before the great God and Creator for the first time in my life. "I was born in the village of the Deep Hill Waters. My ancestral home was favored by the "The next day when the sun had set and the gods with plenty of millet, rice, oil and salt. moon arose I went again to hear about the Way of Though the house was large I had but eight feet Life and to seek salvation. I was like one who of the family brick bed on which to sleep, just as had made her bow in the dark. While listening, everybody else. My highly esteemed grandfather my heart was mirrored before God, and I saw the was a chief priest of the Lotus Goddess and my blackness of my sin. I believed what the preacher uncles were leaders of Buddhist pilgrimages. Yea, said and knew that I was cleansed from my inthey even were active fighters in the great anti- iquity. At that time I was born again, a new Chdstian movement of 1900 when all over the woman, and my heart became settled in quietness land many missionaries and thousands of Chris- and peace. tians were killed. My honorable father was also an ardent Buddhist, who cared for the gods and "Afterwards that young man taught me to pray spent many pieces of good silver to help rebuild and to read the new…style writing. He put the our village temple. And my mother, though only Word of God into my hands and my faith grew a country woman of simple mind, knew all about until it became the most precious thing on the the gods and was a vegetarian for many years to earth to me. I witnessed to my relatives about it please Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Happiness. I but their temper rose hotly within them against myself desired from childhood on to serve the gods this new and strange doctrine. In their hardness of heaven, and with my very flesh and bones I of heart they vowed never to throw a single idol loved to do all that is good. Therefore I was set away nor to forsake the temple. aside to become a 'witch woman' of the group of the Lotus Spirit. "Years went by and my grandparents and par- ents all died, leaving me without proper care and protection. My uncles therefore took me in and [409 ]
filled my ears with many good promises if I only fore I could wean them. For this I bore a thouwould renew my faith in the old temple idols. sand bitternesses-but no more need to be said of They would have adopted me as their own daugh- such things. ter if I had but burned a little incense before the household idols; but I could not do such a thing "One morning, when the spring was young and and displease my Saviour. I was doing the housework, I sang a chorus 'Heaven is my Home.' My sister-in-law hearing "Then my relatives married me into the house- this cried out in great wrath: 'I surely will help hold of Hsu of the Village of the Seven Precious you to ascend to your Heaven.' I was ignorant Things, to a young man I had never seen before, of her intentions and did not in the least suspect nor even heard of. This is the custom of our coun- that she had put poison in the few mouthfuls of try of Central Glory. I was already twenty-two spinach I had with my millet. That night my years of age, and upon my arrival in my new body grew hot with fever and in the morning I home, I learned that my lord and master was but was stiff with cold. I could not utter any speech, a boy of fourteen years. From the first I saw that neither did my eyes see any light, and everybody the look on his face was sullen, yea, even when I said, 'She soon will die.' Hastily they bargained bowed myself three times before him, I knew that for a fiat cart drawn by mules to pull me to the he was a rude thing who did not know a whit of home of my uncles that I might die there. manners. And his relatives acted like him. I had brought with me a bride's box of sheepskin painted "At midday, when the sun was high in the skies red with beautiful trailing clouds. In it I had put and I was lying in the cart rolling hither and my garments of red and blue as a bride always thither on account of the many ruts in the road, has, but also my Bible and hymn book. I had I awoke a little and dreamed a beautiful dream. scarcely been in the house a few hours when the I thought I saw a big ladder reaching from heaven mother of my lord snatched the key out of my to earth and on it an angel came down carrying hand and looked hastily through the box. When medicine and food for my body. When the angel she found my Bible and hymn book, her heart be- was about to touch my heart and heal my body, I came course with anger. She cursed me fiercely cried out, 'Oh, most Gracious One, let there be a and, just as when a dog barks at something a hun- limit to my suffering and let me die in peace.' dred dogs start barking in chorus, all my relatives- Then that one answered saying, 'Not so; it is in-law joined her in reviling me. God's will that you shall live ; be of good courage.' I answered, 'If this truly must be so, grant me "Afterwards I learned that my uncles had sent three requests.' Then that one said, 'Is there anywords of warning about my Christian faith, say- thing too hard for the Lord to do?' I replied, 'See ing that by all means they should drive the evil to it that those to whom I belong allow me to folspirit out of my vitals. They stated that in doing low Christ. Arrange for me that I may study the so it would be considered only a small matter with Bible, and let those who are in authority over me them if they beat me to death. This was the rea- give me freedom to unbind my feet.' Touching my son that, though I was before my young husband forehead the angel replied saying, 'Your requests like a sampan that waits on a steamer, I did not are granted and so shall the Lord do to you.' find favor in his eyes, neither received any kind Straightway my stomach was cured of illness and words from his parents. It was my lord's busi- great peace was within my heart. ness to braid mats and to sell straw shoes but most of the time he was weary from idleness, and "When my uncles saw me entering their home, had much leisure in which to find fault with me. they said, 'How is this strange thing? This sick- ness is not unto death and how is it that her par- The affairs of that home were like the hills, with ents-in-Iaw give themselves the weariness of sendthe even places few and far between. On the day ing her here?' And all the neighbors looking at of my arrival they burned my Bible, hymn book, me said, 'Surely, she will not die and the wages of and tracts in the courtyard before a picture of the the cartman are but wasted.' Then I testified with gods of heaven and earth. But no shouting nor a power which was not my own but of the Holy beating with sticks could induce me to rise from Spirit and there was no one that dared to raise my knees when in the morning and evening I his voice against me because the Lord was at my knelt in prayer to my Saviour. side. In all the months I stayed in my uncle's house my life was as a road of heavenly peace. "Some years passed and to all of the people in The women and children gathered daily in my' the home of my parents-in-law I was like a mirror room to study the Word of God and many a man hung with the glass to the wall. I bore my master stood behind the street door curtain to listen. two children but the words he ever spoke to me were seldom heard. I was beaten so often that "Then one day, when the winds of autumn bemy bruises never disappeared. The measure of gan to blow, my husband stood at the gate and millet, left for me in the cauldron, was so small commanded me to follow him. As there was that my children were weak at birth and died be- nought to do but to walk behind him, I said fare-
BEATEN BUT UNCONQUERED IN CHINA
well to my relatives. All the weary way back to follow him any longer. Finally my relatives sucmy husband's home the tears blinded my eyes and ceeded in satisfying him. The law of our land one by one they dropped on the Bible I carried set me free and even gave me my son to rear, wrapped in my handkerchief. When I arrived though he was the only grandson of the family. within the enclosure of his home my husband Soon afterwards came the complete answer to my grabbed me, bound me with ropes and hung my prayer and I was permitted to study the things body from a beam in the house. Then he and his concerning the Bible in a special school for that mother used sticks and a big whip upon me in a purpose. Now, out of the goodness of your heart, long and fearful way. But I never as much as you have allowed me to be an evangelist to go cried out for mercy. I prayed to my Father in among my own Chinese people with the Gospel of heaven and did count the pain but joy. For many Salvation. Here I am, a lowly servant of Christ months that followed my husband and his brothers Jesus, taking my place in the fields of the harvest and their mother often used big sticks upon me, in this great country." but I always prayed as before and quietly praised my God in whispered songs. A DEAF LADY'S APPEAL TO THE GODDESS OF MERCY "One day they locked the gate of the house and again bound my body by a rope to a beam and By ROBERT B. EKVALL, B.A., F.R.G.S.* beat me until my breath came in gasps. Then my Christian and Missionary Alliance, Kansu mother-in-law urged her son to use a knife on me good and deep so as to cut the evil spirit out of Goddess of Mercy, the incense burns with framy body. In great confused hurry he hunted all grance sweet, over the house for the big kitchen knife, but the God of Heaven blinded his eyes so that he could But sweeter yet if I were not so poor; not find it. Then they all shouted and together The best that I could buy for I am poor. they beat my body with sticks. The pain became Ah, Goddess, hear my prayer. so fierce that I let my voice go out in loud screams. For you can hear. The neighbors heard it and one man climbed over Your ears are not dead stones that numb your head the roof into the courtyard and protested against As mine have been these past five years. their beating me to death. He bowed himself to Ah, Goddess, hear. the ground before my husband and my fatherin-law saying, 'If she has caused you loss of face But maybe now my tongue has lied on account of her disobedience I will repay for her And makes no sound. I wish I knew. sin with this bow. But let there be an end to this Perhaps my voice is dead-and after? thing. We, your neighbors, do not want our street The world is but a picture now; and if to be talked about and we most surely do not want Death dropped the veil, among the spirits the police to inquire about our affairs.' Then they Could a deaf old woman find the way? unbound me and locked me in a small room where No hope beyond, and half lost, stumbling now. frequently someone came in to beat me with a stick. But Christ Jesus strengthened me and was Goddess of Mercy, just one day that I with me in that little room so that I did not starve Might hear. For in the house across the street with the scanty food which was left for me. The foreign lady tells strange things. I know That they are strange, for Mei Nai Nai, "Some time later, on a night when the moon Who has not smiled for twenty years was misty and the clouds were heavy with rain, Till yesterday, cried, and then through tears a kind niece came into the house saying, 'Set forth She smiled, like summer's sun through falling rain. quickly, I have unfastened the gate, the road is Their lips are twisted by strange words; my eyes before you. Why tarry here any longer?' Pray- Are old! I cannot see. And even when ing to the Lord to protect me I ran as long as My son has mouthed the words he finds within the dim moonlight lasted. When the sun arose Their books, they seem so strange. I slept hidden in the fields with my Bible for a A story? But what story makes old hearts young? pillow. After suffering much from hunger and I watch his lips until he points above and says one weariness I safely reached the mission and friendly hands led me to the Industrial School for word. Women. A month later my son was born. As a Goddess of Mercy, let me hear but once that word means to earn something for food and clothing I That I may laugh through tears and feel at peace. gratefully took up making with my hands the colorful things which ladies in foreign lands like My incense ash has dusted all the floor; to put into their homes. The Goddess has not heard. The word-the word- "Boldly my husband came to claim me, threat- Five years too late. I cannot hear. ening to go to court about it when I refused to * Copyright From The Alliance WeeklY.
of Sin Bondage of Sin Allurement of
COLORED POSTIDR NUMBER 7- THE SIN PICTURES The Use of Chinese Gospel Posters I I~- Prepared by R. W. PORTEOUS, Nanchang, Kiangsi China Inland Mission Bible Training Institute SOME four or five years ago at a monthly mis- similar work might be done in all the military hos- sionary meeting, the writer happened to be pitals throughout the country. Instructions were sitting opposite Madame Chiang Kai-shek. immediately issued to all the military authorities She beckoned me to come over and asked if it to welcome Gospel workers in all such hospitals.
would be possible to get the various missionaries Weekly visits have been maintained in all kinds working in the city to unite in an effort to bring of weather and thousands of suffering men have the comfort of Christ's salvation to the wounded thus heard of Him who suffered, the just and the soldiers in the four large military hospitals in unjust, to bring them to God. As Madame Chiang N anchang. so aptly put it, "Be sure and tell them of the One Thus the work which, during the intervening who suffered more than they ever did!" Hundreds years, has been successfully carried on with the of these men have been brought to a definite ac- blessing of God, began with weekly visits to each ceptance of the message of life in Christ. Not a hospital. On receiving the fi~st annual report, few have died rejoicing in their new-found Sav- Madame Chiang wrote expressing the desire that iour. One or two hundred more have openly con- [412 ]
THE USE OF CHINESE GOSPEL POSTERS
fessed Christ as their Saviour before their offi- one, whose face beamed with happiness, said, "I cers, and several have taken a definite public stand am praying to God three times every day, in the for Him. Now the military prison is being visited morning, and at midday, and in the evening."
weekly by three groups of missionaries; through Here is another incident. On entering a small the generosity of the Bible Societies each of the ward, we found a very sick man, an officer, to' 600 to 700 prisoners have received cloth-bound whom we spoke a few words of co:r:nfort and help. pocket Testaments. Scores of these men are be- The following week we called in to see him again, ing brought to definite decision at the weekly Gos- and found his wife, who was a Christian, at his pel meetings held in the prison. bedside. The patient being slightly better, we Gospel and Wounded Soldiers* were able to have a longer conversation with him and, before we left, he said, "I will believe. Pray In addition to the United Gospel Service held weekly, which all attended who were able to be about, we also had the privilege of visiting the more serious cases in the wards. As we went our round amongst these poor sufferers, many showed great interest in the Gospel and, at times, as we bent over some sufferer, we would hear him say, "Yes, I am praying to Jesus." There were a num- ber of exceptionally bright cases of conversion and several died confessing Christ as their Sav- iour. One young man looked up into the face of the worker who enquired how he was, and said, "No, I do not want food. All I want is Jesus."
One poor fellow, lying on his bed in a state of extreme exhaustion was too far gone to speak, we were told. After several of the other sick ones in that ward had been spoken to, we sang a hymn, followed by a few words of explanation. Suddenly from one of the beds a man called out in quite a loud voice, "I believe on the Lord Jesus." Look- ing round, we found to our amazement that the words came from the lips of this dying man, whom we had been told was too ill to speak. Later on we had a conversation with him, and felt assured il~~.1that his faith was real.
Another case was that of a man who heard the Gospel before he had joined the army, but it was ~J.~J.' only during his stay in the hospital that he de- cided for Christ. As we were bending over a bed ………-., ~f&~~A·-t to speak to a sick man, a voice behind us said, "I …………. believe." Turning around, we found this man who was looking exceedingly weak and ill. He POSTER NO. I-THE DOUBLE FACE smiled and said, "I have read the books you gave me, and now I am trusting the Lord Jesus for salvation. I know He died on the Cross for my for me, and pray with me." On our next weekly sins." He went on to tell us much more, and we visit, as we entered the ward, the dear man's face were amazed at the understanding of the truth he beamed with joy as he said, "I do believe. I am had acquired in so short a time. trusting the Lord for salvation." After we had prayer with him, he himself prayed and gave We were standing in the ward when we saw a thanksgiving to God for all His mercy in saving man beckoning to us. He was very sick with his soul, and granting him remission of sins. His fever, and unable to speak coherently but after a words came feebly, for he was still suffering time we understood that he had attended one of greatly, but we know how well-pleasing to the our Gospel meetings, and now asked if we would Lord such a prayer must have been. A few days pray with him. A patient in the next bed re- later, as we paid our usual visit to the same hosmarked, "He knows how to pray himself. He has pital, we hurried in to see this friend, but instead always prayed before having his food I" Another • From The Chinese Recorder. of being met with his welcoming smile we saw
•..l -«- -itt A ~ ffJ h…, . ,f~ :~ 1 rt ~ 1 NUMBER 2-THE GRACE POSTE'R NUMBER 9-THE TRAIN POSTE'R that his bed was empty; and bedding and every- an excellent method of presenting the Gospel mes- thing else had been removed from it. On enquir- sage to old and young, especially to the illiterate ing from one of the patients near by, we heard in the unreached country districts. The Evan- that he had passed away two days previously. gelistic Bands, mostly supported by local Kiangsi churches, have found them just the thing they One of our workers who was looking around need to grip and hold the attention of those whom the ward, trying to find one of the patients he had they are seeking to interest in the Gospel message. spoken to previously, who had confessed to hav- ing received salvation, was addressed by one of The following is a description of posters pub- the soldiers who said to him, "You are looking for lished during the past six months: So-and-so, but he has gone. As he was dying, he knelt on his bed in prayer before us all." No. 1. The Smiling or Double Face. Showing the blessedness of the man whose sin is forgiven, A great help in this effective and intensive whose iniquity is covered. The face turned round evangelism has been the visualizing of the truths shows sadness. There is "no peace" to the wicked. of the Gospel by means of large, specially pre- pared, illustrated Gospel posters in various colors. No.2. The "Grace" Character. Showing the Christian workers elsewhere have expressed a de- word for "Grace," on the cross which stands at the sire to have these posters published, and over fork roads of life and death. The poster bears twenty have been put through the press; thou- the text: "We have all sinned and come short of sands of these are now in circulation throughout the glory of God." The question is asked, "Friend, China and most encouraging reports are reaching which road are you traveling." us from field workers of our own and other mis- sions. They tell of their usefulness in attracting No.3. The Joy Spring Poster. Showing a the crowds in the marketplaces and country vil- mountain scene with bamboo trees, some of which , lages, also in the city churches, Gospel halls and are cut down and used as water pipes to bring thE: streets. The revival poster was used to stir up fresh mountain spring water down to supply the the Christians in one district to pray for revival needs of the family. The text is: "Now may the and led to a time of real blessing. God of peace fill you with all joy and peace in be- lieving (the water pipe which keeps the Chris- Our student Preaching Bands, sent out from tian filled) that ye may abound in hope through Bible Training Institute in twenty to thirty groups the power of the Holy Ghost." during the past five years have found these posters
Foward Evangelism Posterst NUMBER 8-INVITATION: "COME"
No.4. Large Clock Poster. A clock hung on a large and will look up." Then the prayer in large characters, red cross with the hands pointing to God's hour; "Now "0 Lord revive Thy work and begin in me." is the accepted time." No. 12. True Happiness Poster. This poster is specially No.5. Tke Christian's Two Wings. A mountain scene, designed to take the place of the empty characters diswith one eagle flying, wings outspread, on which is shown played in the homes of the people at the New Year time. the Chinese characters for prayer and Bible study. The The large character which hangs on the Cross, bears the other eagle, perched on the ground trying to fly with only Gospel message in a nutshell. (John 3: 16.) At each one wing, on which is written "Prayer" in Chinese, show- corner there are in four characters, "He that believeth ing how both wings are necessary to become a (soaring) shall be saved." spiritual Christian. Special Offer. A sample copy of each of our local posters, 12 in No.6. The Fundamental Truths of the Gospel. Show- all, will be sent' post free in China only to any address on receipt ing a large "Fuh" (Happiness) character in front of the of $1.0(} either in stamps or C. 1. M. Note. cross, with descriptive sentences of the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension.
No.7. The Sin Pictures. Three pictures on one poster: The deceitfulness of sin-a spider's web with insects caught in it.
A prisoner behind the bar, showing the bondage of sin. A black horse galloping towards a precipice-the dan- ger of sin.
No.8. Large character posters (size, 30×22 inches). Price, 5 cents each.
The character for "Come," printed in three different colors, with suitable texts, "Come unto Me," etc.
The character for "Righteousness" in three different colors, with appropriate explanations.
Orders may be sent with stamps or cheque to the Secretary, Bible Training Institute, C. 1. M., Nauchang, Ki.
Sets of Children's Posters, prepared by Miss Florence Luton, size 30×22 inches. Price, 10 cents each; or $1.00 per set of 10 in four colors.
No.9. The Train PostM', showing a man bound to railway track-descriptive of the danger and binding power of sin. The train judgment is seen approaching.
No. 10. Tke Boiling Kettle Poster. Showing a steaming hot kettle with a glowing fire underneath. The locomotive originally came out of the kettle, but as in every country, so in every church, locomotives-outstanding preachersare none too numerous. There is need, however, for a boiling kettle-a red hot witness for Christ-in every home.
No. 11. A Revival Prwyer Poster. Showing a Christian at prayer with his open Bible before him; the clock above him is pointing to 5 a. m. A scroll by the clock bears the verse, "In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee t Just published. New Gospel posters prepared by the Nanchang Bible Institute. C. 1. M.• Nanchang, Kiangsi; 42×30 inches; printed in three to four colors; ten cents each.
THE COLPORTEUR TO THE RESCUE Colporteur Lee Hiap Loong in Malaya reports that one day he met an old Hakka lady. He asked her to buy the Scriptures, but she gave no answer, scolding him instead, so he turned away. About a month later he visited the same place, and seeing four young chicks had fallen into the drain, he picked them out. They happened to belong to the old lady, who came out just at that moment and thanked him. She asked if he was still selling the Scriptures, and bought a Mandarin New Testament. Later she went to his house for interviews, and afterwards joined the Church, throwing her idols into the sea.-Fr01n the British and Foreign Bible Society Report.
in the Papuan
The Report of a Recent Trip Among Raw Heathen in the Abau District By RUSSELL W. ABEL, Kwato, Papua * Missionary of the Kwato Mission of Papua LTESS than two years ago (in November, 1935) ney from here on the way to Abau which we at Mr. Cecil Abel of the Kwato Mission, with a length reached on the third day. team of Papuan Christian evangelists visited After which a two and a half hours' journey the unevangelized villages of the Abau or Dore- round the beacons brought us finally to the man- vaidi district of Southeastern Papua. They found grove belt, in a clearing of which is tucked the the people steeped in murder, sorcery, warfare, little station Duram. Here the advance team that filth and many forms of sin. The response of .left Kwato ten days earlier and including Davida, some to the Gospel message was remarkable, espe- Merari, Alice and others, were awaiting us. They cially as these ignorant and degraded primitive had held camps at Segini-a group of villages of people saw and heard what Christ had done for "bush" people, about 700 in all, living up the Rob- their fellow Papuan members of the Christian inson River-and Ganai, a salt-water village of team. Five chiefs asked to return to Kwato with coastal Mailu-speakers. They had had a hard time Mr. Abel in order that they might see for them- at both places. At Segini the people simply took selves the results of the Gospel in the villages to to their heels at the approach of the campers.
the east. They came, they saw and were con- They camped away in their gardens and sent mes- quered by the evidences of the love and power of sages to say: Christ. (See September, 1936, REVIEW.) Then "We don't want missionaries. Weare ignorant they returned to their own villages to tell what Kunikas (bushmen). If you come you will doubt- they had seen and to try to win their people to the less make us wise. What then? Then the Gov- new Way of Life. ernment will say, 'These are not ignorant bush Here is the report of a subsequent trip made by people, they are mission people.' Then we shall Mr. Russell Abel and a Papuan team last May be made to pay taxes like the salt-water people."
when they visited the new district of Keveri and They had thought it all out. They reckoned it revisited the Dorevaidi villages. It is a story of was just a ruse, and they weren't having any!
modern wonders of the power of God to awaken (It should be explained that bush pepole, not hav- and transform ignorant savages through the work ing any means of making money, are exempt from of the Holy Spirit and the simple testimony of taxes.) Christian believers. What would be the results At Ganai it was the same. In the middle of the if such signs were always following those who be- village stands the dubu (temple) with its deeply lieve and follow Christ in America and other parts concave roof and almost vertically pointing gables.
of this disturbed and sin-stricken world! Mr. Within its dark recesses were incarcerated three Russell Abel reports: youths, initiates undergoing their period of seclu- Our team was a motley one, including Frank sion. These ceremonies are accompanied by Briggs (.a white visitor), Tiraka and a number feasts. It may be that the arrival of a team at of Kwato boys, village folk from different parts such an inopportune moment Was a cause of em- of Milne Bay and eleven young fellows from Bu- barrassment. However, the result was the same.
hutu Valley. Splendid workers the latter proved "We don't want you here," they said. "What to be-alert, disciplined, and experienced in per- good are you? Do you offer to pay our taxes for sonal work. Strangely enough a number of them us? No. Do you make our gardens grow any had never even been to Kwato, though they had better? No."- thoroughly assimilated all that Kwato stands for Nevertheless the guidance was for a week-end in the Christian life and testimony. We picked camp back at Ganai, which was held with very up the Buhutu contingent at Konemaiawa, the different results as will be seen.
nearest port of call for Buhutu, and a day's jour- We spent a day of preparation in Duram, dur- ing which the plan became clear to us-our vari- Ne•wThYeoArkm; erW icaanlteHreaMdqcuDaorutgerasll,ofTtrheiassumriesrs.ion is 156 Fifth Avenue, ous responsibilities allocated, and our swags and [416 ] provisions apportioned and packed in readiness. summit of a round-topped hill. A river bordered- One team was to make for Dorevaidi, and one for by trees wound in and out between the hills and Keveri. A third team, including the girls, was across the valley. From our height our boys to spend the week-end at Ganai, and then await eagerly speculated on suitable sites for football word from us before proceeding inland. We were grounds,! Some, really too modern for words, uncertain about what accommodation there would tried to decide upon the best place for a landing be. In fact we were entirely uncertain as to what ground for future aeroplanes! Papua, 1937. lay ahead, except that there was great opposition We returned~all tiredness gone, it is true-to to the Mission in Keveri, ;:tnd that heathen feasts the preparation of our evening meal. and dances (fertility rites) were in full swing in the district, which we learned at Abau, and which Some of the boys wandered up another track, made it still more unpropitious a time to be going which led to a tiny bush village. There were inland. A MUD BESMEARED WIDOW OF THE So we went! KEVERI DISTRICT Sunrise next morning found us aboard the K wato, rounding the beacons on the way to Abau, only two women at home, the rest of the inhabiand threading up the Babaguina River. We had tants having gone to a dance some distance away. morning tea on board, put the Ganai team ashore They told the women we were missionaries. at Ganai, half way up the river, and ourselves further up where the Keveri trail begins. By "Any white men with you?" 10 a. m. we were strung out in a long line, through "Yes." the Babaguina Plantation, and into the forest. "Who? Cecelo or Raso?" (Cecil and Russell We crossed a range of hills. Frank shot a young Abel.) wild boar, and at length we landed on a wide I was thrilled when I heard this, and from river bed (the Godoquina) on the other side of that moment felt no longer a stranger in a the range, at sundown, glad by then to call it a strange land. It was lovely to be known by day. We bathed in the icy, swift-flowing river, name, and in such unfamiliar surroundings. As cooked and demolished the pig, and parked our- we sat down to our meal we kept hearing furtive selvesl under the stars for the night. The next noises in the bush, a twig cracking, a faint rustle. morning, after a very helpful meeting together, We started calling, "Who is there? Is it a perwe set off again, and walked all day. son? Don't be afraid. We are Kwato mission- Two days tramp, boring further and further aries. If it is a person come out and see us." inland, up the stony bed of a rushing torrent, Presently a man cautiously emerged from the over another steep range (3,000 feet), and not a darkness into the light of our hurricane lantern. trace of humanity did we see. Just empty bush He was followed by two women, wrapped in country-miles of it. At sundown we called a bark-cloth blankets, peering over his shoulders. halt at a little clearing in the forest where a rough "barracks" had been erected. We threw ourselves upon the ground. Some started to light a fire and cook our rice. Two or three boys strolled off into the bush. In two minutes they were back, wild with excitement, and shouting, "Weare there! The open Keveri country is close to hand, miles of bare country." They begged us to come and see. "Oh, we are too tired," some of us said.
"Your tirednes,s will disappear when you see this wonderful sight. Ours did!"
We were carried away by their enthusiasm, and all jumped up and followed them up the hill. Suddenly the forest ended and miles of rolling, grassy country opened up to view. It was an exhilarating sight,and utterly unlike Papua. Our lads, never having seen anything but land heavily clothed in deep forest, found it breathtaking. The sun had set and delicious cool breezes swept up the hillsides, rippling the grass. In the distance was a little village perched on the
.One had an infant hoisted on her head. We Bolubaba. He is having a hard time. The peomade great friends with them, and eventually ple of his village have threatend his life and told pursuaded them to share our meal, which they him that if I, or Cecil, or anyone from Kwato appreciated. A shower ended our chat over a visits their village they will kill us. broad leaf piled with rice, and we scrambled into the rickety barracks, where we sang choruses We mounted a steep hill, on a shoulder of which and ended the day with a time of prayer and was perched the fenced village of Bolubaba. praise. There was Elebe, smiling welcome, and thrilled to recognize the members of the team he had met Early next morning we were strung out once at Kwato. Elebe had been led to believe that we more in a long line, crossing the grassy un- were coming and that he was to build a house in dulating Keveri plain. The road wound between readiness. Fortunately Elebe had acted on this conical hills. What villages we saw were perched guidance with the result that in the circle of dirty, on the summits of these hills. Our dinner guest crowded houses was wedged a nice, brand-new of the previous evening joined us as guide, and one, on high stilts, with a little balcony in frontmade himself quite one of the party (a -couple all ready for our occupation. The people were of days, later he was already embarked on the very friendly, and brought stacks of sugar cane Christian life). Women seeing us coming miles of the sweetest, juiciest variety. away, ran up the hills nearest the road, and called down to us as we passed: For the next three days we lived in this heathen village. The inhabitants, are continually sucking "Who are you? Where are you going? Who sugar cane, and throw the chewed refuse over the are the white men?" fence. This bred flies in millions and we could hear a constant hum in the background, like a dis- To this our guide responded: "Missionaries. tant organ. Everything in our little hut was Bolubaba. Raso and his friend. They say, 'Come crawling with flies. and see us at Bolubaba!' " The most curious feature of Keveri men is the On hearing we were missionaries they shouted, custom of wearing seven or eight smooth, horny "Agutoi!" (greetings) the Suau word which they tails from the backs of their heads. These are learned when Cecil and the first team came in- fixed on to the actual hair, permanently, and bound land and visited them eighteen months ago. Fur- tightly in leaf. The whole bunch of tails is then ther along two tall, well-built men, clad in the kept carefully covered with a wrapper that pulls scantiest scraps of bark-cloth, waylaid us and on backwards over the head. A little rattan halo seemed really glad to see us. One, an influential crowns the headdress, with tufts or sprays of casman and the heir of a village chief, said: sowary feathers· at the sides, and a fringe of stiff fibres frames the forehead. Over the fringe is "Cecil talked with me when he was here. He worn the shell homicidal ornament, which begins taught me how to pray to God and I have prayed at the right temple, crosses over the forehead like ever since." a bandeau, and hangs swinging down the left side to the knee. The cap or tail covering is tarred a (This, man is now converted and is coming to shiny black with a filthy mixture of wild syrupy Kwato for training.) honey and soot. And bodies are also shined up with a lacquering of sticky honey! This is in lieu This seems to have been a tactic of Cecil's, as of oil which, like salt, is a commodity entirely lackwe met several who told us this. Groping up- ing inland. The men are murderers. We looked wards toward God, through their ignorant into faces that appeared to be utterly bad. It prayers, had given the Holy Spirit His chance to would be hard to imagine a worse set of ruffians get into their hearts, and we found these marvel- than the male population of Balubaba, taken at lously ready. To others our words were unin- its face value. telligible, but in those, however heathen, who had prayed, there was a responsive chord. In Women seemed to be outnumbered by men, and some way prayer had meant something to them, we were pained to learn that tiny girls were alas they tried to tell us in limited, pidgin Motu, ready wives, and sadly enough wives of grisly old it had made them "feel sweet inside." They men; poor little drudges, cheated of childhood, wanted to know more. One man told me with and working like miniature old women at garden~ bated breath that he knew a little about God; he ing, carrying firewood, peeling and cooking. had been praying secretly, and it had made him strong. Now he is praying openly. Heathen though life in this village appeared, there was at the same time a bright and constant We were making for Bolubaba, Elebe's village. witness by Elebe and two men whom he has won. This man and a friend from further inland, spent These three let what light they had shine out. three months at Kwato, about six months ago, Every time strangers arrived they talked to or and returned, having been converted. Then silence engulfed them. The friend is entirely alone at a village about three days' walk from
EXPERIENCES IN THE PAPUAN BUSH
prayed with them. Often you would hear the "Why had we come?" murmur of prayer in some part of the village. Most important to all of them was the ques- Someone was being taught to look up. Women, tion, "Did we put a travatu–ban or taboo-on starting off for their gardens in the morning, their ceremonies, dances, headdress? If not, would first find one of these men and ask him to should they continue with the festivities that pray with them before they left. The women night? Would it be safe for them to do so?" seemed singularly ripe soil, poor souls. Chris- "Safe?" I queried, "What do you mean by tianity will be all gain to them. Morning and eve- that?" ning prayers were quite an institution in the vil- Well, they explained, if they went, in the face lage, although the antagonism of Mura, the chief, of our disapproval, would we make a prayer to made this difficult. Apart from the above three in- God and bring down His wrath upon them? quirers, there were a few people secretly intrigued There was great fear of this, and it was on this by the "New Way," but afraid of the others. that they really wanted our opinion. There seemed to be open disgust and impatience with the little handful of pioneers. Elebe is quite A KWATO TEAM WORKER AND A NEW CONused to unpopularity now. This was the situation VElRT FROM THE I NTERIOR OF PAPUA we seemed to find everywhere in Keveri. I replied that we had not come to make a lot of When Cecil Abel made his first brief tour of the taboos, or interfere with their affairs. We had district eighteen months ago the people had lis- brought a new kind of life altogether in which God tened attentively to all that the team had had to is our Master and we obeyed Him. They had not say. Many felt glad at the thought of an end of taken that step yet, and so were free to follow the old ways, and hoped the Mission would tame their own wishes. We said that God wanted them them and that killing would stop. But this respon- to turn to Him, not ignore Him. Probably when siveness was soon dispelled by wild reports cir- they changed they would not want many old cusculated as to the awful things it was alleged would toms any more, but in any case there was no happen if people started following the "New Way." "ban." These yarns eventually reached the Government ears and were attributed to distortions on the part This was the answer we felt led to give them, of converts from Dorevaidi (the adjacent inland but they were not quite satisfied. There were at district), misrepresenting what they had learned. least six men, three in Bolubaba, and three from I found no mystery whatever about the origin of other villages with whom some of the team had these stories, and traced them largely to three already had talks, and who were known by all to men, die-hards of the old Papua. They were all be openly "seekers." prominent in the feast and fertility rites that were taking place. Pr6bably the fear that the new "What about them?" the people asked. "Were ideas would upset the ancient traditions and cus- they coming to the feast?" "Well," I said, "I'm toms in which they were important personages, not stopping them. Ask them." made them kick all the more. Anyone, they said, who joined the "New Way" would die. Their gardens would not bear. If they decorated themselves, God would be angry and make the sun wax hot and scorch them to death. There were many other predictions, quite unrepeatable and descending to the ludicrous and the obscene. These primitive, superstitious people with their continual "touch wood" outlook on life, were frightened, and felt it safer to have nothing to do with the new missionary "medicine."
Many of them had very foggy ideas as to what we were. They seemed to regard the Mission as a kind of "government," unarmed, but in league with the unseen, which is far more terrifying to primitives than police, or a term in gaol. Without experiencing this, no one quite feels himself a complete man.
The first afteroon they all crowded round with straightforward questions, which I thought was a sign of intelligence.
One and all refused to go or let their wives go. wouldn't take all this trouble. And we are all too With regard to the latter there was no uncertainty occupied with our old customs even to come and whatever. Why? They said: listen to what you want to bring us."
"All that is darkness. We want you to show us I was quite taken back. The man's conscience light." was pricking; the Holy Spirit was working.
Elebe had thrown away all his sorcery para- The next morning nothing would induce him to phernalia. Some wanted to do likewise. The cere- go back to the long drawn-out festivities. The mony was full of sorcery, and other things for next evening he had given himself to Christ and which all the new converts lost their taste. was drinking in eagerly all we could teach him of the "New Way," and was himself taking part in .a By now the village was ,crowded and the din meeting. If you could have seen the contrast, the was great. There were children everywhere, and unlikelihood, humanly speaking, of such a thing women busy with cooking the evening meal in happening, you would be able to marvel, as we ingenious ovens of hot stones. Out came drums marveled, at the mighty power of God, who hears and headdresses, and conceited youths, eaten up and answers prayer. with pride in themselves, swanked about in their glory, danced, flaunted their feathers, and dis- The next day was the extra day we were led to charged their surplus energy on their drums. spend at Bolubaba. It coincided with the monthly Day of Prayer at Kwato. Many all over the world I asked a small boy, with a daub of red paint on were praying with us specially on that day. It his nose, whether he would like to come to Duram was a glorious day of witness and God gave us for a while and go to school. He swaggered up many opportunities on every hand to talk to peoand down among the crowd, looking comical with ple individually of Him and His way of life for bright red nose, shouting, "I'm going to Duram! them. We entered the people's houses freely, and I'm going to be a missionary!" although a few seemed impatient, most welcomed us and gave us the feeling that a great harvest Suddenly all decided it was time to clear off to was about to be reaped. That afternoon I was the scene of the night's revels, a little village privileged to be present at a little meeting of higher up the hill where food was displayed from Keveri converts – some could only just be called stands and trees, like a harvest thanksgiving. The that-and it was a joy to hear them sharing for drums accompanied a complete abandon to animal the first time their new experiences, and the thrillspirits all through the night. ing first steps that they were being guided to take.
The following day we spent in an empty village We had some good public meetings, in which I -that is to say empty except for the little handful refuted, or tried to, the wild rumors that had been who were occupied with higher things than the connected with our aims in coming among them. parade of world, flesh and devil that was going on The testimony of the Buhutu members of our team elsewhere. We had good talks with these few, but was a great help. They were able to tell a woncould not help feeling we had cornea long way to derful story of what had happened in their own visit a ring of empty houses. "bush" district, of communal life collapsing through fear of sorcery; of villages scattered We were convinced that we were to fight this through internal hatreds, and of the big change situation with prayer, and not accept defeat. We when individuals began letting God into their prayed for those dancers, asking God to bring hearts and lives; of the new, reconstructed life of them to an end of themselves, to satiation and to Buhutu with its flourishing, progressive villages stir them to some vision of the futility of the old controlled by God. They told the story well and degrading life. We prayed until we felt sure of made it personal as they told of their own inditwo things: first that we, that is the few of us vidual part in an this, their own surrender to who were passing through, should remain at Bolu- Christ. These converted "bush" lads were keen baba another day, and second, that all defeatism to do their part in the camp, and an important and any barriers in us had been surrendered and part it was. God's peace filled us instead. The end of this story has still to be told, as I The day wore on with its deserted, "Sunday-in- was only a member of a sort of "flying squad," Scotland" air, but that evening things began to making a hurried round. We set off from there, happen. We were settling down to our evening leaving the main team to carryon, to be reinmeal when a man returned from the feast caned forced later by Davida's team who were working me out. He wanted to apologize for his behavior, up towards Keveri from the Dorevaidi direction. and seemed most upset. We set our faces towards Dorevaidi, passing a filthy, dirt-strewn village where a feast had been "Why, what have you done?" I questioned. held, and later another village, Mukawala, where "Oh," he said, "this is the first time you have ever been to Keveri, and we all cleared out and left you. You have come all this way to teach us something. It must be something great, or you
festivities were in full swing. (They celebrated in The village and its inhabitants are clean; flower a different village each night.) This village too gardens are in front of the houses and a cleanwas in a filthy state, and the jaded crowd gath- swept air made us want to rub our eyes and make ered there looked worn out. They had been at it sure we were seeing straight. all night and looked fed up. Food lay about everywhere, and on a tall tripod where it had been dis- We were given a warm-hearted welcome. At played were still hanging gruesome-looking black- Keveri we had bought all our food from the nasmoked kangaroo-shrivelled and contorted, and tives, rather than have to carry supplies all the coils of smoked python. There were a lot of young way. At Bolubaba we had had a daily hoi-hoi fellows there, poor lads with evil faces, destined (market) when they had brought taitu (food) to for something far better. I compared them with be exchanged for salt. The food was poor, the some of the youth at Kwato, Sariba, Milne Bay good stuff having been devoted to feasting. Now and Bohutu. They were very cordial. We greeted at Ukoudi when women rolled up with net bags them all and hurried on our way as we had a long full of very excellent sweet potato and taro, as a march ahead. I prayed as I walked that God matter of course I opened the swag, and delved would capture the youth of Keveri, and show us for salt to pay them. how to train our own youth into an army of evangelists for the inland frontier. In response to my "Oh," they said reproachfully, "this isn't hoiprayer God gave me a distinct vision about this. hoi. This is our gift. We want you to feel that Three youths running after us asked me about this is your village too. All our food is yours." their dancing. From then onwards-and we stopped at Dore- "Why," they asked, "don't the 'changed ones' vaidi, Nebulu, Makaca and Kurondi and Domara join us?" -not once did we have to buy food. It was heaped upon us at each place and we did not know Elebe was with us so I asked him, "When you how to get through it. were at Kwato did anyone tell you not to dance?" I cannot describe the change, the difference, in "No," he replied. these villages. Dorevaidi is now like a well-run "Then why didn't you join last night? These mission station. The things one noticed first were boys want to know." cleanliness and discipline, and children playing- Elebe thought for a while, then smiled and a lovely sight that made one feel the Lover of chilpointed upwards. He added, "I have no wish to dren was there. We spent two nights at Dorego back to an that." (He would not leave his wife vaidi in a beautiful big house especially built for in that village for a moment-even in the day- the Mission, and had some great times with the time.) people. The reason why things are going ahead there is that the Christians are constantly on the I told them that God had a far better life for job, linking up with other villages further on. them and they were the ones to lead Keveri out of the old ruts and to take the "New Life" to new The farthest outpost is now Orodei, two days' districts. I said we didn't ban those things. journey beyond Dorevaidi, and we are expecting There was no need to. the first converts from Orodei to arrive at Kwato for training. "Wait till you are changed," I said, "you will have not time for such things then. Your lives Two men from Keveri came straight down to will be too full of real things. Like Elebe you the coast, to return to Kwato with us. One was will find, when you give yourselves to God, that the chief of Bolubaba, Mura, who has been a hot you won't care about an that. There is no ban opponent, and whom I was led to invite. To the for you. The only law we have who follow the amazement of all he consented to come. The 'New Way' is to obey God. That does not apply other man was a complete surprise, and the sequel to you yet." to our prayers for Mukawala. Apparently imme- diately after we had left that village the chief I reminded them that whether their tribes pro- leader of ceremonies also left. He announced that gressed, or remained chained to old things, de- he was sick of the whole business and was going pended on them, and prophesied that one day to Bolubaba to find something better. His friends they would open the way for God over those hills quarreled violently about this, but he said, inland. They looked wistful. "Why is it that people have come from every vil- Please pray that prophecy to its fulfilment. lage on the Keveri side for this feast and none We marched through the forest for two hours from Dorevaidi side? Because they are too busy and we emerged upon the village of Ukoudi. Here with new things while we are wasting our time a surprise awaited us. This is a new Christian with old rubbish." village that has recently been entirely rebuilt. The contrast with Mukawala we found a bit sudden! So he walked out on his own party and is now There are fine big houses, facing a lovely river. learning God's will for Mukawala at Kwato.
TO NEW FIELDS IN THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN
Work in Ethiopia and the Sudan By TOM LAMBIE, M.D., Sc.D., F.R.G.S.
Missionary of the Sudan Interior Mission DECENT events in Ethiopia have emphasized A few months ago things in Ethiopia looked dis- ~ anew the unwillingness of the Roman Cath- couraging while recent reports are more prom- olic Church to countenance the presence of ising. We must be patient and see. In the mean- Protestant mISSIOnaries in countries dominated time there has been much disruption in Protestant by their influence. We can understand this feel- mission work. According to our latest reports ing although we do not sympathize with it. thirty-five of Sudan Interior missionaries are to be permitted to stay but these are less than half There seems to be some agreement between the Papal hierarchy and Fascist Rome; but there are of the force two years ago. This Mission, which also points of disagreement between them. The has united with the Abyssinian Frontiers Mission, desire to expel Protestant missionaries from cen- has decided to open a new work on the Anglo- tral Ethiopia may be inspired from the Vatican Egyptian Sudan side of the Abyssinian border in but Fascist Italy may also desire to have none but fulfilment of a former expectation. Italian subjects in Ethiopia, because they might interfere with a strict dictatorship. Mus'solini When Dr. Roland V. Bingham and the writer visited the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan last March the· would like to have things his own way without any Governor-General, Sir Steward Symes, in his first adverse comments from non-Italians. While such sentence remarked: "You do not need to convince an exclusive policy remains in force it makes me of the benefits of Christian missions. I have Protestant missionary work difficult if not impos- seen them at work and am convinced of their sible; even French and other non-Italian Catholic value."
missionaries have been expelled. Two weeks in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was [422 ]
THE CONQUERING POWER OF CHRIST
much too brief a time for a real survey, but we the missionaries who are rendered homeless by were able to make a trip to the Blue Nile and the Italian occupation of Abyssinia. We hope to southern Fung area in a Ford V-8. South of open stations at once at Wisko and Kurmuk. The Khartoum we saw the Gezira irrigated area where latter town is on the Abyssinian border. Gedaref, thousands of acres are being cultivated to grow Kassala, Gallabat and other populous areas are some of the finest cotton in the world. This area on the Sudan Abyssinian border and are accessible was desert a few years ago. by train and motor car.
Wad Medami is a thriving city; farther south The whole area, from the Red Sea westward to are Singa and Sennaar; large villages, practi- Nigeria, is practically without Christian witness. cally all Mohammedan, dot the landscape. Still The United Presbyterians have missions at Kharfarther south, we traveled into the tropical forest toum and on the Sobat River; the Church Miswhere thorny trees are interspersed with enor- sionary Society workers are at Omdurman and in mous baobab trees, fantasic leafless giants which the far south; the Sudan United Mission workers are among the most curious trees in the world. are at Melut and .the Nuba Mountains. These are Still farther south, about seventy miles from only bright spots on an immense expanse of un- Roseires and only thirty or forty miles from Abys- evangelized territory. sinian border, are the Inghesana hills with curious rock formations like dolmans; here a range We flew from Khartoum to Kano, from the Nile of hills rises to a heighth of two thousand feet to the Niger, and until almost at the end of the above the flat Sudanese plain. journey, Maidukuri in Nigeria, a distance of nearly two thousand miles, we did not pass over On the sides of these hills and in the valley live any mission station. From Khartoum to Red Sea the Inghesana people from whom the hills take we would not have passed over any, excepting at their names. They are simple farm people who Khartoum itself. grow Kaffir corn in large quantities and have fine cattle. From the dom palm trees they gather What a privilege to have fellowship with our enormous quantities of dom nuts, the kernels of Lord in sacrificial service. This is not an easy which are intensely hard vegetable ivory. field, and we would urge no one to offer them- selves for service here unless they are prepared to These people are without any knowledge of sacrifice and endure hardships. Christ or in the ways of European civilization. If let alone they will soon become Islamized. To We covet your prayers and fellowship as we these people we are planning to go, with some of once more go forward in His Name.
The Conquering Power of Christ L _.o~ By PROFESSOR JULIUS RICHTER, Berlin, GermanYII~o,- O NCE more in our times there is an all-world in a few years or decades. They forget that none discussion of the greatest powers at dis- of these past empires have outlasted even a single posal of the human race. There are four generation; they were similar to Daniel's great different views. image, of imposing brightness yet with clay feet, and a single great stone cut out without hands, One group regards military armaments for smote the image upon his feet' of iron and clay land, sea and air as the greatest force; they lose and broke them to pieces. The iron, the clay, the sight of what has been so irrefutably proved by brass, the silver and the gold were broken to the Great War: that a sudden change of com- pieces and became like the chaff of the summer binations can cause such a transformation of the threshing floors! opposing fronts to emerge that all former calculations are void and futile. Others again think of money as the greatest power. Yet no country was ever able to amass Others think that if some great military genius, such riches of gold and silver and diamonds as like Alexander the Great or Julius Cresar or Na- Spain gathered to itself in the sixteenth century, poleon or Girgis Khan, emerges he will simply or the Inca Kingdom in Peru in the preceding sweep the globe and build up a world empire with-
century. Both of these countries were completely those curious mystery religions invading the Ro- impoverished within one short century and there man Empire from the East and for some centuries has been no recovery even after four or five cen- competing with each other, the balance for a cen- turies. Nothing is more perishable than material tury and a half being doubtful if Mithraism or wealth. Christianity at the very end would get the upper At present there appears to be a general over- hand. Christianity, to general surprise, turned valuation of the power of nationalism; it inspires out victorious, though an all-powerful army was people with a new vigor comparable to a mighty on the side of Mithraism. Yet that Mithraism was stimulant, with a gigantic explosive power, such a spent force to such extent that only the most as we see in Japan, for example. Yet in the his- modern research after fifteen hundred years has tory of the human race, which we know through rediscovered that a long long time ago it was conthe last six or seven thousand years, such national sidered a dangerous rival to Christianity. explosions are almost like the passing bubbles in Why has not Christ been forgotten? Why has a rushing stream; they change color or direction Christianity gone on victoriously? The next seven with the current for a short time, and then the or eight hundred years after Constantine were a wonderful age when all Keltic, Teutonic, Nordic, force is spent. and Slavic tribes exchanged their outworn tribal There is only one Power which through two religions for Christianity. Most of them, of their thousand years has never relaxed and which even own free will, preferred the new Christian relinow is showing no sign of evanescence, that is the gion and considered it the earnest of a new era in Spirit and power of Jesus Christ. Imagine that their national ascendency. you stood under the cross of Jesus in the time of Pontius Pilate and of Caiaphas, the High Priest. So it has gone on through the centuries; and it What would they have said? They would have is a fascinating history to follow, tracing the adpointed in scorn at the young man on the gibbet; vancing Christian faith across land and sea, from a poor artisan from an obscure corner of Galilee, continent to continent. The world missionary at the frontier of heathendom. They would have movement is the vanguard of the advancing power said that He had been parading for two years, like of the Spirit of Christ. some scores of other upstarts, as the promised Messiah, and that the faithful nation of Jews had Here is one point of orientation in our modern discarded him; the political power of Rome had world-wide campaign. We look back on two thoualso justly put him away as a rebel; the highest sand years of victorious advance, no world power ecclesiastical authority had also condemned him we know of has in any respect a comparable as a blasphemer. Of course they would have said record. We study the particular energies which that this Jesus was discredited and destroyed even Christianity has supplied at different times and more than any other previous upstart messiah. among different nations. We ,admire that won- Even the small group of his adherents had de- derful adaptability which could fit into the speserted him. He was ending in shame and despair, cial environment it was facing in different counfor they had heard his last words: "My God, why tries and races; we wonder how it could integrate hast thou forsaken me?" and develop to a higher perfection all spiritual and rational equipments; how it could become in- What would Pontius Pilate have said if you had digenous to such an extent that St. Mary is looked hinted to him that within three of four centuries upon as Polish in Poland and the Sainted Virgin the emperor of the Roman empire would bow his of Guadeloupe has become Aztec in Mexico. With knees before the name of this Jesus and, with the Greeks Christianity developed their philosognashing teeth, would confess: "Thou has con- phy; with the Romans this new faith promoted quered, 0 Galilean!" All types of historians have statecraft; with the Germans "the Holy Roman pondered over the victorious Power which in so Empire became of German nationality" as the short a time was pervading and recasting the earthly incarnation of the Kingdom of God; with mightiest empire the world had yet known. Many the British Christianity inspired their imperial reasons have been advanced but, whatever causes progress with religious responsibility. The relimay have contributed, there can be no doubt that gion of Jesus Christ is still proving its divine the one underlying spiritual Power has been the origin by its wonderful flexibility and power to Christ, himself, the Power of God and the Wis- become all things to all nations, to rejuvenate, dom of God. and purify and enrich all. Missionary-minded' Christians pause for a moment, we look around History did not end at the cross or with the con- and take up our spiritual armor and battle cry quest of the Roman empire. Someone might have anew: In hoc signo vincemus. "Under this ban- imagined that Christianity had been only one of ner we conquer."
Women's Work in a Country
By MRS. JAMES D. WYKER The Federated Church, North Jackson, Ohio "JUST what is woman's work in the country to church rolls and having contests to increase at- church?" I asked a little lady with snow- tendance. He was not a Presbyterian or a Bap- white hair who has been a life-long member tist or a Methodist seeking to sprinkle or immerse, but a Christian out to reveal God, change life and of one. save individuals. He insisted ona decent society "Why paying the preacher and keeping up the in which religious people might be more religious; He desired that the hungry might be fed. He had church building repairs," she answered. Then no fear and did not hesitate to condemn sin whershe hesitated and added, "And, of course, mission- ever he found it, even the corruption of the politiary giving. Women have always done that. Not cal system of his day. People believed Him not many, but a few of us alway.s send in our appor- only because of words He spoke but because they tionment to the Board." saw a radiant personality on fire with a divine message – a man who lived what He preached. "And for what is the missionary money used?" I inquired again. The country church today has the unique oppor- tunity of carrying on this same simple kind of re- "Preaching the Gospel," came back emphatically. "Saving souls."
I went next to an enthusiastic young minister's wife who, with her husband, has dedicated her ligion, unhampered by big church-building debts, life to the work of the rural church. set forms and ceremonies, large maintenance ex- pense. Because of the unique position of the coun- "What is woman's work in the country church?" try church, rural women have unusual oppor- I asked. tunities.
"Helping her church rethink its reason for In the first place, the farm home continues to existing," came the unhesitating reply, "urging it be something of a unit even in a complex, modern to place life ahead of creeds; showing that its world. There are chores to be done and responfield is THE COMMUNITY and that every unreached sibilities that need to be placed on young shoulperson is a responsibility of the church. All of this-with the belief that sharing the message of ders. The family shares many experiences, even Jesus Christ around the world is a task for the its social life, and the minister of the rural church entire church." ministers to the entire family. Woman's work in the country church is first of all to recognize this In her enthusiasm she had generalized, but as and try to preserve family unity, for it is a real I talked with her later I received specific answers in very definite terms. asset to church life.
As I talk with rural church women today, I find The rural woman in many communities today is many eagerly and earnestly agreeing with this faced with the fact that her children attend a fine, young minister's wife. well-equipped Consolidated School during the week The function of the rural church woman has and, on Sunday, must leave their friends and go (if they go) to a small, competitive, denominachanged today because the program of her church tional church. She realizes that though the docis changing. And is it surprising that her church trines of her church are important and she will program is changing to meet new needs? The probably continue to believe them, the emphasis heart of her work continues the same-the shar- of religion today should be, as in the ministry of ing of the teachings and message of a young, rural Jesus, on life. She realizes that if the rural church evangelist, Jesus Christ; but her method of work is to continue its ministry, Christians must learn is changing as she finds the experience of her children to be different from her own a genera- to work together and in cooperation with other tion ago. character building agencies. Small, competitive The religion of Jesus was very simple. Grow- churches, unable to support a resident minister, ing up in a country home, his school the country- will find it difficult to challenge other cooperating side, the beauty of the out-of-doors keeping him groups in the community and to do much about close to the heavenly Father, He grew to under- the large, unreached number of people within its stand and sympathize keenly with people and their boundaries. problems. Religion to Him was not adding names Another responsibility of the c.ountry woman [425 ]
today is to develop an interest in her church for petuation of the Woman's Missionary Society, as wholesome recreation, especially for young peo- such. They do not seem to care that the men are ple. It is unnecessary for rural youth to drive indifferent to the missionary program of the into the city for commercialized "wreck-reaction" church and that the majority of the children and when the country has so much to offer in recrea- young people are unreached. Again it is organ- tion activities. Rural recreational leaders, arti- ization, rather than life. If only our vision could sans in leading folk games and other forms of co- enlarge to see the whole, to know that most men operative play are being developed. Some rural and children and young people are interested once communities have the satisfaction of seeing their they know! Someone has facetiously said that for young pople interested in worthwhile social life, too long in our church work, men have sung: in which the majority participate, while the public Take my wife and let her be dance halls and the beer gardens move out of the Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
community. Most of us who have tried to interest our men "Camps for Mothers" are very valuable in many and boys, with the same fervor and intelligence rural communities. It seems unbelievable, but we have used in the women's missionary work, rural mothers are finding they can lay aside for a have found them responsive and interested. Just few days the responsibilities of home and family as the church should see that the religion of Christ and go off for recreation in the out-of-doors. permeates all groups and agencies in the commu- Many farm women discover unusual beauty at nity, so the Woman's Missionary Society should their very doorsteps. The busy, crowded days at see that the cause of missions is enthusiastically home and the fact that the sunrise, the moon, the trees, the stars "have always been there" has shared with all groups. I know a mother, a memkept many of these women from being conscious ber of a Woman's Missionary Society, who comes of these "aids to worship." home from the missionary meetings and usually says, as she sighs, "Well, that's over for another One rural parish in New York state has built its month" and then wonders why her husband and own cabin in a woods and each year the farm . daughter are not interested in missions! mothers look forward to the cherished days of Jesus had a high regard for womanhood. In rest and relaxation. A rural cooperative church the centuries following his death on the Cross, in Ohio has a camp of its own where each year, woman has achieved more freedom and education. along with other age groups, the rural women live I wonder sometimes, as He watches the Marys and together for a few days. These women look for- Marthas of our rural homes today, if He does not ward to the discussion periods each morning fol- wish we would follow Him more intelligently and lowing the nature hike when they consider such give more time and thought to His work. I wontopics as "Family Worship," "Personal and Home der if He watches eagerly for a Mary Magdalene Relationships," and "The Missionary Task of the as He sees us drag about our church work, giving Church." In the afternoon they read, sleep and only left-over time, attending the Ladies' Aid and rest, following the creative craft period, and then the preaching services because we think we go swimming. After the evening meal, they walk should, and giving to missions only after we have over the ravine and climb up Vesper Hill where, paid for new clothes and other things. away from all worry and burdensome responsi- A story is told of an old colored woman sitting bility, they "draw near to God." on the steps of a church during a Woman's Rights If rural women are to have new visions for meeting in Akron, Ohio, in 1851. She listened to work in the country church today, they must take the fiery speeches by the men for quite awhile, de- time from their labors for rebuilding and rethink- nouncing the idea that women should vote, deny- ing. Out in these well-planned camps (where ing her intelligence, etc. Finally, unable to stand there are no meals to cook and no dishes to wash) it any longer, the old woman walked to the front they find their physical bodies relaxing and rest- of the church, pointed her finger at the men and ing while, at the same time, their spiritual life is said, "If de fust woman God ever made turned quickened. Tired mothers go away more radiant, dis world upside down all by herself, dese women happy Christians. If only rural women would all togedder can set it right side up again and you look about them and discover the material avail- men better let 'em do it."
able for use! If only they would insist on having I pause to wonder what the future of the coun-, a minister trained for his task, knowing and lov- try church might be if rural women "all togedder"
ing rural folk, they would find material and re- would consecrate themselves to the building of sources at hand. . the New Rural Church, where Christians would There are many Woman's Missionary Societies put life ahead of dead dogma and where the coun- (and they are not all in the country) that seem tryside might again hear and share the message to believe that the ultimate goal in life is the per- of the rural teacher, J.esus of Nazareth.
Arab Consults a Missionary Doctor*
A Monolog Purporting to Giv~ the Reaction of an Arab Gentleman of Baghdad to the Christian. Message By the REV. JAMES CANTINE, D.D., Stone Ridge, New York One of the Founders of the Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church in America Persons: pital? Well you can go down and, if you see him, Abd el Kadir, a well-to-do Arab. ask him to come up. . . . Wait! Before you go Zarifa, one of his wives, very ill. open this door by my side and stretch a curtain Amina, his daughter, eight or nine years old, attend- across the doorway. Then tell the servants to bring Zarifa in that room and lay her down by ing mission school. the curtain." Ahmed, his son, fifteen or sixteen, attending Govern- (Servant goes out.) ment School of Engineering. Abdullah, his servant, probably of slave descent. The American missionary doctor.
Place: "I take refuge with God from a house full of women! I hope that doctor will not mind being Abd el Kadir's reception room, long and narrow, with asked to give medicine to a woman." (Turning to chairs and little tables down each side. Doors at curtain.) "Ha, Zarifa, now stop that crying! I each end. Just outside the entrance door Abdul- know it hurts, but it is God's will, is it not? Every- lah is stationed with a charcoal fire for keeping thing that happens is written in His book. Listen, the coffee hot. The door at the head of the room I have sent for the American doctor and, if God where Abd el Kadir is seated opens into another wills, he will give you ·some medicine. Only be room. quiet.
When Abdullah is called he enters and crouches down "Ah, here he comes." (Arises, steps forward before his master. The children kiss the hand of and touches the hand of the doctor.) their father and stand until bidden to be seated. "May God make your morning happy, 0 doc- Abd el Kadir is seated, fingering his beads. He listens, frowns and calbs out, "Abdullah !" tor. In the name of God be seated. If it pleases (The servant enters and Abd el Kadir speaks.) God you are well? Praise be to God I am very "Abdullah, what is this screaming about? well. "You say that Zarifa is very sick! Yes, I know. "Do you drink? smoke? No?" (Calls to Abdul- lah.) That slave woman has been here and has cauter- "Abdullah, coffee! …• ized her, has she not? They are paid according "I have had my servant ask you to come in, 0 to the number of burns they make so I suppose doctor, so that you might, if God wills, give medi- they have done a good job. cine to one of my women. It is scarcely worth "But you say that she gets no better, and that while taking your valuable time, but you were the other women object to her cries and say I passing by and- Yes, that is she whom you hear must do something. God deliver me from such moaning behind the curtain. You can ask her evil! What can I do about it? It is all as God any question you wish. She has been sick severa} wills. I could divorce her. That is easy; just to days and they say she is getting worse.
say three times 'I divorce you' . . . "Oh, no! You cannot see her, but I will let you "Yes, I know, her family is important and I feel her pulse. Zarifa, put your hand under the.
cannot send her away sick as she is. curtain. There doctor!
"What is that you say? . . . Why don't I send "Yes, I expect she is very ill.
for the American doctor? What do you know "You say that if you saw her you might help about him? her? But that is quite impossible. From the time "You hear he is clever and you think he has a I took her no man but myself has seen her face.
kindly face. And he passes by the door every "You say that she may die? That is as God morning about this time on his way to his hos- wills…. You are sorry that there is no woman • Copies of this monologue may be secured from The Woman's doctor here, and you hope that sometime you will Board of Foreign MiSSions, Reformed Church in America, 25 East have a woman doctor to work in your hospital?
22d Street, New York, for ten cents a CODY.
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As God wills! . But you can give her medicine "And how is my little daughter today? Sit to keep her quiet, can you not? I will send my servant to the hospital for it. down here on this cushion by your father's side.
"And your fee, 0 doctor? Your lips are cold, Amina, where have you been? "What, no regular fee? You say that I can give what I wish! Very well, I will send it to the hos- "You are just back from school? Tell me about pital by Abdullah. It will not be a very large fee, but if you get enough of them you will one day that school. It is the American school, is it not? be rich, will you not? "What is this you say? You do not keep these Do you like it? fees for yourself, but use them to buy medicines for the very poor! Ah, that is almsgiving. Alms- "You do! Why? .. You like the school begiving is one of the five pillars of our faith as given to us by our prophet Mohammed, upon cause the teacher is so kind? Is that all? whom be prayers and peace! "Pardon me, 0 doctor, but before you go will "You say that she talks so nice about God! you tell me how you live if you take no fees for yourself? We know your government does not What does she say about God? . . . That He pay you as some governments pay their doctors. "What! You say that the Christian people of loves you and that you must be a good girl and try America send you money enough for your expenses, because their religion tells them to help to please Him. And have you learned about the other people? I am surprised! I did not know the Christian religion was like that. holy prophets, Amina? Which one do you like "Just one more question. Will you tell me why you left America and came here? It seems you best? will not get rich in Baghdad; it is not a very healthy climate for foreigners and you are far "The prophet Jesus! And why do you like the away from your friends. "You say that you have come because you love prophet Jesus best? . . . You say because He the prophet Jesus and want to follow His example. . . . And now you want to ask me a question! took little children in his arms and talked so nicely That is only fair. "Do I know about the prophet Jesus? Oh, yes, to them. But has she not taught you about the the Holy Koran tells us that He was without sin and did many miracles like the other prophets. prophet Mohammed, upon whom be prayers and "Yes, there may be more about Him in your book, but you know that the prophet, Mohammed, peace? upon whom be prayerl and peace, is the seal of all the prophets and that is enough for us. "Nq! Well, Amina, I think it is time for you "You wish I would read more about the prophet Jesus? Well, 0 doctor, some time, if God wills it, to go to another school where you can learn all I will look for a book that tells more about him. "Will you be going now? I am obliged to you. about our holy religion of Islam. Go in the safety of God!" "What! You don't want to go! Now don't cry, (As the doctor goes out, Abd el Kadir continues.) my daughter, don't cry. Perhaps I will leave you "That doctor seems a good man and he does awhile longer in the American School. But tell have a kindly face. Perhaps some time I might be interested in knowing more about the prophet me what else you learn besides reading and Jesus. writing. "Abdullah! Did you take Zarifa to her room and shut the door so that her crying will not "Oh! To sew ? You make dresses for little annoy the other women. Here, take five rupees to the hospital and bring back some medicine for her. girls? But that is foolish; your father can buy Wait! Is Amina about the house? Send her in to me." all the clothes you need.
(Enters Amina and kisses her father's hand.) "You say that they are not for yourself, but for the poor little girls in the school who do not have good dresses! Well! Well! You can go now, 0 my daughter, go and play." (He soliloquizes.) "Now what shall I do? There is nothing to which I can object, but I am afraid of that Chris- tian school. But that reminds me!" (He calls.) "Abdullah! Tell Ahmed that his father wants to see him." (Ahmed enters and stands before his father.) "Ahmed, I am much displeased with you. Some- one saw you going into the house of the American preacher. Is that right? So? Sit down. How did you come to know him?
"He gave a lecture in your school about sanita- tion in America, did he? What does he know about sanitation?
"Oh, he was an engineer before he was a preacher, was he? Well, all that is the business of your principal. But why did you go to his house? _ "You say that he asked the boys to come and'
see some pictures he had brought from America?
Pictures? Why, Ahmed. Now I a.m angry! You know I have forbidden you to go and see those dreadful, disgraceful American pictures!
"But these were not cinema pictures? What then?
AN ARAB CONSULTS A MISSIONARY DOCTOR
"Pictures of bridges and public buildings in that knows me see you buy it. I would be dis- America and England and Russia 1 God curse the graced if it were known that I wanted a Christian Russians, they make it very hard for a good Mos- book. Be careful about that.
lem to live in Russia. But did he say anything "What 1 You have such a book. What does this about religion? . .. He did 1 What? mean? You a MOi>lem and my servant, having "That there is freedom for all religions in such a book 1 How did you get it?
America 1 But, Ahmed, you don't want to know "You say that you were going past a shop and about any other religion than Islam. . . . You you heard someone reading out of a little book do? Why? about the prophet Jesus, and it seemed such good "You will not feel educated -like the boys in words that you bought it.
other countries-unless you know about other re- "You have it here? Give it to me at once so ligions? (Abd el Kadirshakes his head in dis- that I can tear it up." (Abdullah takes a little sent.) And did he say anything about his reli- Gospel from unde~ his garment and gives it to his gion? master.) "So he talked about the prophet Jesus and His "Go away I" (Abdullah leave'S the room.) teaching 1 Well, you have heard enough about "Shall I tear it up? But it may have the name that, ·so do not go again. . . . But you want to of God written in it and I cannot harm that Holy go next Sunday with the other boys? What boys? Name. And this may be the book I wanted to "Well, if the judge and those other men let their buy. . . . I shall just see how it begins. (Turns sons go, I suppose I ought not to object. What is to the beginning-it would be the end of the book he going to talk about? to us-and reads.) 'In the beginning was the "Oh, yes 1 I did see a notice of it in the paper. Word.' The Word? Why that is the name the It says he is giving a series of lectures on the Holy Koran gives to the prophet Jesus. Can there prophet Jesus-His Teaching about Personal Hab- be truth in this book? . . .
its, and Family Life, and Government. Now see "Shall I see what is marked? (Turns pages and here, Ahmed, you go next Sunday and then come reads.) 'I am the way and the truth and the and tell me all about it so that I can correct what life.' The Way? Why we pray five times a day is wrong. . . . That is all, 0 my son I" (Ahmed and ask Allah to 'Lead us in the "right way.'" kisses his father'lS hand and retires, being careful Here is someone who says, 'I am the Way.' Who not to turn his back upon his father.) could say that (reads) 'Jesus Said.' I don't under- "Now, what shall I do about these, my children? stand. He is a holy prophet, but how could he Amina-it would break her heart if now I took say that He is the way to God? . . .
her away from the American School. And then "I will read in just one more place. (Turns I am told that she is a much better girl at home pages and reads.) 'Because I live ye shall live than she used to be-more obedient, kinder and also.' Did Jesus say that? Yes? Strange 1 Of does not use bad words. Shall I send her to an- all the prophets Jesus is the only one our Holy other school and have her become a good Moslem, Koran says did not die, but is now alive in heaven. or shall I let her remain where she is and have Can this be the ground for His saying that those her grow up to be a good woman? who believe in Him shall be with Him in paradise?
"And Ahmed 1 It seems that the young men of "What book is this? Why have I never seen it today want to see all things and decide for them- before? Is this the book I half promised the doc- selves; and they cannot be ruled as I was ruled tor I would read some day? Will it tell me about by my father. It will be better if I try to guide the Jesus that my little daughter loves? Are there Ahmed away from these Christian influences. here the teachings of Jesus that my son wants to Perhaps I ought, myself, to know more about the know about? Shall I, dare I, read it from begin- prophet Jesus. That doctor wants me to know ning to end?
more about His teaching. And I would like to "Surely I am a Moslem. (Recites the creed.) know why my little daughter loves Jesus more 'There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the than she loves Mohammed, upon whom be prayers prophet of God.' But Jesus is our prophet also.
and peace. If I find out the falseness of the teach- Who can forbid me knowing all I can about him?
ing of Jesus then I can correct Ahmed's wrong "If the story of Jesus can make a man like the impressions. doctor come out here just to follow His example; "But where can I get a book about the prophet if this story makes my little daughter love Jesus Jesus? I will ask Abdullah. whom she has never seen; and if it makes my son "Abdullah 1 Abdullah, is there a bookshop in want to know about His teaching, then I ought to the city where they sell books about the prophet read it. (Puts the book reverently on the table.) Jesus? . . . There is 1 Well, I want you to go And if here is the 'straight path' we pray that and buy me such a book. But don't let anyone we may follow, dare I walk therein? God Knows."
Unchanging Missionary
A Challenge and Appeal of Fifty Years Ago* By ARTHUR T. PIERSON Editor-in-Chief of the "Review" for Twenty-three Years. This Year Is the Centenary of His Birth THE argument and the appeal in behalf of These providential signals, and these gracious missions are unsurpassed for variety and signs, being once truly recognized and realized, cogency. . . . The very watchword of the make duty a delight; the work of missions be- Christian life is obedience, and our great Captain comes no longer the cold necessity of obedience, has left us His marching orders: "Go ye into all but the most inspiring, enrapturing privilege.
the world and preach the Gospel to every crea- Only some such exalted conception of this last ture." Such a plain command makes all other commission, and of the supreme blessedness of a motives comparatively unnecessary. . . . Where loving fidelity to our stewardship in the Gospel, there has been given a clear, divine word of au- can lift the Church of God to a higher plane of thority, immediate, implicit submission and com- praying and giving. Better than the conscience pliance will be yielded by every loyal, loving dis- that drives, is the love that draws to the work of ciple. Even to hesitate, for the sake of asking a missions. Once brought to the white-heat of pas- reason, savors of the essence of rebellion. sion for souls, we are henceforth "weary with When our great Commander left us this last forbearing and cannot stay" in apathetic idleness precept, however, He annexed to it a most inspir- and silence; the inward fire must have vent. It ing promise: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto is no longer hard to give, but hard to withhold; the end of the world." That promise has been and, better than the most princely gifts of money, conspicuously and marvellously fulfilled in con- we shall give ourselves "a living sacrifice." . . .
nection with missions; for Christ has been with One startling and comprehensive fact should us, both by His providence and by His grace. The be clearly kept before us-that all the stupendous argument and appeal, found in this providential movements and changes which we have to record, and gracious Presence, have not been properly or refer to, have taken place within less than a considered and appreciated. . . . century! . . . Within the nineteenth century what The providence of God is especially apparent in astounding changes have taken place! That bugle- missions, in the opening of doors, great and effec- call of William Carey has rallied all Christendom.
tual; in the removal or subsidence of barriers; God has opened the two-leaved gates, until the in the preparation of the field and the workmen; last of the hermit nations unbars the doors of ex- in the provision and protection of the la:borers; clusion and seclusion and welcomes to her ports and in the revealing and unfolding to the Church the messenger of Christ. Even the most enthu- of His set times, seasons, and measures for secur- siastic student of missions fails to apprehend and ing new advance and success. Such divine provi- appreciate the grandeur of such colossal move- dence becomes to God's people a glorious and in- ments. Wonderful, indeed, that a hundred open spiring signal both that He is always with them, doors, great and effectual, God should set before and that His pleasure shall prosper in their hands. His Church; but more wonderful the ways in The grace of God appears in missions, espe- which, by keys of His own, He has unlocked the cially in working mighty results and effects, such gates of hermit nations. When, in 1793, William as are plainly attributable only to the Divine Carey, that pious, learned cobbler, went forth as Spirit. These results are wrought not only in in- the first foreign missionary from English shores, dividuals, but sometimes in whole communities; the whole world was comparatively locked against there are some transformations that deserve to missionary enterprise; there was scarce one real be called transfigurations. In the workmen, also, opening into pagan, papal, or Moslem lands to whose consecration to such heroic labors develops preach the Gospel in its purity, or win converts, in them an exalted type of piety, and even in those without molestation and persecution both to the.
who earnestly pray and liberally give for the sup- missionary and the convert. Now the whole aspect port of the work, similar unmistakable fruits of of the world is changed, and there is scarce one this grace appear and abound. . . . closed door, or community where the preacher may not go with the open Bible, or where the convert • From the first chapter of "The Crisis of Missions," published may not, in publicly confessing allegiance to Jesus, In 1886, a great volume that aroused the Church to the claims of Foreign Missions. claim the protection of law.
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I Effective Ways of Working 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~~i==========================~ Shall We Study "The Church ing in towns and villages, un- moving pictures that are so ef- in Rural America"? duly small memberships (aver- fective in the assembly periods age of less than 100, with annual of mission study schools-all of There is a tendency in some per capita expenditure of $13.27 which indicates the trend toward as against $21.50 in cities), in- activating study rather than letquarters to answer in the nega- adequate ministry as to training, ting it pause with "information nonsupport, inability to give full- and inspiration"-which tend to tive in view of the absence of the time service, etc., lack of trained be static. lay leadership, denominational picturesque and dramatic in the competition and overlapping, BAPTIST BOARD OF MISSIONARY EDUtheme, and the apparent diffi- etc. Topping all these is a psy- chological difficulty in getting CATION, 152 MADISON AVE., NEW culty in concreting it sufficiently new standards and a broader outlook, with an unchanged in- YORK: for the younger folk. But no stitution in a changing world. reader of THE REVIEW can fail, Our best endeavors are called for Beginners- in "creating a new moral and after noting the contents of its spiritual top soil for Rural Handwork, visualizations, stories: June issue, to see that nothing America." "The Singing Farmer," 68 cents; of more practical nature or im- "The Friendly Farmers" – projmediate urgency has been offered From r e c e n t' contributions ects and activities included, 50 by the Central Committee for submitted by various denomina- cents; "Farm Life Panel Postour consideration if we are to tional boards of missionary edu- ers" – four brown sepia panels, give the 31,000,000 and more cation, the following materials 12×36 in., with colored cut-outs people (half the entire popula- are cited because they are good to be pasted on, 50 cents. (Order tion) who are tilling God's Gar- in quality and of a sufficiently these from The American Baptist den their opportunity for "the universal character to be used Publication Society, 1701 Chestabundant life." Nor does this with little adaptation by mem- nut St., Philadelphia, Pa.) ; concern dwellers in country and bers of any communion. No one "Farmers in Many Lands"-picsmall towns alone. It is our com- denomination can hope to be ture sheet of 12 pictures, four on mon problem in view of our in- sufficient for even a fraction of American rural life, from which terdependence and the complex the task. And it is only by picture books may be made as situation created by the two mi- friendly borrowings that we can handwork, 25 cents; "Rural Life grations – the exodus of farm- hope to attain all-round effi- Through Teaching Pictures" – 8 bred youths toward the city and ciency. Along with specifically pictures llx15 in., 50 cents. the recent reverse trend caused denominational offerings will be by economic conditions – this found materials from neutral Primarylatter throwing the responsibil- sources, belonging in the units ity for the early training of a merely because they have been Handwork and visualizations the large proportion of our citizen- selected and fitted in by the sev- iJame as for Beginners. Stories: ship upon country homes and eral missionary education boards "The World on a Farm" – illuschurches. The rural world is as best shaping up to their stand- trated narratives, 25 c en t s; confronted by new problems and ards for graded Sunday school aggravated old ones in which we and age-group study. These di- * "Over the Hills and Far Away" all have a common stake. The rect transcripts from the lists economic ones are at the very submitted save space otherwise -series of graded home mission storm center of our national life to be consumed in separate cita- stories, 15 cents. -child labor, the sharecropper tions of publishers, etc. Attensituation, inadequate educational tion is especially directed to the Juniorsfacilities, reforestation and wealth of devices for visualizaplowing of submarginal lands, tions and activations, particu- Handwork, projects and activisoil conservation, collapse of cot- larly to the stereopticon and ties: "Out in the Country," 50 ton tenancy, wage-and-time ad- cents; "Farm Life Panel Postjustments, racial antagonisms [431 ] ers" as listed above; "Picture and a score of others. The reli- Map of the U. S."-art map 30×50 gious ones are even more vexing in. with 18 sketches to be colored and far-reaching – over-church- and pasted on, 50 cents; "Rural Life Teaching Pictures" as pre- viously listed.
Stories: * "Friendship Tales from Far and Near Trails," 15 cents.
Intermediate and Young People- Handwork, etc.: Several of the sets listed above; "Willson's Gummed Paper Letters and Fig- ures"-27 sizes and styles – free from The Tablet and Ticket Co., 115 E. 23d St., N. Y.; "Velox
Transparent Water Color Stamps" and his sharecropper tenant; study abounds in fine story material; the -perforated stamps of 12 colors, of local rural schools; inquiry of four "ranges" rounding up the sub- to be dissolved in water, with librarians as to type of books avail- ject in the closing meeting in a way four brushes and instructions, able and expense thereof; steps to to incite to action. "The Migrant Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, supplement this by making more Map" is another program of a most N. Y., $1.00. Stories: "The Ad- reading matter available; study of practical character, fitting in with ventures of Mr. Friend," 25 cents; cooperative marketing with view to the general home mission theme. its establishment in the community; Outline, 20 cents. * "The Church of the Country- demonstration of social and cultural work in drama, art, music or recrea- The women's group offers as a three side" -10 graded home mission tion and investigation as to facili- months' inset to their booklet on stories, 15 cents. ties for these among your rural citi- "Journeys," a set of outstanding zens; s p e cia 1 investigation of programs on "Journeys Along Rural Visualizations: S t ere 0 p tic 0 n churches in the vicinity as to pas- Roads," in which full directions are slides with coordinated lectures- tors, salaries, equipment, Sunday given for a panel discussion, an "The Little White Church on the schools, type of service most needed; original chart study on "Forward Hill"; "On Lonely Trails with organization of local groups for co- Together for Better Service," and Colporter Missionaries"; "The operation in the Peace Movement. "Journeys Toward the New Day"- Colporter Country," $2.00 each impersonations of the seven groups and carriage both ways. PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF NATIONAL of rural folk listed in the textbook. MISSIONS, CENTRAL DISTRIBUTING While the program booklet inclusive WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MIS S ION of the foregoing contains much UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH, 723 BOARDS, 156 FIFTH AVE., NEW other cleverly conceived program MUHLENBERG B LD G., PHILADEL- YORK: matter, it is all of such a nature PHIA, PA.: that its form and manner of pres- Adult course on "Rebuilding Rural entation are universal and usable "Teaching Pictures on Rural Life America," 25 cents; study book of by folk of any communion. Price, Around the World" – 8 large pic- that name, 60 cents and $1. 50 cents. tures of country folk of different lands, 50 cents; plays-"The Call Young People's and Senior's unit "Early Missionary Journeys" is a of the Hills," 5 cents; "At Devil's on "Highland Heritage"-breaking separate booklet containing a full Nose" (mountain m iss ion a r y down of isolation in Appalachian year's devotional studies in complete sketch), 15 cents; stories – "Ra- Life, 25 cents; book, 60 cents and outline. Price, 15 cents. channy of the Southern Mountains," $1. "Rosann," "Spunk," "Jest Gals," 2 A number of worthful sugges- cents each or 6 for 5 cents. Intermediate unit by Grace Mc- tions for programs on "Rural Gavran, 35 cents. America"-inclusive of a special THE UNITED CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY article on junior work, by Annye SOCIETY, MISSIONS BLDG., 222 Stereopticon slides and lecture on Allison – as well as excerpts DOWNEY A VE., INDIANAPOLIS, Rural Life – "The Book and the from summer conferences at- IND.: Plough," 30 slides; rentai, $1.00 tended by the Department Edi- plus two-way. postage. tor, have to be held over for lack A very complete study packet of of space and will appear as soon leaflets covering "Dwellers in the Moving pictures (16mm., 2 reels), as possible in a later issue. Ad- Countryside," 50 cents. "Hearthstones and Al tar s" -life ditional methods material suit- story of typical rural family; "Mid able for pastors, men's groups This includes instructions to pro- Purple Mountain Majesties" -fol- and children's organizations is gram committees, a "Calendar of lows a boy from his mountain com- especially solicited. Send direct Service"; "Things We Can Do" at munity. $2.00 per reel and two- to this department instead of the the successive meetings to translate way carriage for each of the fore- Magazine headquarters, to avoid them into life; a large variety of going. delay and extra postage. subject matter for the talks, papers, etc.; good dramatic sketches on Order from Distributing Depart- For older people, this topic "The Farmer's Wife," "Bringing ment in N. Y., or 8 So. Dearborn lends itself wonderfully to panel College to the Farmer," "Weari- St., Chicago, or 234 McAlister St., discussions, round tables or pro- ness," "They Went to Bethlehem"; San Francisco, Calif., according to gram conferences. For instance, a special Christmas program com- your location. make up the entire program ex- plete; a panel discussion for four cept for appropriate music inter- women on "Influences that Make for THE WOMAN'S HOME MISSION SOCIETY spersed, from the June number Peace or War"; a program on OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL of THE REVIEW, the leader im- "Blessed Are the Peacemakers"; CHURCH, 420 PLUM ST., CINCIN- pressing the importance of the and well-constructed studies on NATI, OHIO. LITERATURE DEPART- topic by using points from the these phases of the rural problem: MENT: editorial, "Rural America for Educational- "Sing B e h i n d the Christ," and being promptly sec- Plow"; "Bina Holben-Sharecrop- The Methodist women have clever onded and supported by another per"; "Pietro Lopez – Mexican"; series of programs worked out for participant summarizing "The, "M r s. W a 1ton – Mountaineer"; their girls (Queen Esthers) under Challenge of the Rural Commu- "Max Smith-Miner"; "Sarak Pe- the figure of "Building the Map of nity." On this background let toskey-Migrant"; "Susan Kepple U. S.," and for the women on the successive speakers, by prear- -Farm Woman"; "The Nat ion picturesque theme of "Modern Mis- ranged plan but with appearance Helps the Farmer" – a parable of sionary Journeys," an adequate ap- of spontaneity and in conversa- American rural life in Oklahoma; preciation of which will appear in tional style as if talking among "Social Influences Yesterday and a later issue, as only the rural themselves, give brief talks of Today"-a social science study. theme studies can be noted at this time. Among the workable suggestions listed are: An original study of For three months the girls study child labor statistics and condi- "Highland Heritage," with unique tions; a demonstration of the set- visualizations, a meeting in the form tlement between a plantation owner of the recitation of the geography class, "Head Range" and "Heart • The three sets of graded primary, junior Range" being considered; "Hand and intermediate stories listed above at 15 Range" and "Health Range" being cents each sell collectively at 35 cents. added in the following meeting that
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
not over five minutes each, selec- lines on "Discipleship" being for byterian Board of National Mistions of topics to be made from worship services and the remain- sions, 156 Fifth Ave., New the excellent articles following, ing six for worship and study York. ending with pointed presenta- combined. Their object is "to tion of things the group or their seek to make women conscious "If I Be His Disciple-How church can do. This is very im- of their responsibility as Chris- Shall I Follow Jesus Today" is portant. tian citizens for the solution of the title of a booklet prepared over a year ago by the Spiritual A more dramatic and impres- the social and economic problems Life Committee of the Presbysive program might be arranged of present-day society." terian Mission Boards. It confrom the same number by hav- sists of a ten-cent leader's ing a congress or conference of "In times like these the forces pamphlet and a set of leaflets persons impersonating-with or of religion should be exerting corresponding to the successive without costumes – the r u r a I topics and intended for use in pastor, the farmer's wife, the themselves to create a condition the audience. The subjects are: sharecropper, the case worker, out of which right motives for the colporter, etc. Again, close leadership can be generated. I Will Learn What the Bible Says to with practical planning, and a . . . There is only one motive Me devotional service of consecra- adequate to solve the problems tion to the task. Either one of and heal the ills of our stricken I Will Learn to Meditate these plans will make a most ef- civilization. That motive is the I Will Learn to Pray fective prayer meeting or eve- motive of the good neighbor. It I Will Learn to Serve ning service for the church at is clearly the business of religion I Will Learn to Share large, the meeting eventuating I Will Test My Life by Christ in organized activity. Time the to create mental and moral attiparts or the theme will be tudes to support and sustain and The leaflets sell for ten cents "talked to death." vitalize, as well as to call out per set. that motive. If religion does not Devotional Material call that motive into being, it A companion booklet recently will not come into being." (From issued is called, "If I Be His Dis- "In the beginning God created "Who Is My Neighbor?" by ciple I Will Grow." The topics . . . the earth. . . . And the are: Lord God formed man out of the Walter H. North.) dust of the earth and breathed I Will Grow into His Likeness into his nostrils the breath of The devotional outlines are on I Will Grow in Reflecting His Spirit life; and man became a living "God at Work in His Universe," soul. . . . And the Lord God "Great and Mighty. Things," Every Day planted a garden eastward in I Will Grow in Meeting Life's Crises Eden; and there He put the "Christ's Point of View" and I Will Grow More Sensitive to Human man whom He had formed. And "For Such a Time as This." out of the ground the Lord God The subjects of the programs Need made to grow every tree that is I Will Grow in Using My Life for pleasant to the sight and good for full meetings are: "We Look for food." God created an earth, at the Present Social Order," Him a man and a garden. The earth "The Bible and Social Values," was of basic importance then "The Christian Approach to So- This booklet also costs ten and must ever be. (From leaflet cial Problems," "The Church in cents, and the corresponding of the United Christian Mission- Action in National Missions," leaflets two cents each. These ary Society.) are invaluable helps for devo- "A Christian World Order" and tional leaders, giving Scripture, A service on this keynote may "A Plan for Social Education subject matter, prayers, ques~ well start the study of "Rural and Action in Your Commu- tions for meditation, material America," following later with nity." Only one of these-that for the group's use, hymns, devotionals keyed to Christ's na- poems and prayer suggestions ture parables – "The Sower," on National Missions-has any for the ensuing week. Suitable "The Tares," etc. denominational flair. The others for any young people's or adult will apply equally well among all group, or for prayer meetings. "Worship Services" based on evangelical groups. The Scrip- "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" may A VISTA IN JAPAN be had from the Presbyterians tural foundations are well laid, for five cents each. the citations to live, present-day books are excellent and the Under the title "C h u r c h theme studies worked out in a Women and a Christian World scholarly- though simple-way Community," a series of ten to challenge interest and thought programs has been i.ssued for in any intelligent group. In this use in any organized group of church women, the four first out- year when standard study themes include "The Church in Rural America," "World Peace" and "The Missionary Motive and Imperative," and when panel discussions are in the lead in presenting subject matter, the outlines are most timely. The price is 10 cents, at The Pres- The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK Committee – the Quaker organ- ization which has carried on re- lief and reconstruction work both abroad and at home-dur- ing and following the World War in several European coun- tries and more recently in the coal areas of the United States.
This Committee is again trying to save life while others destroy.
The work for children in Spain is strictly non-partisan and is approved by the Federal Coun- cil of Churches and by the Red Cross.
We quote from the special bul- letin on Spain issued at intervals by the A. F. S. C.
"There may be defeats today – victories tomorrow for the armies. For the hungry people there is little hope that anything can happen to repair their ruined homes or restock their devastated farms." "Out of the confusion and debatable issues of the war, arise certain uncon- trovertible facts. Authorities agree, for instance, that as long aQ"o as last February there were more than a million refugees in Loyalist territory. The Loyalist government then reported that 250,000 children were in refugee colonies. More r e c e n t 1y, a Quaker relief worker in Madrid World Wide Photos, Inc. stated that there were 116,000 Thou Shall Not be Afraid "We have not fully caught the children still in that city under mind of Christ until we realize 14 years of age, badly under- "Thou shall not be afraid for that the Kingdom of God on nourished and unable to be evacthe terror by night, nor for the earth is the cooperative task of uated for lack of places to put arrow that Rieth by day." God and men working together." them. The safer municipalities (Psalm 91: 5.) throughout Loyalist Spain are "Faith is the diametrical op- now so congested with refugees "God hath not given us a spir- posite of fear and the supreme that they are forced to refuse it of fear, but of love, and of cure for fear is faith." additional numbers except when power, and of discipline." (2 the food is guaranteed by out- Timothy 1: 7.) RUFUS JONES.
"Fear is the greatest single Spain Opens Door for Friendly- side agencies." "The A. F. S. C. hindrance to the advance of civ- has become a recognized im-· ilization today." Service partial channel for relief of the "We should leap forward to a new type of civilization and be (An opportunity to show the spirit Spanish people regardless of able to avert world disaster, if men were not chained to a dead of goodwill in a country clouded by where they may be—":"in Loyalist past by their fears." war.) or Nationalist territory." "All Doubtless our readers know shipments of goods or contribu- of the American Friends Service tions of money will be used [434 ]
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
strictly for the purposes desig- all over Spain and that is simple National Peace Conference Ma- nated by the donors . . . ." playthings for children such as terials "The refugees arrive in such balls and blocks and things that The National Peace Confer- terrible condition that their rags are not easily destroyed." ence publishes, through its Pubhave to be stripped off of them lic Affairs Committee, a series and burned. Children can be The need for playthings will of pamphlets on subjects conmade to smile by a bright col- be at least partly filled when the nected with world problems ored jumper or a pair of shoes." children of America send their which affect international rela- "Next to the full maintenance of suitcases to the refugee children. tions and peace, and which are the colonies, help with the food Detailed information on this of great value to those who wish supply is the most important project may be secured by writ- brief expositions on topics of imthing that can be done for refu- ing to the Committee on World mediate interest. The latest gee children; a problem every Friendship Among Children, 297 pamphlet is entitled "Colonies, day more acute. Shipments for Fourth Avenue, New York City. Trade and Prosperity," and is a this purpose come in duty free." Those who desire to contribute simple and condensed study of "One's first impression of the clothing or cash for food should the economic approach to the refugee situation is of terrible send it to the American Friends peace question. This pamphlet chaos and misery. The first day Service Committee, 20 South is excellent and very readable, in Murcia I went to the Pablo 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. and will be very valuable in con- Inglesias – a huge b u i I din g (In either case kindly mention nection with the campaign on economics and peace which is to where 4,000 are housed. The THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF be launched next fall by the Nabuilding is in reality an unfin- tional Peace Conference, and THE WORLD.) about which you will hear more ished block of flats about nine in detail in the fall. stories high. The floors have Materials on Peace Education not yet been divided into rooms, A packet of helps. for this and form vast corridors, swarm- Marathons pamphlet is being prepared and ing with men, wom(in and chil- will be ready for use in the fall. The subjects for the Marathon These National Peace Conferdren of all ages. There is no Round Tables for 1937-1938 are ence pamphlets sell for 35c each, furniture of any sort – only now at hand. There are two but can be ordered in quantity at Marathons this year-Plan A: a reduced rate. For further instraw mattresses. It must be Preparatory Marathon on the formation write to the National remembered that many of the subject "The U. S. and the Peace Conference, 8 West 40th World"; and Plan B: Advanced St., New York City. refugees have been in this build- Marathon under the title: "Adeing for two months. Nearly all quate National Defense. What World Day of Prayer in come from Malaga, and look is it?" Send to the National indescribably poor, dirty and Committee on the Cause and a Rural Village Cure of War, 1622 Grand Cenwretched. The municipality tral Terminal Building, New One step toward cooperation which complains of being one York, for copies of this folder in the work of the church has million pesetas in debt for its for distribution at fall meetings. come through the World Day of Let us try to have a large num- Prayer. Mrs. – – of – – sent refugees can afford to give only ber of Marathons among wom- in to the Council office $2.92, the one meal a day to this house, en in church groups during the offering from the observance of with the addition of a little milk coming year. to the children in the morning. The noise was terrific, babies New Headline Book crying, boys rushing madly from floor to floor, women shouting to them. A woman came up cry- ing bitterly, saying that she had The new Foreign Policy Asso- the World Day of Prayer. Her lost her two smallest children in ciation Headline Book: "Billions husband is pastor of a small the confusion of the flight and for Defense," is another study rural parish and this year for didn't know whether they were course on national defense. More the first time she inaugurated alive or dead. There is nothing popular in its plan than the ad- the World Day of Prayer in her for the children to do. Many vanced Marathon on the same country community. She said children begged us to take them subject, it is valuable for those the nearest church was 13 miles away to colonies or somewhere who desire an e Ie men tar y away. She contacted 13 differ- " course. It could be followed by ent churches over a wide area, Esther Farquhar, Quaker re- the Advanced Marathon if a they had four denominations lief worker in Spain, reports: group wished to pursue the sub- represented at their service, and "The conditions at Murcia are ject further. The kit of mate- there were 42 women present frightful. The infant mortality rials which is furnished for this which was "an excellent number has been as high as fifty per book is planned for a series of for this community. We found cent." Her work is largely with four meetings. Price of the the service extremely devotional infants. She has established a book: board cover, 35c; paper and I felt the women really clinic which she calls "a Drop cover, 25c. Discussion kit, 15c. prayed. Twenty – five of the of Milk." "There is one thing Foreign Policy Association, 8 group participated actively in that I have noticed the lack of West 40th St., New York City. one way or another."
World~wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO 1.
~===============================~ JAPAN-CHOSEN In the minds of the average Jap- aminations at the John D. Wells anese, Christianity is still as- Christian Accord associated with Western civili- School, Seoul, Chosen. Some zation. Nevertheless, what has failed; some lost out on the The National Christian Coun- been called "disembodied Chris- physical examination; and some cils of Japan and China have re- tianity" (Christian ideals and couldn't stand up under the scrucently taken definite steps in an standards observed by those who tiny of their former school receffort to bring about a closer re- are not actual church members) ords. From 13 different .provlation between the two organiza- is a strong force in Japan. This tions and between the Christians is evidenced by the facts that inces, the successful boys rated of the two nations. Both Coun- courses in Bible and Christian B or above in every subject, had cils are eager for closer rela- history are offered in some non- goo d personal records, and tions in order to understand Christian universities; that the showed much promise. About each other and build a bond of Bible and the Union Christian Christian brotherhood between Hymnal have a wide circulation half came from Christian famthe two peoples. Recent events among non-Christians; and that in North China, however, are social work, formerly a monop- ilies. bringing about further separa- oly of Christians, is now con- A 20th century note is seen in tion, at least in external rela- ducted by many other agencies. tionships. the fact that very few people -Monday Morning. The nation-wide United Evan- looked at the bulletin board in gelistic Movement is quietly go- Memorial to Dr. Uemura front of the school to read the ing forward in Japan. In addi- list of successful applicants, the reason was that almost every one had heard the names over the radio.
-Monday Morning.
tion to a program of evangelism, The Japan Theological Semi- ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC bands of evangelists are being n a r y (Presbyterian-Reformed organized for work among the Church) has recently dedicated Strange Island of New Guinea churches, youth is being trained a new recitation hall in memory for Christ, and lay leadership of Rev. M. Uemura, outstanding Rev. R. R. Hanselmann went and stewardship are advocated. Japanese Christian who died ten to New Guinea in 1926 as a mis- Arrangements have been made years ago. This Seminary is the sionary under the American Luto send out ten evangelistic official school of the Church of theran Church. While at home teams to conduct meetings and Christ in Japan. It was estab- on furlough he has given nearly hold conferences in eight prov- lished in 1930 by a union of the 800 lectures about his experiinces. Other provinces will be theological department of Meiji ences in this island of headworked later. Gakuin and a seminary in Tokyo hunters and tree-dwellers. established by Dr. Uemura. With "Disembodied Christianity" the exception of one small semi- New Guinea is the second nary in Kobe, all theological edu- largest island in the world and According to latest figures, cation of the Church of Christ in is shaped like a monstrous bird. the Church of Christ in Japan is Japan is now out of the hands of If the southeastern point were made up of about 340 churches. the missions, and directly under placed on the tip of the Florida Slightly more than half of these the management of the Japanese peninsula the northwestern point are entirely self-supporting, Church. would reach to Colorado. Vegewhile others receive aid either tation of unsurpassed luxuriance from the mission or from the This Church has been cele- covers nearly the entire island. self-supporting churches. A typ- brating its 50th meeting of Syn- Among the light and dark green ical church is a city organization od with a series of evangelistic foliage are incessant flashes of with a membership of 123, and a meetings. gorgeously colored birds, and Sunday school of 71 with an surpassing all in beauty is the average of five teachers. Up -Presbyterian Banner. Bird of Paradise. A constant until 1930, membership was stream of scientists and museum rapidly increasing, but since Applicants for Wells School collectors arrive in New Guinea then, owing in some degree to in quest of biological s·pecimens. the intensified feeling of nation- There was room for only 106 alism, the rate has slowed down. new boys out of the 844 appli- Lately discovered mineral re- cants who had paid the registra- sources have brought white men tion fee to take the entrance ex- in hordes. Beneficent govern- [436 ] ment penetration and mISSIOn church membership by about cies of the Church, and he used organizations have b r 0 ugh t 4,000, but the results of Chris- his privilege with good sense about prophylactic measures, tian education carried on over a and definite loyalty to Christian making the life of Europeans long period of years can now be teaching. It was voted to make reasonably safe. Six hundred seen in the annual increase in the conference an annual event. plantations are under European the Christian population. control, cultivating cocoanuts, -The Living Church. The British Government consugar~ane,rubber,kapok,coffee tributed over $360,000 toward NORTH AMERICA these mission schools in 1936. Of and cocoa. Gold-mining is one the 18,000 children enrolled in Church Membership Gains of the chief industries. The various types of school, one in aerial transport has developed four is a Christian and of the Religious bodies of the United into the largest freight carrying 6,000 in g ran t-i n-a i d boys' States, as a whole, are growing, air service in the world. schools, one in six is a member according to statistics gathered of the Church. As a result of this by the late Dr. George Linn The natives as a whole are less mission policy, and government Kieffer. ill-natured than popular accounts sympathy and aid, a Church of imply. Their aversion to bath- educated persons is being built In 1936, the total membership ing is one of their most marked in Malaysia. of all religious bodies in the characteristics. To Christianize United States reached 63,493,- such a people usually requires -Christian Century. 036, as compared with 62,655,- from fifteen to eighteen years 632 in the previous year. This from the time contact is estab- Thankful for Leprosy! represents a gain in membership lished with a wild tribe until the for the year of 837,404. tribe is ready for baptism. The Leprosy is the last thing for life of the native Christian mis- which most people would be The Baptists continue to lead sionary, stationed in out-lying thankful, yet at the watch night all other Protestant bodies with districts, is so convincing to the service at Culion Leper Colony a total increase for the year of heathen people that slowly they the following testimony was 140,308. The Reformed Churchlay aside their former mode of given: "I thank God Almighty es, not a large denomination in sinful living. The race has a fu- for having made me a leper be- comparison with the Baptists ture. Various mission agencies cause in this place I have found and Methodists, come second, in New Guinea have a staff total- my Lord and my Redeemer. I with a gain of 81,958. The Luing over 500 white workers. had tried to find joy, peace, and therans, with 43,905, are third, contentment from what the and the Methodists fourth with -The Bond. world had to offer, but all ended a membership gain of 41,798. in bitter disappointment. In Other notable increases were Dyak Christians Jesus I have found my salvation made by the Unitarians, with and real contentment." 38,026; the Protestant Episco- During the past six years, palians, with 21,193; the Evanabout 12,000 Dyaks have been Igorot Young People's gelicals, with 9,390; the Presbybaptized as Christians. Thi~ terians, with 6,507; the Nazarepresents four distinct fields; Conference renes, with 5,867; the Advent- East Bornea, the districts of Ma- ists, with 5,435; the Mennonites, hakam, Boelongan and Sesajap, The first Young People's. Con- with 4,101; the International and West Borneo, the district of ference of the Philippine Epis- Church of the Foursquare Gos- Kapoeas. The Dyaks, though copal Mission went beyond the pel, with 5,225; the Moravians, uncivilized and uneducated, are most optimistic expectations in with 1,624; and the United by no means stupid. They gen- its attendance of 100 young men Brethren, with 1,073. erally learn readily, and have re- and women, most of them Igotentive memories. There is a rots-though delegates included -The Churchman. simplicity of heart which is re- one ex-Moslem girl from Zamsponsive to the Gospel message. boanga. A Bible Crusade About 200 native students are in various stages of preparation for The general topic was Chris- A new movement has been the ministry.-The Pioneer. tian religion in relation to both launched in Chicago called the the old traditional ways of the "Bible Evangelistic Crusade," Methodists in Malaysia mountain province and the sud- which has for its purpose the den incidence of modern prob- evangelization of neg Ie c ted The Methodist Church has lems. To keep the native group towns and villages and country built up a mission in Malaysia from backwardness in express- places in the United States and on an educational foundation. ing views, the foreign attend- Canada. It is reported that Last year nearly 18,000 children ance was restricted to two. there are 10,000 churchless and young people attended their towns in America and 30,000 grade and high schools, where The meetings proved remark- without a resident pastor. There 690 Asiatics and 53 European able for the frankness and inter- are 36,000,000 children and adoand Am e ric a n teachers in- est of the opinions expressed. lescents growing up without any structed them. The number in For the first time the Igorot religious training whatever. these schools exceeds the total Christian was showing himself vocal in helping shape the poli-
Over eighty Bible Institutes amend broadly the state Sunday Our Crime Peril and Christian training schools in the U. S. are turning out law was defeated; in Indiana a Recent reports of the Federal thousands of young people each Bureau of Investigation apparyear equipped for Ch~ist~an bill to open the saloons on Sun- ently confirm our unenviable disservice. This new organIZatIOn tinction of having the worst will assist such workers in being day was killed by a vote of three crime record of any of the sofurnished with trailers, tents called civilized peoples of earth. and other necessary equipment to toesne~'tteamnpdtsinto several other The reports indicate that "a larto reach the more difficult fields. sta bring in com- ceny occurs every 44 seconds in Pastoral workers will be di- the United States, a burglary rected to the most encouraging mercialized sports and amuse- every two minutes, an automoplaces to follow up the work that bile theft every two and one-half has been begun, and will be ments and other business were minutes, a robbery every ten given some assistance in getting minutes, a felonous assault every started. When further support frustrated. One of the greatest twelve minutes, and a criminal is needed by evangelistic groups attack on a woman every 67 and missionary pastors, the or- victories won in law enforce- minutes." ganization will try to interest churches or individuals in fur- ment was the abolition of 17 The Bureau's figures show nishing a regular monthly al- that our national crime bill anlowance. burlesque show theaters in New nually is $15,000,000,000. This is a daily cost of more than $41,- -Evangelical Christian. York City. The Lord's Day Al- 000 000. "Every time the clock tick,s off a second, the count ry's Testaments for Prisoners liance has been driving hard crime bill jumps $475." Most of the crimes are committed by The Pocket Testament League against such performances. persons 22 years of age. How has recently sent 500 Testa- can these figures be reduced to ments for work among the pris- -Monday Morning. the minimum? oners of San Quentin Prison, California. This is the distrib- The Exeter Experiment Goodwill in Tennessee uting center for other state p~ nal institutions-at TehachapI, "Weare trying to bring the The Tennessee Interracial Forsom and one under construc- Commission, organized 19 years tion near Los Angeles. The di- Good News." Thus the religious ago, was first known as the Law rector of religious work at San work director of Mount Holyoke and Order League. Its program Quentin, Alfred C. Schmitt,. in- College epitomizes an experi- was enlarged when its name was terviews all prisoners and gIves ment at Exeter, Maine, forty changed. Under its first name it Testaments to those desiring miles from Bangor. Four years confined itself to crime preventhem. The demand is so great ago this director, Mis~ Kathe- tion and crusaded against mob that the director has called for rine Grammer and MISS Mar- violence. The enlarged program another 500 copies immediately. garet Teague, secretary for ru- includes health, housing, sanita- He writes: "Some of the in- tion education, recreation, travmates become so attached to ral work of the diocese of Maine, eling accommodations on public their Pocket Testaments that asked themselves what could be carriers, child welfare and imthey request the privilege of done to meet the religious needs provement of rural conditions. taking them along with them of a b a c k woo d s generation. Its methods are (1) the promowhen they go out on paroIe." growing up without any real tion of mutual understanding of (Gifts to supply these Testa- viewpoints and needs; and (2) ments may be sent to the Pocket knowledge of Christ and His the cooperation of the two races Testament League, 156 Fifth Church. Instead of merely la- in securing the ends agreed upon Ave., New York.) menting facts, a vacation school in conferences, usually through was planned. For four w~eks the building of favorable public "Remember the Sabbath" eight students and a tramed sentiment. nurse afford the only regular op- All Christian citizens can re- portunity the children and even In the beginning, some of the joice in the increase of interest difficulties were: radical elein preserving the civil institu- the adults of that vicinity have ments in both races; indifference tion of the Sabbath. Of the 43 during the entire year for seri- to constructive efforts for betterstate legislative bodies in sessi?n ment· and a tendency to proin 1937, proposed adverse legIs- ous religious instruction, as well mote 'selfish ends. But in time lation has been defeated more notable results were achieved. than a score of times: In New as forthe teaching of recreational Much has been done in the cor- York State five such bills went rection of interracial injustices down to defeat; in Iowa a bill to values. Approximately 100 chil- and the betterment of conditions affecting Negroes. Oppressive mdarteen~iafrlowmit5h to 21, are the raw which the vacation school works. They are collected in beach wagons or make their own way to the farmhou~e and barn in which the school IS con- d u c ted. Classes, handicraft work and expert recreation make up the program of the morni~g.
A morning, and a sunset serVIce is conducted each day. More than 300 adults attend the Sun- day evening services. – Miss G ram mer and Miss Teague believe that they have at least paved the way toward de- veloping a technique which can be used in other rural areas.
-The Living Church.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
measures have been opposed. tious than a bottle of pills. The the island, but the large number Inconsiderate and brutal officers missionary supplied such relief of letters he receives from peo- have been called to account. Co- as he could to the suffering peo- ple not touched by churches is operation in community enter- ple with a few pills until in 1904 a witness to the value of this prises has been promoted. Ne- when the Presbyterians sent out s e r vic e. The First Baptist gro members have been privi- a medical missionary and built Church of Santiago has been leged to lay bare any inj ustices the first little hospital. helping a Spanish priest who which they feel their race is suf- The work rapidly outgrew its within the last year left the Ro- fering, assured of a courteous first quarters and today there man Catholic Church. For the and friendly hearing. stands a grade "A" hospital with present he is supporting himself Close contacts are maintained 110 beds; a children's ward; by teaching in the day school with church groups. Baptist, nurses' home; a training school of the First Church. The Bap- Methodist and Presbyterian of fifty-five nurses; and a 1936 tist Church in Palma Soriano, a denominations have indorsed the record of more than 32,000 pa- town of 20,000 inhabitants, has Tennessee interracial movement, tients. The hospital was placed outgrown its building which and many have accepted re- on the approved list of hospitals seats only 160. Its average at- sponsibility for leadership. for graduate study in tropical tendance in Sunday school is -Tennessean Magazine. medicine by the Council of Med- 230.
Pima Indian Evangelist ical Education of the American Brazil's Student Problem Medical Association. In the re- When a Pima Indian becomes motest country barrio and in the It has long been realized that crowded city it is known as "EI one of the serious missionary a Christian he is usually filled Presbiteriano." problems of the Latin world is with a desire to win others. Pima the approach to the student -Presbyterian Banner. class. The Student Union for churches regularly send teams Christian Service was organized of lay workers into areas where Religion in the West Indies twelve years ago, and at present there is no church or resident confines its activity to students minister. A group of 16 of these Charles S. Detweiler, Baptist in evangelical schools of higher lay workers recently returned Home Mission Secretary, reports education. With nearly 500 memfrom a 10-day itinerary in dif- observations on a recent trip to bers it already has a considerferent parts of the reservation, the West Indies. able effect upon the lives of its devoting their entire time to members, and the necessity for personal evangelism. In Port – au – Prince, Haiti, personal witness is impressed there are four Pro t est ant upon all who join. A Pima Indian Christian en- churches, the Episcopalian, the tered an exclusive shop in Pasa- Wesleyan, the African Method- -World Dominion Press. dena, California. Conversing ist Episcopal and the Baptist. with the saleslady, he said, "I The largest of these churches suppose you attend church ?" has the poorest building. There Echoes of Martyrdom When she replied that she did is real religious freedom in Haiti. not, he began then and there to In Puerto Rico, Protestant in- From the region along the tell her of the love of God for fluence in public life is growing. Amazon where the Messrs. Rob- His children, and how He sent For some time the head of the erts, Wright and Dawson, known Jesus down to earth to save us- Teachers College and the second as the "three Freds," disappreaching her a short sermon in rank in the University has peared in martyrdom, comes the right in the store, which was been a Puerto Rican Presbyte- report that 1,200 Kayapo Inacross from one of the largest rian, and now the Chancellor of dians had suddenly emerged churches in Pasadena. People the University is another Pres- from their forests and descended came to listen and the Indian byterian. The new Commission- on the little town of Nova carried on, proud that he could er of Education, recently ap- Olinda. Fear at first prevailed tell the story to one who hadn't pointed by President Roosevelt, that they had come to massacre; yet learned to love Him. Before is a Puerto Rican Presbyterian. but a strange thing had ocleaving he exacted a promise, A very outspoken Baptist, prom- curred. Wars in their home diswhich the woman seemed glad to inent in political life, is presi- tricts had driven them forth, and give, that from then on she dent of the Board of Commis- they were seeking safety and would attend church. -Monday Morning. sioners of the City of San Juan, food. The news was received by and also a member of the Public the field workers as an answer LATIN AMERICA Service Commission of the Is- to prayer, and steps were taken land. The pastor of the Second to meet the opportunity. Two Hospital in Puerto Rico Baptist Church of Santiago, missionaries soon were on their Cuba, broadcasts for one hour way up the Xingu, with a ton of The Presbyterian Hospital in his Sunday morning service, and farina.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, repre- every day from seven to seven- Contact with these Kayapos sents the steady growth of an thirty he is on the air with a was established, and to the de- idea projected nearly forty years devotional service. The station light of the missionaries they ago with nothing more preten- reaches only the eastern half of found that God had been prepar-
ing for this meeting for ten years French Protestant Church tants, yet each is profiting by the past, at which time the language struggle of the other. had been reduced to writing. The French Pro t est ant Dr. Charles S. Macfarland, The new settlement has brought Church, though weak numerithe Indians to a place where the cally and financially, is a true secretary emeritus of the Fed- Gospel can be preached to them. missionary Church. The Paris eral Council of Churches, has Already a few have accepted Missionary Society which has issued an open letter to Hitler, in Christ. which he condemns the official been carrying on its work for 113 German attitude toward religion The last letter received from years, is working in eight differ- on four counts: the band of three contained this ent fields, wherein labor 165 misappeal: "Brethren, pray and sionaries. The whole work is (1) Hitler has "seized control over supported by an annual budget the Church, arrested multitudes of its send others to continue what the of five million francs. French pastors, confined many of them, and Lord has begun." missionaries are also working in permitted not a few to be assaulted the Methodist Mission on the without open rebuke of their at- -Alliance Weekly. tackers."
EUROPE Ivory Coast, and the Norwegian (2) Despite his promise to unite Call to be "Up and Doing" Lutheran Mission in Madagas- car. The present membership of the Church he has "divided it between those who comply, those who are neu- tral, and those who courageously op- Church attendance in England the French Churches is about pose [his] domination." 700,000, divided among 1,038 (3) Despite his promise to regard is reported as declining. The the "confession" of the Church as Methodists say that 60,000 few- parishes under the direction of er pupils attend Sunday school; 1,097 pastors. sacred, Hitler has "endeavored to c h u r c h membership has de- crush out its basic doctrine of the -World Dominion Press. Fatherhood of God and the brother- creased by 3,000. The Baptists Religion at the Paris hood of mankind." report a decline of pupils by Exposition nearly 20,000, of church mem- (4) "Instead of doing justice to the bers by nearly 1,500. Causes are Visitors to the Paris exhibi- Jews you have permitted them to be harassed and despoiled, without :he slightest appearance of mercy."
suggested include week-end hab- tion may discover several fea- When Hitler came into power it of hiking; opening of cinemas tures of special interest. A mis- he asked that he be given four on Sunday; Sunday excursions; sion boat of the McAll Mission years before people should judge dropping of family prayers; in- his policy. The four years have fluence of radio sermons. The will be found between the Alma elapsed and the judgment must and Passy bridges. Here, daily be one of condemnation. Scots Church's General Assembly has serious things to report services will be held. On the -The Living Church. gangway of the pont d'Alma, is a about reduced incomes for work bookstall containing Bibles and abroad. The foreign missions religious publications. The Godless Union accounts revealed a deficit of An exhibition of Protestant over $250,000. Sabbath observ- Art is a special feature at the Vigorous efforts to increase ance was lost in the Great War. American Church (63, Quai d'- membership in the Godless Un- -R. BIRCH HOYLE. Orsay) . This will be on view ion are being made by Litvinoff, London's Mosque from June 18, although the Russian Commissioner for For- Church itself is open from the eign Affairs. All applicants for The Nizam of Hyderabad has beginning of the Exposition. A diplomatic posts abroad, likewise provided a s,ite in West Kensing- leaflet in English and French en- all members of the Diplomatic ton, London, for a Mohammedan titled "Souvenirs of French Prot- Service at present employed mosque. The foundation stone estantism," by Pastor Boss, is abroad, must be members of the was laid on 4th June by the being published by the National Godless Union, or face dismissal.
Prince of Berar, the son and Touring Center. A Welcome The decree is also extended to heir of the Nizam, surrounded Center for Women (47, Quai d'- com mer cia I representatives by a distinguished company of Orsay) is open from 9 a. m. until abroad. The Osservatore Ro- Moslem representatives from 9 p. m. -The Christian. mano says that during last year Egypt, Arabia, Turkey, Persia German Churches Firm membership of the Union greatand other countries. Like the ly increased, and its funds im- mosque at Woking, the London The Nazi's are not making proved by the payment by every mosque will be a miniature of much headway a g a ins t the member abroad of a special conthe Taj Mahal and is to be fin- Christian Church. Roman Cath- tribution. The new decree has ished at the end of the year. It olics have no intention of retreat- resulted in 6,700 new adhesions will hold about 1,000 people, ing or compromise; confessional- to the Union. The Komsomol quite large enough to accommo- Protestants have set up a secret has ordered Russian youth to' date the worshippers. The total council, to which pastors pledge imp r 0 v e their antireligious number of Moslems and those obedience, in defiance of the work, and to win between May 2 interested in Islam in the whole Reich. and August 2, 200,000 boys and of Great Britain is estimated at So far as known, there is girls as recruits. 2,000. nothing resembling a u nit e d Antireligious pro p a g and a -World Dominion Press. front of Catholics and Protes- abroad was stimulated by the
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
despatch of appropriate litera- Emirates in the Sudan are open- Britain has not full liberty to ture valued at 1,500,000 rubles, ing for the missionaries of the expel priests of Italian or any chiefly to Switzerland, Holland, Sudan United Mission. Many other nationality. The British France, Spain, England and followers of Islam are awaken- Government is, however, anx- Belgium. Sixty-five thousand ing to the deficiencies of their ious to show church circles that rubles only were received from system. The first conference of it is fighting with all the re- Kabyle converts was held re- sources of diplomacy behind the recipients. -World Dominion Press. cently, and on almost every sta- British missionaries who may be tion there are signs of the work- in trouble. This has been Brit- Protestantism in Austria ing of the Holy Spirit, and that ish policy whenever mission- Since February more than the seed sown through so many aries' lives or teaching activities 15,000 people in Austria have years will soon bear fruit. have been endangered in China entered the Protestant Church. or elsewhere, and the same pol- In Vienna alone about 10,000 -The Christian. icy is being carried out now. have taken this step. A great Moslem Stronghold Crumbling -New York Times.
many of these were formerly There is today throughout Bible Pictures to "Think Roman Catholic, but the major- Africa a mighty movement away Black" ity were without religious de- from Islam and paganism, sinomination. Many of them are multaneous with the movement An attempt to stress the need very poor and out of work, yet away from Hinduism in India. of "thinking black" in any ap- such is their desire for spiritual The Sudan Interior Mission sees proach of the white man to Afriteaching that they visit regular- new opportunities in the open- can children is the plan of the ly divine services and Bible ing up of the Moslem strongholds World's Sunday School Associaclasses which the Protestant of Northern Nigeria to the Gos- tion to present awards to native Church has organized for them. pel. The Nigerian Government African artists who produce il- Protestant churches are filled to is now willing to hand over the lustrations of the parables conoverflowing, and the few pastors leper camps in these provinces veying the fullest meaning to have so much to do that it will to the missionary society. native African children. The be necessary to employ new as- With the acceptance of the story of "the widow's mite" does sistants to impart religious in- challenge, the call has gone forth not make sense to the African. struction. The State authorities for a hundred new missionaries, How can she be the "poor widare very unfriendly towards this including doctors and nurses. ow" with her flowing dress is -Life of Faith. the incredulous reaction of the movement, and put every ob- stacle in the way of preventing Italy's Ethiopian Policy African native. The results of persons from leaving the Roman this venture will be marked by Catholic Church. Italy's action in forbidding an originality which s h 0 u I d From all parts of Austria ur- British, American and French prove refreshing. missionaries to carryon their' gent requests are pouring in for -W. S. S. A.
Bibles and New Testaments. A work in Ethiopia, gives point to Uplift for the Bantus pastor in Syria writes: "I come Foreign Secretary Ant h 0 n y from a little village in which twenty have entered the Prot- Eden's guarded reminder that Missionary work in the Portuestant Church, and they all request me to send them Bibles the British Government "must guese colony of Bantus is chiefly and Catechisms. This was not a political movement, because they reserve the right to consider" among nine recruits of the Transwanted nothing other than God's the expulsion of Italian mission- vaal. There can be no doubt of Word." -Bible Society Record. aries from Malta, Nigeria and the influence of the "East Coast other parts of the British Em- Boys" on the Christian villages pire. The expulsion of British which have grown up in Portu- missionaries has been the sub- guese East Africa. After work- ject of prolonged negotiation ing in the mines of the Trans- AFRICA which have not proven success- vaal, particularly on the Wit- ful. England's threat is not watersrand, they return home Is Islam Tottering? likely to be translated into ac- with ideas about a home which tion, but at least it calls atten- cannot tolerate the old heathen W. Cecil Collinson, Secretary tion to the injustice of Rome's customs, and either these have of the Egypt General Mission, policy. had to go or they have built a observes that large numbers of Italian priests and teachers group of huts in a new spot Moslems are tiring of the for- are to be found chiefly in Malta, away from their pagan relatives.
malities of Islam. Here are some Nigeria and Palestine. In MaTta These structures are finer than facts which go to prove that most of them already have been the pagan huts, influenced by there are signs of a real change replaced by Maltese; in Nigeria, homes they have seen of the in the situation. In every Mos- Italian missionaries are only a white people in the Transvaal.
lem community of over 50,000 handful com par e d with the In the midst of the new huts has inhabitants there is a nucleus of French, while Palestine is a been built the chapel with a bell, witness for Christ. Long-closed mandated territory in which where the leader calls the people
morning and evening to read the tegic importance of this educa- There has been a marked Scriptures, pray and sing hymns learned in the Transvaal. tional program is seen in the deepening of interest in the Gos- The Bantu thinks and works fact that the seven secondary pel m e s sag e among various in circles rather than straight lines. His house is circular, his schools in Palestine educate classes of people. Among the village is circular and his thinking follows a circuitous route. practically one-half the Arabs causes of this should be noted: Christianity widens his mental horizon and helps him to think receiving such training, and a first, a general consciousness and construct in terms of rows of superior huts with fruit and not inconsiderable number of the that we are in a most critical flowering trees between them, which provide ventilation, clean- Jews. period of the world's history; liness and improved sanitation. Many observers say despond- second, the results of seed pre- -World Dominion PreISs. ently that there is no solution of viously sown; and third, the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute the problem of Arab, Jew and prayers of friends. There is The year 1940 will mark not only the jubilee of the founda- Briton; others offer political or greater opportunity for reaching tion of the two Rhodesias in 1890 by Cecil Rhodes, but also diplomatic ways out, but the Moslems as more and more chilthe centenary of the departure for Africa in 1840 of David Liv- only workable plan is to make all dren take advantage of the ingstone. It is proposed that this double anniversary should be three Christian. schools. Approximately 100 boys commemorated in Nor t he r n -Spirit of Missions. and girls attend Sunday school. Rhodesia by the establishment of a Rhodes-Livingstone Insti- News from Syria These are divided into three tute of Central African Studies classes or groups with competent which will serve as a combined The Danish Mission to the teachers, each child being permemorial to these two men. Orient has opened a new Evan- mitted to enter the group of his The proposed institute is in- gelical Church at Hafar, Syria. own language. The pupils in one tended to further scientific study In five boys schools 69 % are class are all Moslem. of the impact of European civili- Moslems and in the girls' schools zation upon native African So- -Near East Christian Council. ciety. It will be located at Liv- 78 %. Students are more seriousingstone, the old capital of minded than those of ten years Northern Rhodesia, seven miles ago, and there has been in- INDIA-SIAM-MALAYIA from Victoria Falls. creased interest in the various Reaching the Multitudes WESTERN ASIA voluntary religious services. Financial difficulties h a v e The Methodist Church in Hy- Christian Schools in Palestine caused the Danish Mission to the derabad is responsible for a Armenians to close their clinic Christian community of 100,000 Christian schools are the only in Beirut, and a reduction of the persons. Those who have been places where Jew and Moslem, numbers in Birds' Nest, Jubeil; reached are eager to learn more, as well as Christians, meet to- but industrial work has sup- and there are some remarkable gether, study together, play on ported many needy women, and testimonies to changed lives and the same terms, and, in the children have been paid for in cleaner homes. Those who for spirit of Christian charity, learn schools. Bible-women are used generations have been in bondthat give and take which are so for evangelistic work in homes age to idol worship and the powimportant. Last year when the and meetings and conferences ers of darkness find it no easier feeling between Jews and Arabs have been held. The Swiss So- to walk in a path of true separarose to boiling point, and all ciety of Ghazir has given help to tion than do the followers of Arab schools, even those under Armenian village colonies by C h r i s t in more enlightened the government, went on strike, placing nurses among them, in lands, where Christianity has Christian schools still went on. addition to their work among been making its influence felt There was difficulty at times in the blind. In spite of the difficult for centuries. To the end that keeping Arab and Jew together, financial situation the Armenian converts may be strengthened, but it was done. Result: the churches have taken increased "refresher courses" are given. schools have been crowded as responsibility for carrying on These are attended by pastors, never before. Jews and Arabs their work, and have even evangelists, village teachers and say what they find there is started new work in three or young men and women from vil- "character training." The stra- lage congregations. On one oc- four centers. -Near East Christian Council. casion several village teachers gathered for a time of prayer In Iraq and meditation in connection "Iraq reports a steadily in- with their work, after which it creasing stream of tourists, and was estimated that in one week the missionaries are glad that 85,000 persons heard the Gospel.
many of them are sufficiently in– Rev. C. W. Posnett is leading· terested in missions to take time this work. Not long ago a vil- to see mission work. The most lage chief, who had continually noteworthy visitation recently persecuted the native Christian was in the form of a conference teacher, went to Mr. Posnett and in Baghdad of five officials of the said: "I used to persecute your British and Foreign, and the teacher; I pulled down the thatch American Bible Societies. from his shed, and tried to drive
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
him out, but I have come to tell five stations (Madras, Conjeev- plexes will be shed when one can you that I want his religion; eram, Chingleput, Arkonam and read his own Bible, subscribe to your teacher has saved and Sriperumbudur) together with his own paper, and form his changed my village, and he is 450 coworkers, eight Indian min- own opinions at first hand. now my friend." isters with 8,000 church mem- bers, give stalwart witness to the -United Church Review. -The Christian. growth and strength of this work. Dr. Laubach's Method "Temple Entry" Proclamation An outstanding feature of Dr. Frank C. Laubach says Caste Hindus in Travancore those early days was the baptism that teaching the people of Inhave issued a proclamation com- of two students, P. Rajahgopal dia to read is like trying to tear pelling the depressed class Chris- and A. Venkataramiah, which down the Himalayas. Only 8 tian converts to go to Hindu caused a furore, reduced the per cent of the 340,000,000 can temples. If they do not forsake school attendance from 400 to 70 read, and only 7 per cent of Christianity, they are not al- overnight, and brought on a those who can read can do it lowed to reap the harvest, and court case, through all of which well enough to understand what some are turned out of their the Christian leaders stood un- they are reading. Dr. Laubach poor dwellings. This restriction compromisingly for their faith, thinks he has the explanation. is being applied to London Mis- resulting in many conversions. There is in India a spoken lansion, Romon Catholic, Salvation guage and a written, in all the Army and Syrian converts in Madras Christian College, an large languages. These go by places like Avaneeswaram and outgrowth of the work of this the same name but have differ- Thalavoor. The matter has at- mission is celebrating the Cen- ent vocabularies. It is as if you tracted the attention of Mr. tenary by transfer to a new lo- were learning Greek, or Hebrew, Gandhi, who has promised to try cation covering 390 a'cres at and had to learn both a new voto better the situation. Tambaram, sixteen miles south cabulary and a new alphabet. -National Missionary Intelli- of Madras. It is worse than that for the il- literate, for he has never learned gencer. -United Church Review. any letters and does not know what to expect. Dr. Laubach is Santal Mission Anniversary Literacy by 1941 advocating that all illiterates be taught in their own dialects, This year marks the seven- The All-India Conference of learning to read in the spoken tieth anniversary of the found- India Christians has issued a language. Thus the other laning of the Santal Mission of challenge: "Every Christian guages will become dead. North India. Of the founders, able to read by 1941." Here are Hans Peter Borresen and Lars some of the reasons for expect- -Missionary Herald. Olsen Skrefsrud, the former was ing a literate Church of Christ a native of Denmark, the latter in India four years hence. First, Gospel Inn at Leh of Norway. The mission is now there are many evidences of a supported by Lutherans in Den- widespread interest in adult lit- The Christian tells us that at mark, Norway and America. eracy. Active committees are Leh, on the border of VVestern There are fifty missionaries in at work in every part of the Tibet where Moravian missionthe field, twenty from Norway, country in the study of the prob- aries have labored for many twenty from Denmark and ten lems involved, in the prepara- years without seeing much fruit, from America, and the field is tion of materials, in the encour- it is now proposed to erect a expanding. Scattered over a agement of voluntary teachers "Gosnel Inn," in an attempt to strip of territory 400 miles lon~ of the illiterate. Preliminary at- obtain closer contact with nilare small Santal churches with tempts have met with distinct grims on their wav to their holy their pastors, evangelists and success. Striking achievements city. This inn will afford shel- Bible women. There are village in other countries spur India to ter and rest for the pilgrims and schools, and, in the large cen- the attainment of literacy. Rus- give opportunity for the missionters, boarding schools both for sia raised her literary from 33 aries to minister to their spiritboys and girls. There are also to 90 per cent between 1921 and ual needs. orphan homes, hospitals, and at 1931. In China, Dr. Y. C. James Saldoha a colony for lepers. Yen, began a mass literacy Christian Villages in Siam movement in 1922 with 1,450 Madras Centenary students; and within seven years One of Siam's largest Chris- he had taught five million to tian groups consists of ten vil- Scottish missionaries in Ma- read and write. lages where work is being cardras and vicinity are rejoicing ried on by Siamese leaders. In in their hundred years of his- Recent research has shown the largest church in this area tory. In February of 1837, John that the adult can learn to read there are several active organ- Anderson, son of a blind farmer some five times as rapidly as a izations-a large primary Sunof southern Scotland, landed in child. Many are influenced in day school, a large day school, Madras and began a school with their interest in literacy by the and a Kings Daughters circle. a definite evangelistic aim. To- political franchise to be gained They have their own evangelists day, thirty-six missionaries in by the literate. Inferiority com- whom they send out to work in
neighboring villages. There is colleges are coming to positio~s reconsecrating themselves to a large group of people studying of influence in the State and III Christ and four applying for now to be received into the all the learned professions. In church membership. c h u r c h as soon as they are the last dozen years the number ready. These church members of enrolled students of the Chris- Rev. C. H. Wong, pastor of tithe, and their gifts are more tian colleges has increased from the East Shanghai B a p ti s t than enough to meet the ex- 2000 to over 7,000. There are Church, asks these questions of penses of the church and sup- 800 graduates going out of these candidates for church memberport their own pastor. They institutions every year to take ship: are now asking for an assistant up their careers of various pastor, since the one cannot do kinds." What does it mean to be a Chrisall the work that might be done. -Missionary Herald (London). tian? Why do you want to become a They are ready to assume the Christian? What is the difference besupport of the extra pastor as Radio Preaching tween a Christian and a non-Chrissoon as he can be obtained. tian? Are the members of you~ fam- One of the most encouraging ily Christian? . Does yo~r .famIly ob- Singapore Churches features of Christian work in ject to your bemg a ChrrstIan? What Shanghai today is the Christian would you do if some one should per- Churches in Singapore differ Broadcasting Station. The un- secute you for being a Christian? Why from those in America in that usual thing about the broadcasts do you wan~ to join the. church? Wh~t they are run by young people, is their popularity, since only is the meamng of oaptIsm, the Lord s for in the ordinary church there one person out of 300 is a Chris- Supper, prayer, etc.? Do you p.r3:Y and are more youths than adults. tian. The station was begun, read your Bible? Are you wIllmg to The explanation for this is found and is still financed by a Chris- help bring others to Christ? in the fact that the church con- tian Chinese business merchant, ducts primary and· secondary who probably gives not less than Sometimes candidates are schools in every section of the nine-tenths of his income to God, asked to wait for further study city. These mission schools meet and part of it meets the heavy of Christianity, or until they the government standards, and expenses connected with this have a deeper experience of teach religion during these form- broadcasting center. W hen Christ before they are presented ative years, so that religious some one suggested that perhaps to the church for membership. education is a part of the whole more money was being spent on process, and not merely a Sun- its maintenance than should be, -Watchman-Examiner. day morning project. he replied that instead of spend- ling less, he felt he ought to Fukien's Experiment Another difference is that the spend more, and would do so. congregations are interracial; Thus he is now proposing that Fukien Christian University, the Sunday school and worship Government stations in other with a dozen villages within an service may be in Chinese from provincial capitals be placed at hour's walk of its campus – a 8: 30 to 10: 30. English may be the service of Christian preach- campus fashioned out of seventy the language for the next two ers. By payment of a fixed sum acres of rice and potato fields, hours and Malay in the after- to the authorities in charge of is not unmindful of its obliganoon. The same minister may those stations, half-an-hour daily tion to solve its share of the Chihave two of these groups and can be allowed for the broad- nese rural problem. The unisometimes the third. Race does casting of the Gospel. This ra- versity believes that the r~con not matter-only language. dio service reaches "the war struction of the rural areas IS an lords and the politicians, the experiment, and therefore an ex- Six out of ten churches in farmers and the factory work- pert's task. Francis Chen, with Singapore are self-supporting. ers, the old and the young, the his Yale Ph.D., in rural econom- Those receiving mission help are pirates and the followers of ics has returned to China as exthe newly organized ones. Some Christ." -China's Millions. pe;imenter. A gift secured by of the Chinese laymen have Rev. E. H. Smith, of the AmerIstarted an anti-opium clinic Evangelism in Shanghai can Board in Ingtai, provides which they are supporting, and funds for a five-year period of reports show over 1,000 patients University experimenting; and the village with 1,400 on the waiting list. of Nieu Tien is the starting It is the custom at the Uni- point. . -RALPH A. FELTON. versity of Shanghai (Baptist), to have four evangelistic meet- Forty year'S of revolution have CHINA ings each year, each called "Re~ made the farmer their victim. ligious Emphasis Week." Per- He is the sufferer from the civil Christian Influence Expanding sonal work is done largely wars, exorbitant taxes, the cor- through fellowship groups. dur- rupt and bewildered gentry, not At a meeting in London of ing the year. The l~st serIes ~f to speak of bandits and commu- British Missionary Societies, meetings resulted III 14 decI- nists. The farmers constitute Rev. C. E. Wilson, Baptist For- sions, twenty-two desiring to four-fifths of the total popula-: eign Secretary, said: enter Bible classes, seventy-four tion. To save the farmer is, therefore, to save the nation. "It is one of the most remarkable features of modern China -Far Horizons. that the graduates of Christian Through Personal Contact Of 28 students and teachers baptized in one station in China
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
during the past year, 17 came ites" has learned a great deal of the Church of Christ in China. from non-Christian schools. A about the Chiang people of the Similar boards are being de- Presbyterian m iss ion a r y in western borderland of China. veloped at Kulangsu and Chuancharge of student work there They live between China proper chow. Outlying hospitals at says that these were not super- and Tibet. They bear such un- Changpu and Siokhe will be opficial or emotional decisions, but mistakable marks of being Is- erated as branches of the Changfollowed many months of care- raelitish that Mr. Torrance chow hospital center, and it is ful training in communicants' says: "Were they clad in foreign proposed that other outlying classes, and much personal dis- dress and set down in London or hospitals shall be designated as cussion with other Christians. New York, they would be taken branches of the Kulangsu and Most of these young people first at once for Jews." Chuanchow centers respectively. became interested in Christianity The description he gives of the Each of the three missions conthrough Christian stu den t s use of an altar in the sacred cerned have given approval to whom they knew. Said this mis- grove, and of the slaying of the the plan. sionary: "It is easier to get stu- sacrificial lamb by an appointed dents into a vital relationship priest, clad in special priestly GENERAL with God in their personal lives garments, is strangely reminis- Religion—'Not Philosophy than to lead them into the cent of the Old Testament sacri- Needed fices, and the likeness is further Church." -Monday Morning. borne out by the ritualistic use President Jam e s Rowland of a priestly rod bearing the im- Angell of Yale University insists age of a serpent, recalling the that religion, rather than phi- Leprosy Conferences ancient Nehustan. The similar- losophy must be relied on to Within a week after the tragic ities between Israelitish and change the human heart and shooting of sixty lepers at Chiang religious practices all solve our many problems. Said Yeungkong, two of the most shed fresh light on many an elu- he at the Bowdoin Institute of noted scientific bodies in China sive Bible allusion. The national Philosophy: were in session-the Chinese story of the Chiang people un- "Anything which gives any Medical Association and the doubtedly holds the answer to promise of restoring some meas- Third National Conference on many hitherto unanswered ques- ure of sobriety of outlook, some Leprosy. The national character tions of religion and history. common convictions a m 0 n g of these two organizations made Mr. Torrance's work of Bible thoughtful and honorable men, them loud-speakers of protest distribution in West China has is deserving of encouragement. against these executions. On the strictly intellectual side, brought many Chiang villages philosophy and science are alone The Me d i c a I Association likely to gain the necessary hearpassed the following resolution, into the Christian fold. ing from our thinking leaders, quickly seconded by the Leprosy -Bible Society Record.
Conference: Three Missions Unite Medical and perhaps by contagion some Work shreds of sanity may spread to That the Chinese Medical Association, in session at the Medical Center, Dr. Edward H. Hume sends common folk who have neither Shanghai, has heard with dismay of the mental power nor the train- the premeditated murder of lepers in an account of the federation of ing to think through basic probthe Yeungkong hospital leper settlement and the subsequent looting of three medical missions in China, lems for themselves. In the the settlement by soldiers; formerly maintained separately larger area of feeling and emo- by three denominations, to com- tion, to which appeal has finally That, apart from the natural ab- bine all medical work in South horrence of such cruelties, this and to be made before any social re- similar acts, in direct contravention Fukien into one unit. Late in sponse of significant magnitude of the orders of the Canton authorities, as expressed in their published 1936, a survey committee was can be hoped for, I think we injunctions strictly forbidding the appointed by the three missions molestation of lepers, do more than must look to essential religion. I involved – American Reformed, personally think that the most anything else to spread the disease by English Presbyterian and Eng- sophisticated can with intellectdriving every leper into hiding; lish Congregational – w h i c h ual assurance turn to the convic- And that immediate steps be taken by the officers of this conference to studied the entire area and tion that spiritual forces are inapproach the proper authorities in reached the conclusion that it digenous to ultimate reality, that they are in part reflected in such Nanking and Canton, urging that would be desirable to commence suitable penalties be imposed on the united activities at one center, conceptions as we have of jusmurderers, that steps be taken to protect the lepers, and especially to pre- while regarding the hospitals of tice and truth and beauty and the vent the molestation of those under- love of our fellow man." He going medical treatment. the entire area as essentially be- added that the task of turnin~ longing to a single plan. The -Without the Camp. Board of Managers of the hos- people as individuals from mal- pital at Changchow (London ice, cruelty, and selfish lust "is a The Chiangs of West China Mission) agreed to go out of ex- task which religion can most istence and a new board was cre- easily perform, and hardly any The author of "China's First ated, three of whose members other agency can make a real be- Missionaries – Ancient Israel- were designated by the Synod ginning."
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Our. Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information A Theology for Christian Missions. pear, as he recognizes! with t~e tain them. Meanwhile it is good By Hugh Vernon White. 220 pp. historic Catholic faIth. HIS Christology does not seem to be to have this thoughtful book $2. Willett, Clark & Co., New York the historic Chris~ology either of which goes so far and sets forth and Chicago. 1937. the Roman Catholic Church or so much truth as to life and of the theology of the Reformed thought and duty that one This book begins with a re- Churches. He reverences Jesus freshing note, at variance with wishes it would go further and the easy unrational and self-con- Christ as the historic revelation recover all of the great evan- of the character of God but says tradictory view of the past gen- little of the Risen Christ as a liv- gelical tradition which is as true eration which eschewed any in- ing supernatural person and today and will be as true tomorterest in the theological basis of foreign missions and advocated now as it ever was.
the adequacy of the ideal and R. E. SPEER. motive of human service. But presence and little of the mysti- cal element .of Christian experi- Two Missionary Voyages. By Thomas why were the ideal and motive ence. He saves a good deal of TPrhoommoptsionng. 8C7hprips.tiaIns. KSnoocwielteydfgoer. of human service adequate? the old but the movement of London. 1937.
Any attempt to answer this q?es- thought preserves the human- This little paper-bound book tion involved the answerer III a istic construction of the past few rescues from obscurity the name theology, a very thin and poor decades instead of entering into of a pioneer missionary who was theology perhaps, but still a the- the new currents which return sent out nearly two hundred ology which sooner or later had to God, rather than man, as the years ago (1745) by the Society to grapple with the meaning of the ideas of God and man and center and the constructive prin- for the Propogation of the Gos- ciple of Christian thought and pel of the Church of E,ngland to society. experience. The emphasis her2 work among the EnglIsh colon- Dr. White sees all this clearly is on man's service of his ists in New Jersey, and who, and states his view with unmis- brother, using the concepts of when his opportunity was closed takable plainness: God and of the teaching and ex- by the Revolution five years It is my strong conviction that the ample of the historic Jesus, later became the first Anglican Christian mission must have an ex- rather than on God in Christ, missionary to West Africa. His plicit theology to sustain it. These the Christ of history, the living interesting account of his adventlheecotuloregsi,cathl epreofionrteo, frevpireewseannt da dthefeinaitte- Christ, at wodrk u1sintg' manf Hfo' r turous voyages and varied extempt to ground evangelical Christian- the service an sa va Ion 0 IS periences were published by the children. The books cited are Society during his lifetime, but itv in beliefs about God, Christ, man .and the nature of the spiritual life, the books of the humanistic had been out of print and lost trend and thehre 'stehems to be for 150 years till a stray cop.y wprheiscehntc-adnaybeChhreilsdtiawnisthancodnwfidheicnhceCb2ny either no touc WI or a con- was found in the Rutger's 11be defended rationally and sustained scious ignoring of the new and brary in New Brunswi<;k. T~e by practical experience. Evangelical tfshaioeintohslo. ghiacIsaflatshfuuapntpdosarumtpeponoftratClhfrsaitla~ltksi,eanCinhmr~tIhss-e- dominant currents which turn Society has now republIshed It, back to the B.iblicaDl coWnche.ptts of wI'th explanatory introductions., tianity ceases to be a "gospel" in the God and ChrIst. r. 1 e ac- in its original form. The EdI- local parish as well as on the mission cepts "the passing of the old ra- torial Secretary rightly says field. tional premises for doctrinal that it will stir the imagination constructidon' wthh ti c hh'Cathfoltihcs of all who care for the records of ingWefohr avtheehamdisesnioonuagrhy swpeocrikal opfletahde- have foun III e eac Illg.O e old days and are ready to honor church. What it needs is not special Church and Protestants III the the memory of a Christian pio- letter of Scripture." Is it not neer and hero. pleading but a clear realization that the world mission finds its oraratiloin~a-l rather t rubaectkhat 0t dtahye sWe I'otlhd prem- _ ARTHUR J. BROWN. justification as well as its m ises are a new perative in the very nature of ChrIstianity. This is what makes so neces- sary today a treatment of missions power? The future will show. The Deeper Life. By Max I. Reich. The future will show also 112 pp. $1.00. Wm. B. Eerdman from the point of view of Christian theology. whether Dr. White's construc- Pub. Co. Grand Rapids, Mich.
When Dr. White states his tion of a theology for Christian Those who share the convictheology, however, variances ap- missions will sustain and main- tion that the present urgent need Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the RllvIIlW publishers on receipt of price.
[446 ]
OUR MISSIONARY
is the deepening of the spiritual by the Apostles, and effective in which characterize his discuslife of the church will prize this a new righteousness from God, sion of the subject, which is volume of studies by a gifted and a new access to God, a new crea- especially timely in this year of able expositqr. Dr.· Reich is a tion by God for those who ac- the Edinburgh World Confermember of the faculty of the cept it. Dr. McNicol does not ence on Faith and Order. Moody Bible Institute and the start with a thesis to which facts book reflects both his deep spir- must be made to conform. His ARTHUR J. BROWN. itual discernment and wide appeal is to what "is written." knowledge of the Scriptures. How completely documented Missionary Illustrations. By Alva His approach is somewhat un- from Scripture his treatment is usual in that there is almost en- may be judged from the 500 ref- C. Bowers. 154 pp. $1.50. Flemtire absence of illustration or erences listed in the Scripture ing H. Revell. New York. appeal to emotion. The aim is Index at the end of the book. rather to bring into view great Yet the text does not seem cum- Here are stories of real exareas of spiritual privilege re- bered by excessive quotation. vealed in the Scriptures, which On the contrary, the argument periences, gathered by the au- Christians so largely neglect. moves steadily forward, without There is the constant holding up waste of words, from position to thor during his twenty-six years of the divine mirror to expose position, as each is established the deformities of the self life, and fortified in turn. Marked in foreign mission service. Pasand warning against formalism, with fine insight and evident ritualism and doctrinalism, as scholarship the book is neverthe- tors, Sunday school teachers and foes to highest spiritual attain- less not academic. It is wholement. The sixteen chapters are somely objective, and yet at the leaders of young people will find rich in sustenance for the inner same time is intense with feellife, especially those on Deeper ing. Obviously the Christian this book a mine of usable inci- Fellowship, Deeper Teaching, evangel has pro v e d in the and Deeper Peace. writer's own case to be "power dents that will increase the unto salvation," and he cherishes If there be any qualification in it with joyous conviction. Any- knowledge of other lands, and one's appreciation of a book of one who wishes to understand such high value and helpfulness, essential Christianity cannot do give point to inspirational this would relate to one or two better than read this book. instances of overstatement. truths. H. H. F. ARTHUR H. GORDON. HUGH R. MONRO. God's Methods for Holy Living. Church Unity. By the Rev. F. H. Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse. 50 The Christian Evangel. By John Me· Knubel, D.D. 86 pp. 75 cents. cents. 93 pp. Revelation. Phila- Nicol, D.D. 12mo. 193 pp. $1.50. Board of Publication of the United delphia. 1937. American Tract Society, New York. Lutheran Church in America. 1937. 1937. This volume of brief addresses This discussion of church It is a good omen that books unity, by the distinguished presi- deals with a theme of which we are appearing, one after another, dent of the United Lutheran which seek to define Christian- Church in America, is in the hear all too little in present-day ity as presented in the New Tes- form of a commentary on the tament. Many have become Epistle to the Ephesians, whose preaching. Holiness has had a weary of the vague religiousness real theme is held to be the unity of much contemporary preach- of the Church, and in which St. prominent place in the great reing, and eagerly desire to know Paul presents the "fundamental what the original Christian mes- facts concerning unity," "Chris- vivals since Wesley's day, but sage really was. They wish to tian responsibility for unity" "distinguish the things that dif- and the proper methods for the because of the teaching of eradier." Dr. Machen's "What Is "promotion of unity by Chris- Faith," and Principal Michlem's tian denominations." cation and other extremes by book with a similar title, are calculated to meet this commend- Leaders who feel that true certain groups, a widespread able desire. The volume by Dr. unity should and will express it- McNicol belongs in the same self in union, that union does prejudice has recently grown up. class and certainly does not suf- not mean a standardized unifer by comparison. It is a clear, formity or a supergovernment, To omit a truth so essential as coherent, cogent setting forth of and that a closer union than now the "Christian Evangel" as fore- exists is long overdue, will prob- this leaves great areas of Scripshadowed in the Old Testament, ably not share Dr. Knubers fear made possible by our Lord, in of "the hurried establishment of ture uncultivated and the sym- His life and death and resurrec- an external union." They will, tion, certified by the gift of the however, respect the ability, sin- metry of Christian doctrine is Spirit at Pentecost, proclaimed cerity and fine Christian spirit sadly marred.
Dr. Barnhouse's approach is well balanced, scriptural, and in the fullest sense practical and helpful. His numerous illustra- tions are highly effective. the language clear and forceful, and there is a sustained interes '; throughout. The reader will lay down this book with a sense of spiritual refreshment and with much new light upon the Word of God. H. R. MONRO.
My Servant Moses. By E. Ray Cam- eron. A.M., Th.M. 12mo. 187 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell Company, N. Y. 1937.
Here is a straightforward chronicle of the life of the great Hebrew lawgiver. It follows closely the Biblical record, util- izing often its very phraseology, and makes no attempt to ap- praise the documents critically, or speculate as to their origin.
Their full reliability is taken for The History of Sin Personal Items granted. The writer presents An illuminating and instruc- (Concluded from 2d cover.) ]doses as the chief instrument tive treatise on the little understood subject of the on church properties, and for a bish- through whom the Providence of origin and development of sin op's residence. God operated for the deliverance in the world. of Israel from Egypt. He traces Rev. F. Wh*itt*ake*r, an English The Marks of Sonship that Providence in detail from Methodist missionary in Hyderabad, the beginning to the end of Tracing in clear language the India, has been appointed mass move- ]doses' life, and seeks to inter- pathway of sonship. An ad- ment secretary of the National Chris- pret ]doses' reactions to it. He mirable treatise dealing with tian Council of India. This post is the very heart of the Gospel. made necessary by the situation fd1- introduces us to ]doses' inward lowing the Ambedkar movement of conflicts and hesitations, his ven- The History of Temptation the Depressed Classes. tures of faith, the motives which Barring what seem to us one *** actuated him, his hopes and or two extremes in statement, . trials and disappointments and this pamphlet throws a flood Rajah B. Manikam, Ph.D., has been of light on a subject concern- elected one of the secretaries of the triumphs. The result is no mere ing which there is far too National Christian Council of India, symbolic figure of the dim past, much superficial thinking. Burma and Ceylon. His time will be devoted to the Central Board of Chris- aloof and severe, but "a real When Winter Comes tian Higher Education and to the warm-blooded human being" of promotion of Christian literature. Dr. like passions with ourselves, and A tribute to those in advanced Manikam has been vice-principal of years by one in the prime of Andhra Christian College, supported "as lovable as any character in by the United Lutheran Church. history." The scattered facts of ]doses life are collected and in- *** Dr. Adolph Keller, director of the Central Bureau of Relief of the Evan- life. Emphasis is placed on gelical Churches of Europe, is coming cluded in the narrative, empha- to the United States this month. He the solid satisfactions of later will participate in the National sizing his versatility, his prodi- years when there are hallowed Preaching Mission and will give lecgious achievements and their abiding value. Now and then memories and a living faith. tures on the recent Oxford Conferthe story is made more vivid by In contrast to the unbelieving, ence. *** imaginative touches, as when such find light at eventide.
]doses and Aaron meet after HUGH R. MONRO. Obituary Notes forty years of separation and James Hudson Taylor of China. By Mrs. Hele,n Pierson Curtis. the J. J. Ellis. 96 pp. 2s. Pickering wife of the Rev. Frederick S. Curtis, talk over old times, or when the who spent forty years of her life with sensational experiences of Israel, and Inglis. London and Edinburgh. her husband as a missionary in Japan during the days immediately and Korea, died in New Haven, Conn., after the escape from Egypt, are Hudson Taylor was 'known as on July 5, 1937. She was born in Binghamton, N. Y., on August 9, relayed in the modern form of "the man who believed God." 1861, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. news flashes. Judicious and per- Arthur T. Pierson. She was educated tinent practical suggestions ap- He believed God without any in Kalamazoo Seminary and after her marriage went to Japan in 1888 pear at intervals, which remind qualifications whatever. The where she did a notable work in teach- ing and evangelism. M'rs. Curtis is one that the book has its roots in awe-inspiring fact of his life survived by her husband and four a series of sermons preached to children. the writer's own congregation. was this simple faith; and the One finishes reading with a sense one great lesson to be drawn from it is the power of such a faith. H. H. F.
of profit from having become Seminary Militant. By Louise Porter Herbert Udn*y *W*eitbrecht Stanbetter acquainted with this most impressive Biblical character, Thomas. 117 pp. $1.00. Dept. of ton, for many years an associate edi- English, Mount Holyoke College. tor of The Moslem World, died on 1937. prior to Christ Himself. May 30 in London, at the age of eigh- One of the centennial publi- ty-six. Dr. Weitbrecht Stanton, schol- ARTHUR H. GORDON. cations of ]dount Holyoke Col- ar and linguist, was a distinguished Series of Six Booklets. 16 pp., with lege, being an account of the missionary of the Church Missionary heavy paper cover. By Donald Grey Society in the Punjab for more than missionary movement at the a generation. His long residence in Barnhouse. 10 cents each. Revela- college, inspired and developed India, and his intimate acquaintance tion, Philadelphia. by its founder, ]dary Lyon. The with Arabic as well as Urdu, specially Happy Though Poor book is interestingly compiled fitted him to write on Moslem prob- lems. An arresting discussion of the from letters, diaries, and note- secret of happiness, replete books of early students and *** with vivid illustration, sound teachers. Along with the strug- reasoning and clear Scripture Mrs. William Clifton Dodd, hon- teaching. orably retired Presbyterian mission- gle to develop higher education . ary to Siam, died at her home in Men Whom God Struck Dead for women was the dauntless re– Johnstown, Pa., July 4, 1937. Isabella Ruth Eakin was born at Solemn lessons drawn from solve to convert the world. The Rose Point, Pa., June 26, 1861, sailed long list of ]dount Holyoke for Siam on October 20, 1887. In 1889 alumnre who have served as mis- she became the wife of Dr. William judgments of Scripture. Each sionaries at home or abroad in- C. Dodd and for nearly 33 years they illustration is given a power- work as pioneers in that remote Laos ful present-day application. cludes the name of Dr. Ida field, hundreds of miles from the Scudder. fringe of civilization. H. H. F.
Book. For OCTOBER
SMTWTFS Africa and Christianity. Diedrich •• •• •• •• •• 1 2 Westermann. $2.25. Oxford Uni- 3 4 5 6 789 versity Press. London and New 10 11 12 13 U 15 16 York. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 26 27 28 29 80 Books for the Traveler or Sojourner 81 •••••••••••• in China. Harriet Hardison Rob- son. 24 pp. 25 cents. American Most Important Months Council, Institute of Pacific Rela- of the New Church Year tions. New York. NOVEMBER Be Sure DECEMBER Christianity and the Eastern Con- to Order IMTWTFS flicts. William Paton. 224 pp. .!..!!.TWTF. •• •••• 1 2 8 of $1.50. Willett Clark & Co: Chi- •• 11846' 6 8 7 8 91011 cago. 12 18 U 16 1617 18 7 8 9 10 1112 18 Christianity and Our World. John U 16 18 17 18 19 20 ………….. 19 20 III 22 28 24 26 C. Bennett. 70 pp. 50 cents. As- sociation Press. New York. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 212228 114 26 118 117 282728298081 •• The Church at the Heart of the 182980 •••••• World Christian Community. Es- ther Boorman Strong. 60 pp. Cbt Upptr Room 1. M. C. New York. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE The Divine Art of Soul Winning. J. O. Sanders. 96 pp. lB. Picker- With summer past and vacations over, it is time to ing & Inglis. London. inaugurate a new Church year and a new program. In many instances a new organization must be set up The Great Commission. W. Wilson or at least replacements made. New Members must Cash. 116 pp. 28. Oliphants be drawn into closer fellowship and the spiritual life London. of the old members must be quickened. For this period of cultivation the daily devotional life of the Dr. Bob Hockman – A Surgeon of individual is most important to the success of the; the Cross. Kathleen Hockman whole program. Friederichsen. 102 pp. 50 cents. Zondervan Pub. House. Grand More Than 15,000 Pastors Have Acclaimed Rapids. THE UPPER ROOM as the Most Effective In the Jungles of New Guinea. R. Daily Devotional Guide Obtainable Hanselmann. Pamphlet. Lutheran Book Concern. Columbus, Ohio. Pastors or group leaders are invited to order a trial supply on our liberal consignment plan. Use the or- Kagawa Comes Home. 25 cents. 66 der form below. pp. Friends of Jesus. Tokyo. CONSIGNMENT ORDER INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTION- Morocco in Mufti. James Haldane. THB UPPER ROOM, 231 pp. 68. A. H. Stockwell Ltd. Issue for October, November, December Doctors' Building, London. (For use of Pastor or Group Leader. Nashville, Tenn.
The New Adorning. Reginald Wallis. Order ten or more copies.) Gentlemen: 65 pp. 80 cents. American Bible I am inclosing herewith thirty cents Conference Assn. Philadelphia. THE UPPER ROOM, (foreign, forty cents) for which please Natur Und Gnade in Der Mission- Doctors' Building, send me The Upper Room for one year, arischen Verkundigung. Theodore Devaranne. 28 pp. Ostasien Mis- Nashville, Tenn. postpaid, beginning with _ _ _ __ sion. Berlin, Germany. quarterly issue. Gentlemen: Pioneer Days in Darkest Africa. A. Name G. Ingleby. 176 pp. 28. 6d. Pick- Please send me copies ering & Inglis. London. of The UpPer Room, postpaid. I will Street or Route _ _ _ _ _ __ sell these for five cents per copy and Practical Christian Living. Thoughts pay for same when sold. It is under- Post·office _ _ _ _ _ State _ __ for Daily Meditation. Zelma Argue. 32 pp. 25 cents. Zondervan Pub. stood that I have the privilege of re- *A single copy by mail anywhere 10 Co. Grand Rapids. turning at your expense Bny unsold cents. Redeeming the Time. Report of the China Inland Mission. 82 pp. Lon- copies. don. Name Radiant Youth. Reginald Wallis. Street or Route _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 128 pp. 80 cents. American Bible Conference Assn. Philadelphia. Post·office _ _ _ _ _ State _ __ Seminary Militant. Louise Porter Thomas. 117 pp. $1.00. Mount Holyoke College. Mt. Holyoke, Mass.
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Anti-Christian Anny —
200,000,000 Moslems The strongest united force opposing the claims of Christ and the progress of modern missions is the Moslem population of the world. Although the followers of Mohammed believe that Jesus was a prophet of God and although the Koran gives Him an exalted place, the Mohammedans refuse to accept Him as Son of God and the only Saviour from the penalty and power of sin.
The Moslems are not only extremely fanatical but they are also militant propagandists for their religious faith and practices. The difficulties they put in the way of Christian missionary work are especially felt in countries where Islam is in control or that claim a majority of the population. Such countries are: Egypt, the Sudan, North Africa, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, parts of India, Malaya, China and southeastern Europe.
The October MISSIONARY REVIEW will be devoted to this subject-with articles by mission· aries and converts, maps and illustrations, news and book reviews. Among the articles will be: The Moslem World Today…………………………………… Dwight M. Donaldson Why Take Christ to Moslems …………………………………… Samuel M. Zwemer Some Moslem Superstitions …………………………………………. Davida Finney The Gospel that Wins Moslems …………………………………….. W. Wilson Cash Moslem Reactions to the Gospel …………………………………….. James Haldane My Experience with Moslems ………………………………………. " Frank Laubach Christian vs. Moslem Homes ………………………………… .Mrs. Edwin E. Calverley Medical Missions to Moslems …………………………………… , ….. Paul Harrison Encouragements Among Moslems ………………………………………. George Swan Sermon by a Convert from Islam ………………………… , ………. .Sa'eed Kurdistani What Christ Means to Me …………….. " …………………. .By Converts from Islam Best Books on the Moslem World ……………………………••..• •Samuel M. Zwemer 25 cents a copy –Send Your· Order Now– ~2.s0 a year ~20.00 a hundred Special Pmt! in ~antities if ordered bt!fore Septembt!T 15th THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD THIRD AND REILY STREETS, HARRISBURG, PA.
Robert E. Speer, President Delavan L. Pierson, Editor
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1937
1937
, The Murdoch Trail in Kentucky Alvin E. Magary What Rural Churches Are Doing w. H. Thompson Pioneering for Christ in Kwangsi A. C. Snead China and the New Life Movement Generalissimo. Chiang Kai..shek Thinking Yellow vs. Acting Yellow Geoffrey W. Royall The Problem of the Rural Church in Canada J. R. Watt A Brahman Christian……Nehemiah Goreh 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember September 27 – October 1 – Houston, of her service to Japanese women
Texas. Dean, Mrs. A. B. Haynes, the field of education. M>iss Loomis July 5-16-New Jersey Summer 618 Highland Ave., Houstori, Texas. was principal of Doremus High School School for Christian W 0 r k e r s, for girls in Yokohama from 1901 until Blairstown, N. J. October 5-6- Warren, Ohio. Mrs. her retirement last year. She is the George Konold, 314 Scott St., N. E., second missionary in this school to be July 8-13 – International Christian Warren, Ohio. so honored by the Emperor, the first Endeavor Convention, Grand Rap- being Miss Julia N. Crosby, one of ids, Mich. October 21 – Baltimore, Md. Mrs. the founders of the mission, who went David D. Baker, 410 N. Calhoun to Japan in 1871. July 11-16 – Anniversary, First Con- St., Baltimore, Md. ference of American Methodism. *** Old St. George's Church. Phila- Personal Items Dr. Tom Lambie, recently in charge delphia. Dr. E. Stanley Jones expects to be of the work of the Sudan Interior Mis- July 12-26- World Conference on in China for six months from August sion in Ethiopia and a naturalized Life and Work. Oxford, England. 15. He goes at the invitation of the citizen of Ethiopia, has recently re- National Christian Council of China. turned from a visit to Africa to sur- July 14-17-National Council of Fed- He will be asked to give attention vey the Nigerian field with a view to erated Church Women. Lake Ge- primarily to the strengthening of opening new stations to be occupied neva, Wis. church leadership in evangelism, lay by missionaries who will no longer be service and the Christianizing of the welcome in Ethiopia. Dr. Lambie has July 19-30-Religious Education Con- home, with such work for non-Chris- applied to have his American citizen- ference. Northfield, Mass. tians and students as may be carried ship restored. During his trip he and on without diversion from this main Dr. Rowland V. Bingham went up the July 24-31-Conference of the Asso- Nile to Khartoum and later flew from ciation of Christian Youth Move- objective. there to Kano, 1,800 miles across ments of America. Stony Brook, *** Africa to the west.
L. 1. Mrs. Orrin R. Judd, a member of *** the Board of Directors of THE RE- July 31-August 6-General Confer- VIEW, has been elected president of Rev. Hafiz Abood Faris, elected to ence. Northfield, Mass. the Woman's American Baptist Home represent Syria at the Centennial cele- Mission Society at its recent annual brations of the Board of Foreign Mis- July 31-August 7-Annual Interde- meeting in Philadelphia. sions of the Presbyterian Church in nominational Young People's Con- the U. S. A., is pastor of the church ference. Stony Brook, L. I. *** at Horns, Syria; president of the Synod Dr. William J. Reid and Dr. Wil- and moderator of the Syrian Evan- August 3-18 – World Conference on gelical Church. Through his leader- Faith and Order. Edinburgh, Scot- liam J. Reid, Jr., as father and son, ship federation among the Protestants land. in Syria has been effected and included have continuously led the First United the Covenantor churches (Reformed), August 16-23 – Christian .Endeavor the Irish Presbyterian Mission and the Conference. Northfield, Mass. Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh Danish Mission churches.
August 21-29-General Bible Confer- for 75 full years, the father holding As a schoolboy Mr. Faris attended ence. Stony Brook, L. 1. the American Presbyterian Mission the pastorate for 40 years. This School at Sidon and received his the- Sept. 28-30 – Annual Interdenomina- unique anniversary has recently been ological training at Suk-ul-Gharb. He tional Missionary Institute, Wom- is related to the talented Abood fam- an's Interdenominational Union of celebrated in Pittsburgh. In a curious ily which has furnished the Christian Philadelphia and Vicinity. First way the younger man has reproduced Church in Syria and Palestine with Baptist Church, Philadelphia. six pastors, several teachers, and a his father's work. The father was for number of workers along other lines. SUMMER CONFERENCES AND 15 years editor of the United Pres'by- He spent a number of years in Amer- SCHOOLS OF MISSIONS terian; the son has edited the same ica (1903-07), and organized an Arabic-speaking Presbyterian Church Council of Women for Home Mis- paper for 16 years. The weekly Bible among the Syrians of West Hoboken. sions and Affiliated with the Committee on Women's Work, School at the Y. M. C. A., which the *** Foreign Missions Conference elder taught for 30 years, was after- Rev. and Mrs. Phineas B. Kennedy, July 7-15-Northfield, Mass. Miss v.ho have spent forty years in Al- Amy O. Welcher, 796 Prospect Ave., ward led by the son for almost 20 bania and Macedonia as missionaries, Hartford, Conn. years. The U nit e d Presbyterian first under tHe American Board and Handbook, which the father prepared later in the Albanian Evangelical July 10-17 – Mountain Lake Park, Mission, are now in America and are Md. Chairman, Mrs. J. M. Knight, annually for many years, has been available for addresses on conditions 207 Roane St., Charleston, W. Va. and work in Albania. Mr. and Mrs. issued by the son for 22 years. The Kennedy have a fine lot of stereopticon July 17-24–Mt. Hermon, Calif. Mrs. slides and a large fund of interesting N. J. Forsberg, 1144 Eddy St., San father sent a full-page weekly discus- Francisco, Calif. information in regard to this little- sion of the Sunday school lesson to known part of the storm center of July 19-23 – Bethesda, Ohio. Miss Europe. Their address is 718 Ken- Mary 1. Scott, 310 Tomlinson St., his paper; here, too, the son has car- sington Ave., Plainfield, N. J. Moundsville, W. Va. ried on. *** ••• August 15-22 – Chautauqua, N. Y. Chairman, Miss B. Louise Wood- Dr. J. D. Jones, long pastor of one David Griffin, son-in-law of Rev. ford, 930 23d Ave. North, St. of the leading Con g reg a t ion a I Paul Rader, Chicago evangelist, ex- Petersburg, Fla. pects to make a 20,000-mile tour of churches of England, and well known Asiatic and African frontiers in a August 19-25 – Kerrville, T e x a s. three-wheeled motorcycle truck, ac- Chairman, Mrs. T. M. Cunning- in America as well as Great Britain, companied by Hubert Mitchell, of Los ham, 618 West Sydamore, Denton, Angeles. From Singapore their Texas. has been elected to the presidency of route will take them through the Ma- lay States, Burma, Tibet, across September 20-24 – Minnesota (Min- the National Free Church Council. Khyber Pass, through Persia and neapolis-St. Paul). President, Mrs. finally across the mid-section of Charles L. Grant, 610 Aurora Ave., *** Africa. St. Paul, Minn. Prof. Arthur H. Compton, eminent September 20-24–Southern California young physicist and Nobel Prize win- (Los Angeles). Mrs. H. M. Horn, ner, has been installed Chairman of 1955 Carmen Ave., Los Angeles, the Laymen's Missionary Movement, Calif. Chicago. Prof. Compton has served on the Committee for eight years. September 27 – October 1 – Dallas, Texas. Pres., Mrs. E. R. Alderson, *** 561 Goodwin St., Dallas, Texas. Miss Clara Denison Loomis, for thirty-five years a missionary in Japan under the Woman's Union Mis- sionary Society of America, was re- cently honored by the Japanese Gov- ernment by being presented with the Renju Hosho, the highest decoration
MISSIONARY for your magazine as a whole. lt IS Fastest
REVIEW OF THE WORLD well for all of us to keep before us to the DELAVAN L. PIERBON, Editor the general trend in the missionary world, as well as to know some of the ORIENT VOL. LX JULy-AuG., 1937 Nos. 7 & 8 speclllc pieces of work which are be- ing carried on by other churches Japanese Publication and Business Olllce– throughout the world. Your MISSION- Girl Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. ARY KEVIEW helps to keep us informed with at these points." Editorial and Executive Olllce– lantern. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. MABEL NIEDERMEYER, Entered as second-class matter at Director of Children's Work, Go direct fromVancouverand Victoria in 10 days by Em- Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under United Christian Missionary press oj Asia or Empress oj Act of March 3, 1879. Society, Indianapolis. Russia. Only 3 more days via Hawaii by Empress ojJapan 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. *** (fastest ship on the Pacific) Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. or Empress oj Canada. Con- Published monthly, except August. "You are surely issuing a most nect at Honolulu from Cali- All rights reserved. Copyrighted 193 7. splendid magazine. I bind the copies fornia ports. Low round-trip British agents – Marshall, Morgan so as to maKe constant use of them. fares include passage from and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, I have known of interest and contribu- and to Seattle. London. E. C. 1 shilling per copy, tions through people learning of needs 10 shillings a year. as given in THE REVIEW." ~r;4 MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- REV. WILLIAM H. ENSIGN. For rates and sailings, see LISHING CO., INC. Los Angeles, Calif. YOUR TRAVEL AGENT or Cana- dian Pacific: New York, Chi- BOARD OF DIRECTORS "I think ever*y *Ch*ristian ought to ca~o, San Francisco, 38 other ROUERT E. SPEER, President citIes in U. S. and Canada. A. L. WARNSHUlS, Vice-President read THE REVIEW. It is the best thing I have ever seen on missions. Many WALTER MCDOUGALL, ~'rea8urer of my congregation are oecoming en- thUSIastic over it. One night when a DELAVAN L. PIERSON. Secretary speaker disappointed me I talked for an hour on mIssions, giving informa- SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT tion gleaned from THE REVIEW."
WILLIAM I. C'luMBERLoUN PASTOR F. L. SHANNON.
D. J. FANT Beckley, -W.-V-a.- – – – MRS. ORRIN R. JUDO THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH "Push," said the button. "Take pains," said the window. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER "Never be led," said the pencil. "Be up to date," said the calendar. Editorial Chat "Always keep cool," said the ice. "Do business on tick," said the clock. Our June (Rural America) Num- "Never lose your head," said the ber has already had a large sale and is still in great demand. Order your barrel. extra copies before the supply runs "Do a driving business," said the out. Here is only one of the many favorable comments we have received: hammer. "Aspire to great things," said the nut- "Allow me to congratulate you on the splendid issue of THE REVIEW for meg. June in which you present a fine pic- "Make light of everything," said the ture of rural America. This will be of great help to the rural church fire. movement." "Do nothing off-hand," said the glove: "Look up," said the telescope. THOMAS ALFRED TRIPP, "Make much of little things," said the Associate Director, Town and microscope. Country Dept., The Church Ex- "Look ahead," said the spy-glass. tension Boards of the Congrega.- tional and Christian Churches. Obituary Note.
*** Emma Belle Dougherty Pierson, for forty-two years the beloved and Other articles on "Christ and Rural faithful wife of the Editor of this America" appear in this present issue REVIEW, fell asleep in Christ at her and more will follow later, since the home in Montclair, New Jersey, on subject is to cover a year of Home June 18, after a serious illness, last- Mission study. ing over five months. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December *** 15, 1871, and early gave herself to Christ,., trusting in Him for salvation As usual, in recent years, there will and all her daily needs. For nearly be no August number of THE REVIEW. fifty years she was a remarkably suc- Instead the June and July numbers cessful teacher of little children in the each have a larger number of pages. Sunday school and led many of them Many subscrioers are away in August to Christ. Her personal charm and and the summer months are less (un- many talents were dedicated to His fortunately) active in church circles. service. Mrs. Pierson was deeply in- The omission of the August issue is terested in the work of Christ at home also a help in meeting publication ex- and abroad, was active in the missionpenses. ary work of her own Church, was an officer of the Montclair Missionary *** Union and for some years a mem.:er of the Board of Foreign Missions of Our October number will be looked the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. forward to with great interest as it will be devoted to the very important (Concluded on 3d cQ'/Jer.) topic, "Christ and the Moslem World." [337 ] Other recent *com* m*ents on the RE- VIEW show that God is using it to stimulate interest in the Cause of Christ. The following are some extracts from letters: "I wish to express my appreciation
© International Photo
A RECENT PORTRAIT OF GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK AND MADAME CHIANG (See article, pages 356 to 362) REVIB ORLD AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS VOLUME LX JULY-AUGUST, 1937 NUMBERS 7 AND 8 Topics of the Times YOUTH – WHITHER? The situation is not wholly new except in the complacency with which many parents, teachers This is ideally the golden age of youth. Never and even professing Christians look upon it. have the young men and young women had such There are many who have high ideals for the opportunities. They are awake to this new day, Church, the school, the home; what are we going with its problems and possibilities in education, to do about it? Boys and girls are capable of in politics, in science and business. Youth is also great things and their interest is not difficult to awake to the new license and opportunities in capture for the best in God's creation and procrime and lust, in war and lawlessness. It is well gram. Left alone or misled they naturally run known that the age of convicted criminals has de- wild. creased by one-half in the past twenty-five years. The widespread use of the automobile for vice and The Christian Church has a responsibility for crime, the pernicious effect of intoxicants and the the guidance of youth because of her commission degrading influence of much that is found in from God and the ideals for which she stands. At movies and theaters and in modern literature; a crime conference held in Albany, former Justice the decrease in the influence of the Church; the Alfred J. Talley said that judges of the bench laxity in parental control, and the new disregard declare the main cause of criminality in Amer- ica is the "indifference of our people to the need for God and His laws fostered in too many schools of the American child for daily religious teachand colleges – all these have not only helped to ing." He continued: further inflame "flaming youth" but now endanger the whole life of the coming generation. Recently Why is it not time to make a fresh start? In the some high schools in Greater New York and else- policy of the State, religion is kept out of the schools, where have been the subject of shocked investi- because, unhappily, one religion was fearful that another gation because of the widespread immorality that religion would get some advantage and the fatal course was reported. Such immorality is not new but was adopted of wiping out religious teaching altogether. modern tendencies have made it more prevalent Pagan divinities and their amours may be glorified in the and open and less disgraceful in the eyes of youth. school- Nero, Cresar, Hannibal, Napoleon, Henry the In one city alone five tons of salacious books and Eighth-with all their human frailties, their wars and pictures, chiefly intended for boys and girls, were devastation, but the Almighty Father, the Divine Archirecently seized, while many tons more have barely tect, the Merciful Creator who holds the destiny of the escaped a similar fate. In New York certain de- American people in the hollow of His hand must not be grading "shows" have been closed but still the mentioned before an American child in an American State refuses to exercise <censorship in behalf of school. Why is it not time to make a fresh start? the youth. While we enact and enforce laws to protect physical health, lawmakers still permit The Hon. John C. Maher, Chairman of the the deadly germs of moral and spiritual diseases Parole Commission of New York, speaking of the to be spread by those who seek to grow rich there- influence of religion in the life of the criminal, said: "To me religion stands preeminently above all the police forces and all the armies that the world has ever conceived. It has an influence on by. Who can wonder at the wave of banditry, an individual that cannot be injected by a prison, murder and increasing sex crimes that have but can be injected by those who are experts in spread alarm all over the United States? the art of reaching the inner man. The aid of the [339 ]
Church and the clergy should be definitely en- Today superstitions are breaking down before listed to help solve the problem of crime." modern education; harmful social and religious customs-such as infanticide, child marriage and A member of the New York Parole Board re- the burning of widows-are outlawed by growing cently called attention to the need for cooperation. public opinion; caste is breaking before the ad- vance of modern progress and the awakening of While it is highly desirable that something be done on a the outcastes; women are coming out of purdah religious basis, practical experience shows that not much and are taking part in public life; Christ and His can be done unless the religious groups actually will be- teachings are coming to be honored by multitudes, come interested in doing something for the criminal. Judg- even of those who are still Hindus. All these ing from my personal experience of five years in New changes have come about by the patient teachings York City, in which we have dealt with now some ten or and influence of Christian missionaries and by twelve thousand cases, I believe that generally speaking the laws and education promoted by the British the individual clergymen of all the different groups are Government. definitely disinterested in the criminal. These and other signs of progress in India are Christians have tremendous opportunities and especially evident to those who have visited the duties of service which have not yet been accepted great peninsular continent at intervals during the adequately. Some of the greatest achievements past half century. Dr. John R. Mott, who has reever accomplished, not only in science and public cently returned from his fifth visit, first went out life but in religion, have been under the energy there in 1895 in the interests of the Student and leadership of youth. Jesus Christ and the Christian Movement. Again he visited India in apostles were young men; General William Booth 1901-02 to conduct an evangelistic campaign, and was a young man when he started the Salvation eleven years later to help organize the Christian Army; the Y. M. C. A. and the Student Volunteer forces of missionaries and Indian leaders. In Movement, the Missionary Education Movement, 1928-29 he went again to help interpret the J eru· and many similar activities were initiated and led salem Conference and to form the National Chrisby young men. Where are those today that will tian Council. Now he has returned from a three organize and carry forward a new Christian cru- months' visit in connection with the International sade to enlist the youth of today in the service of Y. M. C. A. Convention at Mysore. He returns Christ and their fellowmen? with great burdens on his heart for India. The new impressions he has received have brought The responsibility for the proper training of deepened convictions and a sense of wonderful youth is divided between the State, the Church opportuni ty. and the home. In most instances the influence of the State and the school is nonreligious and non- 1. There is the conviction that the work of the Christian, if not positively antireligious and anti- missionary is not yet done in India. It is only be- Christian. The churches today have little oppor- ginning and is of prime importance. With the tunity to train the youth because the breach has new constitution the land is progressing toward been widening between them. It is necessary that independence and is struggling to attain greater the clergy and Christian laity go after the youth unity and power. In view of the new possibilities and win them, rather than expect the youth gen- in material advancement in education, in ecoerally to come to the Church for instruction. But nomic, political and social life and in religious the key to the situation is the home, the funda- attitudes, it is no time for Christians to relax their mental unity of society. If the home is character- efforts. ized by unity, purity, honesty, love, joy, faith and reverence for God, and by a true understanding 2. The present-day opportunities of evangelism of Christ and His Way of Life, then there need offer a greater challenge than ever – especially be no fear as to the way youth, under the guidance among the Depressed Classes and the students. of God, will react so as to build a Christian world The Indian Church is in the midst of a five-year for tomorrow. campaign of evangelism. This calls for a clearer understanding of the needs of India and of the THE MODERN CHALLENGE OF INDIA power of Christ to meet those needs, both indi- vidual and social, temporal and eternal. India It is diffi<;ult for many today to realize the re- needs the whole Gospel adequately presented. markable changes that have come in India in the through united Christian effort. past half century. Things that were considered impossible then have now come to pass and 3. There.is the challenge presented by the Lindchanges that seemed could only be brought about say Commission to unify, extend and improve the in a century of effort are now taking place. This Christian educational work. There are today very is true in regard to religious superstitions, and unusual opportunities to reach the college students social customs, the stranglehold of caste, the low and to train them for Christian service. position of women, the immoralities of Hinduism and the strong antipathy toward Christianity.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
4. There is the challenge presented by the med- the Mexican republic have been unusually strin- gent against the practice of religion, some States ical opportunities in India. The physical needs of having enacted legislation that is a drastic at- tempt to throttle all public worship and religious millions of people are still uncared for, and the teaching.
medical missionaries are now looked up to and Certain states have limited the number of priests to about one for every 80,000 of the poptrusted by all classes. This work is practical ulation. In others, as Chiapas and Chihuahua, only one priest has been permitted for the whole Christianity that opens many closed hearts and state. Such limitation has now been declared il- legal by the supreme court of Mexico. In the case closed doors. of Roman Catholics, who form the greater part of the population, the number of priests allowed 5. The rural probtem in India presents a tre- by law has been far below the needs of the people. In at least two states, Tabasco and Campeche, mendous challenge in a country that is ninety per the law permitted only married priests to officiate in religious worship and to administer the sacracent rural. Here is a basic problem that affects ments, so that no Roman Catholic priest could celebrate mass unless he violated his oaths of the whole work. It calls for "new investigation, celibacy and broke the discipline of his Church. In Tabasco, which is perhaps the state in which agitation, experimentation and demonstration" by antireligious legislation was most extreme, church edifices have been razed, the bricks and stones those who have the best interests of India at used for paving the streets, and the sites converted into public playgrounds. Even children have been heart. obliged to take part in the public burning of cruci- fixes, and rewards have been given to those who 6. There is the challenge of the growing literacy informed against Mexicans who privately prac- ticed religion in their own homes. Now, however, and the need for good literature. With a rapidly the governor of this same state reports that he increasing number of readers, ~nd the influx of proposes to assume an "attitude of conciliation to cheap and harmful literature, Christians must the Church." So far, that conciliation is limited to granting the privilege of private devotion; provide better periodicals and books for the read- there has been no published statement lookina- toward the renewal of permission for public reing public. With a growing Church there must ligious exercises. In other states, as San Luis Potosi and Sonora and in the Federal District, be more funds provided to supply the members masses may be celebrated in most of the churches, and there seems to be a considerable relaxation with wholesome Christian reading. in the stringent enforcement of antireligious laws. In the State of Vera Cruz, some months ago, the 7. There is the challenge for an increase in the people forcibly opened the churches after a young girl had been shot by the police during a religious missionary staff in India. The economic depres- celebration. The President of the Republic sus- tained the people and the churches have remained sion has led to a decrease in workers and a con- open, although still under police surveillance.
sequent increase in the burdens borne by those Although there are indications that the rigor of the antireligious laws of Mexico is being rewho remain. While the Church of Rome is in- laxed, the concessions thus far made are of com- paratively little importance, except so far as they creasing her missionary activity, the Protestant show a desire on the part of some officials to be less strict and unreasonable. This more lenient Church is curtailing hers. There is danger that attitude may pave the way for a more liberal interpretation in the future, or for the abrogation as the older missionaries retire younger men and of legislation that has proved ineffective because obnoxious to the majority of the people. women will not be sent out'to take their places. During the period of antireligious agitation in The result will be an alarming hiatus. . Mexico, the Protestant work has suffered very 8. There is the' challenge of new opportunity for native leadership in India. At the coming Hangchow Conference in 1938 there will be fifty Indian delegates to ten missionaries. The Indian churches are eager for help and the Christians of other lands must stand by them. The National Christian Council of India, Burma and Ceylon has now formed provincial councils that have a most important field for service – but they need help to do effective work.
India, without doubt, offers one of the greatest challenges to Christians of the present day. The progress already made, the great vital needs of the people especially along spiritual lines, the dangers that come from anti-Christian sources, the new attitude of Indians toward Christ and the Gospel, and the readiness of the Indian Church to take up the burden of responsibility-all call on the Christians of Europe and America to in- crease rather than relax prayer and sacrificial effort.
THE .CHANGING SITUATION IN MEXICO In Mexico, as in Soviet Russia, the antireligious movement seems to have lost something of its former strength and vigor. The Federal laws in
_ THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD [J uly-August
little in comparison with that of the Roman Cath- social strife in America, show that it is high time olic Church. This is largely due to the fact that for the Church of Christ to reveal His power to Protestants are a small minority of the popula- transform human society as well as to save indition, their ministers are g.enerally married, they viduals. have been careful to comply with all laws affecting registration and those that regulate public The missionary work of the Church has always worship, so that foreigners have refrained from been greatly affected by the attitude of the govconducting what have been defined as religious ernments in non-Christian lands, by the social services. Recent letters from Mexico indicate conditions and customs, and by the state of relithat there are now unlimited opportunities for re- gion and the influence of religious leaders. At ligious work of all kinds, and that ministers of the same time, missionary work has greatly af- Protestant churches, even foreign missionaries, fected these phases of life. Christ desires to transmay come and go when and where they will, form politics, society and religion in order that preach and otherwise help in conducting services, all life may be brought into harmony with the without restrictions on the part of public officials. will of God. It has always been stated by government officials that the drastic legislation was not aimed at the THE EDINBURGH CONFERENCE on "Faith and Protestant minority, which has always been law- Order" (August 3-18) will emphasize the reasons abiding and in no way has tried to exercise politi- for Christian uni,ty and the beliefs held in comcal power; it was directed against those mem- mon where all followers of Christ may unite. bers of the Roman hierarchy who presumed to consider themselves above the law and refused to The first World Conference on "Faith and submit to the laws, especially that one which de- Order" was held at Lausanne, Switzerland, in manded their registration. The main object of 1927 with 400 delegates present, representing over the lawmakers, it has been asserted, was to oblige 100 churches. The delegates of Edinburgh inthe Church to limit its work to the spiritual realm, clude representatives of Protestant churches in rather than attempt to control the State, and that, many lands and also from the Greek, Armenian in so far as it has obeyed the law, there has been and Assyrian communions. no thought of persecution. Today Christianity is being challenged as never WEBSTER E. BROWNING. before since the days of Constantine. From the fourth to the twentieth centuries a steady advance PROBLEMS AT OXFORD AND EDINBURGH was made in winning the allegiance of mankind to Christ, but now tkere seems to be a renewal of While Christians are told to be "in the world activity in non-Christian and anti-Christian but not of it," that does not relieve them from re- forces. The 1937 Conference 'must be conducted sponsibility for proclaiming truth, lifting stand- in such a way as to face realistically the present ards and righting wrongs. Jesus Christ not only situation of the Church in the world. preached the Gospel but rebuked sin wherever found and helped meet the material and temporal One of the definite achievements of the Conneeds of men, as well as those that were spiritual ference ten years ago was the conviction that and eternal. unity will not come by glossing over differences of belief. Now the churches must go on to the Important conferences of Christian church task of trying to share with one another what it leaders are to be held this summer at Oxford and is that the various confessions mean until we dig Edinburgh to consider how Christians, especially down through the rocks .to the Eternal Rock. of the Protestant churches, can work together more harmoniously and effectively to give Christ The first task is to realize the urgency of the the preeminence in our thinking and in following challenge of the world situation to Christendom His teachings and spirit in every walk of life. as a whole, and in the face of that challenge to discover and accept the underlying unity which At Oxford (July 12-26) about eight hundred binds Christians together through common loyalty delegates from North America and Europe, Af- toone Master, Jesus Christ. The second task will rica, Asia and Latin America, are to gather for be to press forward to help the Christians of all two weeks in a conference on "Life and Work in churches to realize, in things both outward and the Church, the State and Society." The presiding inward, the true unity of the Body of Christ. officer will be the Archbishop of Canterbury. The main lopics to be discussed at Edinburgh The conditions in the world today clearly call are: for more effective Christian testimony. The wars that devastate Spain and the threats of more Jesus Christ and His Grace. widespread and destructive conflicts in Europe, The Church of Christ and the Word of God. Africa and Asia, and the growing industrial and The Ministry of the Church of Christ. Church Unity in Life and Worship-visible and invisible.
A VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN CENTEH AT BUCKHORN
The Girls' Dormitory (Englis Home, accommodating forty students), McKenzie Hall, and the Domestic Science Building The Murdoch Trail in Kentucky By the REV. ALVIN E. MAGARY, D.D., -<t&f Brooklyn, New York Pastor, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church T HERE is a new state road in Kentucky, called Kentucky mountains to investigate conditions for the Murdoch Trail. the Board of Home Missions and, once having Thirty-five years ago a young Presbyterian seen the possibilities around Buckhorn, the life minister arrived at the little mountain hamlet of of an assistant minister in staid old Brooklyn was Buckhorn, Kentucky, with $250 in cash and un- far too tame. He proposed to some of the men of searchable riches in Christian faith. His name the church that they back him in a modest way was Harvey Murdoch. in a missionary adventure. They consented, and Today, Murdoch is gone, but the fruits of his since that day the people of the church have been faith remain. There is a school of 400 pupils, the main financial support of the work. Until more than half of whom are in the high school Harvey Murdoch died, in October, 1935, he came department, there is an orphanage, a hospital, a back to Brooklyn each year to tell the people how large farm on which most of the food for the things had gone in their beloved Buckhorn since school and orphanage is raised, and a church with last they saw him.
800 members. When Harvey Murdoch came to Buckhorn, Murdoch had been, for some years, a member there was no railway station within twenty-4ive of the pastoral staff of the Lafayette Avenue Pres- miles. There were no roads worthy of the name.
byterian Church, in charge of the work at the If you could afford transportation you rode on Cumberland Street Chapel. He had gone into the mule-back up the bed of the creek, realizing the [343 ]
while how much a mtile wouid 'be-impr()ved' if it a rare thing and even fUIieralsweI'EHioinftequeht could be equipped with springs. But most people as to be marked occasions. Usually, the body was walked and a tramp of thirty miles to school was put into the ground without even a prayer and not regarded as anything out of the ordinary. the funeral service was held at any time, from Conditions in that country are still primitive. The one to five years later, when a minister happened railway is still a dozen miles aw.:f1Y and the mule to be in the neighborhood.
Five years after Murdoch's coming the Buck- horn church had been organized and he was for- mally called to be its pastor at a salary of sixty dollars a year. To pay a minister anything was entirely against the traditions and practice of the people in those days. Today there is an entire Presbytery of 37 churches that has grown out of that first work. :.'Since the beginning, more than a church per year, has been organized. The first little log-house structures have been ' supplanted by buildings still extremely inexpensive and simple, but adequate and comfortable. To the eyes of some of the children from distant hamlets, children who have never seen a railway train, nor a building larger than a mountain cabin, they doubtless seem grand enough.
Buckhorn has worked a transformation in the country round about, but there is still much to be done. The old days, when the country was the scene of murderous mountain feuds, have passed, but even now the resort to gun-play is by no THE LATE HARVEY S, MURlDOCK (Grist Miu.. KEY "&Saw Mill Ir Eleeme Pta"… 10. Boys Dormitory.(, StoriQ) has by no means lost his place in the economy of life; but, when the season is not too wet, one can 2.Churth. " . Presidenb HOme . (l3tonea) get in by automobile in these days. Boys and girls still tramp over the mountains, a score of miles 3.6ymtlClsium. 12.. ReseY''Ioir. and more, at the opening of school. Sometimes a dozen of them will be brought in by truck, hav- A..LafClyette School Hell' (.t.1te'*~ 13. H~spitClI. ht St,rie') 10 Sm. ing ridden at least a part of the long way. There 14. G~ "s Home : (~t S"."'5) is often no other way to bring the sick to the hos- 5. M"nuo' Trofni"" H"JJ 15. G,,15 Dormitory. (5 St'Or,,,) pital except to carry them on a litter over the mountain trails. When the writer was there re- 6 . PrimC)1"V Hall. cently, a little procession, with mother and father leading, came in carrying a boy of six from his 7. Ki"d."fJOrt.".. 16. Oin,f't9 ,Hall. ~JL' Sto,let) home eight miles away. While we looked, as the 8. Boy~ Horne. (a 5…..iH) IT. Dome$tlc Sclenc.e. Hcdl (,a S"'lc~ little cortege stopped, we heard the mother utter a cry. Her little boy had died within a hundred e.Vie. Presidenb Home. (2 S't"'_ yards of the hospital. They had not reached it soon enough. THE BUCKHORN · PLANT In the old days freight was brought up the river in little hand-pushed boats, traveling a mile and a half an hour. For many children of the district almost no schooling was available and only one person in seven or eight was able to read or write well enough to be called literate. Harvey Murdoch was the only ordained minister of any denomination along the middle fork of the Kentucky River for 'a distance of sixty miles, from Athol to Hyden. Before his coming a religious service was
JAKE WOODS, THE OUTLAW
means a rare occurrence, particularly when plenty Church, Dr. Dinsmore, proposed that the class of mountain whiskey is mixed with the situation. undertake the support of a boy at Buckhorn. His The people are still desperately poor. The farmer proposal was adopted and the youth selected was may have ten acres, planted in corn. The arable a mountain boy, Elmer E. Gabbard. Through land runs along the creeks and is so steep that school and college and theological seminary they much of it can be cultivated only by hand. Many stood by him. Now, after a successful ministry, of the parents of the young people at Buckhorn he has left the pastorate of the North Side Preshave the best will possible toward the idea of edu- byterian Church of Chattanooga and has gqne cating their boys and girls but it is impossible for back to Buckhorn. He knows the people and them to pay as much as ten dollars a year for tui- they know him, and we may believe that he will tion. Yet the school takes them, so far as its carryon the work to yet more notable achievestraining capacity will permit. They work on the ments. farm, in the kitchen, everywhere; they do the baking, the cleaning, the plowing and harvesting. In these thirty-five years 6,000 persons have They are busy from dawn until night, with neces- professed their faith in Christ and 4,000 young sary time for rest and recreation. No busier, hap- people have been educated in this work started by pier, more attractive lot of young people will you a young man with $250, some good friends, and a see anywhere. They come out of poverty-stricken resolute faith in God. The influence of Buckhorn mountain cabins, knowing as little of the civilized is felt throughout the state of Kentucky and it world as a squirrel and, after a term of years at was a proper tribute to its founder that the state Buckhorn, go back as teachers, doctors, leaders in road passing near by was named "The Murdoch their communities, to change the whole aspect of Trail." It leads to Buckhorn; but the trail of life among their neighbors. Harvey Murdoch leads straight to Him who said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the One Sunday, some years ago, the leader of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Men's Bible Class in the Lafayette Avenue me."
Jake Woods, the Outlaw* By J. S. BURNETT, Chattanooga, Tennessee Superintendent, Tennessee Mountain Home Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church O NE night high up in the Smoky Mountains other preacher ever had; you must try to save of Tennessee I was lost in a snowstorm. Jake Woods." Though I was frozen into unconsciousness, my horse carried me to a house. When conscious- How should I begin ? Jake was sitting before ness began to dawn again, I heard a fire cracking the wide fireplace as I packed my saddlebags. I and looking up saw a bearded man bending over, walked over to him. Taking a bill from my pocket, swearing because I would not open my mouth to I said, "Mr. Woods, I regret to offer you so little admit the neck of a bottle. In the moment of when you and your good wife have done so much delirium, I thought I was dead. for me, but this is a little expression of my ap- preciation for what you have done. I could not When my senses returned, I recognized the man pay you even if I were rich." asa notorious outlaw, with a price on his head, a man who had vowed that physical violence would He looked me over from head to foot with asfall heavily on any preacher who dared to enter tonishment. his house. "Put up your money, Doc," he said; "what we My rescuer and his wife did everything possible done for you was because we wanted to be clever for me. When bedtime came, he took me in bed to you. If you had come to my house last night with him and held me .against his great warm as a preacher, I would have turned you away in breast all night, never relaxing his vigilance for the storm and been glad if you were frozen to a moment. In the morning, I was little the worse death. Twenty odd years ago, when the Almighty for my experience, but the sun shone and the snow took our little boy, our only child, I swore that no was melting, and I was ready to go. Then it was man representing Him should ever come under that a Voice said, "You have a chance that no my roof. I kept my word till last night, but when your horse brought you I couldn't turn you away. • Condffilsed from The ahri8t~an Advocate. Now, you can go and have it to say that you have stayed all night with Jake Woods."
His last sentence was hissed through clenched I gave him the book and turned away saying, teeth. I never saw a man look so fierce. I had that his ','old woman" might come to hear me failed, so I picked up my saddlebags from the bedside and started toward the door. But some preach when I returned to the Flats School House. Power gripped my conscience like steel. "You Several times before I had preached at the Flats must try it again," the unmistakable order came. to but a few good souls, but when I arrived this I walked the floor, trying to find a ship to time the whole schoolyard seemed to be covered Tarshish, but none was in sight. I was sure that with people. The first man who gripped my hand, Jake guessed what I was suffering but he never until I thought I would fall off my horse, was Jake turned his head. Finally, I walked over to him Woods. "Doc, I fetch 'em," was his greeting. again, and with voice trembling from emotion, I said, "Mr. Woods, I have a little book that I want I walked into the schoolhouse. The women were to read and talk to a Friend of mine before I go, on one side of the aisle. On the end of the second will you let me?" He turned in his chair with his bench from the front there was one who caught back to me. His wife, sitting in the corner, said, my coat sleeve as I passed. It was Nancy Woods, "Doc, it's all right; go ahead." I began reading at church for the first time in more than twenty that wonderful fifteenth chapter of Luke, about the one sheep that had strayed, but was found. years. "Doc," she said, "there is something the matter There was the story of the Prodigal Son, too. When he came home, in tatters within and with- with Jake." out, his father was so happy that he would gladly "What like?" I asked. have killed everything on the place to make merry "I don't know, but he hain't like he used to be because his son had come home; maybe to spend some more. since you were there. He's been real good to me. Doc, please call for mourners today; maybe Just then I looked out of the corner of my eye Jake'll go up." and Jake Woods had turned around and was looking' at me with eager interest, as much as to say, The tears came to my eyes as I walked to the "Why are you talking about me?" He had sneered table and laid my saddlebags down. Jake Woods in the messenger's face who came when his father had beaten that woman almost to death once bewas dying and begged his son to come home. cause she had given a coin to a preacher. Many I dropped on my knees and took hold of God times he had driven her off in the storm. Once, while I tried to reach Jake Woods with one hand, but he was too far away. I held on until I re- in a drunken delirium, he had thrown her in the membered that the sin of lacking hospitality is fire. Now, she had been in heaven for three whole unpardonable with us in the Southern mountains. I said, "0 God; I came here more dead than alive weeks! last night, and this man and his good wife took The men came, with Jake Woods at their head, me in and nursed me back to life, and now they refuse to accept anything for their kindness. But walking like he was on air. Just behind him was Jesus Christ has stood at their door, ever since an old soldier of the Civil War, hopping on a stiff they have had a house, with outstretched hands knee. He hadn't been ih church since the war bleeding, and with thorncrowned brow, and they have slammed the door in His face. Help Jake closed. Woods sat on the end of the front bench Woods to tell Jesus Christ to come in today." and the old soldier by his side.
When I got up, Woods was sitting on the floor, The house was full of the good and the bad. looking at the door. I followed his gaze but saw The sermon that I had prepared would not fit, so nothing except the open door, with sunshine and I took for my text, "The Son of man is come to melting snow. After a minute, he said, to Someone apparently in the door, "Come in." Then seek and to save that which was lost." turning to me, he added: "He came in," as much as to say, "You can't throw it up to me any more." One standing by that·table at my side, preached that day, with convincing power. When I left the cabin Jake followed me to the gate. "Doc," he asked, "have you another of those When I let down the net, Jake Woods sprang to little books like you read out of awhile ago? My his feet and went down the aisle, speaking in a pap used to read about that boy and I guess I've voice that drowned mine: "Men and women come been him. If you'll lend me one and turn down a on! Doc's telling you the truth for I saw that leaf, I might find someone to read, and I think I Man when Doc prayed in my house. When I would like to hear it again." opened my eyes, He was standing in the door, with His hands stretched out and there were holes in them with blood running out. I saw thorns on His head, too. I told Him to come in and He came and I haven't been the same man since." , They came until it seemed that all would come. The result was thirty-five candidates for baptism.
Jake Woods went out to exhort and save the peo- ple of his acquaintance, and he reached more of that class in two years than I could have reached in a lifetime.
Some Rural Churches Are
By W. H. THOMPSON, Columbus, Ohio Field Secretary, Ohio Council of Churches SCATTERED widely over. the land are out- meetings, such as Day of Prayer for Missions, standing examples of what Christ can do for Youth conferences, annual business meetings, and country people through pastors who have social fellowship and creative leisure activities.
been born of His spirit of sacrificial service, and The pastor and his coworkers, the Rev. Rowland who have been endowed with consecrated intelli- Jones and Miss Elizabeth Streid, share their time gence. They have been scientifically trained, and in personal and pastoral parish visitation, each have answered the Divine call to country fields as church sharing in financial support according to foreign missionaries have dedicated their lives to ability. The pastor joins with pastors of other Africa, Asia, or the Islands of the Sea. denominations of the area in community-wide Parish of Templed Hills projects of religious and social welfare. He co- operates with the Agricultural Extension Service, Until eleven years ago when this parish was Farmers Institutes, Four-H Clubs, public school organized, there were in the region near Oak Hill, leadership and the county ministerial association.
southeastern Ohio, from eight to twenty Welsh "As prosperity seems again to be coming upon Presbyterian churches on a circuit served by a us," says Mr. Bicksler, "and the cities are beck- group of ministers, each living on a farm or hav- oning our youth to jobs, we feel we can send them ing some other occupation. with a background of respect for the church, be- Urider the advice and counsel of the late Warren cause locally the church has kept abreast of other H. Wilson, six of these churches and a mission things such as the schools and adequate equip- chapel were brought into a definite cooperative ment. Though we cannot expect to keep all of parish relationship with two pastors and a full- our youth on the farm, we can, with our spirit, time social worker. program and equipment, at least prepare them Five years ago the Rev. Harry E. Bicksler* was as Christians and church leaders." t· .
called as director of the Parish of Templed Hills. Ohristian Fellowship Parish At his coming the churches cooperatively purchased a fourteen-acre tract of land in the open A second example of the transforming power country, including five acres of dense thicket and of Christ in village and rural communities in Ohio a fine piece of clover mea,dow. Under Mr. Bick- through cooperation of a group of churches is sler's direction, a modern manse with every con- found in "The Christian Fellowship Parish" in venience was built, the thicket was transformed the southwestern part of the State. Six Christianinto a picnic grove in which a shelterhouse was Congregational churches entered into a "Parish erected, with table and kitchen equipment, with a Fellowship" two years ago under the joint passeating capacity of 600, for use by local organiza- toral leadership of the Rev. Ralph A. Brandon as tions, and as a meeting place for youth training Minister of Parish Administration, residing at conferences for southeastern Ohio. Hamersville, and the Rev. Theron A. Zimmerman as minister of Christian Education, residing at Each church in the Parish is organized and Pt. Isabel. cares for its own local business. There are three councils-the Elders' Council, Council of Women, The constitution under which these churches and Council of Youth. Parish Trustees are the work includes the following: holders of property which is owned jointly by all the churches. There is also a parish Federated Believing that friendly cooperation between our several churches in their religious, moral and social work would make possible a program of Christian activities that would Flower and Garden Club. The manse and the vitally strengthen the Kingdom of God in our several com- parish grove are used as a central meeting place munities, bring about a more efficient church and i:>etter build into the lives of our people the teachings of Jesus for the councils, and as a center for various group Christ and the principles of the Christian Church, we, the • Mr. Bicksler had completed a term of service in a Home Mis- following churches . . . do hereby pledge our loyal supsion Rural Parish in the far West, had been sent by his Board of port to the following Constitution and By-Laws. . . . National Missions to Europe to visit the great rural parishes of the ~~~~~~~?tt{es~nd had spent a year in graduate work in one of our pa~i~r'Or~:~~r~ 1r7Ils~,~ory is published in his recent book, "The [347 ]
The object of this organization shall be to promote the now joint studies are being made by all the pas- Kingdom of God through systematic and persistent meth- tors of the area, exploring the possibility of enods of Christian education, evangelism, worship, and com- larging the parish group to include churches of munity services; and to bring about a better religious, other denominations. Here again is a case of moral, and social atmosphere in our communities through especially trained pastoral leadership for the pasthe coordination of our efforts. tors are dedicated to town and country work, backed up by their national and state denomina- A Council, consisting of six representatives tional Councils, and have in their hearts the Spirit from each church, six members at large, and one of the Christ who "came not to be ministered unto, representative from each denomination included but to minister." in the Parish, chosen by the State head of that denomination, and the members of the staff, meets Example number three is the Federated Church quarterly and acts as the executive body. in the village of North Jackson, in. northeastern Ohio. More than ten years ago the Spirit of Christ moved the hearts of the denominational leaders and the members of three of the four local churches-Church of Christ (Disciples), Presby- terian, and Reformed in the U. S., to recognize the sin of local competition and division, and to work out a plan of union whereby the three churches united under the leadership of one pastor.
Each church retains its denominational connec- tion and benevolence contributions are divided equally among the three State and national offices. The Presbyterian building was selected ·as the place for united public worship. Sunday school classes use the public school classrooms. The Church of Christ building is used for Women's So- . ciety activities. The Reformed Church building is being razed and materials used to enlarge the Presbyterian building.
The present university trained pastor, the Rev. James D. Wyker, was formerly a member of the staff of Groton Larger Parish, New York. He came five years ago and under his dynamic lead- ership, and that of his unsalaried wife, a varied program of constructive Christian leadership is being developed with the many groups in the com- munity.
Horse-sheds Transformed ELDERS' COUNCIL, PARISH OF THE TEMPLED HILLS Two features of the program at North Jackson are worthy of special attention. A camp has been A program of systematic pastoral visitation, developed in a natural beauty spot, with creek, regulaz: Sunday school and worship services, an- woods and hills, with cabin, mess-hall and craft nual .evangelistic meetings and preaching mis- shop, vesper spot and recreation field. Here local sions, vacation church schools, youth activities, groups, including youth and farm women, asleadership training institutes and mission study, semble during the summer for from two to fiveis provided for each church. day- courses of study of the Bible, personal and community problems, recreational leadership, and A mimeograph machine, owned cooperatively, for social fellowship. The camp is also used for is used to publish a parish paper and by it the community picnics and family reunions. reports of all departments and committees are made available to all members. Was it not the Spirit of Christ who inspired the men of the church and community to dismantle These pastors cooperate with pastors of the the obsolete .horse-sheds of the Disciple's church' other churches in the area so that the program and use the materials in the construction of the for the whole community is coordinated. Even camp mess-hall and craft shop and the bridge leading to vesper hill?
As an expression of the ideal of Christian unity in local community Kingdom building, Mr. Wyker
AWAY WITH SORCERY AND MURDER IN PAPUA
has helped to develop a community coordinating absent in parsonages, and parish travel obligacouncil of character building agencies in North tions ten times greater than that of the average Jackson. Frank study of local problems has been city pa~tor. undertaken and allocation of responsibility for service programs has been made looking toward Through the le:;tdership of these pastors, town wise use of available resources and talent. and country youth are being won to Christ through evangelism and religious teaching, and The pastor also has assisted in developing "folk schools" for the study and practice of the prin- HORSE SHED TRANSFORMIDD INTO MESS HALL ciples of Christian cooperatives in his own and AND CRAFT SHOP neighboring communities. He is one of the vicepresidents of the Ohio Pastors' Convention and a are trained in the Christian use of leisure time member of -the executive committee of the Ohio and in high civic and economic and social ideals. Rural Pastors' Summer School maintained at Neighborhood feuds are being healed by their Camp Ohio by the Extension Service of the Col- ministry; lonely souls are befriended; comfort lege of Agriculture of Ohio State University. and counsel is brought to the sorrowing and the disillusioned. Churches having fallen into dis- The picture would not be complete if recogni- repute are being restored to the respect and contion were not given to scores of high-minded and fidence of their communities. devoted town and country pastors and their wives who, without special technical training of colleges and seminaries, never-the-less by diligent reading and frequent attendance at summer schools, short courses, and rural institutes, have kept abreast of the times in techniques and programs and ideals of religious education, youth activities, community cooperation with public schools, the Grange, Farm Bureau, Four-H Clubs, and Boy and Girl Scouts. They have served wisely and effectively in fields where the odds and handicaps have been terrific, salaries inadequate, modern home conveniences Away With Sorcery and Murder in Papua* A Story of the Work of God Under the Kwato Mission of Papua T HE Bohutu Valley, in Eastern Papua, long grasped him by the wrist, crying, "What are you presented a problem which no Government doing?" forces could solve. Fear of sorcery and spirits had led to the complete depopulation of the It was Lobai, the sorcerer, who was out to do valley, the tribes having fled to live in small the village policeman to death that night. Think- ing Merari was another sorcerer he pleaded for groups in the mountains around. No offers would his life, but Merari explained that he did not want possibly induce them to return to their villages. to harm" him. He told him about God, and ar- Reason is helpless before fear in Papua as in ranged to meet him next day at the village. Be- Europe. . fore the night was out he had surprised two other It was Merari, a tall, athletic Papuan of twenty- sorcerers on similar errands and arranged to meet eight, who first saw how these deep-seated prob-_ them the next day as well. lems could be answered. God told him in his time When they met at the village, two of the sorof listening to go up into the valley and investigate. So he went and lived in one of the villages. cerers immediately produced their ginauri, de- stroyed them, and gave their lives to God. But One evening he was out in the bush, and, as he Lobai held back, the sacrifice being too great. walked, heard some one approaching along the Then Merari did a daring thing. "We'U put it to track from the opposite direction. Stepping off the test," he said. "You say your charms are the track he waited, and as the man passed strong; I say God is stronger. Over there is the • From the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society Quarterly. This platform on which I sleep. You may come tonight Mission, founded by the late Rev. Charles W. Abel, has American headquarters at 156 Fifth Ave., New York. and put any charm on me you like. Then we will
see which is the stronger." Lobai hesitated, then life has been changed the death-blow to adultery answered slowly: "No, you are right. I tried has come because the sexual life of the natives is them all last night. But every time I threw my God-guided and released.
magic at you it came back at me." So he too was Eighteen months ago it became clear that new changed, and is one of the most fearless leaders ground must be found for the activities of the in the valley today. teams already mobilized. The Abels were granted Merari immediately sent an S 0 S to Kwato, permission to take on the mountain district of and a team came up to help him. They stayed a Abau, where the tribes still practice their homi- month, moving from group to group, bringing a cidal customs. Before a man was considered new life to hundreds in personal interviews. Some eligible for marriage he had to have killed or time later thirteen sorcerers and sorceresses came helped to kill some one. "Every male I met,"
to Mr. Cecil Abel of the Kwato Mission, and vol- writes Mr. Abel, "-and I met a great many-had unteered to give themselves up to the Government, served sentences of between two and ten years for sorcery being a punishable offence. The Governor murder."
pardoned them, and none of them have gone back Here the tribes have no background of teaching to their old ways. In the same way those changed whatever. No missionary had ever been into the in the little hamlets in the mountains received area. Everyone predicted the greatest difficul- spontaneous guidance to return to the valleys. ties, but when Cecil Abel went in with a team of Their fear had disappeared. Now they are gath- Papuan leaders the response was immediate. The ering into three large villages. The Government patrol lasted threll1 weeks, and at the end of that Patrol visiting the valley recently said that they time five chiefs came together, said how they could not recognize the place; the people and the agreed with the new way of life, but wanted to distribution of them had changed so utterly. see how it was lived out in the villages of the After four years the new life is increasingly Kwato district. "Only send a messenger," they active. A new corporate life is developing. In said, "and we will come down to you."
some villages the day starts with the blowing of When Abel sent for them, not five but forty a conch-shell in the dark morning stillness. A wanted to make the three days' journey to the sleeping village rouses itself and goes to bathe- coast. Only six could then be accommodated, but a reform which neither Government nor mission- for two months these chiefs mingled in the vilary could ever have enforced. Half an hour later lages and watched the everyday life of the inanother note on the shel.!, followed by complete habitants. When the time came to return home silence for about half an hour, indicates that the they got together for a farewell party, and Bawhole village is having a quiet time of listening ruma, their leader, made this speech: "The Govto God. Twice or thrice a week they meet cor- ernment tried to make friends with us, inviting porately as a community. us to feasts and 'Christmases' at Abau, but we It was in this way that guidance came to one went back unchanged. Then they took us off to previously poverty-stricken village to make one jail, four, five, six years. We didn't mind. Gov- corporate holding of all the land where their crops ernment rice and biscuits are very good. We were produced. Private interests gave way vol- came back unchanged. At last God's children untarily to community guidance, and the village came out of love for us and changed us right flourishes. Another village was guided to give round inside. Your food ·at Kwato is very good, its large surplus of produce in a bumper year to but we have good food too in Dorevaidi. We another village that was hard hit by a local bad haven't come for that. Your schools and works harvest. The men loaded their canoes, and the are very good. We would like to learn too, but we emotions of generosity and gratitude produced haven't come for that. We have only come for more spontaneous delight than the old communal one thing. To learn about God. Our hearts are orgies, for which the appetite has been lost. burning to go back and tell our friends all we In another community a common pool of coco- have learnt."
nuts, the only form of capital the native possesses, The true task has just begun. In Kwato are be- was made to inaugurate a new corporate manage- ing trained leaders adequate to changed the whole ment of the village consequent upon the change in course of Papuan life, while in the district itself the individuals composing it. The damage done the way is clear for a God-directed civilization to'
by civilization has been in some measure repaired. come into being. For the changing of lives is but Adultery, which was unknown under the old tribal the clearing of the undergrowth and the setting morality, became common when these ancient of firm foundations on which God may build a sanctions were removed, and the only penalty was culture of amazing richness, perhaps the pattern a fine. In many villages where the community for the Pacific.
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KWANG .TUNG PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF KWANGSI, SOUTHWEST CHINA The Chcistian and Missionary Alliance has ten centers where 26 missionaries reside; in thirty other towns and cities chapels have been opened, lllanned by Chinese Christian workers.
Nine other societies are at work in the Province: Church Missionary Society (Kweilln); C. of E. Zenana Mission (Kweilln); Bible Churchman's Missionary Society (Nanning, Noming); Southern Baptist (Kweilin, Wuchow); Seventh Day Adventist (Nanning); Assemblies of God (Chungshan and Hohsien- both vacant); Independent (Wuchow, Kwelhsien). These societies report 34 missionaries.
Pioneering for Christ in Kwangsi By the REV. ALFRED C. SNEAD, New York I Foreign Secretary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance 11i- ~==========================~ SOME years ago Old Eagle, a Chwang tribes- but still earnest and active, has been tramping man of the Province of Kwangsi, southern over the mountains and hills as a colporteur of China, came with ten other men from their the British and Foreign Bible Society, visiting the country homes to the city of Liuchow. There they wildest parts, wherever he could find members of heard the Gospel message. As he listened to the his own tribe. The Lord has blessed his efforts Gospel night after night Old Eagle accepted and a number of his people have been converted Christ and the joy of salvation filled his heart. and are now faithful members of the Christian He became eager that his own Chwang people Church. should hear the Good News and later accompanied The large southern Province of Kwangsi was the missionary on many tours of exploration and formerly one of the most backward in China. In preaching trips. There are nearly three million recent years, however, the province has become of these tribesmen in the Province and for the one of the more advanced in education, enlightpast few years Old Eagle, now seventy years old ened government, engineering projects, and the [351 ]
building of roads. The honor of having one of there is now a membership of more than 320 the first resident missionaries in the then hostile Chwang tribesmen in the Alliance Mission in and forbidden Province of Kwangsi fell to the South China. On an 800-mile trip in Western Christian and Missionary Alliance when its mis- Kwangsi, the .missionaries and Chinese found that sionary entered Wuchow in 1896 and resided in a thousands in the country markets could under- "haunted house," the only place then available stand scarcely a sentence of Mandarin, the pre- for residence. vailing language being Chwang. The Yao is one The city of Wuchow was built in A. D. 592, so of the least known and most primitive of the tribes that more than 1,300 years passed before the and there are many subdivisions. The Tung Church of Christ began to fulfil' the Lord's com- tribes, estimated at 300,000, live in the wild moun- mand, so far as Kwangsi was concerned. Today, tain fastnesses of Kwangsi and the neighboring besides the Alliance, the Southern Baptists and Province of Kweichow. These people, among two other American societies, there are four Eng- whom a missionary couple and Chinese workers lish societies, and a few small independent groups have been ministering for six years, listen to the working in the province. The Bible Societies are Gospel eagerly and some have accepted Christ.
Various divisions of the Miao tribes are scattered through the northern and western parts of the Province· and some of these, as well as other less well-known tribes, are being brought to the atten- tion of the Mission through long and often la- borious itinerating trips into hitherto unreached territory. The spirit of those who make these trips is shown in a letter written by the intrepid pioneer, Rev. W. H. Oldfield, the Chairman of the Alliance Mission in South China: "Here we are in the wilds of the west ready to start out with a party of thirteen for a tour among the tribesmen. The whole trip has been a time of blessing. First, we made a tour in the moun- tains of the north, which is commonly called Miao- land. There we came in contact with six differ- ent tribes, two of which we had never seen before.
The Gospel message was given and tracts .were left among them and we trust that this seed will be watered by the Spirit and will bring forth an abundant harvest to the glory of God.
Photo by A. F. Desterhajt "On the entire journey of over 1,000 English TUNG WOMEN OF KiWANGSI miles on foot through all kinds of mountain ter- cooperating with the various missions in circu- ritory, we were led in safety, but the very last lating the Word of God. Today after more than day, when almost within shouting distance of the forty years, there are still millions in the province city of Poseh, we were held up by robbers and two who have not been brought into vital touch with of the three loads we were carrying, containing the Gospel of Christ; and in the northern and bedding and clothing, were taken from us by these western portions of the province, where the Al- evil men. It occurred the day before Christmas. liance is responsible for evangelizing the people, It seems strange that this term of service should wany.tribes are entirely unreached. begin and end with a highway robbery, but I am glad we still have clothing. We do not change our During the past few years, pioneering trips plans, but in spite of somewhat disturbed condihave brought to light many tribespeople in the tions, we plan to leave day after tomorrow for the fastnesses of the mountains and the valleys of the last few weeks among the tribesmen of the west, interior, and these the mission and the Chinese and we trust through the prayers of faithful Church are making earnest efforts to reach. friends that we may be saved from further ·The population of Kwangsi is approximately trouble, though trouble or not we go forward in 12,000,000, according to the latest government His Name to the many peoples of the west that census. There are believed to be at least 5,000,000 have not yet heard the saving message of the tribespeople in the Province. The Chwangs, Gospel."
members of the great Tai race, are the most nu- With the growth of the Chinese Church in merous and easy of access. One hundred mem- Kwangsi, there has been a very encouraging debers of this tribe were baptized last year and velopment along true indigenous principles. Mis-
PIONEERING FOR CHRIST IN KWANGSI
RED-HEADED YAOS OF THE LOH-LI AND SI-LIU DISTRICTS, MR, YUEN, THE' EVANGELIST FROM POSEH, IS STANDING, HOLDING HIS ACCORD'EON siOonaries and Chinese workers are earnestly the church treasurer a sack of pennies amounting laboring to make the Church fully self-supporting, to $5.00, hOoping that other members might be wisely self-governing, and zealously self-propa- stimulated by his example, so that they could have gating under the leadership and by the enabling their own building. Mrs. Tseng, the treasurer, of the Holy Spirit. had a flourishing business and every comfort, yet she gave nothing. She was ashamed as she gazed When a congregation is able to supply six- on the sacrificial offering and a few days later she tenths of all its running expenses, including sal- left her shop and hurried off to see Dr. Moh, a aries, it passes from the oversight of the Joint prosperous man and a member of the church com- Committee (Chinese and Mission Executive Com- mittee. She Ooffered to give a plot Oof land fOor the mittee) to the direction of the Chinese Commit- building and to help buy the brick and lumber, if tees. The goal is to attain full self-support within Dr. Moh would take time to direct the workmen. four years after the church has become sixty per cent self-supporting. Finally a spacious street chapel was completed and furnished. The prosperous members felt a One group of Christians in the inland town of little ashamed of their ragged brother Lan and Kong Cheng rented a building as a chapel but urged him to wear better clothes. He quietly rethey often had to change their place of meeting plied that he had frequently been tempted to buy because the landlords blamed them for any calam- clothes but that he felt he must lay aside his penity that might befall their households. Finally nies for the church. As Dr. MOoh listened and Mr. Lan, one of the poorest of the members of remembered that he himself wore silk and fur the church, declared that they must build their garments while his brother member WOould not ownchapel. Daily he prayed to God to help him even buy a cheap padded gown because he was so think of some plan by which he might save money intent on His Lord's interests, Dr. Moh invited for the building. His fOOod was only such as the the poor man tOo his home where he gave him a poorest of men could affOord even in China, but good hot meal and a new gown. His son also was finally he and his wife decided to eat less and lay given work in the doctOor's office. NOoW a happier aside a few pennies saved from time to time. The man than Brother Lan can scarcely be found in poor man's body was weakened from the lack of all the countryside. He and his fellow church nourishing food and he was often chilled because members have found that giving is the Father's of insufficient clothing, yet he rejoiceq as his sav- way to added blessing. ings grew. After several months he brought to
Eleven organized churches, with a total mem- provided by the converts for continued meetings bership of 993, are now under the direction of the before the Bands have finished their ministry in Chinese committee. The combined membership the section. of all the Alliance churches in Kwangsi is 2,539 and many of these are expected to come into full In recent tours in Kwangsi and Kweichow, seven counties have been traversed, great moun- tain ranges were crossed, where the foot of a white man had never tramped. Thus, the search for new tribes and peoples goes ever onward in the confidence that, when they are discovered, mis- sionary volunteers will not be lacking and through the prayers and assistance of loyal friends at home, earnest efforts will be made to reach these tribes with the Gospel message.
One of the encouraging discoveries of recent trips is that a number of the tribes can be reached through the Chwang dialect, the Chwang workers had no difficulty in being understood by the vil- lagers and people along the pathways to whom they spoke.
During one part of the trip, four tribes were found of which the missionary writes: "The Heh-i, the Loh-Loh, the Ta Pan Yao and the Lan Tien Yao are still practically as much A CHWANG WOMAN AND HER BABY relation with the Chinese Conference within two MR. LAN, FORMER TAOIST PRIEST, NOW or three years. AN EARNEST CHRISTIAN The great unevangelized Yao Mountain terri- He is seated beside; some of the idols that he formerly worshiped. tory in Kwangsi, with its many thousands of unreached tribesmen has been entered by repre- neglected as they were a thousand years ago. It sentatives of the Chinese Church as their field for is true some Gospels and tracts have been distribevangelization. The Church publishes the Al- uted to some of them, but they have not as yet liance Weekly in Chinese, Sunday school papers, had an opportunity to hear and understand the and other helpful literature. Some of these have Gospel. On this tour we determined to get in a circulation reaching into nearly every province of China, as well as into foreign countries where Chinese have emigrated.
The Bible Training School, under Chinese leadership, often has among its student body representatives from many other missionary societies and church groups. It is recognized to be of a high standard and absolutely loyal to the Word of God and the fundamental truths of our Christian faith. Two important phases of work are the Short Term Bible Schools held in various districts and the ministry of the Chinese Evangelistic Bands who labor both among the Chinese and the tribespeople. In one month members of one of these Bands gave a brief Gospel message in 1800 homes and preached in all the towns and villages of the section in which it was laboring. In some places the work of the Bands is so fruitful that several groups of converts are baptized and places
PlWto by A CHWANG TRIBESMAN'S HOME IN THE' MOUNTAINS-HERE A MISSIONARY OFTEN SPENDS THE NIGHT. PIGS AND COWS ARE FREE TO ENTER THE FRONT DOOR ON THIID GROUND FLOOR.
close contact with them. On other trips we have long so as to discourage travelers, especially met them on the mountain pathways and have soldiers or robbers, from going that way. Though found them usually timid and retiring. On this the Miao carrier did not wish to continue the trip, however, we left the main pathways, secured journey, the Commission of the Lord still reads guides to take us back behind the mountain ranges "unto the uttermost part" and so the messengers to where the tribesmen have their homes, lived pressed on. Tribes in these distant places are with them in their huts, ate with them, slept with them, sat with them around their' camp fires, almost 100 % illiterate so the Gospel must be given dressed their sores, bound up their wounds, and told them the story of the Gospel. In a few days them by word of mouth. they became so friendly that they flocked around How do the tribespeople respond to the Gospel us as if we belonged to their tribe; when we left one tribe to pass on to another, there was a hearty message? A Tung tribesman, having been told invitation to call again, and we felt that another that a strange white man who loved his people tribe was ready and waiting to receive the Gospel was living in a distant town, left his mountain when we have men to send and means to support home and came to the city where he cautiously inthem." quired for the missionary. That tribesman is now studying the Word of God and looking forward to The Timber Yao people differ noticeably from the time when he can tell his ownpeople the glad other tribes in their language and in the women's new Story which he has so recently heard. Many dress. Their houses are scattered in groups of who hear the Message are eager to tell it to their two to five, with only an occasional small village. people in the scattered villages, and they find a The women of this tribe, as well as the Miao and hearty welcome as they sit around the camp fire Tung tribes, wear trousers instead of pleated evenings and tell to their friends and neighbors skirt like those worn in other tribes. Their silver the story of God's redeeming love. ornaments include a number of Hongkong coins, beaten plates of silver and earrings. Another young Tung from the hills of Kwangsi, who had studied in the City of Canton, returned to After passing through a valley, far beyond the his mountain home among fellow tribesmen, and contacts of civilization, the party came to a moun- was so oppressed by the dullness of his surroundtain pass where the natives had spiked the road ings that he planned to seek escape through suiwith sharp spikes of bamboo four to six inches cide. Then it was that a Chinese preacher, Mr. Loh, visited the village and gave the young stu- dent some Christian books. Through reading
these, a desire was created to know more of the This answer to prayer made a powerful impres- Gospel and finally the young man expressed his sion, not only on the sick man's household, but purpose to follow Christ and to become a teacher also on many other members of his tribe. They of the Gospel to his own tribesmen. had never seen prayer answered in this fashion and reasoned, "If the Lord can answer prayer in Through the witness of two Chwang converts, this way, surely we ought to trust Him for the Mr. Lan, formerly a Taoist priest, and Mt. Chiu salvation of our souls and our future happin!,!ss." Tak-sun, an earnest Christian farmer, a consider- Before long about forty of the tribespeople asked able number of Chwang tribespeople have been to be enrolled as inquirers and from this number converted, twenty-seven being baptized on one twenty-seven were baptized. occasion. Mr. Chiu constantly urged his tribespeople to accept this Jesus who worked such won- Many similar instances could be given as eviders when on earth and who is still the same dence of the saving grace of God among the tribestoday. people of Kwangsi. Millions of Chinese and tribespeople are yet unreached and the Mission One day a neighbor became very ill and the with its thirty-four missionaries and the 102 sickness increased in severity until the family Chinese wor-kers, 29 of whom are women, have a feared that he was going to die. After tribal large task before them. We commend to the remedies had failed, the family sent for Mr. Chiu, Lord's people for prevailing prayer these earnest who went at once to the sick man's bedside. After missionaries and Chinese workers that, as the exhorting the family to cast away their idols and new-born souls are instructed in the essential trust alone in Christ, the Christian farmer kneeled truths, they may be established in the Christian down and prayed to God for the tribesman's re- life and become effective witnesses to their fellow covery. The next morning he was much better tribesmen. and in a few days he was well.
China and the New Life Movement* CHINA'S present attitude toward religion and nificant Easter message is significant of the atti- toward Christ is somewhat confused. Con- tude some of China's leading spirits take toward fucian ideals, though a factor in the New religion. The country is more widely open to Life Movement, do not function religiously any religious propaganda than ever before. Though more than they ever did. China does not promise there may be some discrimination against gradto be more Buddhist than at any time past, nor uates from unregistered Christian schools there is is it turning Christian. To promote religion in none against qualified Christians for important China is no easier or simpler than in "Christian" governmental and commercial agencies. Furthernations. Nevertheless, the attitude of China to- more, there is apparent a desire for Christian day toward religion is different from what it has and church cooperation in reconstructive projects been in the past. No religious system is receiving that implies recognition of the religious dynamic the special favor of the state, nor is the state at- as one of the essentials to China's rebuilding. In tacking religion. Prominent Chinese, including other words, China has passed from a mood ansome Christians, do not in their attitude distin- tagonistic to religion. guish as sharply between Protestantism, Roman Catholicism and Buddhism as some Christians Present-day China is more aware of religion might wish. Official courtesies are paid to rep- than once was the case. There is an inarticulate resentatives of all religions when occasion re- feeling that economic, social and political changes quires. One hears little discussion of religious are not enough. Thus for all kinds of aggressive liberty yet it seems to be a fact in China though religious movements the hour is propitious. some deem it infringed upon as regards educational freedom. China is not aggressively anti- Three years is too short a time in which to religious at the moment. judge the New Life Movement which has set itself a stupendous task under unusually difficult cir- There is something to be said of a seeming cumstances. It is not an organization but a movefriendliness on the part of China to religion. ment. It cannot be judged solely in terms of its High officials participated in the platform ad- purpose- and a summary of its achievements bedresses given before a Catholic Action Congress longs to the future. Nevertheless, it has moved a year or so ago. General Chiang Kai-shek's sig- forward as regards the clarification of its purpose and understanding of what it should aim to do in • The first part of this article is freely quoted from an editorial terms of reconstruction. Taken generally it is in The Chinese Recorder. "An attack on the fundamental moral problem in
THE MOVEMENT OFFICIALLY DESCRIBED
China's social life." As a matter of fact insofar as program are already cooperating with the New the Movement tries to reform manners it has both Life Movement. All churches not so engaged to curb the exuberance of modernized Chinese might well consider how they may participate. manners and jar the inertia out of traditional What can Christians add to the New Life Moveones. In some places, however, the Movement ment is a question. But cooperation in any field has disturbed gamblers and those promoting com- can only be worthwhile if it is reciprocal. So the mercialized vice to the point where they have question, What can the New Life Movement conurged that the Movement should show less zeal. tribute to the churches? needs also to be consid- This is an indication of its possibilities as a moral ered. The Movement provides an opening for the force. The program outlined indicates how the manifestation of the religious dynamic hardly Movement is becoming a positive force for re- equalled heretofore in China. It offers to tie up building life as well as an obstruction to evil Christian energy and moral fervor with the life agencies and a reformer of manners. So far it is of China in new ways. As an indigenous movelargely urban but the direction and scope of its ment it is setting out to endeavor to do along sevactivities are turning to rural centers also. eral lines what Christians have been trying to do for many years. Church response to the Move- It has been said that "The New Life Movement ment's appeal for cooperation should aid in keepaims at the revival of the traditional virtues of ing it creative. If in places the Movement is more China." But those responsible for it also feel the sound than success the church should help give need of a religious fervor to energize these tra- the sound a deeper note. If, on the one hand, it ditional virtues and that they seek the aid of those is a revival of traditional virtues it is, on the other motivated by the Christian faith in particular. In- hand, a search for ways of developing and manideed, while his Movement is not set on building festing a modernized and vitalized life. It cannot up a religion or a church as such, Christians are go far in this without the deepening of spirit and to some extent active in directing its activities. consciousness that religious faith can give. Chris- The time has come for the churches to give it tians can help by demonstrating how their faith serious attention as a force in the life of China works in the simple or elaborate forms of reconwith which they can work. struction.
Churches engaged in activities as given in the The Movement Officially Described* By' GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK President of the Chinese M'litary Affairs Commission THE New Life Movement aims at revolution- such traditional virtues as Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, izing the mode of life of the whole of the they are living today under conditions. which sug- Chinese people. It seeks by the application gest that they have just emerged from savagery. of the simplest and most effective methods possible to eradicate from the people those habits that China has 35,000,000 square liof territory and are no longer suited to the times and to replace abounds in natural resources, which if developed, them with a new mode of living in accord with could easily make this country one of the wealththe spirit of the age in which we live. In other iest nations of the world. Yet there is widespread words, the movement stands for the rationaliza- poverty and misery in the land. This again is due tion of the lives of the people, and is based on the traditional virtues of China as expressed in these to the neglect of the traditional virtues of China, characters, Li, Yi, Lien and Chih. namely, Li, Yi, Lien, and Chih.
The Chinese people used to set great store on China has 400,000,000 people who used to be these traditional virtues, the revival of which is well organized in all the essentials of life. But imperative and essential to the welding of China what spectacle do our people present to the rest into a modern nation. of the world today? They are disorganized, in- dolent, cowardly and torn between conflicting per- With a civilization of more than 5,000 years the verse teachings, leading a life little better than Chinese people attained long ago a high degree of that of savages. This again is due to the neglect refinement in matters of food, clothing, shelter of Li, Yi, Lien, and Chih. and deportment, but owing to their neglect of While it is true that the removal of the existing • From ChAnese Affairs, Shanghai crude and degrading modes of life of the Chinese people in favor of one of refinement depends to a
great extent on the revival of the old virtues of anything else. This work may be described as Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, it is equally true that under the work of the New Life movement. The extenpresent circumstances, when society is in a state sion and progress of the movement depends upon of chaos, when perverse ideas have permeated the the extent to which the people realize its need. It country, and when the great majority of the peo- should begin with individuals and later spread to ple are sunk in pleasure and indolence, immediate families and the community at large. It serves success can hardly be expected to attend the in- as the vanguard of the political authorities, but it troduction of political measures or the inculcation should not depend upon the latter for its success. of teachings of the right sort. If the modes of living of the people are to be improved, a start Objects of the Movement must be made first with the rectification of their bad habits. For this reason, the New Life Move- The attitude of mind of the great majority of ment offers the only road to the salvation of Chinese today is marked by drift and insipidity. China. This expresses itself in acts which do not distin-. guish between good and evil, right and wrong, Our late Chungli, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, said: "Min and private interests and public welfare. Hence, Sheng means the life of people, the existence of our officials are hypocritical, greedy and corrupt; society, the livelihood of the citizens of the country our people are disorganized and indifferent to the and the welfare of the masses." Although the welfare of the nation; our youths are degenerate problem of the livelihood of the people, or Min and irresponsible; and our adults are vicious and Sheng, may be considered from four angles, the ignorant. The rich are given to pleasure and exquestion of life is really the manifestation of the travagance, while the poor are low, filthy and other three aspects of the problem of the people's groping in the dark. All this has led to a complete livelihood. For the continued existence of so- breakdown of authority and discipline, resulting ciety certain guarantees are necessary. As re- in social unrest, which has in turn made us helpgards the problem of the livelihood of the people, less in the face of natural calamity and foreign there must be room for development and expan- aggression. If this state of affairs is allowed to sion. For the continuity of life, propagation is continue any longer, it will be impossible for us necessary. Life is the manifestation of all these even to lead the present kind of existence for very activities. In other words, life is a general term long. . . . . for all human activities. To rebuild the life of the people in accord with All activities arising from the propagation of modern conditions, especially to build a new social the race, from the preservation of life and also order, resort has to be made to political reform, from the development of the livelihood of the peo- particularly education, but in the past education ple assume different forms at different times and and politics in China have suffered from one beunder different conditions. Sometimes the en- setting sin, namely, cant and hypocrisy. This vironment also changes. Not until a man "renews has led to the ineffectiveness of laws, the uselesshimself daily" can he hope to have a rich and ness of technical talent and the impotency of abundant life. The life of a people must accord machines. Where a C.hinese is placed in the post with the time and environment in which it lives. formerly Occupied by a foreigner, it invariably A new life is possible only when there is a com- happens that the Chinese official cannot attain the plete break with the old modes of living. same degree of efficiency .as the foreigner. This is true of machines. Run by a Chinese, a machine Whether the people have a rich and abundant cannot yield the same output as it does when life depends primarily upon the existence of good under foreign· supervision. If we want to make government and on the extension of sound politi- our laws effective, the thing to do is not to imcal institutions, but this has a close connection prove the laws, but to get the right· men to adminwith customs and usages. ister them. The same is true of machines; Struc- turally, there is nothing defective about them: If during the transition from an old social what is needed is the right men to operate them. order to a new one nothing is done to assist the It is true that politics and education have an imintroduction and spread of new political· institu- portant role to play in the formation of character, tions by the introduction of new customs and but at the same time it is equally true that social usages, such new institutions are liable to be stul- customs and usages exercise a more important tified in their development. In other words, they influence over the lives of men. must be assisted by the inculcation of new ideas, preparing the minds of the people for their recep- That the Government will exert itself for potion. For this reason, every country makes the litical reform goes without saying. Unless we are task of changing the customs and usages of the prepared to let the nation go under without a people its first concern during the transition from struggle during the present national crisis, we the old to the new, for this is more important than
must act resolutely to put a stop to the present of food and clothing will not bring about social state of affairs and throw ourselves into the work peace, and if any proof is needed to substantiate of social reform. In short, we must make a clean this statement, it is an unquestioned fact that sweep of the existing social abuses and evils and crime abounds always in cities where there is take prompt measures to foster what is best and plenty and abundance. Moreover, can one serivital in society. This is the mission of the, New ously maintain that many of those who have Life Movement. turned to brigandage or become traitors and greedy officials have done so owing to fear of Contents of the Movement hunger and starvation? . . .
The New Life Movement advocates a mode of Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are general principles in living based on the principles of Li, Yi, Lien, and the establishment of states. This was true of Chih. In other words, it seeks to apply those ancient times and is true of the contemporary age.
time-honored principles to the daily conduct of Of course, each age has its own interpretation of men and women, especially in matters pertaining those principles. Let us explain them in the light to food, clothing, shelter and deportment. Any of modern conditions of life. Briefly, Li means one who fails to order his life in accordance with polite manners, Yi, chivalrous or upright conduct, this code is bound to fail. This is true also of Lien honesty or a moral sense 'of right and wrong, nations. and Chih, decency or an appreciation of moral There are people who are skeptical of this view. values. It is contended that Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, undoubtedly excellent virtues in themselves, may be There are two conditions associated with food, able to produce men of exemplary character, but clothing, shelter and deportment, namely (1) tanif we are backward in technical knowledge, no gible things, such as food, houses, roads, carts, amount of virtue can save China. This line of steamers, etc., and (2) manifestations, such as reasoning is untenable. It is true that knowledge eating and drinking, living, ·walking. is power, but knowledge is liable to be abused in The word Hsing, or deportment, however, has the hands of those who have no moral scruples. two senses. In its narrow sense it means walk- Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are the guiding rules of ing. In its broad sense it means behavior. Inconduct for individuals, society and the state. deed, in this sense Hsing ~ncludes food, clothing, shelter and deportment.
When educated men act contrary to these rules, The "San Min Chu Yi" ("The Three People's both the public and the nation will suffer. In Principles") in the chapter dealing with the short, Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are able not only to questions of food, clothing, shelter and deportsave China but to remake her. ment, emphasizes the material aspect of the prob- There are others who declare that Li, Yi, Lien lem. If there is any doubt on this score, it should and Chih are empty principles and can hardly be be dispelled by a perusal of this passage in "The expected to serve as rules of conduct for those Fundamentals of Reconstruction" which says: who live from hand to mouth and do not know The Government should assist the people in the where their next rice bowls come from or what development of agriculture so that they will have the morrow may bring. This fallacy is due to the enough to eat. It should promote the textile inteachings of Kuan Tze who maintained that be- dustry so that the people will have enough tovvear. fore a man can know decency he must have enough It should help the people to solve their housing to eat and wear, or as the Greek philosopher Aris- and transportation problems by building more totle said, before a man can be expected to be houses and repairing canals and roads. The virtuous he must have a competence. The funda- "Hsing" in the present New Life Movement is mental fact seems to have been overlooked by used in both its narrow and its broad senses. these skeptics that Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are the "foundation" of a man, and that if he does not Methods of the New Life Movement possess these attributes, he cannot have food and clothing. Leadership.-The direction of the whole New Life Movement is vested in the hands of the New In a society based on Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, one Life Movement Promotion Association in Nancan make up the lack of food and clothing by hu- chang. Branches of the association may' be estabman means, whereas in a society where these lished in the various parts of the country, but in principles are not observed, no amount of wrong- order to avoid confusion and to ensure common doing, such as robbery and theft can bring suffi- action, district branches should be subject to the ciency and abundance to the needy: Acts of Li, control of provincial New Life Promotion Asso- Yi, Lien and Chih are correctives to acts of strife, ciations. theft and robbery. In cases where Li, Yi, Lien andChih are flouted, even sufficiency in matters District and provincial branches should be jointly organized by representatives of various
public organizations, such as the Provincial and Chinese should have a decent standard of living, District Kuomintang headquarters, Bureau of which is another term for an artistic mode of liv- Public Safety, Social Welfare and Education, and ing. In ancient times China used to have the somilitary commissions. Subject to the direction called six arts and sciences: Rites, Music, Archof the l~al district New Life Promotion Associa- ery, horsemanship, calligraphy and mathematics. tion, the various guilds, schools, women's organi- These six things today have made the Western zations and rural groups may start separate New powers great and strong, although the Chinese Life groups. people for centuries used them as guiding prin- ciples of action in life. The reason why there is The work of the New Life Movement consists so much suspicion, jealousy and animosity in of investigation, planning and promotion. Chinese society today is that we have forgotten the teachings of our ancients. There is no hope The expenses of the movement should be re- of improvement unless we order our lives in acduced to a minimum and borne by those respon- cordance with the principles of Li, Yi, Lien, and sible or raised by the authorities of the locality in Chih. which there is a branch of the New Life Movement Promotion Association. Solicitation of con- (2) The poverty of China is due to the existtributions from outsiders is forbidden. ence of so many people who cannot produce any- thing of their own and who live on others. The The program of the New Life Movement will be productivity of the people must be increased. We drawn up by the New Life Movement Promotion must develop our immense natural resources and Association in Nanchang. The Movement will avoid waste. Everyone should consider it a first begin with a campaign for cleanliness and shame to depend upon others for his support. In orderliness. other words, everyone must work for his own living. There is no other way to relieve the pov- The formula of the Movement.-The Movement erty. of China and remove the source of civil strife should start with oneself and then extend to than to practise the principles of Li, Yi, Lien and others, with officials first, and then the masses, Chih in our daily lives. from simple things to more important tasks, and from public organizations, schools, etc., to the (3) In advocating Li, Yi, Lien and Chih as the lower classes of society. code of our daily conduct, we are inspired by the How the Movement may be promoted.-Per- or desire to "militarize" the life of our people. When sonal example, oral instruction, illustrated posters, campaign literature, plays and motion pic- a nation cannot fight for the defence its soil tures are some of the means by which the Move- against foreign invasion, it cannot be considered ment may be promoted. The New Life Movement a nation. We must cultivate martial arts if we Promotion Association will send delegates to visit are to overcome the present weakness of our counthe various provinces and districts from time to try. China today is overrun by Communisttime and inspect the work being done by the re- bandits. Civil war has not yet been completely spective New Life groups. In order to promote banished from the land. Our national territory a healthy spirit of rivalry between the various is growing smaller and smaller every day. Imgroups contests will be held. There will be prizes perialists join with traitors and Communists in for the winning groups. oppressing our people and undermining our coun- try. If we wish to deliver China from ,the present No compulsion should be employed in extend- crisis and bring peace and order to the land, we ing the Movement. Persuasion should be the must prepare to "militarize" the whole country. watchword of the "New Life" canvassers. Before this is possible, the people must be trained in habits of orderliness, discipline, cleanliness, Conclusion simplicity and accurate thinking. They must be law-abiding, conscious of their responsibilities and To sum up, the New Life Movement aims at the ready to die for the country. substitution of a rational mode of living for the present irrational mode of living of the people. A rational mode of living is realized when the How can this be effected? My answer is: by principles of Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are applied to making Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, the code of our the daily conduct of the people, especially in matdaily conduct. ters pertaining- to food, shelter, clothing and de-. portment. A great revolution will have been ef- (1) In advocating the revival of our traditional fected and the foundations of new national strucvirtues such as Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, the object ture laid when every Chinese lives in accordance in view is an artistic mode of living for all our with the principles of the New Life Movement, people. Many are apt to think that only a few which are based on the traditional virtues of Li, privileged persons can lead an artistic life. This Yi, Lien and Chih. is a mistake. It is within the reach of all. Every
Chiang Kai–shek's Interpretatiqn
of the New Life Movement in China* T HE New Life Movement was inaugurated medireval into the modern world. Those who have three years ago to quicken and to deepen the failed us are those who have refused to pay the work of reconstruction in China. Since then price of living the New Life. "You cannot serve the nation has progressed farther than we had God and mammon"; you cannot live a regenerated dared to hope, giving us a new faith in the future vitalized life and at the same time maintain a of our race. After these three years of experience selfish attitude toward society. we are more than ever convinced that the most vital force in the reconstruction of our nation is On this our third anniversary it is fitting that the spiritual life of the people. we should review some of the accomplishments of the past and perhaps more important still outline It has been a long and difficult task, and one the most pressing needs of the nation. that has required the cooperation of all the leaders of the nation, to unite China's scattered troops First and foremost let us mention the needs for into one strong national army. It has not been unity and internal peace. easy to improve communications, remodel cities and set forces in motion that will eventually im- The policy of the National Government is enprove the living condItions of farmers and work- tirely one of harmonizing, composing and settling ers. Yet in the long run these are the outward all differences through peaceful means, thus presigns of a new controlling principle, a new law of serving national resources and strengthening the life which we are slowly learning to follow. faith of the people in the ability of the nation to weather any storm. The unification of the armies This energy and courage animating our people, is not sufficient in itself. There must go with it and sometimes referred to as the national renais- that oneness of purpose and broadmindedness that sance, has been at work in China for two decades. enables men of all parties and of every faith to In a very real sense, the New Life Movement is keep in step, regardless of conditions, and while gathering together spiritual forces that are partly keeping in step to work together for the commonindigenous and partly from abroad. The New wealth. Life Movement is slowly winning the confidence of the people, for we are still very conservative, Throughout the country there are still minor and is fast becoming a centre where all agencies, disturbances where hungry men, masquerading both governmental and private, interested in the as bandits, take by force from their neighbors and welfare of the people, may find a common meeting from travelers what society should provide for ground. them in some other way.
Heretofore various organizations shouldering Economic Betterment and Education the burden of building a new social order have not only been scattered but they have oftentimes Benjamin Franklin has well said, "Poverty been perplexed by what seems to be cross-currents within the life of the nation. The river of New often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue; it is Life released three years ago in Nanchang is gradually gathering into one great flood embody- hard for an empty bag to stand upright." ing the currents of life and thought that go to unify and reconstruct the nation. Idleness, intemperance and extravagance are A year ago, on the occasion of the second anni- not the only stones that pave the road to poverty. vers.ary of the New Life Movement, the Generalissimo emphasized three immediate needs of the Corruption, inefficiency, oppression, malnutrition nation: sincerity, efficiency and living of the New Life. During the same year mistakes may have and an unjust social order also help to depress been made but none can question the sincerity of our national leaders. Most Of them have been the economic level. When the New Life Movelending. a hand as the nation emerges from the ment was inaugurated in Kiangsi, one of the first • Radio broadcast speech by Madame Chiang on February 19, 1937, In commemoration of the Third Anniversary of the launching things it did was to establish welfare centers st~::h~tW Life Movement. Reprinted from The Peoples' Tribune, where the economic and social needs of the people might be studied and gradually relieved. Through- out the nation it will continue to focus attention upon the economic factors underlying the needs of the masses. Without this there can be no in- ternal peace. Banditry and rebellion will cease only when nt heex tpteoopt hlee have enough to eat. inte rnal Second, need for unity and peace I should place education.
[361 ]
The growth of the modern school system Almost anyone of us can gather together a few throughout China is phenomenal. Everywhere we see the children with their school books com- friends interested in social service and through ing and going. The fact· remains, however, that the vast majority of the people are not informed pooling resources can bring new life to many a on many matters that concern their every-day life; ignorance and superstition still influence them to community. Incidentally in so doing you will find an alarming extent. great joy and lasting satisfaction. The New Life Movement last summer presented this challenging situation to the college students , A group of well-equipped devoted national leadof East China and received a hearty response. College students, both men and women, spend time ers without your help cannot bring new life to our in their own or neighboring villages teaching summer schools for both children and adults and nation. Such a social revolution calls for the coholding popular lecture courses in the evening. In time our educated people will catch this spirit operation of every intelligent man and woman of service and voluntarily will do 'what they can in their immediate neighborhood so that in a short throughout China. time illiteracy will be greatly reduced. What the national and provincial governments are doing to Many a great movement has slowed down bemeet this gigantic problem is very encouraging but we wish to make this appeal to our educated cause it has failed to grip the imagination and to people everywhere, that they must not rely solely upon the Government but should also carry re- enlist the enthusiasm of the rank and file. This sponsibility for those closest to them. I, myself, have found deep satisfaction in mothering a few is not true of the New Life Movement, and from hundred students in the schools for the children of the revolution and I recommend this form of the bottom of my heart I hope it never will be social service to my friends throughout China. true. You know as well as I do that the great Games and Healthy Sport failure of democracy is that we rely too much We all know that we receive much valuable education outside of the schoolroom. Last summer a upon a fe,w chosen leaders. In democratic China student from a Shanghai college, visiting his home village in Kiangsu, discovered that a large per- you are showing your appreciation of the nation's centage of the people were spending their leisure time gambling; without discoursing on the evils leaders in many ways and we are deeply grateful, of gambling he hastened back to Shanghai where he purchased and borrowed a few outdoor and in- for it makes us doubly sure of the solid foundation door games, including a small radio. He worked with the young men of the village in cleaning and of unity upon which we are building. I beg of whitewashing an old temple and in levelling a playing field. Within a few days he had games you not to take too much for granted and not to and competitions in progress for the younger members of the community and victrola and radio expect too much of a few leaders. If New Life entertainment for those who preferred to be less active. From his knowledge of the outsilje world really comes to all our people throughout the provand from newspapers and magazines he gave a series of evening lectures on subjects of interest inces, it will come because it has been unanimously and value to the community. When the time came for him to return to his studies at college the vil- supported in the heart of the country. lage schoolmaster had already taken charge of these activities and they are doubtless still in The last and most important thing that I have progress. to say to you is something that the President of Through the social-mindedness of another college student in providing a village radio, the peo- the New Life Movement has said over and over ple of his community have just heard the President of the N~w Life Movement speak to them. again. "New Life is something we live, not some- thing that we promote." It is a quality of life within ourselves, a standard of ·values that in- fluences every thought and action. The greatest Teacher that ever lived has told us that "what goes on in a man's heart determines the quality of his life." If New Life implies a change of heart then let us all make that change together on this the third anniversary of our great spiritual move- ment. A change of heart within each of us will soon prOduce the :riew and prosperous nation that we all long to see. .
*** A Missionary Resolve – By the Grace of God: We will "maintain the spiritual glow."
We will depend on spiritual means to achieve results in God's work.
We will not magnify statistics nor glory in mere numbers.
We will be slow to criticize others, but will seek to be our best and look for the best in others.
We will earnestly try to be free from race prejudice.
We will show love to others and devotedly seek their high- est good. _ We will ask God's help to solve our own spiritual problems so as to be more free to help others.
We will not be too impatient for visible results, but will steadfastly trust God to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think."
We will tarry until we are "endued with Power from on High" and then go forth to witness for Christ.
"He giveth power to the faint." Isaiah 40: 29.
Yellow vs. Acting Yellow*
By GEOFFREY W. ROYALL, Chao-Cheng, Shangtung, China Missionary of the Church of the Nazarene THE eyes of the world are turned to China to- ventions, raising money, holding bazaars in order day more than at any time since the Boxer that the Gospel (!) might be taken to the poor Rebellion, a generation ago. So much has heathen – these slit-eyed, flat-nosed, oily-faced happened in the last five years and so much more Sons of Han included!
seems about to take place. . . that' even the Span- A tragedy! Yes, and one that is enacted too ish situation has not turned the attention of the often in other churches. Can it be true in yours?
people away from the land of Sinim. If we are not vitally interested in the salvation Now, instead of attempting to transport you of the ",heathen" who live on your street, your to the Orient and thrusting you heart first into the neighbors and fellow-citizens, then why try to fool intriguing life of the Chinese, we will stay in the ourselves into believing that we are really con- Occident, and spend a few moments "Thinking cerned in the redemption of heathen ten thousand Yellow." We have "thought white" for so long miles away? If one cannot "think yellow" at that it will be no easy task to suddenly "think home, it is useless to try 'imd stretch one's reli- yellow." gious imagination across the Pacific. It will prob- Having just returned from the Middle King- ably be drowned before it reaches Honolulu!
dom, I was in a store in Toronto purchasing a Cincinnati, the metropolis of Ohio, is a great daily paper. A lady of large dimensions came in centre of religious activity. Some years ago at and asked for one of the popular weekly'maga- the annual district convention of one of the larger zines. As the news agent handed her the maga- denominations, the largest auditorium filled to zine and her change, he pointed in my direction hear a missionary of national repute lecture on and said: "This is the Reverend Geoffrey Royall China. The two front rows were reserved for who has just returned from China." ecclesiastical dignitaries – bishops, superintend- "Why how strange," she replied, responding to ents and the like.
my recognition. "I have just come from the Chi~ A passing Chinese, with a staggering burden of nese laundry. You know, Mr. Royall, I have a laundry, was attracted by the bright lights' and horrid sensation run down my spine every time I paused to read the announcements. When his enter that place. That yellow face that pops up eyes caught the word "China" and noted that this behind the counter when I hand over my husband's evening was to be devoted to an address on his shirts is enough to scare anyone. Slit eyes, flat own country, he passed through the doors and noses, oily face . . . ugh! I'm glad I was not walked down the aisle towards the front, with the born a Chinese. How awful it must be for you to bundle of clothes. The speaker was waxing elo- have to live among such people." quent when his eye caught the face of the Chinese I opened my mouth to reply but the words laundryman beaming celestially into his own.
clogged in my teeth and I was silent. . With a quick gesture he motioned the visitor to a "Well, we have a meeting of the Women~s Mis- seat and the visitor promptly sat down next to a sionary Auxiliary at three, so I'll be running corpulent bishop, at whose feet he unceremoni- along," the woman continued, picking up her ously planted the laundry. A few minutes later magazine. We watched her sail out of the store the good bishop discovered that one end of his with the trail of a Pekinese dog in her wake. frock coat was caught beneath the individual next "Mrs. Jones is one of the best workers in her to him an,d, as he turned to look and he discovered church," remarked the storekeeper. a Chinese, he rose to move to another seat. Near- My mind followed her down to her missionary sightedness prevented him from seeing the bundle meeting. Here was a church woman, busy week at his feet, and he tripped ungracefully over it after week, no doubt, year in and year out, work- with a resounding thud.
ing on garments, preparing boxes, visiting con- Can we doubt that at the moment the bishop moved away from the Chinese, Jesus came and * C()lldensed fram a missionary address given In the First Church sat down in his place? To separate ourselves in ~Is~~oena~:z~~~~':;nk~:, ~~~~~~s'19~~~lfornia, at the annual District pride from our fellowmen because of the color of [363 ]
his skin is to segregate ourselves from the Son of the window display. His hand was on the door- knob, when he looked up and saw a plain notice, Man, the "Friend that sticketh closer than a in English and Chinese, nailed just above the door: "Chinese and dogs not allowed." The suit brother." There is danger that a "paternal" at- in the window was most inviting, but the words above the door were not. titude toward the heathen prevents us from being The same ancient tram took the prospective "fraterna1." . customer back to the Chinese quarters and the next day his customers noticed a new sign tacked In the city of Los Angeles I heard the following above the entrance to his restaurant: "Europeans and dogs not admitted." story. The new Chinese Vice-Consul decided to As we think over these four incidents we are patronize American stores during his residence in forced to admit several things.
California and visited one of the American bar- First, the average American church member does not appreciate the wonderful advancement bers. The shop happened to be without other his cousins of Cathay have made in recent years. There is also a tragic lack of soul passion for their patrons on his arrival, and the head barber was redemption. When we have learned that we are our "brother's keeper" in America, only then can seated on a chair reading a newspaper. Hearing we accept this responsibility for our neighbors in other lands. a customer enter he lowered his paper and looked Second, a spirit of aloofness and feeling of suover his glasses. The Chinese official smiled, but periority is a great barrier to Christian progress in foreign fields. How much of our missionary the proprietor growled: activity is superficial? There is a vast difference between being "interested in foreign missions" "What do you want in here." and in being vitally burdened for those of other races tor whom Christ also died. How often we "Oh, just a hair-cut today," smiled the Chinese foolishly interpret the former for the latter!
Vice-Consul. Third, the influence of Christian civilization that we endeavor to send to the Orient is often "Well, we don't cut Chink's hair here, so get nullified by our pagan attitude of superiority to- ward those who come to our own shores. out," was the reply. Fourth, many representatives of so-called "And may I enquire the reason," asked the Christian business houses that trade in the Far East, are a positive hindrance to the efforts of the Celestial, his smile disappearing. Christian missionary.
"I've got no time to argue," snarled the hair- "Thinking yellow!" does not mean "acting yellow!" It is a fallacy to suppose that Christ dresser. "Suppose our best customers from Holly- was a white man. In the book of Acts we read that when the Apostle Paul was standing on the wood should see me cutting your hair; what would steps of the castle waiting permission to address the Jewish rabble, the chief captain of the Roman they think? Do you suppose they want their hair guard asked: "Art thou not that Egyptian?" Christ and Paul were contemporaries and if the dressed with the same tools as I use on you? The chief captain mistook Paul for an Egyptian, it seems that he might well have mistaken Jesus for trade I have built up through years would be one also!
ruined in a day." The seventy-five thousand Chinese in America today constitute an outstanding challenge to the . "Before I leave I want to ask you a question," Christians of America-a challenge that has never been adequately accepted. said the Vice-Consul as he turned to the door. Christians can-learn to "think yellow" by learn- "Make it snappy then," grumbled the barber. ing to understand and to' sympathize with the Chinese. We need not "act yellow" in a sense of "I'm expecting a customer any moment." doing what is unworthy of a follower of Jesus Christ. The same Gospel that transforms us will "If my country came to you, as it has in the burnish the Chinese into gold fit for the King's crown. past, and gave Uncle Sam an order for five million dollars worth of machine guns and ammunition, seventy-five aeroplanes, two million dollars worth of scrap-iron and half-a-million dollars worth of modern factory equipment, would your people re- fuse the order? Would they say, 'We don't take Chinks as customers?'" Without waiting for the answer the Chinese stalked out of the shop. .
The tragedy was that at the same time he slammed the shop door he also slammed his heart's door on Jesus Christ. Today, that Vice-Consul is a chief executive under Emperor Henry Pu-Yi of Manchukuo. One of his tasks is to interview mis- sion board representatives who come with re- quests for government grants of land for hospitals and for other concessions. We wonder if he ever says to himself: ". . . We don't serve white for- eign devils."
Now let us take a boat to a foreign port in the "Dragon Kingdom," "thinking yellow" in Hong- kong. A young Chinese restaurant owner needed a new suit, and noticing a special sale advertised by a prominent down-town tailor, he planned to investigate. An antiquated street car took him to the foreign concession where he eagerly viewed
of the Rural Church in
~-.. I By REV. J. R. WATT, D.D., Kingston, Ontario I Registrar in Queen's Theological College EXCLUDING Greenland, Alaska and New- gave the ratio of urban to rural population as 53.7 foundland (a separate British Dominion), to 46.29 (urban, in Canadian census terminology, Canada comprises the entire northern part includes any separately organized municipality of the North American Continent. It has an area regardless of population). Since 1881 there has of 3,729,665 square miles as compared with the been a steady decline in the ratio of the rural pop- 3,776,700 square miles of the United States and ulation. In many of the older townships the rural . its dependencies and is slightly smaller than the population has declined as much as 50 per cent.
Continent of Europe. The estimated potential Even so two-thirds of Canadian congregations are agricultural land is 2,218,747,200 acres. rural or semirural in character. For this reason Occupying this vast area are 10,376,786 people, alone the welfare of rural congregations is a an average of 2.99 per square mile, but because major concen of the Canadian Church.
large areas are unoccupied this figure may be mis- It seemed necessary to state the foregoing facts leading. Prince Edward Island, with little unoc- that non-Canadian readers, unfamiliar with con- cupied land, has an average density of 40.3 while ditions here, might have some background against Ontario, with great areas unsettled in the North, which to look at the problem. In many respects has 9.45. East of the Great Lakes most of the the problem of the rural church is the same in population is found south of the 50th parallel and China, India, Canada or the United States. But in the West south of the 55th. the approach to and the solution of it must always Of this population 5,381,071 are of British take into account the local background with its origin, 2,927,990 of French, 2,067,725 of other unique local characteristics. Climate, density of races. The largest non-Anglo-Saxon groups are population, religious complexion, racial traditions, German 473,544, Ukrainian 225,113, Dutch 148,- are all factors of prime importance to workers in 962, Polish 145,503. The largest infiltration of this field, and must be taken into account in any non-Anglo-Saxon population is in the West. efforts at betterment. Some of these factors are Prince Edward Island is almost solidly Anglo- permanent, others are modifiable, and the problem Saxon while of the people of Manitoba, Saskatche- will change as they change.
wan and Alberta half are of non-Anglo-Saxon In a contribution as brief as this must neces- origin. sarily be, many significant elements must be In religion the population is 4,285,388 Roman passed by without reference. For example, there Catholic (of whom 2,853,117 are in Quebec and are in not a few communities the changing racial the Maritime Provinces), Jews 155,614, Greek complexion. Areas that once were solidly British Orthodox 102,389. The United Church is the and populous enough to maintain adequate reli- largest Protestant group with 2,017,375 persons, gious services are by steady infiltration becoming and the Anglicans second with 1,635,615. French or Ukrainian or some other racial color.
The climate varies with the latitude and other Then follows inevitably the ethical confusion and factors. Compared with Europe, except in the uncertainty that accompanies the clash of cultures territory on or near the Pacific coast influence by and the, difficulty that a thinning Protestantism the warm waters of the ocean, Canadian winters has to support its own religious usages.
are colder and longer with shorter, warmer and Since this and many other problems of the same drier summers. The temperature of the Pacific order are local to certain communities, they must Coast is identical with that of the British Isles in yield place here to other handicaps much wider in the same latitude. Of Canada as a whole it may their influence which effect all rural work. Of be said that the climate is healthful and invig- these denominationalism must be given first place.
orating, favorable to hardy bodies and vigorous Denominationalism is an inheritance. Histori- minds. cally Christianity was propogated and maintained Agriculture is the chief industry. In a single in the Dominion on a denominational basis. It year the value of the total agricultural production would serve no good purpose to quarrel with a has reached $2,000,000,000. The Census of 1931 fact that was, perhaps, in the evolution of Prot- [365 ]
estantism inevitable. But inevitable or not de- In these overchurched communities the work nominationalism in spite of much that was ad- suffers in several directions. Ministers are undermirable and praiseworthy must be debited with paid. If three men have to be supported where some things inimical to the rural church. When only one is needed stipends are inadequate and a pioneer community found itself, because of de- home mission funds that ought to go to new nominational zeal and prejudice, supplied with all pioneer work are expended in communities that the branches of Presbyterianism, Methodism, the might and ought to be self-supporting. Because Baptists and Anglicanism, it was not well of competitive denominationalism ministers have churched but shamefully overchurched. The con- to minister to areas too large for efficient work. sequence was a burden of maintenance that over- Serving, as many must, three, four and five points taxed the financial resources of the community, there is not a full program of religious work at inadequate buildings, and ,a conception of religion any place. Sunday school and Young People's that would be difficult to justify from the New work suffers because the groups are too small Testament. This condition has been improved for effective work and the minister's time is too greatly by the various unions that have taken much dissipated. Buildings once adequate when place. In 1876 the Presbyterian churches united preaching was the only function of the church to form the Presbyterian Church in Canada. In Gan scarcely be maintained and seldom are re- . 1883 the various Methodist bodies came together placed with modern buildings in keeping with in the Canadian Methodist Church. Then in 1925 present-day conceptions of church function. the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Congregational Churches merged their A second handicap that adversely affects all identity to make the United Church of Canada. rural work is the measure of disesteem with which The Methodist Church as a whole entered this society and the Church regards the country and union, practically all the Congregational Churches country life. As a generation we are urbanand two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church in minded. The proof and causes of this fact cannot Canada. be here examined. It must stand biuntly while the consequences are set forth. The consequences of this latter Union for the rural work affected by it were far-reaching. The Very few men voluntarily and deliberately degreatest single incentive in achieving Union was vote themselves to country work. In too many the religious needs of the rapidly expanding fron- cases it is accepted as a second best because nothtier. In anticipation of Union hundreds of con- ing else offers. It is accepted with the hope that solidations took place and in the three years fol- a few years apprenticeship will open the way to lowing Union 560 amalgamations, rearrangement an urban appointment which carries with it the of fields, or uniting of charges were affected, in- hall mark of success. When this ambition is not volving 2,000 congregations. One Presbytery, realized there is a measure of secret disappoint- Kamloops, B. C., reported a saving of $2,750 per ment and a restlessness which most men strive year in Home Mission Funds. Within the area of heroically to conceal. But concealed or admitted the former Presbyterian Synod of Toronto there it reacts on the work and robs men of the joy in was a saving in money of $50,000 while 126 men service without which no man gives his best. required on a competitive basis were released for work elsewhere. In part society is to blame for this deprecation of rural life and service. The stage farmer with In spite of this improvement there still remains hayseeds in his uncombed hair is a libel that gets in the older parts of the Dominion much over- raucous laughter from cr'owds who appreciate churching in rural areas. The Union of 1925 af- very little the farmer's part in national economy. fected only three of the national churches at work "Who's Who" is a roster of city names – even in Canada. But within the United Church itself though many are farmers' sons. It is difficult to there is a natural enough reluctance on the part imagine any farm achievement that would earn a of many people to close unneeded churches, hal- man a place beside those who have achieved prolowed by'memory and long association, in the in- fessional distinction or made money. Urban newsterest of an efficiency that was not demanded in papers frequently publicize city pulpits while earlier days or encouraged by older conditions. rural utterances of equal merit go unnoticed. For this reason it is not impossible to find many hamlets of six or seven hundred people striving In part our Theological Colleges are to blame. to maintain four or five churches where only one They graduate students hopeful that they will add is needed. Eventually this anachronism will cor- lustre to the school by winning tall city pulpits. rect itself, but when it comes it must be without Among the courses they offer there is little serious too much overhead compulsion and so it will be effort at instruction in rural background or rural slow. psychology; and as little to impress students with the contribution that the farm makes to national character, culture and stability. Little pains are
PROBLEMiS OF THE RURAL CHURCH IN CANADA
taken to correct the silly heresy that country pas- Church at large. Today the average urban church torate,is a proof of mediocrity. has at its command much more adequate and In larger part than either society or the theo- steady resources than its rural neighbor.
logical college the Church itself is to blame for Today the farmer is not prosperous in Canada.
accepting these standards without vigorous pro- When taxes are paid and necessary living expenses test or effective resistance. Whatever it may have are provided for there is little left over for the held in theory in practice it has consented to such Church or any other community enterprise. Why a judgment. This is to be seen first in the scale agriculture should remain the Cinderella among of salaries in town and country. The average in industries is a question that clamantly calls for an the city has been always very much higher than answer. Of its truth there can be little doubt and anything attempted in the country. This, doubt- neither the Church nor the nation will be steadily less, is justifiable in a measure but the spread is prosperous until such adjustments are made as greater than can be justified. Because of the will secure for the farmer a fair return for his larger stipends and other advantages that urban investment risk and labor.
life offers the city exercises a selective power that It is obvious, then, that this problem cannot be tends to bring the ablest men to its pulpits. This solved by Church action alone. The economist and happens not because city posts are more difficult statesman must lend their aid before this handi- or more important but because of very definite cap can be removed. When it is corrected, as it financial and social advantages. The rural min- must be in the national interest, a new day will ister, frequently isolated, serving a community dawn for the country church. For the farmer is with a declining population of three or four small essentially religious. He is too close to the vital discouraged groups, who provide little effective processes of the world to be much impressed by a local leadership has a task far more difficult than godless humanism. His religion may be touched the average urban minister and needs, if he is to with fatalism but he knows that it is only the fool carryon, courage of the highest order. Yet the that says in his heart there is no God. If his Church is content to send its weakest men to the Church is meagerly supported it is by necessity most demanding tasks and remunerate them on and not by choice.
the lowest scale in the Church. That rural pas- Three conditions that enter into the rural torates are brief, too brief to face and solve the church problem have been briefly noted. What problems they present, is not to be wondered at. of the future? It is pleasant to be able to state in It is the direct consequence of the factors we have closing that definite progress is being made. The been considering and will not be corrected until outlook is promising. Overchurching is on the de- the Church wins back a true perspective and cline. The generation that takes up our work is creates sufficient spiritual dynamic to remove going to see some changes that the boldest prophet these abuses and inspire men to choose as Oberlin did not dare to anticipate a generation ago. The did more than a century ago. Church is slowly opening its eyes to the need and A third major handicap which touches the pros- profit of strengthening the rural base. More men perity of the rural church is the depressed status are hearing and responding to the call of the coun- of agriculture as an industry. The Church as an try without apology or the old sense of inferiority.
institution cannot carryon without suitable build- And governments are slowly learning that pros- ings, equipment and trained leadership and for perity and national greatness are not products of these a sufficient measure of financial support mass production in city factories but have their must be found in the community served or in the roots much deeper in the life of the soil.
FOLLY OF BEING POWERLESS If an electric car stands motionless on the tracks, it is nothing against the power of electricity. If an invalid has no appetite, and cannot go out of doors at night, it is no argument against things good to eat and the joy of starlit air. If a man does not know a flower by name nor a poem by heart, it is no indictment of the beauty of a rose or the charm of some poem. If we bear the name of Christ, but give no other sign of Him; if we go through the forms of Godliness, but live powerless lives, it is a thousand reproaches to us. To be powerless when Christ has all power, and we can have all we want, is an arraignment to which we can make no answer that is not self-incriminating.-Selecfed.
Service for Rural
~-.. I By the REV. LOUIS C. HARNISH, Standish, Maine IPJ…- W HERE shall we spend our honeymoon? Why should so much outside help be needed in This was one of the questions that two carrying on the work of the rural church? young people discussed as they made plans This question involves two other questions: for their wedding. One was a recent graduate of "Why not depend on local leadership?" "What a well-known college who was serving as Dean of are the special or unusual needs that ought to be Women in her Alma Mater. The other had pre- met?"
pared in a midwestern college for teaching. The In other words, what are the conditions which answer to their question came from the American make the revival of the rural churches so difficult, Friends Service Committee to whom the Sebago and why is there need of such a large amount of Lake Regional Parish of Maine had applied for volunteer work that can be done only with the help vounteer summer workers. Arrangements were of leaders from outside the community?
completed and the young bride and groom arrived The task of the Christian Church might be deon the scene. They found themselves in a colony fined as "ministering to the abundant life." Chris- of eight volunteer summer workers, housed in the tianity is a religion of culture. Ministering to hu- large parsonage at Standish. man needs in the spirit of Christ makes religion The Sebago Lake Regional Parish was one of vital. It was in this way that Jesus began the a number of so-called "Larger Parishes" founded work of the Kingdom in His day. People are led largely through the vision and energy of the Rev. from the needs they recognize to the needs that Hilda L. Ives who, in this case, served as one of are more fundamental, that is, spiritual needs. the volunteers. Other members of the colony In spite of all the advances and facilities of were a mother and daughter, two young women college graduates, and a young Harvard student. modern civilization, there are multitudes who need the ministry of health, of sympathetic understand- The mother was a woman of culture and of ex- ing, of encouragement, of wholesome recreation, perience in higher education, who served as house of social satisfactions, of culture, including music, mother. Her daughter was a teacher in the pub- beauty, literary appreciation, etc. Homes need to lic schools of a large city. be made more livable, more attractive, more com- The group lived together as a family, each par- fortable, more sanitary, and in many cases, more ticipating in the household duties. Daily confer- commodious. Parents need assistance and guid- ences were held at which reports of the preceding ance in the care of their children and in habit day were received and plans for the day discussed. training of their children from infancy. They With the aid of cars in various degrees of senility need cooperation in dealing with youth and in the group scattered over the field. Every home in family problems along many lines.
the entire region was visited and studies were This is a spiritual ministry and can never be made of the needs and problems which were re- made fully effective by any other ministry than vealed as a result of the home or individual con- that of Christ-directed lives prepared for the spe- tacts. cific task to which their energies are to be de- Partly as a result of the summer's experiment voted. It is this phase of Christian service that the Church must meet if its ministry is to be efa call for student volunteer Christian service was fective. This is true especially of underprivileged sent out through various channels. An article in sections. Nowhere is this service more needed the Boston Transcript brought many responses. than in many rural regions. More than thirty-five young people have served on the Regional Parish staff, mostly on a non-salary The lack of competent local leadership in many basis. For the past three years the whole staff rural sections..is obvious. The reasons for this. has been serving without salaries. Ordinary liv- lack are also obvious. ing expenses are provided and the staff live as a family in the Standish parsonage. Each person First: The membership of the rural churches is allowed ten dollars a month for strictly per- is for the most part pitiably small. Those who sonal use, but it is understood that no one will be constitute the membership are as a rule older peoallowed to suffer in case of emergency. ple. Many have lost their vital touch with the younger generation. There is also, to a large ex- [368 ] tent, a spirit of pessimism that weakens the in- sick. This is one of the greatest opportunities fluence of the group. for devoted service in the rural field. One member Second: At least one generation has lost out of our present staff is a registered nurse and has both in religious and cultural training. The demonstrated clearly the demand for such servyounger generation, including the young married ice and its practicability as a means of spiritual people, are not even connected with the church, service. except in a few of the more progressive parishes in very recent years. Even those who are mem- There is great need for people with home ecobers often do not take their religion very seri· nomic training, especially fitted to deal sympathetously. ically with families. Here is an opportunity to really transform homes and to instill in them the Third: Those who have the qualities and capac- religious atmosphere. Another line of service is ity for leadership have left their homes to find em- for people with nursery school and kindergarten ployment in other places. Some of these have training. The Regional Parish was instrumental become religious leaders in other churches. in securing Federal Aid for a nursery school which has been carried on for over two years in very Fourth: In rural communities people are scat- close and sympathetic relation to the leaders of tered, many living at a distance from any center, the Parish. It seems almost impossible to overmaking it inconvenient or impossible to attend estimate its value. Elementary Christian educagroup meeting with any regularity. tion must be closely related to the home and Fifth: The demands for Christian service in should begin in the earliest stages of the child's thinly populated regions of Maine and other parts life.
of New England are especially great. Facilities We recognize the value of music in the church that are available in cities and more advanced and in the home and in almost every phase of neighborhoods through schools and clinics, and neighborhood life. Whole generations have lost visiting nurse associations, through settlements out in music training. The schools have made a and civic centers are almost entirely lacking in beginning. Here is a great opportunity for the many country districts. Some "homes" are even Church. Every child that has the capacity ought worse off than those in the congested districts of to have the opportunity to learn to playa musical cities. instrument and to sing. We have done something Sixth: In most country districts there is a lack along this line, but very inadequately. There is need of, and in fact, a demand for many other of social responsibility on the part of the more lines of cultural service. A Harvard graduate privileged people. There is a tendency to regard interested in oriental pottery spent a summer in the people of lower standards of living as "no our parish teaching "coil and pat" method of good" and incapable of rehabilitation. These conditions are, in a way, similar to the making pottery. The response was astonishing. conditions that gave rise to the settlement move- There is demand for all lines of manual work ment in the cities fifty years ago; They give the' for both boys and girls. Recently our boys' Church its opportunity for the revival of the rural worker became very popular teaching the boys to church. Here is a situation that calls for the same make airplane models which could really fly.
heroic service as the foreign field. It is a service The call for volunteer service on the part of that demands the very highest qualifications of younger (and older) Christians is a reasonable character, consecration, spiritual development, one and is certainly in keeping with our Christian and technical training. It calls for the "mission- traditions. It has saved the Church in more than ary spirit" in the highest sense. But it is espe- one crisis. Why should not our young Christian cially in these sections that money is not available students and graduates give one or two years of for the employment of trained workers. How, free service in recognition of the privileges they then, can the situation be met? have enjoyed? Has the Christian Church less The experiment of the Sebago Lake Regional claim on its youth than the Mormons whose young Parish suggests one way of meeting the situation men are called upon to go out without scrip or which is, perhaps, worthy of consideration. It purse or remuneration to serve for a year or two involves, in the first place, sending out to our col- as missionaries? Has the Christian Church less leges and technical schools a call for volunteer right to such service than the State that drafts its service on the part of men and women of excep- young men for military service and training? tionally fine Christian character, technically Moreover, there are many educated Christian peotrained for some specific task. There is need for ple who are economically independent who might nurses with public health training to do educa- well practice their profession without salary.
tional work, serve as visiting nurses, and in case But how are these people to be maintained who of emergency to care temporarily for the very have not the means of their own? This leads to
370· THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD [July-August
the second suggestion which has been tried out on is a project that ought to appeal to many people of a small scale in our Sebago Lake Regional Parish. larger means.
A staff of workers can live as a group or colony, The life of a group living as a family is an inunder good leadership, on a very small allowance. teresting experiment in many ways. It calls for The funds usually provided for two salaries will the exercise of. the finest Christian virtues. It maintain a staff of four or five. There is the pos- also provides the very maximum of social and culsibility, also, in rural regions of doing a little subsistance "farming." People in the country can tural satisfactions.* often give produce where they cannot give money. Evep so, funds are likely to be needed from be- • The Director of the Sebago Lake Regional Parish will be glad nevolent minded people outside the region. This to correspond with people who wish to consider giving themselves for volunteer rural service. It Is hoped that the Parish may become a training field for those who enter such service. .
Saving ~ Whole Rural Community* The Life and Work of John Frederic Oberlin T HE biographer says: "The story of Oberlin The soil was poor, the roads were bad, th€ peo- is that of a man who stayed in a remote valley ple were sick and ignorant – the only school- and did his work so well that the world made teacher was a man whose job had been pig herda path to his door. ing but he had become too old and weak for that so they sent him to care for the children. "John Frederic Oberlin was Franco-German. He never came to America; but an American col- Oberlin took a census which showed five villege was named for him. lages, 100 families, and 400 inhabitants.
"His salary was less than that of a teacher in Service. Oberlin said in his first sermon that our grade school; put, more than a hundred years "minister" meant "-servant" and he had come to after his death, the New Standard Dictionary lists serve. He told the congregation that men serve him as a 'philanthropist.' God by doing good to their neighbors. "Dear friends, one especially please-s God by good works. "He founded the first 'infant schools' on record. To do good works one does not need to have "He was a pioneer in scientific 'agricultural ex- money. Everything that is done for the public tension.' good or to ease the burdens of man or beast, when "In an age of intense religious animositie-s both it is done for love of God, is a good work which Protestants and Catholics worshipped together in rejoices his heart." his church. "He shielded Jews from persecution, and per- Road building. "Such a work, especially," sonally indemnified them for injuries -suffered in Oberlin continued in that fi:r:st sermon, "is the rehis parish. pair and good upkeep of roads." "Although in peril of his life during the French Revolution, he was given 'honorable mention' by He raised money in the city to buy gunpowder the National Convention for his work as an edu- to blast the rocks; he asked villagers to work with cator. him and when only two or three came, he started "He was nominated for the Legion of Honor the job alone. before the fall of Napoleon, and was given this decoration by Louis XVIII. Others joined him; a good road was made; a "He was awarded a gold medal for his work in bridge built and the Valley of Stone was connected agriculture and community betterment. He re- with the outside world. ceived messages of endearment from the Tzar of Russia." The other villages asked Oberlin to help them build roads. Work in a Country Church Schoolhouses. Oberlin bought a lot for a new Oberlin went from a city to live in a small vil- school building; raised the money to buy the malage and work in a rural community. He planned terials. to remain there 30 years. He worked as a carpenter and finished the job • From "Good News-Well Told," a pamphlet published by the in two and a half months. National Christian Council of the Philippine Islands. The facts are taken from Dawson's book entitled, "John Frederic Oberlln-A Prot- Next he built schoolhouses in the other four estant Saint." villages.
SAVING A WHOLE RURAL
Sanitation. Oberlin concluded one of his ser- the villagers, continued to dig. When the trenches mons thus: were four or five feet deep he lowered young trees "My friends, remember what I have told you. into them, mixing and pressing lightly around The pestilences which from time to time have car- their roots the kinds of soil believed to be best ried half the people of this valley to their graves suited to their rapid growth. He alsO" procured are not caused by witches. They are caused by slips of a few pears, plums, cherries, and some filth. Some of you, showing love to God by a re- nuts, and turned one of his gardens into a large gard for the common welfare, have heeded what nursery. Then he waited. The mountaineers had I have asked everyone to do and are keeping your never seen trees grow so fast. At last their premises free from filth that is a public nuisance. curiosity got the better of them. Of their own Others, showing an obstinacy that fills Satan with accord, they came to express their astonishment joy, have continued in their old and detestable and to ask him how they could raise such trees ways. What shall I say, then? Shall I leave them ' for themselves."
to start another pestilence, and let them learn Next Oberlin gradually introduced scientific from the Angel of Death when that messenger agriculture. comes to their door? Indeed, they well deserve "He was interested primarily in the character such teaching; but alas, when calamity comes the of the inhabitants of the Valley of Stone. He had good must suffer with the bad. No-I must try seen a vision of perfected humanity' in the char- again to save you. I cannot command you. But acter of Jesus unfolded in the Gospels. His con- see, dear friends and compatriots, what I hold in suming passion was the desii'e to lift all men to my hand ! Yes it is money – money that came that level. But it did not take long for a man who through the sale of grain from my fields. I offer had trained himself both in medicine and theology it as prizes to our countrymen whose yards, upon to see that bodies enfeebled by a degrading desti- inspection, are found to be free from filth." tution cannot go far on the road to spiritual per- An educational system. Oberlin changed office fection. Oberlin heard a voice that said: 'I was of teacher from standard of a pig herder to that hungry, and you fed me.' He must feed these peoof highest honor in the village. He wrote new ple. 'God is immensely rich!' It is not necessary textbooks; he organized "infant schools," the first for any child of his to go hungry. Wherever there kindergartens in the world. Thus he established is a need, there is also a supply. Apply the Golden in his rural parish the best school system in Rule and the scientific method, and everyone will Europe. have enough and to spare."
A demonstration in farming. When the people Then Oberlin's wife taught the people how to saw these things, they began to believe that their spin. In one year the small Valley sold to one manufacturer about 12,000 pesos worth. leader knew what he was doing. "The mountaineers were ready to admit that "Visitors to the Valley of Stone discovered that the inhabitants were more intelligent, honest, and Oberlin could lay a stone wall, clear a road, build polite than were any other peasants they had ever a bridge, construct a school, and teach them to seen. The schools and the church had done their read and write. But there was one thing a peas- work! A distinguished Swiss patriot, who had ant, living in the eighteenth century, would not founded a ribbon factory at Basle, was attracted believe that a city man could do. He could not to the Valley of Stone by the fame of its minister. teach them anything about farming. He urged his two sons to move their ribbon fac- tory to this place. . . . "Oberlin knew this feeling on the part of the peasants. He was wise enough to respect their prejudices, where these were deeply rooted. He "The factory was located in the Valley of Stone would not start by telling them about new meth- without further ado. (In 1812, Legand's entire ods and undreamed-of possibilities. But there establishment was removed to the Valley of was nothing to prevent his setting out some trees Stone.) The prosperity of the region was then as- and plants in his own gardens and fields. sured."
"One day there was much merriment in the vil- Called to America, Oberlin decided to remain lage of Waldsbach. Two fields, noted for the bar- in his Valley. He lived there sixty years (1767- renness of their soil, belonged to the parsonage. 1826) and won the whole Valley to Christ. Prot- These fields were crossed by paths much fre- estants and Catholics worshipped together in his quented by the peasants. The passers-by noticed, church. .
on the day in question, that the minister, with the This remarkable life of a Christian preacher help of a servant, was digging deep trenches shows how effective witness may be borne to through the barren fields. What did he expect to Christ through service that helps to elevate men grow in that place? . . . intellectually, economically and socially as well "Oberlin, disregarding the sly amusement of as spiritually.
BELLINGHAM PREACHING AND PRACTICING AMONG BEDOUINS OF
Medical Work Among Arabs in Iraq* -·of/ifJ.!,;;;1====B=Y=W=.=B=EL=L=IN=G=HAM=====~lll>o- -THE vast expanse of the Shamiyah Desert, gists, geologists, also search and journey with .. which lies west of the River Euphrates in high hopes of adding a little more to our knowl- Central Mesopotamia (the Kingdom of Iraq) edge of the almost unknown.
extends far into the Nejd (in Arabia). It is There are a very few who are called and sent bordered by the Syrian Desert to the north and to heal the sick and to preach the Gospel among by all the mystery of Arabia to the south. the widely scattered tribes of Nomad Arabs.
A trip into that supposedly empty desert would Nothing can turn them aside from their objective seem rather reckless to the ordinary individual; once the "call" is upon them and so long as their a sojourn over a period of years~whatever one's trust is in the Risen Lord. To them the way is objective-would appear nothing short of mad- old yet ever new with new and exciting dangers ness. Yet people do travel there, though one often and difficulties. There are the unpleasant sensawonders what attractions those great arid wastes tions in the burning sun at midday; terrible footh.ave to offer, and why people endure untold hard- soreness, thirst, fevers, loneliness-all new with a grim unexpectedness. The aches and pains, the ships, wandering about its vast empty spaces. sufferings and anxieties experienced along the Some travelers seek something new by way of wayside in the journeyings of a missionary are adventure: they experience queer itchings in the never fully told. Nor need they ever be told, for blood known to many as wanderlust. Organized they are forgotten mid blessings derived from parties of explorers, anthropologists, archreolo- ministering to the greater sufferings of those to * Condensed from 'The EvnngeHcal Ohristian, Toronto. whom they are sent. For those sick bodies and [372 ]
MEDICAL WORK AMONG ARABS IN IRAQ
sicker souls to whom they journey know not the women; they are moving off at the sight of uscomforts and love of the Risen Saviour. single file, along a well-worn track, carrying skins of water. The water in the water-hole is dirty But come with me-or rather with us, Christ and stagnant, but oh, how precious – water is and myself-if you would know something of the Life !.How sweet on the desert! "Let us hurry desert. We will take you into its unquenchable and tell them of the sweet water of Eternal Life." life as we live it, and as it really is. It is only a thought and cannot be done, for sud- denly we think of the. unwritten laws of the desert The journey requires a little over three hours and content ourselves and follow on, not daring by either camel or horse and is just as uncom- to mention them more than once to our Arab comfortable on either. Leaving our little home of dried mud, dwarfing itself in the distance, we THE MISSIONARY IN ARAB DRE.SS sway off into the wilderness, soon to lose sight of everything one connects with mankind. There is panion, who in the roughest voice he can muster, not a structure, mechanical contrivance or human is bidding them ,move from our path.. "It's easy being within sight. On every side is sun-scorched for us to go aroun~," we protest with a feeling of desert, dry, empty, silent, uncanny and bare but pity. .But t~y h~ve scrambled aside. One has for the presence of a few clumps of camel-thorn fallen over, and we pass on trying hard not to and ourselves. The sun beats down with a pitiless hear the oaths muttered by the Arab at our side. glare, and the surface of the desert becomes so hot that it will fry an egg. 'Perspiration oozes from The tents of the other Arabs are not to be seen. every pore; a gentle breeze from the south lifts The path winds and, twists through the thorns for up particles of sand that adhere to every inch of another four miles and we cross a rift in the desour uncovered skin. Even the thought of water ert, and there, to our relief, are the tents, black as makes us thirsty, but we refrain from drinking– the lean goats moving around. Our thoughts we shall only perspire more freely if we do. Our Arab companion comforts us with an Arab prov- flash to Genesis, arid we think of Jabal, Abraham erb: "Don't drink-less thirst; don't eat-less hunger?" So we sway along to the rhythm of the and Jacob, who were plainsmen dwelling in tents. gurgling water in our waterskin. To talk is a Surely they must have used tents like these even fatigue, so we rock and think, think and sway, Oh, why were camels made to walk so oddly? It's such an uncomfortable ache we feel across the belt. The glare hurts our eyes. We wish we could talk; we wish we could drink. Oh, if only there were one shady tree where we could rest. If only we could see something new or other nomads in the distance. Why, oh why, do people waste so much water over the simple washing of hands? A thousand and one thoughts flash on through the mind-we straighten up-relax, close our eyesmeditate-. We shall not get lost, Christ is at our side and even if there is no track we are comforted somewhat for our Arab companion is with us. On and on! .
Over a ridge and dpwn into an indentation. There is more thorn now:, and there-away in the distance-camels-"El Hamdu lillah"-unto God be praise. Further ~n are flocks of sheep and goats that 'appear to be grazing on sand for we see no grass. We begin to wonder what the black hundles are that move, for from where'we sit they appear to be framed between the camels' ears. It's a water-hole-no need for the Arab to tell us. The camels smeUed it long before we crossed the ridge and had we been unconscious from thirst the camels would have taken us there even if they themselves did not want to drink. They are wonderful, in spite of being awkward at times.
But there! we see that the black bundles are
in those long ages past. There they stand in all is in God. "God is great," they mutter, and now the stark loneliness of the desert. is the time to tell them of God's greatness. They love a good story and will listen with patience; Someone is running to meet us; a shout goes but in like manner we have to listen to their up, others follow. Several barking dogs race to stories, with patience equally as great, or they will show their teeth, but the first to greet us are the not listen to our next. Usually their stories are flies. We attempt to speak. Several flies are in about the prophet Mohammed and Jimree, and our mouth, but we soon get used to it. what they lack in propriety they soon gain in amusement. The Arab has perfected the art of The Arab at our side mutters: "Allah Wakeil" telling a story; much gesticulation, gasping and (God our Trustee), and touches the camel's neck. repetition goes with everyone. The following is With a series of grunts it kneels at an alarming typical of the kind that tickle their imaginations, angle, head down and forelegs first; we hold tight and this, by the way, is believed by them to be until we get a jolt from behind and know then she true. is properly settled. We alight with relief and have the feeling that it is good to he on mother One mullah, such a good mullah he was, never was there earth. But before the feeling has rushed around a mullah like him. Never! our aching limbs we must give our greetings with "Peace," which is answered by "And on you be He was always most careful in his ablutions, and always peace." washed his hands before going to pray. And as was his ha0it he always held out his hands, always held out his A dozen or more dirty palms are thrust into hands he did. But the sparrows belonging to the mosque ours and in our pockets with impunity. The bag knew, and at prayer time always flew down to rest on his with the medicines is in the safe-keeping of the hands and cling to his fingers to drink the drops of water Arab, who freely clouts one and then another of that gathered at his finger ends, until not even a drop rethe besieging crowd. A score of questions are mained and his hands became dry. asked in as many seconds about our health and welfare, and what we have brought. We are then At the end everyone gasps, and the teller, to led to the Sheikh's tent where some measure of confirm it, will swear by his Prophet that it is not peace is assured. Greetings and questions are re- false. peated and a dusty rug is placed at our disposal. So we relax. A new dung fire is lighted right at Finally we tell our story, a guest's, privilege. our feet; coffee beans are roasted and pounded. Then comes our time for medical treatment and We ask someone to bring our water but sour milk more Gospel. These Arab nomads suffer from alis brought in a filthy container instead, with flies most every ailment it is possible to imagine-sore swimming on its surface and every inch of its ex- eyes, open sores, the only covering of which are terior covered. To brush them off would send the flies; infected wounds; cuts, burns, skin dismore diving into the beverage, so instead we blow eases and internal complaints too numerous to them to the far side and take sucking drafts of mention. Very seldom do they wash and never the milk until our thirst is quenched. If we should with soap. They are so poor that one cannot be weak in the stomach and complain about the imagine how poor until they are seen-no money, flies, we may hear comments to the effect that we no stores. They live mostly on dates and the have been given both food and drink and that meagre supply of milk from their flocks. Perhaps they were sent by' Allah. twice a year they take wool, hair and skins to the town, which may be a handred miles away, and But we have come to preach the Gospel, but preaching, in the ordinary sense of the word, there they exchange their pJoduce for clothes and cannot be done, so we shall have to win them by cheap luxuries. tact. If we can first attend to their sadly-neglected bodies they will then listen with eagerness Those diseases for which we have no cure we to the wonderful healing power of the Great Phy- commend to God in prayer and He honors the sician, for they never forget a kindness. faith of His servants. The men and boys are treated first; then we go to the women and girls. First we must have coffee and discuss the latest It is pitiful. But a half can never be told. We news; then follows a general talk. They know leave messages of comfort and promise to come why we are here but it's beyond them to know again, if God so wills. "Inshallah" they repeat why we are not afraid. Government officials visit from their hearts. them on rare occasions, but always with an escort of several armed police. After giving our treatments we return to the Sheikh and ask permission to go. He presses us "Are you not afraid of being stabbed and to stay the night, but we have had the experience robbed," they often ask, for they love talking of before. We pick off a few lice that are visible on such subjects. We tell them briefly that our trust our dress and make excuses. We return home as the. coming night chases another passing day to
HANS EGEDE-MISSIONARY TO GREENLAND
the west, to bathe in four gallons of water. If Their trust is in a dead prophet while ours is in that is not available-be patient, Brother! Christ the Risen Lord. bore our sufferings on Calvary and made one sacrifice once and for all; therefore no sacrifice is too When next we visit the spot we find the water great for us to make for Him. We think of the hole dry and the desert empty and bare. All is Arabs we have left behind, and our hearts ache. quiet. They have gone, Gone! GONE! BUT WHERE???
Hans Egede – Missionary to Greenland Last year was the 250th anniversary of Hans Egede's birth. We are indebted to Dr. O. M. Norlie of Luther College, and to the News Bulletin of the National Lutheran Church for the following sketch of this interesting and inspiring Lutheran missionary of long ago.
H ANS EGEDE, the Apostle to Greenland, Gardar, Greenland. Then, for a long and dreary was born January 31, 1686, at Senjen, stretch of over three hundred years, nothing is Northern Norway, 250 years ago. This said about Greenland.
busy world will do well to pause a moment to It was Hans Egede who brought the question up listen to a brief tale about his life and labors. He again. A graduate of the University of Copenwas a hero and saint whose monument is the hagen at 21, he at once married and accepted a ChuroCh of Greenland, of which every person in pastorate in the fishing town of Vaagan, Lofoten Greenland, except two, is a baptized member. Next to Australia, Greenland is the largest island Islands, Norway. While there he read about the in the world. It is more than one-fourth as large Greenland settlements and the Church that had as the United States. It is the most northern once been planted on that remote island. He beland in the world, and perhaps the coldest, for its gan to think about it and to talk about it, and, interior is covered with an immense shield of ice after much careful and prayerful consideration rising from 4,000 feet to 11,000 feet. Its mon- concluded that he ought to go there as a missionstrous fjords discharge numberless icebergs, some ary to his countrymen. He laid the matter beof them ten miles long and a mile or more deep. fore the bishops of Trondheim and of Bergen, but The habitable portion is a thin fringe along the their replies, which were delayed a whole year, southwestern and the southeastern coasts, an area were just honeyed words. His parishioners at first thought his views interesting, then they proof 46,740 miles, or 5% of the total island. tested, later became angry and finally regarded him as deranged. His wife, Gertrude Rask of The first settlers in Greenland were the ancient Bergen, at first did not share with him his desire Norsemen. GunnbjflSrn, Ulf Krage's son, the sages to go to such a desolate and unknown field, but say, was driven by a storm to the coast of Green- through prayer she became convinced that God land in 876 and wintered there. Erik the Red willed it and never afterwards wavered in het made a settlement there in 983, and called the support of him. To this day she is reckoned as land Greenland, hoping to attract settlers. At one of the noblest missionaries in all the annals one time there were six thousand Norsemen liv- of nineteen hundred years of mission work.
ing there. In 1715, Egede wrote a pamphlet defending his In 999, King Olaf Trygvasson of Norway sent idea as to the need of mission work in Greenland and resigned from his pastorate in order to arouse Leif Erikson to Greenland to Christianize it. In- interest for the mission cause. People regarded cidentally he made a voyage of discovery and him as a madman. Church people would not listen found Vinland, and his name is best known as the to him anymore. He turned to the merchants. discoverer of America in 1000. In the Norse He went to Bergen to enlist the merchants in an sagas and the Vatican archives are found occa- expedition of trade with Greenland. It was all sional notices of the Church which Leif established in vain for they dared not make the venture. in Greenland. Thus, in 1112, Pope Paschal II ap- Now, fortunately, the King of Denmark-Norway, pointed Eric Knutsson Bishop of Greenland. In Frederick IV, had started a mission college and 1121, Bishop Eric left Iceland for Vinland. The had sent two missionaries, the German Pi~tists bishops after him are mentioned in the Icelandic Ziegenbalg and Pliitschau, to be missionaries vellums by name in regular succession down to among the Tamils around the Danish trading set- 1409. In a letter of Pope Alexander VI, dated tlement at Tranquebar, South India. The sending 1492, the year of Columbus' discovery of America, of these two to India is considered as the beginthe sad condition of neglected Greenland is reviewed and Matthias is appointed Bishop of
ning of modern Protestant missions. Egede be- ing venture rather than a missionary enter,prise, took himself to the King, who at first refused to and for a year they had not been able to do any consider the Greenland project, but later prom- trading with the natives. In fact, they could not ised to give an annual amount of money to it and even buy provisions and as their supplies were gave Egede public endorsement. With this back- .getting dangerously low, were firmly determined ing, Egede began to get a more respectful hear- to leave for home on a certain day. But, on the ing and by 1721, after thirteen years of agitation, day set for leaving Greenland, three Norwegian he had a trading-colonizing company organized boats came into sight. They brought supplies and and a ship purchased for the voyage. With his reinforcements, and took home such of the colfamily and forty men on board he set sail from onists as were discontented. And so the work Bergen on May 3, 1721, and arrived off the south- went on. At length through the children Egede west coast of Greenland on July 3, 1721, two was permitted to do some small acts of kindness months later. As the natives seemed fearful and among the Eskimos. Fear of him waned and he fled at the approach of the newcomers, he occupied became a welcome guest. He was a hard student a little island off the coast, which he called and made good progress in their language and HaabetsjiS (Island of Hope). This island was to began to understand their ways. At last, on Janbe his headquarters for seven years. uary 10, 1724, he gathered some seventy of them in one of the larger houses and for the first time The Greenlanders, Egede found to be, I).ot de- preached to them in their own language. scendants of the old Norsemen, but an Indian tribe called Innuits or Eskimos. The Norsemen Four years later Egede moved his colony from had disappeared, and their sixteen large churches the little island to the mainland and named the and their houses were all gone. As stated, the new station Godthaab (Good Hope). It is still natives were timid and afraid and unapproach- one of the chief towns of Greenland and the seat able. They had had experience with strange of the Greenland Lutheran Theological Seminary, ships, with whalers and merchantmen who had which trains the native ministry of today. Other often come to rob and kill as well as to barter. stations were added as time went on: one at On one occasion, according to Egede's "Dagbog" Christianshaab in 1734 by Hans Egede, several (Daybook) a whaler came and set fire to an by his son, Paul, later on, as at Frederikshaab in Eskimo village, came again the next year and re- 1742, at J akobshavn in 1749, at Claushavn in peated the crime. No wonder they were afraid 1752. The king gave Hans Egede the title of of Egede and fled to the hillsides when he came Bishop of Greenland, later applied to his son, Paul ashore. In fact, the first year he was on the Island Egeqe, and other successors. of Hope the village on the mainland near by was emptied of its inhabitants. It was mainly through But though Egede had won the confidence of his children, Paul and Nils and the two daughters, the Eskimos, there were many hardships. Buildwho played with the Eskimo children, that ing material and many kinds of food had to be imfriendly relations were gradually established. ported from Europe. There was often danger of starvation and real famine. There was sickness Egede set to work to learn the language, which and even plague. The opposition from the native was not then written. He started to translate the priesthood was deep-rooted. Some of the colonists catechism and portions of the Bible into their and traders that had come over were not morally tongue. It was a difficult undertaking, for their what they should be. In 1727 the trading comvocabulary was very meager. How, for example, pany which Egede had organized dissolved, as it could he render "Lamb of God" to a people who was not a paying venture. This was a hard blow, had never seen a lamb and had no word for it in but Egede asked his king in· faith to send him their language? There were other obstacles too. more workers, and he sent him two new mission- The native priests did not welcome the new re- aries, Ole Lange and Heinrich Milzong. In 1731 ligion. The people, like ignorant heathen else- a ship came to port with the sad news that Fredwhere in the world, were prone to superstitious erick IV, the friend of missions, both in "Greenbeliefs and practices. One superstition was that land's icy mountains" and· on "India's coral sickness was due to witchcraft. So, when some strands," was dead. Egede got orders to return one got sick, the thing to do was to find the witch to Norway. The royal support was withdrawn. that was causing the trouble. Usually some poor, But the Greenlanders urged him to stay, and Gerhelpless old woman was seized, tortured to death, trude, his wife, agreed with him that it was their her heart taken out, her body sawed to bits and duty. So they stayed on. The new king, Christhrown into the waves of the sea. There was tian VI, joined the Pietist movement and became no hope of curing a sickness until this had been friendly to the mission cause. Count Zinzendorf done. Such superstitions died hard. was present at his coronation and witnessed the baptism of two Greenland boys that Egede had Again, the expedition had been at base a trad-
HANS EGEDE-MISSIONARY 1'0 GREENLAND
sent to Denmark to be trained. This gave Zin- and enlightened people, due to the solid foundazendorf an idea, which his Church, the Moravian Brethren, then and there began to .put into action. tions laid by Hans Egede and his son, Paul. The idea was to bring the Gospel to the heathen. Zinzendorf pleaded with King Christian VI to When Hans Egede came back to Norway he was support Egede, and from then on Christian was a staunch friend of the Greenland mission. Zinzen- engaged in speaking about the work of his misdorf went a step further. He himself would send missionaries to Greenland to help out. He sent sion. The University of Copenhagen established three good men to start with who made their first station and headquarters at a place they called a Greenland Seminary and made" him the director New Herrnhut, some distance north of Godthaab. Strange to say, their coming was in many ways a of it, a position he held until 1747, when he asked hindrance to Egede's work, for they opposed him, notwithstanding that he was always kindly and to be relieved. In his retirement he lived at Stubhelpful towards them. The worst hardship that befell the mission during Hans Egede's stay was bekj~bing on the little island of Falster, Denmark. the smallpox plague in 1735. A boy came down with this dread disease, which spread rapidly from There he died on November 5, 1758, at seventyhut to hut and laid waste whole villages so that there was not a man left to bury the dead. Some two and was buried beside his dear wife in the three thousand died of the scourge, including Gertrude Rask Egede, the beloved and faithful Nikolai Cemetery. The Eskimos to this day call wife of Hans. Then, at her death, broken down by untiring labors and sorrow, he asked that he him the "Unforgettable Father." " might return to his homeland for a season of rest. He preached his farewell sermon on July 28, 1736, A DOCTOR'S NIGHT AT FATEHPUR* vona.mth.e. s.a.d"text Isaiah 40: 4-"1 have labored in (By one who sleeps on the Hospital roof) But had he labored in vain? Although after The birds have hushed their sweetest bedtime songs, fifteen years of work he had baptized only twenty For dusk has quickly faded into night. people, he had prepared the soil and had /'lown much good seed that was to bear abundant fruit. The monkeys, crooning, moaning in the trees, Said one native to him: "You have done for us Are soon to hush, until the break of light. what none of our own would have done. You have stayed by us in our sickness and fed us out of A traveler on his way to cheer of home, your store. You have buried our dead who other- Goes singing down the now-deserted road. wise would not have received burial and would have been devoured by dogs and ravens and foxes. Anon come jingling bells and trotting hoofs- But above all you have told us about God and the An ekka driver clicking-on his load. Saviour and Heaven, so that we can die in joy and have a sure hope of a better life in the world When time has come for sleep, a jackal howls, to come." And then the pack let out blood-curdling cries His work was continued by his son Paul Egede, 'Til all the dogs awake and start to bark; who spoke the Eskimo like a native and was a It seems as though they echo round the skies. truly great linguist and administrator. He wrote in the Eskimo language a dictionary, a grammar, And from the distance comes the rhythmic drum Luther's Catechism, the New Testament, the Of tom-toms, of some Hindu wedding feast. Church Book. He extended the missions along the whole west coast of Greenland over one thou- And long into the night their frenzied beats sand miles. The Church in Greenland has ever Grow faster, when all else from sound has ceased. since been a living Church, although like the churches in the homeland it was at low ebb dur- Then wearied from their play, 'tis silent night ing the period of Rationalism. The first heathen And all sleep on, but those who guard the townin Greenland to be baptized, a Protestant, was in 1725, the last was in 1856. Heathenism has been The chaukidars, who call abruptly out, driven from the land. They are a God-fearing While others answer, walking up and down.
And then-sometimes-that sleep disturbing cry: "Oh, chaukidar, oh, come unlock the gate,"
And heavy wheels come crunching down the path. The prodded oxen stop, and then I wait.
And muffled voices soon are heard below, The lights flash out, with tasks soon under way, Inevitable footsteps to my roof Of nurse who calls, "A patient's come to stay."
And then below, the night becomes as day, And we all work to save that woman's life, The baby's too, if haply it still lives 'Spite villagers with ignorance so rife.
And just before the dawn there comes a lull, The woman resting, sleeping after pain; Before the birds their morning chatter start, There's stillness and some peaceful sleep again.
Upon my sleep there breaks a glorious hymn; It is the nurses at their start of day.
"So soon, another day in which to live?" Oh yes, to praise and pray, and work and play. GERTRUDE J. SMITH, M.D.
• From The Missionary lAnk, New York.
Martyrs of
1- 1Ilf By the REV. MURDOCH MacKINNON, D.D. Il~- THREE generations ago Erromanga, a large tions of war. Now we have built a vessel to carry island in the South Seas, was in the grip of the Word of Life, a more excellent thing, and no heathenism. Domestic life was practically vessel has ever been built in this historic dockyard unknown; the tribes were at war, and victories with more pleasure than John Williams V."
were celebrated by public feasts at which the The report of this happy event stated that as bodies of captives were served as a delicacy. But the vessel struck the water the Scottish pipers, the cries of little children and the groans of without direction beforehand, struck up the Scot-'
strangled widows were wafted hither by the warm tish air, "Off to the Isles," amid a hearty burst of breezes from the South, and found response from cheers.
the heart of Christendom. Eighty years ago Mr. and Mrs. George Gordon "I am received with the utmost respect," writes arrived at Erromanga on the mission vessel, the Dr. H. A. Robertson, in one of his recent reports. John Williams, and for upwards of four years "Peace and goodwill prevail all over this fair they lived and worked there. Three months later, isle." he had translated the Ten Commandments. Mrs.
The secret of this change may be deciphered Gordon began by teaching two small boys, who from a tablet erected within "The Martyrs' Me- afterwards became faithful Christian teachers. morial Church," Erromanga. A part of the in- Kindness and unselfishness never yet failed to scription reads thus: disclose hidden worth in the human heart. The younger people listened to the story of Jesus and SACRED TO THE MEMORY the love of God; the old people heard of the cross of the Missionaries who died on this Island of Calvary and the Home of "many mansions." They were intensely interested, and the work GEORGE N. GORDON seemed to prosper. ELLEN C. GORDON But heathenism dies hard, especiaiIy when the Killed by the people of Unepang greed of civilized men allies itself with it. The May 20th, 1861 cruelties and falsehoods of the sandalwood traders JAMES D. GORDON. outstripped anything that benighted Erromanga Killed at Potnuma, March 7th, 1872 could produce. The influence of the missionary tended to make the dishonesty of the trading more difficult. Hence the trader prejudiced the people George N. Gordon and his devoted wife were against Mr. Gordon, saying, "He brought the the first European missionaries to live on Erro- measles to you for did he not tell you that God's manga and to John Williams belongs the honor judgment was coming? He also caused the earth- of having been the first to suffer martyrdom quake and your other misfortunes."
there. He had carried on successful work for The poison had the desired effect. A plot was over twenty years in other islands of the South laid and speedily executed by nine savages, Lovo, Pacific, but no sooner had he and his friend Harris a chief, being party to it. What are one unsus- landed on Erromanga than the murderous people pecting couple against Erromangans with toma- fell on them. Thus they consecrated the island hawks. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon sleep on the banks with their blood, and the little streamlet flowing of the Williams River but no heathen celebration, red that day spoke of peace to the dusky sons of no cannibal feast disturb their dreams. The the South. Christian young men who laid them to rest vowed The launching of John Williams V at Grange- that they would win Erromanga for Christ or mouth, England, a few years ago, forms a sig- perish with their missionaries in the attempt. .
nificant commentary on the saying that "the blood The mother of George Gordon, of Alberton, of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." A rep- Prince Edward Island, had still another son, and resentative of the shipbuilding company said: the heroic spirit which she communicated to her "We have built vessels for commerce, for pleas- children was not crushed. By the grace of God ure, and, I regret to say, vessels to carry muni- she was ready to give this other son to Christ in [378 ]
SIXTY YEARS IN THE CONGO BELGE
so great a cause. J ames Gordon was preparing to them and the Spirit of God worked directly ort for the ministry, and when he heard of his broth- their hearts. He who called Williams called his er's death, he said, "Now it is my turn, I must successors. The Gordon brothers were nature's go." He sailed from Halifax on the famous Mis- noblemen, tall, handsome, athletic. They were sion ship, Dayspring, and in 1864 arrived at the men of intellectual power, with a genius for lanscene of his brother's labors and martyrdom. He guages. They were eloquent, persistent, fervent. gave himself to the work with enthusiasm, pre- They were men of prayer. senting the Gospel to the people in its simplicity and power. Progress was evident on every hand, The Church lives by spiritual conquest, and the and the Word that was sown in weakness was be- Gordons were bent on conquest in the name of the ing raised in power. But the spirit of heathenism Christ and in the power of the Cross. Their death was not yet appeased. It called for another vic- seemed premature and the sacrifice great, but tim. Disease broke out and the missionary was Erromanga is now a Christian island and today again blamed. Nerimpaw's two children died sends out missionaries. The heart of our people after Gordon had given them medicine. (The was stirred and the church at home was wakened hundreds of other children whom he treated, re- out of sleep. covered.) Enough! While he was translating the Acts, and had reached the account of Ste- The foreign missionary not only extends the phen's martyrdom, Nerimpaw's tom a haw k Church abroad, but also is used to save the Church plunged deep into his head, and he too "fell at home. In an age when the world is too much asleep." in evidence, it is inspiriting to hear of these brothers, who gave themselves to the service of There is nothing that calls forth the heroic Christ for the sake of redeeming men. The one spirit like a manifestation of heroism. The Gor- was the first missionary to live, and the other the dons had heard of Williams and as growing boys last martyr to die, on Erromanga. The Church had listened to the voice of John Geddie. The re- that gave the Gordons has other heroes awaiting ports of his work in Aneityum appealed strongly the call of the Master. The Christ who has saved Erromanga can save the world.
Sixty Years in the Congo BeIge By the REV. THOMAS MOODY Missionary of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society AFTER Henry M. Stanley crossed equatorial Congo, with one thousand mISSIOnaries superin- tending the work. The church members in all .L'. Africa and came out at Bauana in August, Belgian Congo number over 250,000, in addition 1877, the English Baptist missionaries to Christians under instruction who number 275,- started for the Congo in 1878. The missionaries 035. More than ten thousand village schools enof many other societies have also entered until roll over 350,000 boys and girls. they have practically occupied the Belgian Congo Many of the mission stations have had very for Christ. great blessings. Sona Bata, of the American Bap- From that day to this the progress of the work tist Foreign Mission Society, where I spent the last few years, was opened in 1890. After several has been wonderfully blessed of God. The mission- revivals we had an exceptional turning to God of aries have gone in with the idea of preaching the the natives in 1921 in which for ten years in suc- Gospel of Christ to the natives and giving them cession over a thousand people were baptized each the Word of God in their own tongue as soon as year and were received into the church on confesit was possible. As a result today the Christian sion of faith. At present there are 10',309 memchurches are in every part of the Belgian Congo, bers connected with this station, with 303 village a large number being self-supporting, self-propa- schools and 7,874 pupils. Besides the church gating, self-sustaining, indigenous churches and boarding school there is a school for medical aswith schools, from the common bush school to the sistants and nurses. The Sona Bata field covers schools for the preparation of teachers and 10,000 square miles with 100,000 people and 2,000 preachers to carry on the work. A large amount villages. We have preached the Gospel in one of the work is done entirely by the African teach- half of their villages but the other 1,000 we have ers and preachers, the oversight of the mission- not entered. When I went out in 1890, there were aries, often being limited to one or two visits a less than 5,000 church members in all the Belgian year to the churches in charge of the natives. Congo and now they number 250,000.
At present there are some forty different Protestant missionary societies working in Belgian
GIFT REVEALS THE GIVER-A
"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3: 16.
This verse tells of the greatest Gift the world has ever known. Other passages from God's Word march in procession before the mind : "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, b.ecause that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4: 9.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15: 13.
"Without shedding of blood is no remission." Hebrews 9: 22. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him."
Hebrews 7: 25. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, . . . he hath declared him."
John 1: 18.
The mind clings to the thought, God's Gift, even Jesus, reveals God to me; then is it not true that my gifts reveal me to God?
Jesus, God's Gift, reveals to the human heart far more of God than mere paper and ink can ever convey. Four characteristics of God the Father are definitely revealed in His Gift and are all suggested in the words of John 3: 16.
1. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S LOVE "GOD SO LOVED . • . that he gave his only begotten Son." "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S VISION "God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his only begotten Son." "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
3. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S WISDOM "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him SHOULD NOT PERISH." "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
4. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S POWER "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in hi1n should not perish, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."
If Jesus, the Gift of God, reveals to us God's love for us, God's vision of the needy world, God's wisdom in providing a way of escape from sin, and God's power to save, surely our gifts also reveal us to God.
Take a. backward look at your gifts of the past year, to test yourself by them. Center your thoughts on the gifts which you plan to bring in the coming year as gifts to Him, week by week and month by month. Ask yourself: What do my gifts reveal of my love for Him who gave all for me, of my vision of this sin-stained world, of my knowledge of the way of salvation, and of my faith in God's power through Christ to save all men everywhere. If you are not sure that the revelation made through your gifts is in line with what you feel in your heart, will you sacrifice even more, until you are confident that, seeing the gifts, God will know the depth of your love. Then you will know the secret which Jesus sought to disclose, but which has been kept from many of us: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." -Adapted from Janie McCutchen, in "The Presbyterian Survey."
[380 ]
A Brahman Christian-Nehemiah
The Father of the Author of Uln the Secret of His Presence"
I T WAS a great victory for the Christian mis- the fame of Pandit Goreh, had an interview with sions when Nilakanta Sastri, the Indian pandit him at Benares and took him to Europe as his and scholar, abandoned the Brahmanic reli- tutor in 1854. ,In England, the Goreh was allowed gion of his forefathers and accepted Jesus Christ. an audience with Queen Victoria along with the Nilakanta was born on February 8, 1825, in a Maharajah. He also attended theological lectures village near Jhansi. He belonged to a high class at Islington. This stay brought him into contact konkan family and his father, though born in with some of the great men of the Church of Eng- Poona, migrated early to the north. Soon after land and he had the privilege of meeting with Prof.
Nilakanta's birth the family moved on to Benares, Max Muller at Oxford.
the citadel of Hinduism. Here Goreh was brought For thirteen years Goreh worked as Headmas- up in the lap of luxury as an uncle became Dewan ter of a school under the Church Missionary So- of a State and he was given the best of education ciety., In 1861 he was ordained a Deacon and at that time. He studied Sanscrit under learned sent to start a mission at Mhow in Central India Shastris, specializing in the Vedas, the Nyaya and and later to Chanda in Central Provinces. At grammar. He had a strong prejudice against Cawnpore he came in touch with the Brahmo Christianity as he thought it a "religion fitted for leader, Keshub Chandra Sen, and in the course ignorant Mlechchas only." But Goreh began an of discussion discovered to his surprise that earnest study of the Bible to pick holes in it and Keshub had not read books on the evidences of strengthen his position as a st,aunch advocate of Christian faith. This interview made Goreh Hinduism. The Sermon on the Mount captivated take a special interest in Brahmo Movement and him and drew him near to Christ. His interest write pamphlets to win them over to the Christian steadily grew and contact with missionaries con- faith. He criticized Brahmo Movement as a com- vinced him that Christ's religion is the only satis- promise between Hinduism and Christianity.
fying faith. His father and uncle implored him In 1883 Goreh wrote his important work in not to desert them and their religion, but Nila- Marathi entitled, Is there any proof that Chris- kanta stood firm in his conviction. He challenged tianity is a divl~nely given religion? to meet cer- the pandits of Benares to debate the truth of the tain religious difficulty of Pandita Ramabai who Gospel of Christ. Though his deep affection for was not then a Christian. Later he published a his father made him hesitate to embrace Chris- series of his lectures entitled, Christianity not of tian religion, he finally was baptized on March man but of God. Among his many other publica- 14, 1848, by the Rev. Robert Hawes at Jaunpur tions, and one of the most useful to missionaries, and was given the Christian name of Nehemiah. was-The genuineness of the Holy Gospels. His It was not easy to bring his wife to the new health gradually failed and he passed on to his faith. After his baptism she was supposed to be Rest on October 29, 1895, at the age of 70. It widowed and was kept in privacy. Later, by great has been remarked of him, "The intensed devotion efforts, the husband and wife were brought to- and self-denial of the Brahman missionary, his gether though she remained Hindu for some time. genuine humility and modesty, as well as his pro- Finally, she saw the light revealed in Christ and found erudition, set off the eternal mode of his was baptized with their only daughter, Ellen life, his poverty, his emaciated look, his plain Lakshmi, shortly after joining the Goreh Church. mendicant-like attire-made him to be regarded Unfortunately the mother died soon, leaving the by the people generally, European and Indian, as orphan girl who was the father's pride and joy. a Sadhu, the beau ideal of a Christian missionary."
This daughter has immortalized her name through By his example, and the vigor and persistency her great hymn, "In the Secret of His Presence." of his advocacy of the Christian Gospel, he was She passed away recently at Cawnpore, after a able to convert several men who afterwards be- long period of distinguished service in the cause came his colleagues in the great task. Christian of Christ. evangelism to be truly effective and fruitful in Nehemiah Goreh was an excellent writer and our present day calls for Christian Indians of a used his profound knowledge in Sanscrit in trans- rare type like Nehemiah Goreh with intense de- lating some work to justify the ways of Christ to votion, deep conviction and self-denial.
his fellow-countrymen. Maharaj Duleep Singh, By T. D., in "The National Missionary himself a convert to the Christian faith, heard of Intelligencer."
[ 381 ]
Ways of
'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO The Place of Missionary Edu- ary interest and motivations that outlook. Circulation of the right sort cation in Church Enterprise will withstand winds of criticism of books will help. and droughts of spiritual aspira- Shall missionary education be tion. There is a lack of qualified teachers integrated into religious educa- of missionary education. Three things tion? "This," says Bulletin Dr. T. H. P. Sailer and a com- are needed by these teachers: Mis- No. 5 of the Professional Ad- mittee consisting of Leila Bag- sionary information, knowledge of visory Section on Missionary ley, Genevieve Brown, S. F. missions, and contagious missionary Education of the International Mack and J. L. Lobingier (chair- interest. A s'U!bje'ct like missions Council of Religious Education, man) have gathered together the needs not only the material that can "is a perennial subject." Among results of the discussion of the be found in the teacher's quarterly, the bulletins of this Section, topic at a meeting of the Profes- but a broad background. Few teachprevious issues of which dealing sional Advisory Section, in Chi- ers have this. Methods other than with specific, interdenomina- cago, and supplemented them those in Sunday school classes and tional methods have been re- with suitable new material for group meetings will be needed. . . . viewed in this Department, the the pamphlet. Here are a few present one is far and away the high lights indicative of the Without leaders of this type missionmost comprehensive and schol- motif, method, trend and sub- ary education will be integrated only arly and deserves careful study ject matter: in name but not in fact. The most on the part of pastors, Sunday ideal curriculum on paper will be deschool superintendents and de- The principal aim of education is vitalized if presented in a perfuncpartmental heads, as well as tory way. Therefore the first move leaders in men's and women's to expand our interests and help us should be to concentrate on securing organizations in the local church leaders and improving their quality. and denominational executive to see things in a broader perspective. boards. It goes deeper than any Has missionary education a real mere "ways of working"-down Missionary education should not seem contribution to make to work that is to the undergirding religious already being done in religious eduand educational principles which to be a competitor with issues that cation? Let us not seek to introduce render mere patterns secondary are more immediately important, but missionary applications, illustrations and relatively inconsequential in and talks because missions must be that the trained person can work an aid in broadening our vision so gotten in somehow, but because it out his own methods on any really enriches experience. Chrisgiven subject – whether it be that we shall see thin~s more as God tianity is essentially a world religion "Rural Missions" or "The Mos- sees them. The essential thing that . . . and is needed by the whole lem World." world. . . . The material should not missionary education contributes to be lugged in by the ears but help to The claims of this new Bul- add significance. . . . The five min-' letin to citation in a methods religious education is a sense of uni- utes a Sunday or 20 minutes a month department are valid in that talks to a whole department or school very fact and also that in its versality, with a knowledge of the should not seek merely to add variety latter portion it dips deeply into or furnish information, but to make specifics for every department needs of all mankind and a growing religious education more vital by supof church endeavor. It is a plying the elements that are needed large-sized, twenty -three – page participation in the meeting of those but too frequently omitted. pamphlet that will challenge the understanding of simple folk as needs. . . . Missionary education The new courses of study for the well as the most intellectual church school are inserting specifically workers who desire to dig more rests on the assumption that Chris- missionary lessons or short units. deeply and discriminatingly into tianity has something of supreme . . . The present arrangement offers the human soil of all age inter- a great opportunity. Well qualified ests in order to implant mission- value for all mankind, and that this teachers can arouse such interest in the subject that outside work will be will not be transmitted without spe- undertaken. This may lead to church schools of missions, independent dis- cial effort. It holds that Christianity cussion groups on missions, campaigns of missionary reading and special is a universal and not merely a na- projects. The only way to secure time is to make the subject so attractive tional or racial religion, that what- that people will give time.
ever efforts are worth making to pro- The best way to deal with such a situation (where the atmosphere of vide religious education for ourselves local churches is depressing to the missionary spirit) may be to trans- and our communities are equally de- plant individuals temporarily to other climates such as summer conferences sirable for other groups throughout where they mary catch the heOJ1Jenly the world. . . . Without the knowl- edge of Christ for personal guidance or social cooperation, their (the ma- jority of needy mankind) welfare be- comes a major concern of a Kingdom- centered curriculum. – The attitude of the pastor and other church leaders will be very important (in securing an adequate ideal of a basis for this new curriculum). The issue may be faced in meetings and discussion groups. Delegates may be sent to summer conferences and in- stitutions where they will get a larger [382 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
VtstOn. Where this is not possible it 3. Do I carry these brotherly Methods Briefs for Primary may be best to concentrate on a small, ideals into my daily rela- Teaching select group. Under these conditions tionships with people of the temperature may be raised as it other racial, national and Mexico: On table covered would not be for the staid majority. social groups? with serape or other colorful Manifestly, missionary education 4. Am I adding an intimate woven scarf, arrange pottery, will never be effectively integrated knowledge of a race or unless people will bestow brains and people to my intellectual plain or painted gourds, clay pains on the process. At the founda- assets each year? tion of the whole matter must be the hats used as pin trays, cans of effort to bring people to care deeply 5. Do I feel that other people string beans, Mexican pictures for the thorough integration of mis- have a contribution to cut from magazines, etc. Make sionary education. Churches which make to my life, or do I posters of cut-out pictures to iltry to operate machinery without suffi- feel that missions implies lustrate talks. Tell how the rovcient steam will surely be disap- a one-way relationship? ing vegetable pickers live in povpointed. erty and squalor, children- 6. Does my conception of home working hard like their elders- Then follow "Practical appli- missions inc 1u d e the do not even know the meaning cations of integration for church Christian solution of such of "home." Adapt stories from organizations"; some "Practical problems of our national "The Laughingest Lady," by questions for discussion" such life as social and economic Elinor Cowan Stone; "From as: the use of costumes, curios, justice, race relations and Every Tribe and Nation," by stunts, etc., for entertainment or the alcohol problem? Belle M. Brain (using the story, decorative purposes, employ- "Dona Carmen, a Living Episment of conventional methods, 7. Am I endeavoring to secure tle") and denominational leaflets outlining a year's programs for for missionary education on the subject. Have the chila women's association so as to its normal, integral place dren cut small adobe houses integrate their work into the in the worship, the in- from bogus paper and make a whole program, best plans for struction, the offerings Mexican village on sand table or linking up the Sunday school, and the activities of all in window, adding trees, a donetc. ; "factors essential to in- departments of the local key, chickens and children. Posttegration"; some practical cur- church life? ers may be made of children riculum suggestions as to form, feeding donkeys or chickens, material and methods; "Over- 8. Am I increasingly seeing picking beans or carrying hamhead counsel and cooperation"; and using opportunities pers of them, and donkeys bear- "Integration from the viewpoint for the disseminating of ing panniers loaded with beans. of the denominational program" ; missionary knowledge and Women may be making pottery. questions proposed to executive interest through the loan- Have offering taken up by darkboards of the Presbyterian, the ing of missionary books haired boy in white suit with Congregational and Christian, and magazines, the choice wide, bright sash tied over the United Lutheran and the of hymns at meetings shoulder and under arm, the Methodist Episcopal churches where I preside, the em- gifts being received in highare given with summaries of the phasis in my pub lie crowned beach hat with little replies; and a very concrete prayers, the collecting and balls on edge of wide brim. He specific section devoted to plans sharing of pictures, sto- may be assisted by girl with for children's, young people's ries, pageants, p I a y s, straight black hair, wearing red and adults' programs in mission- curios and costumes? or yellow dress and bright scarf ary education. This last is well tied over hair. Chicken sandworth the price of the pamphlet, 9. Have I read at least one wiches, small servings of string which is only 25 cents. Send book the past year in the beans with oil dressing, sliced orders to Miss Leila Bagley, 810 general field of missions? hard-cooked eggs or sman bowls Broadway, Nashville, Tenn. of chile con carne, both of the 10. If I work with children or latter served with crackers, may Measuring Myself-A Mission- young people have I read be used as refreshments. "Jesus ary Efficiency Test at least one book on mis- Loves Me" and "Jesus Loves the sions in my specific field? Little Children of the World" 1. Do I have thoroughly Chris- are appropriate songs. tian motives for my mis- 11. Am I sharing my resources sionary activities? Are with the missionary cause Indians: Give local color with they definitely based on in a systematic manner? pottery, baskets, beads, mocca- love for God and love for sins, tiny totem poles, etc., ar- man? 12. Have I made any actual con- ranged on table covered with tribution to the cause of Indian blanket, and with bright 2. Am I cherishing more broth- missions during the past posters made from cut-out pic- erly ide a I s concerning year other than my finan- tures. Feathered headdresses other peoples each year? cial contribution? may be made by the children Can I see the worth of the from craft paper or even com- individual regardless of -United Christian Mission- his race or culture? ary Society Leaflet.
mon brown wrapping paper, from "The World's Children for for Indian and South American Jesus." Refreshments of pop- studies (which were used in the ornamenting with feathers and corn balls or plain popcorn, United Study Course last year) drawings with colored crayons. candy in shape of pumpkins or may be had from denominational Large or small wigwams can be grains of corn. One may some- missionary literature headquarmade from the same paper. times find little candy turkeys. ters or the Missionary Education Color long strips of paper first Movement, 150 Fifth Ave., yellow, then orange, then brown South America: Keynote, a N. Y., at 75 cents each. "Stories (several children working on large map of country with inter- South of the Equator" will be same strip), making all strokes found very helpful. lacing letters, A, B, C, for Arin same direction. Soak paper gentina, Bra z i I and Chili, Groups not adhering to the mounted down front. Leader current United Study courses two or three minutes in water, may form their plans from such open carefully over bucket, drain points out location and tells suggestions as the foregoing; off water and crumple between something about each of three while workers using the new fingers as fine as possible. countries, then says she has a Spread flat on folded news- bag of gifts from South Amer- topics of "Rural America" and papers, coat with orange shellac, ica from which the children, "The Moslem World," noting the coming up one at a time, may principles involved, may be aided using large, flat bristle brushes select something. For this a in working out their presentawhich may be cleaned in alcohol, going-away bag has previously tions to little folks at the age the shellac being diluted with been paeked with a bone button, when eye-gate, ear-gate and a-lcohol if too thick. When dried bone-handled toothbrush, leather hand must be made teammates. coin purse, little red shoe, billthis paper looks and feels like fold, band from sewing machine, The suggestions are from skin and makes a fine wigwam. leather-covered boo k, jacket, Annye L. Allison's work among Large one very effective made chipped dried bee f, gelatin, juniors. over framework of poles, tied together at top and fastened to coffee, chocolate, cocoa, Chili The outlines raise the quesfloor. Fasten paper securely to pepper, mixed spices, orange, tions of the Church's responsipoles at bottom and lace together bility in relation to social condiwith raffia or twine, using large lemon, grapefruit, Brazil nuts, tions, to what extent such re- silver spoon, glass set in lieu of sponsibility can be formulated raffia needle not too sharp. Have a diamond, ostrich feather, into a universally applicable sys- monkey fur, rubber bands, children draw on 9'xI2' paper eraser, comb, phonograph rec- tem of Christian social prinfigures of Indians, wigwams, ciples, what our personal and shocks of corn, fish, pumpkins, ord, bright feathers, sea beans, group responsibility is, where toy snake and other appropriate we obtain our criteria and data deer, bears, turkeys, ponies and objects wrapped in tissue paper in arriving at judgments, and large Indian heads. They may to look like gifts. Have each how we can implement these string popcorn or macaroni principles in terms of social ac- gift opened, laid on table and tion. The programs are inbroken into small pieces, with explained. When bag is empty, tended primarily for the monthly disks of construction paper in meetings of the women's or- give talk on the country, discuss- ganization, but have additional lieu of beads, to be worn with ing the things it needs from us suggestions for their more exthe headdresses. They also en- – Bibles, religious literature, tensive use in general group joy making posters of wigwams churches, Sunday schools, hos- meetings. Pastors would find pitals, etc. English books not them heJpful for the midweek or cliff dwellings, trees, corn, church services. pottery, rugs, baskets, etc., these available because the language to be drawn, painted or done in is mostly Spanish. Names of *** paper-cutting. Let them bring missionaries may be given, prayer offered for their work "Prayer in the land of the fir such things as arrowheads, bas- and Bible verses found begin- tree and pine. kets, beads, shells, etc., from home. Indian nature writing ning with A, Band C. Prayer in the land of the fig always interests them and they tree and vine. like to learn the signs. Have The results of an imaginary dark-haired boy wearing head- trip to South America were vis- Prayer where the waves dash loudly and cold. dress and blanket collect offer- ualized by the writer in an iming in basket or jar. A box for provised moving picture – pic- Prayer where the lion stalks fearless and bold. some Indian mission may be tures pasted on strip of paper packed. If a victrola is avail- with explanatory cap t ion s, Prayer in cathedrals whose able, play such selections as names of missionaries written spires tower high. the "Love Call," "Marcellina," etc. Use selections from "Hia- and verses chosen for each Prayer in kirks and cabins watha," "Lady Yea r dIe y' s country, the ends of this long close by. strip being fastened to two Guest," "Joc's Coals of Fire" broomsticks turned by boys to Prayer where two are gathered (from "The Rules of the Game" show the entire reel. The leader to pray. by Lambertson), and various read all script aloud for the benstories of mission work among efit of the little folks unable to Everywhere, eve r y w her e, prayer today." Indians. Close devotional part read for themselves. Textbooks of meeting with Indian stanza The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK "I Was a Stranger" the curt 'Move on, you!' of the transient bureaus and camps in sheriff at the county line, or ac- operation-295 bureaus and 190 "For I was hungry, and ye tual arrest and sentence to the camps. With the reduction in gave me to eat; I was thirsty, workhouse or the chain gang, relief spending in 1934-1935 and ye gave me drink; I was a have been and still are the pen- came the order to the states "to stranger, and ye took me in; alties too frequently exacted close intake at the transient cennaked, and ye clothed me; I was from the victim of unguided mi- ters and camps and to liquidate sick, and ye visited me; I was in gration. Having no responsible the entire program as of Novemprison, and ye came unto me. agency to direct him to oppor- ber 1, 1935. Then shall the righteous answer tunity for personal employment, him, saying, Lord, when saw we he drifts or is shoved in this di- "During the 20 months of life thee hungry, and fed thee? or rection or that. ' of the transient program, state athirst, and gave thee drink? and local authorities had been And when saw we thee a "Not all those who move from completely absorbed in adminisstranger, and took thee in? or place to place are mentally or tering ERA, CWA, and various naked, and clothed thee? And physically competent to under- other related activities under when saw we thee sick, or in take to fend for themselves in a 'emergency' legislation. No prison, and came unto thee ?" new field. But men are not al- thought had been given to an Matthew 25: 35-40. ways at fault for having no adjustment of the old poor laws money saved on which to sup- to meet new conditions." "Move On, You!" * port themselves after months in the lumber camp, or on railroad "By March, 1936, many states "Traditionally the American construction, or following the had become thoroughly alive to people have regarded the stran- crops. Often enough the wages the fact that it was not enough ger who asked for alms as a for which they work are grossly to ask for federal funds with ne'er-do-well whose own fault it inadequate to meet their needs. which to meet the needs of tranwas that he found himself in Compelled as they are to take sient relief, but that there must such sorry straits. Let him help the only jobs they can get, there be a sharing of responsibility himself ! Was there not oppor- are times when they need help between national and state govtunityand success for every man from the society which tolerates ernments and that the states to take care of himself if he these conditions." must face the fact that their 'had it in him'? own laws of legal settlement The depression years of 1930 were, by their rigidity and lack "The man who takes to the and 1931 saw a tremendous in- of uniformity, creating some of road' today in quest of work crease in the numbers in those the very problems of which all carries with him, unaware, the illegally "riding the rods." Still states complained." ball and chain of the settlement more were "thumbing a ride." laws of Old England. If work is The budgets of private agencies Three interstate conferences not found and, need develops, he which had been aiding these have been held. suddenly finds himself in an transients were steadily declinalien community, unwelcome, ing and the numbers needing "In all these conferences the with no legal claim for aid, with help were steadily increasing. Committee on Care of Transient limited private charitable re- A National Committee on Care and Homelesst kept up a drumsources available to him, and of Transient and Homeless was fire on the objective of federal, with suspicion directed toward composed of individuals from state, and local responsibility in him as a dangerous character. national agencies concerned with this field, together with em- The hospitality of the police some phase of the problem of phasis on the basic remedies of station, the 'two meals and a transiency and homelessness. 'surer direction and guidance' flop' in a municipal lodging Through the efforts of this com- for men in search of employhouse or second-rate mission, mittee the Federal Transient ment. Unification of the laws Program was formulated. of legal settlement throughout • Excerpts from "After Five Years," pub- the United States was urged, as lished by the Committee on Care of Tran- By 1934, forty-four states and was the vesting of responsibility sient and Homeless, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New the District of Columbia had York, price 10 cents, t The Council of Women for Home Mis- [385 ] sions Is represented on this Committee. in the state governments to de- was a desire to express the spirit Kingdom of God under the captermine settlement. The federal of the Preaching Mission-unity tion, "Thy Kingdom Come." Dr. and state authorities were asked of effort for the Kingdom of Lyman said that to Jesus the to prov'ide the necessary funds God. Kingdom meant living the will with which to meet the relief of God and that His was one life needs of the unsettled person. The four organizations, The lived in harmony with God. An Council of Women for Home ideal was held before this great "Each of these conferences Missions, the Women's Commit- group of city women to leave the appointed a continuing commit- tee of the Foreign Missions Con- distracting small things and live tee charged with carrying out ference, the National Council of lives in harmony with God, decertain recommendations of the Federated Church Women and voted to the interests of His conference and with bringing the Women's Cooperating Com- Kingdom. What could not be the resolutions of the conference mission of the Federal Council accomplished by this challenge to the attention of the proper of Churches, combined to bring to seven hundred women put authorities. together the church women of into action? metropolitan New York. Nearly "The Council of State Govern- 700 sat down in fellowship. The second speaker of the day, ments, meeting in its Third Gen- While the greater number were Rev. Joseph R. Sizoo, D.D., lately eral Assembly in Washington in from metropolitan New York, come to New York from Wash- January, 1937, with representa- including cities and towns in ington, D. C., brought rich extion from 45 states, adopted a New Jersey, We s t c he s t e r periences from his contacts with series of resolutions favoring County, New York, and Long varying groups. All he found 'uniform and reciprocal state Island, there were guests from going back for satisfaction of laws to iron out some of the con- Poughkeepsie, New York; Stam- heart-hunger to the Christian flicts in the field of social se- ford and Norwalk, Connecticut; faith. Dr. Sizoo had as his topic curity.' It recommended a stand- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; "For Such a Day as This," and ard requirement of one year to Washington, D. C. ; the Bay pointed out how Christian womgain settlement; a provision for region and Southern California; anhood in such a time must meet retaining the old settlement un- Atlanta, Georgia, and Toronto, the heart-hunger of the world til a new settlement was ac- Canada. for the Gospel. He said we quired; relief and service dur- have got to develop a new kind ing any period of inquiry as to The luncheon was planned of heroism. settlement; authority vested in the state public welfare depart- under the chairmanship Of Mrs. Dr. Robert M. Searle, as secment to determine settlement; retary of the New York Federafunds available to the state for Augustus Trowbridge, who was tion of Churches, offered the inreimbursement of local commu- vocation, and the benediction nities for service rendered to also the charming presiding was pronounced by Rev. William transients; and approval of the officer. By her long-range plan- Adams Brown, D.D., Chairman 'Uniform Transfer of Depend- ning Mrs. Trowbridge was able of the Committee on Universal ents Act.' These resolutions, to bring to the luncheon group a Life and Work. bearing as they do the stamp of cable message from India from approval of the official delegates Dr. E. Stanley Jones as follows: In closing we quote from a from 45 states,constitute the "Personal gratitude your signifi- letter of Dr. Brown's received crystallization in government of cant move toward unity. Light after the luncheon, for it exa sense of social responsibility in that direction. Follow it." presses what so many feel: for the non-resident." Another cable message of bless- ing on the undertaking from I do not know when I have attended May Luncheon for Church Maude Royden and a third mes- a meeting which seemed to me more sage from across seas, from vibrant· with thrilling possibilities. Women Lady Astor, "All we who profess It was not merely the fact that the the Christian faith will unite large company assembled was an ir:.- On May 10 at the Hotel Bilt- when we understand and apply dication of the resources of far-reachmore, New York City, a really Jesus' message, 'Now are we the ing and intelligent service which the significant luncheon took place. Sons of God,' and follow His Church possesses in her consecrated There had been several May Day command." President Mary E. womanhood, but still more the fact luncheons sponsored by one Woolley was prevented by the that your meeting together, instead interdenominational organiza- one hundredth anniversary of of separately, was an indication of tion for the missionary women Mount Holyoke College from be- your recognition that whatever difof metropolitan New York but ing present. In her place at the ferentiation of function may prove this luncheon sponsored by the guest table was Mrs. William wise from the point of view of effecfour interdenominational or- Adams Brown. tive administration, the cause is at ganizations . t h r 0 ugh which heart one. Dr. Mary Ely Lyman, just rechurch women have been work- turned from receiving an hon- May this cause which is one ing, symbolized a new epoch. orary degree from Mount Hol- be served whole-heartedly by The thought back of this effort yoke, brought a strong message every woman who has taken the on what church women can con- name of Jesus Christ upon her, tribute toward bringing in the and may she give herself entirely to Him in "Such a Day as This."
EMMA JESSIE OGG.
~ Our World–wide
I A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO EUROPE the influence of a book by the restore the crucifixes to their original headmaster of a Jewish girls' places on the walls. The Bible in Spain secondary school whose study of anti-Semitism has led him to In his May Day speech Hitler In the latest report of the realize that the only solution to is reported to have declared: "I British and Foreign Bible So- the Jewish problem is to be will not tolerate that the German ciety, reference is made to the found in Christ. Two hundred people's authority shall be mentriumphs of the Bible in Spain Jewish families in Bucharest are aced from any quarter. . . . during the present conflict and prepared to become Christians, That holds good above all for distress. Although the civil war but the State church refuses to the churches." was raging in Spain for half the encourage the movement. . year with which the report As to the children of Chrisdeals, a circulation of 211,000 -Watchman-Examiner. tian people he said: volumes was achieved. The Bible Society's depot in Madrid Religious Education in Sweden We will take their children and was kept open during the siege will educate them to become new Gerand the Society's agent remained The Lutheran Church is the mans. We will not permit them to at his post. State Church in Sweden and in lapse into the old ways of thinking. all high schools and colleges re- We will take them when they are ten Evangelism in Belgium ligion is a required subject. It years old and bring them up in the includes Bible study, church spirit of the community until they are Within the past few months, history, comparative religion eighteen. They shall not escape us! the Belgian Gospel Mission, and missions. School work befounded by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph gins every day with a religious -New York Times. Norton, has opened seven new service lasting about fifteen mincenters, making a total of sixty- utes, with a view to training What of the Waldenses? six in which the Gospel is reg- pupils to do serious thinking on ularly preached. M. Vansteen- religious and ethical questions. This oldest evangelical church berghe, one of the directors of in the world, a church that has the Mission, was converted from Teachers of religion are re- withstood more than 30 organatheism in England during the quired to be members of the ized persecutions, today has 250 war, through the reading of the State Church. Great demands churches and missions in Italy. Bible while in a hospital. are made as to the teacher's per- Because of retrenchment in sonality; he must preach by his other churches, the Waldenses M. Vansteenberghe tells how character the same ideals that are carrying more responsibility one center was opened as typical he teaches. for Christian witnessing in Italy of all the others: A brushmaker, than ever before. Last year living near Ypres, heard the -The Christian Advocate. they provided over 88 per cent Gospel at a meeting last June, of the money spent upon their was converted, and straightway The Cross in German Schools Missions throughout Italy, their asked if a hall could be opened H 0 s pit a 1s, their Children's in his village. With his small An order to replace the cruci- Homes, their Homes for the life savings, he enlarged a brick fix in classrooms in Germany Aged, their College at Torre Pelshed attached to his house, so with pictures of Adolph Hitler lice and their Theological Semthat it is capable of seating forty has resulted in great excitement inary at Rome. Their congregapeople. On the opening day, and open resistance. The Liv- tions are larger than ever, and sixty crowded in, and others ing Church says: Italians in increasing numbers stood outside the door listening. are joining their churches. The unyielding attitude of Roman -Life of Faith. Catholic parents forced the authori- It is clear that an evangelical ties at Konnersreuth to restore the agency, such as the Waldensian Jews Turn to Christ crucifixes to the classrooms in that Church, is more needed in Italy city. Upward of 100 irate townsmen than ever before. The Barbican Mission to the marched to the home of the school Jews, London, reports that sev- superintendent and chanted in unison AFRICA eral hundred Jewish families in their demand for restitution of the Rumania are prepared to accept Christian symbols. The intervention 11 Duce and the Moslems Christ. This is largely due to of the police, with drawn revolvers, failed to intimidate the townspeople. A New York Times corre- The upshot of this demonstration was spondent in Egypt declares the an order from the local authorities to majority of Moslems are unal- [387 ]
terably opposed to Mussolini's Protestants Not Wanted Tea With Tracts claim to be "defender of the in Tripoli Moslem faith." Sheikh Musta- Dr. Burkitt of Nairobi in pha el Maraghi, rector of the The medical mission for Mos- Kenya Colony, Africa, is a dithousand-year-old Azhar Uni- lems and Jews in Tripoli has rector of a tea plantation and at versity in Cairo, and recognized been closed by Italian authori- the same time carries on Chrisas the ecclesiastical head of Mos- ties, and the missionary doctor tian work. He is promoting an lems throughout the world, says: was ordered to leave the terri- East Africa Colportage Society "Only a Moslem who believes in tory. For half a century the for the distribution of Scripture the religion of Mohammed and North Africa Mission has main- portions and evangelical booklets lives up to the laws of the Koran tained this healing and preach- among the blacks from many can be the defender or protector ing center, the only evangelical tribes who pass through on their of Islam. No other person, no witness in the whole of Libya. way to mines and plantations. matter of what race or religion Complying with Government re- They eagerly read anything they or nationality, can be our de- quirements, the purpose of the can get in their own dialects. fender." mission was described as: "Ex- Dr. Burkitt has an attractive plaining the way of salvation depot in Nairobi which he hopes Their religion forbids Moham- through the Lord Jesus Christ to duplicate in other centers of medans from being ruled by non- in obedience to His commands, East Africa. -So S. Times. Moslems, and those of that faith and also endeavoring to show the in the Near East are not at all love of God in our medical con- WESTERN ASIA interested in Mussolini's pro- sultations." nouncement. After Fifty Years A' government ordinance of Cairo's College for Girls Two reports from North Syria August 26 authorized the mis- prove that progress may appear The American College for sion to continue under three con- over a stretch of half a century, Girls at Cairo, administered by ditions: (a) No religious prop- which cannot be seen from year the American Mission in Egypt aganda. (b) Nurses to have to year. The first is that of for the United Presbyterian Italian diplomas. (c) Premises Rev. D. M. Wilson in regard to Church of North America, is the to conform to Hygiene Inspec- Tripoli, written in 1853; the lineal descendant of the first tor's regulations. The doctor other, written fifty years later girls' school in all Egypt. The was unaware of this Ordinance by Rev. F. W. March, who died cornerstone of the first building until it was read to him at the last year after 60 years in Syria. was laid February 25, 1908. The police station; after which, original college building fund charged with disregarding its "We mention schools not bewas raised through the personal terms, he was ordered to leave cause we have any, but to state efforts of its founder and first and the Mission was closed. the reason why we have none. president, Miss Ella O. Kyle, Near the close of the last year supported by a committee in -Moslem World. our school in Tripoli was broken Pittsburgh and individuals in up by the Greeks…. At none both Egypt and America. The Good News from Nigeria of the villages is there any proslargest single contribution was pect that a school would open the $30,000, a gift from Mr. John D. H. G. Farrant, field secretary way for a preaching station; and Rockefeller, Sr. It is the most of the Sudan United Mission, to sustain a school for the sake advanced Protestant missionary gives an encouraging account of of the influence of the school school for girls in North Africa, present conditions in northern alone, under any native teacher occupying a strategic position in Nigeria. Although a few years we can. employ, we regard as a a city that is the largest in the ago a missionary would be able waste of missionary funds. . . . continent, and that is, at the to give the names and histories Since last spring the Christians same time, the intellectual and of all the converts, today that have lived in constant fear of spiritual center of the Arabic- would be impossible. By far the their Moslem neighbors, indeed speaking Moslem world. greater number of converts of a large part of the Christian recent years have been won, not population fled in midsummer The student body numbers by Europeans, but by Africans. to the mountains where many of mor~ than 400; courses include It is the aim of the Mission to them still remain. . . . If asked the whole gamut of a girl's edu- "blacken" the work as much as whether there be signs of a cation, from the Beginners' De- possible. Thirty men with their brighter dawn our answer would partment through the equivalent wives and families are being be very unsatisfactory." of an American Junior College trained at Gindiri for evangeliscourse. Among graduates are tic work. Two centers in the "The Tripoli field has eight found doctors, nurses, lawyers, heart of one Moslem district, organized churches, most of musicians, teachers, office work- which had not been available for which include groups of villages, ers, an artist of note, Egypt's missionary effort during thirty so that the eight churches take sole aviatrix, and a host of effi- years, are now occupied. The in all the church members of the cient wives and mothers. opening of a new leper colony at whole field. Each church has a Maiduguri means the possibility native preacher. There are 23 of reaching 1,000,000 people. outstations including 25 schools -The Christian.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
which are visited regularly. In suggested that since the mission- threw herself on the body of her the eight churches are 767 mem- aries had discovered the source dead husband prepared for crebers. . . . During the year, 31 of disease, doubtless they would mation. God knows what else persons have been received on provide a new and safe fountain. she did in the name of Christ the profession of faith. The eight "Unfortunately," said the mis- Great Physician." churches working together as a sionary, "our mission has no Presbytery have established a money for such projects, nor Physical Training for Women Home Mission work; a commit- have we as individuals." tee composed wholly of Syrians The Physical Education Colhaving been appointed to receive Finally it was agreed that if lege for Women in Bengal is an and disburse funds and direct the missionary could provide the experiment financed in Canada. the work. They have raised cement for a sealed fountain, the It has made a beginning with 9,000 ps." headman would provide the 16 pupils, Europeans and In- labor. Now the 2,000 people of dians, from various parts of In- -Syria News Quarterly. the Moslem village get clean dia, women of good educational water and the Christians are standing who think it worth American Mission Press welcomed as friends. while spending time and money to obtain this extra qualification. The year 1934 marked the -Monday Morning. Even for girls, education is no centenary of the American Mis- longer confined to books; they sion Press in Beirut, Syria. The INDIA AND SIAM are the healthier and happier Press was founded in 1822 on for the change. Calcutta has the Island of Malta for service Seeing Below the Surface had a physical education college in the Near East, but it was not for men for a few years, and its until 1834 that it was actually "World travelers who visit influence is already felt throughmoved to Beirut, where it has port cities, stay in good hotels out the province. The girls' colnow completed over one hundred and follow guides may have an lege will soon be as well known. years of missionary publication interesting time, but they learn and printing for Arabic-speak- little of human suffering and its A recent demonstration of the ing lands. Its literature now amelioration," writes a corre- College was largely attended by goes to some twenty-five differ- spondent of the Christian Evan- prominent people of Calcutta. ent countries. gelist. -Indian Witness. Many missionaries and in- "My saddest experience has digenous workers have aided in been to note the look of fear, as New Methods in Rural Work various ways. A zealous young well as suffering, in the faces of Swiss has recently printed at the teeming thousands-a look born Evangelistic work in rural Press a useful leaflet, "How to of ignorance, disease and under- areas seems to be taking a new Read the Bible." Dr. N. Nucho, nourished bodies; a ghastly look turn, and promises well for Director of Hamlin Memorial of futility because there is no building up the Church. In gen- Sanatorium, has distributed in physician, no hospital, nurse or eral, the emphasis is: the past several years thousands medicine; and worse yet, no of copies of a tract on "Tuber- courage that comes from the (1) Seek to concentrate evangelistic culosis and Its Prevention," Spirit of Christ. In most orien- effort in villages and seek to build largely at his own expense. tal countries, as well as in Cen- up the old Christian communities; tral Africa, there is probably no (2) oDtain a mediating leadership; -Syria News Quarterly. more than one trained physician (3) make a decisive and deep im- to every 200,000 people. pression on chaudhri leaders by liv- Disturbing the Village ing with them; (4) aim to make them "A few years ago I spent sev- the firebrands that will set the villages When a missionary came to a eral hours with a medical mis- aflame, and (5) get them to take re- Moslem village in Syria, it did sionary in India. This delicate sponsibility for follow-up work. not take his trained-nurse wife woman gave herself and her long to tell him that much of the service to people in their filth, It is a new experience for old disease rampant in the town was ignorance and abysmal super- converts from the sweeper class due to the public fountain, where stition and suffering, packed in to live in the same tents with the women dipped hands and poverty like rabbits in a warren. city folks, and "break caste" by jars to draw the family water She dressed wounds many times eating with them. It is also a supply. after having taken out the mag- new experience for them to work gots. She cleansed the fly larvae to schedule and obey the call of "It is the will of Allah that from the festering eyes of little the bell, and in the evenings to there should be sickness," said children and bound them with get the exer_cise afforded by the village headman when it was healing lotions. She gave con- games of football. urged that he take steps to rem- solation and sedative to a dying edy this condition. "You stran- man who had hold of the tail of -Indian Witness. gers are disturbing our village. the sacred cow which had been Please go away and do not come brought into the house to help Andhra Christian College back." in his dying moments. She com- forted a wailing widow as she The United Lutheran Church On second thought he shrewdly of America and the Church Mis- sionary Society of Great Britain have worked out a plan of coop-
eration in Andhra Christian Fruit of Leper Work and shot them. Their bodies College. The first C. M. S. pro- were dumped in a lime-filled fessor will join the staff on Dr. and Mrs. J. W. McKean, trench, and the village was looted July 1. Lutherans will provide now living in retirement at and burned. A smaller group a dormitory for C. M. S. stu- Claremont, California, were mis- was slain near Canton, and Candents. sionaries in Siam for thirty ton authorities are also said to years, establishing the first or- be engaged in making a round- It is hoped that the American ganized work for lepers in that up of all lepers. Lutheran Church Mission, the kingdom. About 2,000 lepers American Baptist Mission, the have since entered the asylum at Military authorities had long English Methodist Mission, the Chiengmai. There are 450 there threatened to end the little Canadian Baptist Mission and now and nearly all have become Happy Valley colony in their efthe American Methodist Epis- active, praying Christians, mak- forts to wipe out the disease. copal Mission will also coop- ing regular contributions to the work out of their very limited Mission to Chinese Buddhists erate. allowance for food money. The Christian Mission to Bud- Women Elders in Siam A recent letter from Chieng- dhists is now fifteen years old. mai Leper Asylum includes this Its first headquarters were in The Leper Asylum, Chieng- statement: "Mr. Pia begs to Nanking, but in 1926 the center mai, Siam, has the distinction of hand to Dr. McKean two ticals was moved to Shatin, near Honghaving the first women elders in and to Mrs. McKean two ticals kong. The influence of this work the Presbyterian Church. Nang to be used in God's work." (A extends to every large monastery La and .Nang Kan Gao were tical is worth about 50 cents.) in China and even reaches elected to eldership in April, Japan, Malaya and Formosa. 1925. At that time Siam formed -Monday Morning. Since the beginning of the mistwo presbyteries of the synod of sion over eighty Buddhist and New York. These two saintly CHINA Taoist monks of "lay-devotees" old women went about the duties have been baptized as Christians of their high office with a hu- "The Bread of Life" and some have become pastors mility and joy touching to be- of churches. In addition, there hold. A cracker manufacturer of are several thousand "Tao Yu" Hongkong encloses in each tin -interested men and women. There had been good reason of his wares, shipped throughout for their election. Many leper China and the Netherlands In- Until recently this work has women were so crippled they dies, a small paper on which is been supported by funds from could not come to the chapel, and printed in four languages- Norway, Sweden and Denmark, missed the comfort of the weekly Chinese, Javanese, Malay and but it is expected that the Anservice. These women therefore English-the text, "Jesus said, glican Church will help next asked that two of their number I am the Bread of Life." year. The plan is to form a be made elders to comfort, teach brotherhood of converted Budand administer sacrament to When a representative of the dhist monks, already accustomed helpless shut-ins. The two most British and Foreign Bible So- to celibacy, who will live together loved were Nang La and Nang ciety called on this man recently and be available for special evan- Kan Gao. Nang La had been a he showed him a drawer full of gelistic· work among educated wretched beggar. Her near letters which he had received, Buddhist lay folk in the cities, relatives did not care for her asking for more information and among the hills of Yunnan. and at the progressive signs of about this Jesus, "the Bread of leprosy drove her away from Life." In reply, he always sends .-Chinese Recorder. her home. Her only recourse a copy of St. John's Gospel, with was holding out her twisted a personal testimony to its in- Results from Small Efforts hands for alms. Then she found fluence on his own life. Christ and began to "serve the During her stay in China, Lord with gladness." -Alliance Weekly. Muriel Lester says the most re- markable piece of work she saw Nang Kan Gao lived in He~then 'Cruelty was the transformation of a vil- Chiengmai where her husband lage in twelve months. Two was an elder in the church and Presbyterian missionaries re- missionaries lived so close to the she herself was a great Bible port the execution of 80 mem- Chinese in fellowship and so student and ardent Christian. bers of a leper colony in Yeung- close to our Lord in spirit, that Her husband died and Nang kong, Kwangtung Pro v inc e, by using only their spare time· Kan Gao carried on alone. China, by civil and military au-_ and spending almost no money When it was discovered that she thorities. These lepers lived in they were able to evoke from the had leprosy, still in its early a little cluster of huts known as peasants of a neighboring village stage, she immediately started Happy Valley, and existed by sufficient confidence, communal on foot to Chiengmai. Because their own efforts, aided by the ambition and initiative to set up the disease was caught in its missionaries. A lone survivor three schools, a library and early stage, it was arrested. told of hiding in a sewer of the reading room, a daily clinic, a village while soldiers bound his -Siam Outlook. associates, carried them to a hill
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
public exhibition of agricultural Better Conditions for Women "I told her that the baby produce in which five or six other villages cooperated, and a A Woman's Life Improvement seemed well and strong, a finegroup of voluntary actors, stilt Association is being sponsored looking little fellow-I thought walkers, conjurors, to enliven by the Kiangsi provincial gov- she was doing a good job. She the long days of the New Year ernment. For six months the holiday. Association will investigate the said no, he was spoiled. She living conditions of women in couldn't feed him properly, she A leading medical man had Kiangsi. Then plans will be couldn't train him properlybeen helping the peasants near the grandparents wouldn't allow his hospital set up a credit and worked out for the promotion of it. Every time she tried to cormarketing cooperative. Amazed the welfare of women. From rect him, they interfered and at the resourcefulness and re- July, 1937, to June, 1942, is to scolded her! I tried to sympaliability that was forthcoming be the period of enforcement. thize with her, but I told her it In the first year a home econom- was her job, and a tough one. he summed up his whole ex- If only there were any hopes of perience of China: ics' school will be established. training the grandparents !" The second year will see the ex- "There is no country like it. tension of the program to ten JAPAN-CHOSEN Here one gets such big results more districts: the third year to 20 more districts; the fourth from such small efforts." year to 25 more districts; and Intensive Rural Campaign -The Christian Advocate. the fifth year to 27 more dis- In experimenting with ways Mui Tsai Slavery tricts, thus finally covering the and means to carryon its cam- whole province. Special stress paign for "100,000 new men and boys for Christ in ten years," For some years the British will be laid on needs of farming the Brotherhood of St. Andrew Government has been trying to and working women. Physical is giving a full half of its energy education, civic training, indus- this year to stirring up activity end the practice called Mui Tsai, trial and farming production, whereby young girls are sold useful social activities and set- in rural evangelism. An Insti- ting up of good habits will all tute for training rural workers into service – to work for the receive attention. will be held in Tokyo, August purchasing household without pay and without the right to -China Critic. 16-21, when a well-planned, leave. Yet in spite of legal en- practical demonstration course actments, ways and means have How Would You Answer This? will be conducted by rural workbeen found to continue the prac- ers in such problems as evantice, which cannot be considered What is the proper way to de- gelism, woman's work, young anything but a mild form of cline taking a baby to bring up? slavery. The recent findings of This is what a missionary in men's work, church school meththe Royal Commission appointed Hainan would like to know, and ods, and health and occupational to investigate this matter make here is why. schemes. Only three rural work- ers, lay or clerical, from each of clear such a conclusion to any A young Christian mother the ten dioceses, will be invited has been much interested in the to participate in the first instiimpartial investigator. feeding and care of her baby, and came to the Mission at in- tute. The Onabake Mission was The Manchester Guardian gets tervals with questions. She had chosen as being best suited for to the heart of the problem when asked for a book on "Care and demonstration purposes, being it says: Training of Children." Let the missionary finish the story: located five miles from the rail- If it were possible to discover what way station, in the midst of a girls are Mui Tsai, the present legis- "She was the fi'rst mother I countryside completely population in Hongkong and Malaya, properly enforced, would be sufficient to lated by small farmers. This abolish the practice. The difficulty, had known to intimate that she little mission was made possible as the Commission and all other in- was not fully qualified to bring through a gift of $1,000 secured vestigators have realized, is that the up any number of children. But by Bishop Dallas, following his possessors of a Mui Tsai naturally claim that the child is something else I had not seen her for several visit to Japan last year.
-an illegitimate daughter, a child left weeks, when she came up one -The Living Church. in their care by relations, or, gen- Sunday after church. When I erally, "an adopted daughter-in-law" went downstairs to greet her, More Japanese Deities -that is, a girl child adopted until she said, 'I've brought my baby she is old enough to marry a son of to hand over to you, so you can To Japan's national pantheon, the house. The only practical meas- bring him up properly,' and she which is said to include "eighty ure that has ever been suggested to myriads of gods," 1,148 new stop this is to register. all adopted pushed him into my hands, con- deities were added in solemn daughters-in-law and, if necessary, all tinuing, 'I don't know how. I ceremonies last April. They children transferred from their par- want you to teach him and feed were soldiers of the empire who ents' care. The Governments in Hong- him and train him-it wouldn't had died during the past year. kong and Malaya have always resisted be hard for you. It's hard for this on the ground that such measures me. I'm not equal to it. Oh, The ceremonies in form and would logically lead to the registration and supervision of every girl in meaning have no Occidental the colony. I'll pay you,' she added.
counterparts. The rites were Even before the tent meetings ISLANDS OF THE PAOIFIO carried out in darkness. Against the local congregation had felt the black background of the the old church building inade- Demon Possession in shrine the white-robed Shinto quate, and had taken up a sub- South Seas priests and military officers who scription, at great sacrifice, of assisted made striking, ghost- one hundred yen. A wealthy A missionary in the South Sea like figures. Three thousand Christian woman in Taiku Evangelical Mission, working in members of the families of the who had grown up in that village the Solomon Islands, thinks that dead and the highest officers of gave another hundred. Follow- those who scoff at the reality of the army and navy were present. ing the Sunday service all joined Satan and demons, would revise in a parade. "A couple of hun- their theology if they could be First, the chief priest of the dred strong we marched a half in a heathen village for a few shrine invited the spirits of the mile to the river-bed," writes days. He tells of a notorious departed to enter the sanctuary. Mr. Adams, "We each, men, old witch doctor whose mind was Rites were held to felicitate the women and children picked up a incapable of grasping spiritual new deities on their elevation. stone according to our strength. ideas. When he was convicted In solemn procession, with a mil- We marched back to town, while of sin and he accepted Christ his itary band playing a funeral an- non-Christians lined the streets mind cleared, and his joy was them, a small portable shrine, to see the strange parade. We unbounded. But Satan did not conceived to contain the spirits deposited the stones in the easily release him. Next day a of the new deities, was carried church courtyard, and then held man hurried to the mission, crythrough the courtyard to the a brief service dedicating these ing: main temple. All lanterns and first offerings to the future place other lights were extinguished of worship to the one and only "Come quick! Old Mae-hui during its passage. When the true God and His Son. It was shake-shake too much; old fell a ark was placed in its proper a witness of solidarity among devil come back." niche the shrine lights were relit Christians." and offerings of fruit, vegetables The old man was found graspand wine were placed before the Stages of Growth in Korea ing the rafters of his low dwellnew spirits. ing, shaking the building with The figures tracing Presby- great power, and crying out in Those deified in the recent terian Church growth in Korea an unearthly way. Prayer was ceremony brought the total so since 1900 are significant. The offered and soon Mae-hui called worshipped to 130,967. first decade of this century saw out, "Lord Jesus, save me from a growth of 1,1000/0 in adher- this devil's power." Immediately -New York Times. ents, but in the second decade he fell exhausted to the floor and slept heavily for a few hours. A Witness of Solidarity the increase was only 3 %. Dur- He soon recovered and has gone on since a happy Christian. Edward Adams writes from ing the third, the figure advanced Taiku, Korea, of results that fol- to 26%, while in the six years of NORTH AMERIOA lowed a week of tent meetings this fourth decade there has ten miles from Taiku, where a been the almost unbelievable in- Oommission on Unity church had been established ten crease of 75.5%. years ago, but they were ten Largely as an outgrowth of years of struggle for bare exist- Baptized membership has not the National Preaching Mission, ence. A little farther into the kept pace with this. While it a new "Commission for the mountains are two more groups was 1,000% between 1900 and Study of Christian Unity" will -about three miles apart-very 1910, the next decade shows carryon. "a continuous educamuch in the same condition. Too 76%, the third 33%, and the six tional program," both as to the far from the main currents of "conditions that create the de- Christian activities, and with the years of the fourth 24 %. There mand for a greater unity" and strong and overwhelming back- as to the various proposals by ward pull of a hostile society, it were no native pastors in 1900; which unity may be achieved. has been a discouraging strug- there were 40 in 1920; then an The educational program would gle. A native pastor, four lay increase of 3500/0 in 1920, of strive to produce attitudes favorworkers, two women and two 127% in 1930 and 29% in 1936. able to an advance in unity, and men made up the Gospel team. readiness to give open-minded For three days the tent was filled These figures reflect the great consideration to whatever plans (500-800 people) morning, noon revival that followed loss of in- seem most promising. and night. Workers took turns dependence; the period of conin addressing the multitudes solidation that followed, a period Some of the conditions behind· with time out only at meals. By that has now passed and the the demand for greater unity Sunday night 140 decided to ac- Church seems to be entering an– are: cept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. other forward movement. Mis- Two evangelists ~tayed to do fol- sionary work in Korea began in Overchurching in local areas. low-up work, and the next week 1884; Christians now number Inefficient use of resources. 20 more decisions were made. 520,000. Since the total popula- The meaninglessness of our divisions tion is 20,500,000, each Chris- tian must win 40 others! when transplanted to the mission fields, where new churches are -Christianity Today. being created.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The lack of moral authority in a British Army by a man named been studied very little, if at all. Church which appeals for unity Jackson at the time of the Amer- The results of their research is in the world at large, when it ican Revolution. Today one can then compiled, and used by gov- find albinos, mulattoes, as well ernment agencies, universities, has such insufficient unity within itself.
Progress in Kentucky's as combinations of these, and Bible translation societies and negroid and Indian features. scientific research societies. Mountains Little was done concerning This offers opportunity for their physical, mental or spir- Rapid changes are being made itual needs until the Episcopal service and discovery seldom in the Kentucky mountain com- Church began work there sev- surpassed in the realm of scienmunities. Many county seats eral years ago. Two years ago, are connected by good roads; tific research, as there are hunrivers once crossed only by fords Rev. Albert Chillson took hold dreds of extremely interesting have been bridged. Many good of the work. He found malnu- languages about which very schools have been erected. trition was widespread, high mortality among children and little is known, and long-sought 'rhe College at Berea operates destitution in general. Mr. Chill- secrets about the relationships a "book car." One who travels son gained their confidence by of people and streams of migrain it writes: tion. The Institute's headquar- repeated visits, and when he ters are at 506 Commonwealth During my almost six years of trav- proposed a religious service in Building, Philadelphia, Pa.
eling I have seen six new school build- the near-by schoolhouse on Sun- The Mormon Program ings replace old ones. In three in- day afternoons they responded of Today stances a two-room building has taken amazingly, both in numbers and the place of a one-room school. With It is well to know just what the new buildings, conditions have im- in their participation in the serv- the Mormons are up to in these proved. The better light and freshly ices. So far, only a beginning United States: painted walls seem conducive to clean- has been made. liness. In one school a small kitchen 1. Nearly 2,000 emissaries at work, has oeen equipped for serving hot -The Living Church. without salary. lunches.
Transportation of pupils to Saving the "Shreds" 2. Using deceptive radio talks mis- leading many.
county high schools is becoming Said Horace Mann in a lecture 3. Using millions of copies of perimore common. For the Cumber- on education: "The ash e s, odicals and tracts, all craftily written land National Forest the govern- to lead people to believe things utterly shreds and wrecks of everything contrary to the Bible. ment has already purchased are of some value." A California 300,000 acres, and plans even- reformatory is acting on this 4. Having a great building era; theory, and results are in sharp while it has already seven so-called tually to buy a total of 1,338,000 "temples" costing an average of acres, in seventeen counties of contrast to most misnamed "re- Kentucky. formatories" from which youtps $770,000, it is building soon a $525,000 plant in Los Angeles, another in Idaho, a new meeting-house in Chi- There are still very many commonly come out worse than cago costing half a million, besides its regions in which "the roads run when they entered. two $100,000 ones there; has another planned in Philadelphia; owns Manup the creeks, and the creeks run At the Preston School of In- hattan Congregational Church, New down the roads," many regions dustry, as this institution is York.
in which one must abandon all called, the boys are "cadets" in- 5. Has doubled its numbers twice thought of a car, and travel on stead of "inmates." Its cluster and one-third since the census of 1890 mule back or in jolt wagon to of buildings, with campus and and teaches that it is to rule the one's destination at some settle- world. ment or schoolhouse. athletic field, resembles a pleas- ant little college. Bars and 6. Has nearly all its Senior high- WILLIAM J. HUTCHINS. school students in its "Theological armed guards are only for a few Seminaries" one hour daily. "Jackson Whites" in sullen and vicious ones. The 7. Has millions of yearly income, rest have classes and military from tithing and large secular busi- ness interests, with which to do all New Jersey drills, learn trades, and are made this. 8. Has enough control over its peo- An isolated, backward group to feel that society is not against known as "Jackson Whites," liv- them, but on their side to aid ple to keep its proselyting force filled; ing in New Jersey, a few miles them to b e com e physically~ every young man expected to serve from the most heavily populated morally and mentally fit for use- two years or more. section of the United States, pre- ful citizenship. sent an ethnological puzzle. To -Light on Mormonism. -Evangelical-Messenger. Economic Freedom for Indians the original Indian settlers were Linguistic Research Hundreds of Navajo Indians added at least two other strains; met early in April in the Navajo Hessian deserters who in fleeing Each summer there is held an capital, Window Rock, Arizona, from their British masters had Institute of Linguistics, for the to draw up a new constitution.
settled in the hills and a part of purpose of training practical They desire a Legislature instead the 3,500 women, some white, linguistic investigators, and to of the old Tribal Council, which some black, imported under con- locate them among indigenous is claimed not to be representa- tract as camp-followers for the tribes whose languages have tive of all the people. Some of
the delegates were draped in torial officials, as well as mis- Fellowship will take part. The blankets, and some, college edu- sionaries, are deeply concerned campaign, lasting five or six cated, appeared as business men. over the situation. years, is designed to reach the All discussions were in the The Alaskan Native Brother- entire population of 16,000,000, Navajo tongue. hood, a Christian organization, which includes 3,000,000 of non- Seventy years ago this tribe has appealed to the missionaries Spanish – speaking Indians. A numbered 8,000; today there are for help in applying such restric- large circulation of the Scrip- 50,000 members. Their reser- tions to the traffic in intoxicants tures will be a feature of this vation includes 16,000 acres in as would afford the native people great effort.
Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. some measure of protection, and -Christianity Today.
Their land is rich in coal and save them from the moral de- oil. They own a million sheep, struction with which they are In the West Indies threatened. Victories over tempand their blanket business is ap- tation are being won by Alaskan The Presbyteries of Puerto proaching a million dollar indus- Rico and Cuba have been contry. Their constitution will be church members, who are sub- ducting evangelistic campaigns j ected almost daily to the sever- far more extensive than ever besubmitted to the "white fathers" est tests of the genuineness of fore. It is estimated that about at Washington. their Christian profession. 2,000 new members will be re- -Alliance Weekly.
Canadians Plan Federation Point Barrow Hospital Burns ceived as a result. These mem- bers have been trained for the Plans for a Canadian Federa- The hospital at Bar row, most part in the Sabbath schools. tion of Churches, fashioned Alaska, erected in 1921 by the The campaign has been carried somewhat after the Federal Presbyterian Board of National Council of Churches in the Missions, has been totally de- on by the pastors after weeks of United States, have been sent to stroyed by fire. The patients preparation. the heads of the Anglican, Bap- were removed safely, but meditist, Presbyterian and United cines and surgical equipment The Presbytery of Cuba or- Churches, the Salvation Army were destroyed. The loss is cov- dained two new ministers this and the Disciples. This proposed ered by insurance. Until July 1, year. They were members of federation would provide for 1936, when the operation of this the Sabbath school years ago, "the setting up of some coordi- hospital was transferred to the received their training from the nating council, so that in mat- Office of Indian Affairs of the ters of common interest we may U. S. Government, it provided mission schools of Cuba, and have the means of expressing the only health service available their seminary training in the ourselves, through one voice, to some 2,000 Eskimos. which could speak for the Prot- Evangelical Seminary in Puerto estant Church of our country." Emergency quarters h a v e Rico. One of them has estab- been fitted up, and medical sup- It is hoped thus to formulate plies and surgical equipment lished a church in what was fora united front of all Protestant have been shipped by dog team merly a garage, the only buildbodies on social questions, such from the Kotzebue Hospital. ing available when he was comas war and temperance, and for Mrs. Fred S. Klerekoper, wife pelled to move from a rented national evangelical work. of the missionary at Barrow, building, because of the annoy- who is a fully trained, registered -Advance. ance of a public cafe. The gar- age has been transformed into a nurse, will respond to emergency very attractive church audi- calls. Encouraging reports. have torium. The young minister and been received from the Klere- kopers regarding the progress his wife represent the new gen- Liquor Evils in Alaska of church work in the Barrow eration of Cubans, well prepared area. With characteristic devo- intellectllalIy, thoroughly identi- "The repeal of the Prohibition tion, the congregation continues fied with their own people, and Amendment was a major calam- definitely committed to the ideals ity for Alaska," says Dr. John of the Kingdom of Christ. M. Somerndike, Secretary for Alaska under the Presbyterian -The Presbyterian.
Board. "Ketchikan, for example, to carry forward the local pro- New Deal in Dominican with a population of less than gram of community worship and Republic 4,000, has 65 saloons where service. -Monday Morning. liquor is dispensed. Similar conditions prevail in every Alaskan LATIN AMERICA Long before the present gov- ernment used the term "New town and city. It is claimed that Evangelism in Mexico nearly two-thirds of the ship- Deal" it was a reality in the ments of Alaska steamship lines A cooperative effort in wideconsist of liquor. Its devastat- spread evangelism is being ar- Dominican mission field, and sixing effects are seen especially ranged, in which, among others, teen years of united action on among the native population. the National Bible Society of the part of United Brethren, Methodist and Presbyterian forces have proved its value. Immorality and every form of Scotland, the Scripture Gift Mis- Operating under four departvice follow in the wake of this sion, the Evangelical Churches ments – evangelistic, medical, evil. Government and terri- and the Latin America Prayer educational and social, the Board
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
for Christian Work in Santo Do- Need for Nationals in its annual feast and bull-fight. mingo has moved forward in a The constant noise and din of unified program w h i c h has The general situation in Cen- the drunken band all night long reached every stratum of Do- tral America directs attention to made sleep well-nigh impossible. minican life, and has become a the need for national Christian With the governor's permission vital factor for improvement. workers. Efforts are being made I was able to preach in the pub- There has been a substantial in- to send Christian workers into lic plaza as well as sell books, crease in the number of evan- several new Departments in before the bull-fight began. We gelicals. English Wesleyans are Guatemala, EI Salvador, Nic- had a good congregation and the now incorporated in this union aragua and Honduras. Foreign people were quite keen to listen church, and this year there was missionaries will take part in the to our message. held in Samafia the centennial advance, but the importance of celebration of the founding of the Bible Institutes at Pana- "The governor is a slave to the Wesleyan Methodist Church jachel for Indians, and that at drink. His wife asked if we had in that district among the Eng- Guatemala City and at San Jose a cure for this curse, and turnlish-speaking colored people, who in Costa Rica for Spanish-speak- ing to the two boys with me, I had migrated there from Penn- ing students, is increasingly ap- said, 'Senora, there are two of sylvania, New Jersey and the parent. Moreover, travel be- them. Ask them,' and Matias Carolinas in 1824. In 1837, tween the republics becomes Arela warmed my heart with his England sent a pastor who more difficult by the application splendid testimony. He was a founded a church with 60 char- of measures chiefly designed to known drunkard, but is now a ter members. The oldest mem- exclude foreign competitive im- free man through Christ. ber is 96 years old. Hanging on migration. News from Costa Rica the wall of her home is this indicates that the Government is "A seven hours' horseback motto, painted by her husband: taking drastic measures to limit journey took us to Copapata, "Childron United you stand de- the number of incoming mission- and here we saw the nucleus for vied you faull. Childron when aries; and the Minister of For- a growing work. We visited this you see remember me-E. eign Relations of Colombia has other small towns and made con- Anderson." Thus the idea of also announced that no more tacts with some who are really unity is foretold. -Advance. missionaries are wanted in Co- keen to know the way of salva- lombia. His veto is particularly tion. I always think of the town Woman's World severe against any further in- of Santa Rosa as the place where crease of single women workers. Satan's seat is. The ]ileople are The Presbyterian Board re- exceedingly bitter against us ports great progress in the West -World Dominion Press. and are very fanatical Catholics. Indies during the last few years In 1931 we held meetings there, in the organization of women's Belated Eft'orts in Guatemala but owing to continued persecu- tion the Indians stopped roming. societies in the churches. There Roman Catholics are making However, on this visit we had are now 18 church societies in every effort to regain lost ground the joy of baptizing five from Cuba, with 491 members, re- in Guatemala. Their efforts are the town itself, who professed porting more than 700 meetings commendable in many ways: a faith in Christ as Saviour. So during the past year. On their better type of clergymen; more keen were they that we hold a own initiative they have con- active rural work; better educa- convention there, that we did so. ducted seven Sunday schools and tion for children; certain im- Some fanatical women turned distributed 7,000 pieces of litera- provements in the quality of up, hoping to disturb the meetture. Each society has estab- their press; and even a strong ing; but we sang hymns until lished a "wardrobe," collecting party within the church, work- they went off in disgust. They and distributing used clothing to ing to purify the church, or at repeated the experiment the folthe community. Miss Edith M. least to remove the objections lowing day, but a terrible hail- Houston, worker at large, re- that laid it open to'complaint and storm drenched them and they ports that while visiting in the favored the advance of the made a hasty retreat. Not once home of one of the members of Evangelicals. Meanwhile, the were we disturbed again. Later, the societies, she found the evangelical cause continues to a son of one of these fanatical woman of the house examining grow by leaps and bounds. women who had attended the her coat and murmuring, "It meetings for the first time exwould make three little pairs of -Guatemala News. pressed the desire to know the pants." She lost no time in res- Lord. cuing her coat from the modern In Southern Peru Dorcas. Afro-Cuban Cult Alex. Jardine, writing for The Many of the societies have Neglected Continent, tells of a According to the Literary Diprayer groups, meeting once a new Christian group at Macu- gest there is in Cuba a cult month with the sole purpose of sani, southern Peru, who had whose rites sound like a page praying for the evangelization sent a special reque>st for an from pagan Africa. Kidnapof Cuba. -Monday Morning. evangelist to visit them. Mr. ping white children and human Jardine responded and says: sacrifice are a part of the cere- "We found the viUage occupied
monia!. Forty of their witch (66.79 %) are of the opinion aries in fourteen different fordoctors were arrested last De- that religion is losing ground. eign countries. Of the 2,728 cember and twenty others are churches in these foreign counalready serving long terms in World Religions tries, 2,000 are self-supporting. the Government prison. The total membership is 204,894. World Dominion has recently Rumania reported 6,050 bap- This cult originated at Sabee, published tables as authentic as capital of the West African slave are available of the percentages tisms, which was the largest coast kingdom of Whydah. It and numbers of the religions of number reported for the year. claims 500,000 votaries in Cuba, the world: of whom 100,000 are whites. – Watchman-Examiner. Catholic …….. 350,000,000-17% Gospel Bus in Chile Orthodox ……. 150,000,000- 7% Asia's Children in Sunday Protestant …… 230,000,000-11% School For the past three or four years the Presbyterian mission Of the non-Christian religions India has the largest Sunday in Chile has taken an active part school enrolment in Asia, with in the work of distributing the the Confucianists form 17 %, Korea a close second. There are Scriptures throughout r u r a I Hindus and Moslems 12 % each, 285,000,000 children in Asia areas by means of a gospel bus. under fourteen years of age They have made long trips with Buddhists, Animists, Shin- (excluding Asiatic Russia), out through the country whenever toists, Jews and others making of which number 2,800,000 beweather permitted traffic away up the remainder of the 2,040,- long to Protestant communities from the central highways. 000,000 in that class. -that is one in a hundred. Only Hundreds of New Testaments about one-quarter of these chilhave been left in the homes of Lutherans Go Forward dren have been touched by the country people, many of whom Sunday school. Some have been never leave their thatched huts. The American L u the ran receiving religious instruction in In each place the missionaries Board of Foreign Missions in day schools, but such privileges take the opportunity of telling adopting its budget on April 22, in day schools are rapidly disthe story of Christ, reading from removed a 10ro cut in mission- appearing. -Alliance Weekly. the Bible itself, training new ary salaries, and voted to send Christians, and opening new during the year one new or re- Women's Missionary Magazine avenues of interest. placement missionary to each foreign field, and also to make After years of discussion and -Presbyterian Banner. to each field a special contribu- planning, the Women's Mission- tion of $1,000 during the year ary Magazine of the United MISCELLANEOUS ($500 for British Guiana) for Presbyterian Church issued its buildings or general work. Ar- first number in August, 1887, Is Religion Losing Ground? gentina gets $1,500 because of with 2,300 advance subscrip- special needs at Eldorado. The. tions. Mrs. Sarah Foster Hanna In the January Fortune ap- total financial advance for the had the honor of first advocating peared the results of a survey on year is $30,000. such a magazine. Mrs. W. the status of religion in the Clark Hutchison, of Xenia, Ohio, Other indications of renewed was its first editor, and served United States today, based on progress are the building of a for 27 years. She was followed 4,500 interviews secured by For- church in Kobe, Japan, and three by Mrs. George Moore, who tune's investigators. new buildings at Zorzor, Liberia. served for 21 years. A fund The erection of new buildings at raised as a memorial to her sup- An equal number of men and Tsingtao, China, will proceed as plies illustrations for the magawomen were interviewed in all soon as the Luther League of zine. It is now under the capable major geographical areas, in America has attained its objec- editorship of Mrs. J. P. White, both rural and urban communi- tive of $10,000. formerly a missionary in Egypt.
ties. The various economic A special effort to cancel the o Lord our God, thy mighty hand levels were represented as fol- Board's debt is making headway. Hath made our country free; lows: prosperous, 10%; upper The treasurer was able to report that indebtedness had been re- From all her broad and happy land middle class, 27 %; lower middle duced to $80,000 by last March. The regular budget of the Board May worship rise to thee; class, 38%, and poor, 25%. is $471,727. The question: "Is religion in Fulfill the promise of her youth, Baptist Gains Her liberty defend; , America today gaining or losing .More than 17,000 persons, the By law and order, love and truth, ground?" The consensus of largest number in one year in judgment: the history of the Foreign Mis- America befriend! sion Society of the Southern Religion gaining……….. 24.8% Baptist Convention, were bap- The strength of every state increase Losing……………….. 49.90/0 tized by the Society's mission- Same ………………… 17. 20/0 aries and native workers last In Union's golden chain; Has no influence ………. year. The Society has mission- Don't know…………… 1. 3% Her thousand cities fill with peace, 6.8% Her million fields with grain- The virtues of her mingled blood Of those definitely believing In one new people blend; that religion is either gaining or losing, more than two-thirds By unity and brotherhood, America befriend! AMElN. -Henry van Dyke.
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Christianity in the Eastern Conflicts. Eastward. The Story of Adoniram tions and achievements of the A Study of Christianity, National- Judson. Portrait. 8vo. 240 pp. next thirty-seven years fill the ism, and Communism in Asia. By Round Table Press. New York. volume. Judson's first wife died William Paton. 224 pp. $1.50. 1937. after fourteen years in Burma Chicago, Willett Clark and Co. and he later married Sarah 1937. There is no more fascinating Boardman. After a few years she too entered into rest and This is a very timely book. or more stimulating reading Judson married a third time. Mr. Paton is a secretary of the The dangers and the difficulties International Missionary Coun- than good missionary biog- overcom~ in pioneer mission cil. Last year he made a trip work for Christ present a very which took him through the Far raphies. They contain stories different story from that of East, India, and the Near East. most modern missions. Those The letters which record his im- of adventure in new fields, sac- were the days of giants and of pressions are among the most heroes and heroines. informing documents of their rificial service, love and rokind that this reviewer has seen. mance, information about new The biographer is a graduate At the insistence of his friends, of Brown University and now Mr. Paton put the substance of peoples and strange lands and professor of missions in Berkthose letters into book form. eley Divinity School, California. Here, then, is a record of what customs, and the study of char- He naturally sympathizes with a thoughtful observer has seen acter development under many Judson's change to Baptist of present conditions in the adverse conditions and toward views, which was the immediate most populous parts of Asia. high ideals. The life of Adon- reason for the founding of the Mr. Paton's concerns are pri- iram Judson, pioneer mission- American Baptist Missionary marily missionary. He is, how- ary to Burma, is such a treas- Union. The biography is vivid ever, interested also in the set- ure house. He has furnished and sympathetic, revealing the ting in which missions must material for many biographies, way God works to build up His work. These chapters contain, histories and historical novels Kingdom "in spite of dungeon, therefore, pictures of trends in in the past eighty-five years. fire and sword." politics, economics, and thought This is a well written life his- tory, documented, with clear The Israel Promises and Their Fulwhich affect the life of the purpose and abundant human filment. By Samuel Hinds Wilkin- Church. interest. While not a spiritual son. 195 pp. 88. 6d. John Bale, interpretation, it is a sympa- Sons, and Danielson. London. 1936. The book does not end with a thetic record. travelogue. The author has What is the teaching of the properly added an interpreta- The subject is too well-known Bible regarding the future of tion. The second half of the to require extended comment. the Jews? The answer would book he terms "Reflections." Going out with his young bride, seem to be simple enough. It is Mr. Paton states what he be- in 1812, as one of the first in fact far otherwise. There are lieves to be the Christian mes- American foreign missionaries, in general two main views held sage. He discusses the relation he found they were not wanted by Christians. One follows the of Church, community, and state by the British East India Com- Jewish interpretation of the in the Far East. He describes pany that controlled foreign re- ancient prophecies concerning the present condition of the lations with India. Moreover, Israel that there will be a recon..; younger churches as he has seen Judson and his wife decided stitution of the Jewish nation in them. He also gives space to that they could not work as Con- Palestine under the Messiah the relation of the Church to the gregational missionaries but when the Jews will reach the changing social order. Mr. must work as Baptists. This highest pinnacle of earthly do- Paton is always soundly evan- cut them off from home support minion and glory. Some Chrisgelical and always sees below for a time. Forbidden to work tians maintain that this will be the surface to the significance in India, after they had come realized at the second coming of of the transient scene. 12,000 miles and were five months away from home, finally K. S. LATOURETTE. after trying Mauritius and Pen- ang, the J udsons found a "crazy old vessel" to take them to Ran- goon. The trials, horrors, hero- ism, joys and sorrows, priva- Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the Rl!VIIlW publishers on receipt of price.
[ 397]
Christ. The other view holds that have taken place. Arabia, terest. Dr. Corey is one of the Syria and Palestine, Egypt and recognized leaders of the foreign that the old covenant was abol- Africa, Turkey, Iran, India and m iss ion a r y enterprise, and the Farther East are then con- writes out of long and rich exished by Christ and under the sidered specifically in illumi- perience, first as secretary and nating chapters. While Islam is now as president of the. United new covenant the Church is the still considered an almost impos- Christian Missionary Society of sible field for Christian advance, the Disciples of Christ. His legitimate heir of the promises this book gives an encouraging knowledge of missions is wide record of the progress made. and accurate. He shows the made to Israel. Instead of an The Moslem attitude to Christ is wider range of world missions, changing but Mohammed's fol- "beyond statistics." His clarity earthly dominion and glory, the lowers are becoming more ma- of literary style, wealth of facts terialistic. The weakness and and illustrations, and cogency Church has come into possession strength of Islam are clearly of argument make delightful shown. The absolute necessity reading. So good a book should of a spiritual Zion and a richer of life through Christ might be have an index. more positively stressed. Mosspiritual inheritance. lems who become Christians ARTHUR J. BROWN. know that there is no hope in One of the ablest exponents of Mohammed. The Young Moslem Looks at Life. By Murray T. Titus. 8vo. 181 pp. the latter view is Philip Mauro, Christ and the W orId Today. By $1.00, cloth; 60 cents, paper. Wm. E. Doughty. 12mo. 126 pp. Friendship Press. New York. 1937. whose volume, "The Hope of Methodist Book Concern. New York. 1937. Moslems are an interesting Israel: What Is It?" has had a people. They follow one of the Dr. Doughty was for some most positive religious systems wide circulation and a potent in- time a secretary of the Laymen's in the world and are exceedingly Missionary Movement and later missionary-minded. Many Mosfluence. It is because of this in- of the Near East Relief. He is lem youth are wide-awake and a man of missionary vision and are in training for leadership. fluence that Samuel Wilkinson a clear and convincing speaker In the first chapter of this study and writer. This little volume book for young people in Amerhas written his book to counter- describes the "New Age" in ica, the author introduces Mo- which we live – with its good hammed Bey, a young Moslem act its effect which he regards and evil; "The Changing World" of Kashgar, who desires to see that offers a challenge to Chris- the world by making a pilas harmful and misleading. tians; the "New Destiny" that grimage to Mecca. The book is faced by the Church and the describes his experiences and As director of the Mildmay various nations and races; the reactions and shows that while "World Mission" of Japan, India his eyes were opened to many Mission to the Jews, of London, and other lands; "America in weaknesses in Moslems, his ex- the New Age" and its vast op- perience at Mecca overwhelmed Mr. Wilkinson brings to bear on portunity; the "New World So- him with Islam's greatness. ciety" seen as the Kingdom of the problem a deep interest in God and "Christ's Summons" to Dr. Titus then goes on to show a new departure, calling for a clearly the main facts about Mothe Jewish people and the re- new crusade. hammed and his religion, the practiC'es of Islam and the results of a life-long study of the It is a book of facts, carefully sults seen in the family, in poli- selected and interpreted to show tics and religion. He closes with Scriptures concerning the m. the author's views as to why and a Moslem view of Christianity how the world should be made and Islam's challenge to the He undertakes to establish on over to conform to the spirit and world. Young people will do purpose of Christ. The facts well to read it. They will then impregnable foundations the in- are impressive but we believe have deeper appreciation of that the Bible leads us to expect Christ and Christianity. violability of the promises con- the complete fulfilment of Christ's purposes only when lie What Is the Moslem World? By cerning Israel and the certainty returns to reign. Charles R. Watson. 8vo. 207 pp. $1.00, cloth; 60 cents, paplr. of their plenary fulfilment. His Beyond Statistics. By Stephen J. Friendship Press. New York. 1937. Corey. 188 pp. $1.00. Bethany book is a very valuable contri- Press. St. Louis. Mo. 1937. Few men know the Near East Moslem world better than Dr. bution to the study of the sub- Here is one of the best of re- Watson. He was born in Egypt cent missionary books, small in of missionary parents and has ject, but we wish that its mes- size, but large in value and in- been a missionary there for twenty years. In this adult missage had been less controversial and less limited in its scope by the arguments which he seeks to meet. These books by Philip Mauro and Samuel Wilkinson are keen and interesting ex- amples of diverse Biblical inter- pretation. J. S. CONNING.
Mecca and Beyond. By Edward M. Dodd and Rose Wilson Dodd. IlIus. 12mo. 222 pp. $1.00, cloth; 50 cents, paper. Central Committee on the United Study of Foreign Missions. Boston. 1937.
Mecca, the "Forbidden City" to Christians, is a name to conjure with for Moslems. Dr. and Mrs. Dodd have both lived among followers of Mohammed in the Near East and have been in touch with them ever since they left Persia (Iran). This popular and well-written study book is good reading for it deals, not with abstract, but with concrete facts and incidents. First the authors view "the Moslem and his world" as a whole and show the remarkable changes
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
sion study book he has given the the churches and missions are well told, always attract children main facts about the lands and included, with 2,298 mission- and at the same time educate peoples where Islam holds sway. aries. The information is un- them and develop their human He points out many peculiarities avoidably and unfortunately in- sympathies. A child naturally of the Moslems and the "grip- complete. has no racial prej udices and can ping power of Islam." He also Bust., Until Seventy Times Seven. By be deeply interested in the way May Wyburn. Illus. 12mo. 192 presents the main facts as to the children of other lands live and contact of Christians with Mos- pp. $1.25. Loizeaux Bros. New talk, work and play. Here, by lems. Where Dr. Watson fails, York. 1936. means of captivating pictures we think, is in dealing with the The Water Street Mission, on every page, with attractive New York City, has long been verses and stories, the reader is weakness of Islam, its increased introduced to children from antagonism to Christ as known known as a place where modern Greenland, China, Japan, India, to Christians, and its supreme miracles are wrought. The story Africa, the Philippines and from of lives and natures transformed Palestine. Here are friendly, need for the Gospel. In looking and regenerated there have a attractive stories for very young to the future he calls on Chris- perpetual thrill and will never children, suitable for use in the grow old. Here the widow of home and Sunday school, as well tians to make better use of their as by teachers of young children resources, to understand the the former superintendent, a in day school. true man of God, gives some of task and its difficulties, to use these wonder tales of city mis- Kill or Cure. By Muriel Lester. 135 more strategy with a united ap- sion work, under the subtitle of pp. $1.00. Gokesbury Press. Nashproach to the problem. Mission- three Biblical names of three ville, Tennessee. 1937. aries to Moslems know that un- superintendents – J ere m i a h failing faith and prayer and lov- This is an avowedly "peace (McAuley), Samuel (Hadley) tract," by the woman who has ing sacrifice are required, but and John (Wyburn). These men been called "the Jane Addams" that the fruit must come from of England and who had become the Spirit of God opening blind are worth knowing and the eyes and bringing new life to dead souls. stories of their lives and the In the Jungles of New Guinea. By harvest that resulted from their internationally known not only Missionary R. Hanselmann. lllus. seed-sowing and watering fur- for her remarkable Christian Pamphlet. Lutheran Book Concern. nish good illustrations for ser- Columbus, Ohio. mons as well as excellent read- service in the tenement district ing. Here is a place where men New Guinea is still unknown were truly converted. They of London but for her eloquent to most Americans, in spite of knew it and others knew it by the fact that it is an immense the way their light shone before advocacy of world peace. In island and has great wealth and men and glorified God. Read interest for explorers, anthro- these "wonder tales" and pass this little book she convincingly pologists, scientists, exploiters them on to others as a witness and especially for missionary- of the redemptive power of shows the utter futility of war minded Christians. Christ. and the urgent need of develop- Mr. Hanselmann, a Lutheran Just Like You Stories. For Boys and missionary in the Mandated Ter- Girls. By Mrs. Henry W. Peabody. ing attitudes and methods for ritory, gives here his impres- Illus. 186 pp. $1.50. M. H. Leavis. sions of the flora, the fauna and Boston,. Mass. 1937. preventing it. Some readers the natives. A little is told about his experiences with them Eyegate is one of the most ef- may feel that she carries her and the effective work of the fective means of entrance into Lutherans. the mind and heart and soul. pacifism to extremes, but they will respect her sincerity. Dr.
Stanley Hunter adds an inter- esting biographical sketch of the author. ARTHUR J. BROWN.
About the Old Faith. By Henry W.
Frost. 12mo. 128 pp. $1.25.
Fleming H. Revell Co. New York. 1937.
The Evangelical Handbook of Latin Wise guidance in a child's read- In these days of new man- America. Paper. Quarto. 119 pp. ing is therefore one of the most made cults and of militant un- 48. Committee on Cooperation in belief there is need for short, Latin America, New York and the important avenues of learning. clear studies in revealed truth. World Dominion Press, London. And yet multitudes of children 1937. today, even in Christian homes, Those who are experimenting in With excellent maps, statisti- are having their tastes vitiated, new creeds need to avoid the cal tables, general information, their standards lowered, and toadstool variety of philosophy and directory of missionaries in their future endangered by the that carries death. each of the Latin American silly, distorted and often degrad- For half a century Dr. Frost countries, this volume gives val- ing reading they find in news- has tested the brand of faith uable up-to-date information. papers and books. Dr. May which he presents here in simple Everyone interested in the Lazar, research assistant of the outline. It has, m 0 reo v e r, progress of missions in these Board of Education, New York proved its value for two thoutwenty-one countries (including City, warns against many fairy- sand years and continues to islands in the West Indies) tales and "series books" that bring life and strength today to should have this Handbook for distort their ideas about life. those who follow it. Here is an study and reference. Most of True stories of children, when elementary volume for students,
rather than an advanced treatise Immensity. God's Greatness Seen in With Christ in Africa. By Rev. D. A. Creation. By Clarence H. Benson. McDonald. Illus. 158 pp. 28. 6d. on the Christian faith. Dr. Frost Illus. 8vo. 140 pp. $1.50. The Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Ltd., bases everything on the Bible, Scripture Press. Chicago. 1937. London, Edinburgh. Obtainable in though in many cases the refer- America from Zondervan Publishences are lacking. His general The wonders of God's uni- ing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. verse can be grasped only faintly $1.00. 1937. topics are: The Godhead, Christ, Man, Sin, The Scriptures, Fun- -its magnificence, its order, its "The persons who say, 'Let design, its harmony in immen- the Africans alone; they are damental Doctrines, The Church, sity and in minuteness. There quite happy,' have never lived Christian Experience, Christian is fine opportunity for unending close to African life." For Privileges, Christian Services, forty years (1892-1931), Rev. Vital Topics, The Unseen World, study for it is a study of the D. A. McDonald lived among the works of God. Mr. Benson here people of South Africa, daily Prophecy and the Final State. gives glimpses of the wonders adding to his evidence that "The For most purposes the studies of astronomy and the lessons we dark places of the earth are full learn as to God's character and of the habitations of cruelty." are too analytical. There is no purpose. The author is director The story of his life and work argument but rather a series of among the peoples of Kafraria numbered statements to set forth of Christian Education Courses and North East Transvaal rethe author's interpretations of in Moody Bible Institute, Chi- veals a genuine understanding and appreciation of the Zulus the Bible teaching. There are cago, and is author of "The and Vendas among whom he almost no extra Biblical illustra- Earth, the Theater of the Uni- faithfully and victoriously contions or examples of the way verse" and other volumes. Here ducted his business of "life- is a book that makes infidelity changing." these truths work out in life. impossible to an honest, intel- Young people who wish to know From the point of general in- ligent thinker. It is also fasci- terest the effectiveness of the what the Word of God says will nating reading and furnishes an book is somewhat hampered by find Dr. Frost's studies illumi- immense amount of material for nating. Missionaries will also sermons. Every chapter is linked up to Bible passages and find them of real value to clarify the closing chapter is on the their own thinking and as a text- book for use with converts.
Except Ye Repent. By Harry A. "Star of Bethlehem" – not yet a too exact emphasis on the Ironside. 8vo. 191 pp. $1.50. clearly identified. names of obscure places and American Tract Society. New York. people. But the genuineness, the 1937. Pioneering in Kwangsi. By W. H. Oldfield. Illus. 8vo. 208 pp. whimsical naIvete and the splen- The number of strong and Christian Publications, Inc. Har- did Christian vitality of the man convincing evangelical preach- risburg, Pa. 1936. make his narrative a real testi- ers seems to be diminishing Kwangsi is one of the larger mony to the joy of courageous rather than increasing, so that and generally unevangelized Christian living.
volumes of sermons, like this, provinces in southwest China. FLORENCE LERRIGO.
are prizes worth having. Dr. Here The Christian and Mission- Ironsides, pastor of the Moody ary Alliance has done and is do- Cross of Christ. By George P. Pier- Memorial Church, Chicago, is a ing a remarkable work among son, D.D. $1.50. 173 pp. Amer- ican Tract Society. New York. powerful evangelical and pop- Chinese and aboriginal tribes. 1937. ular preacher and a clear ex- The courage, sacrifice, and perpositor. This series of sermons severence of these missionaries This timely little volume is , on Repentance won the $1,000 have produced some remarkable well worth a young Christian's prize offered by the American results. (See the article by Rev. examination and p ray e r f u I Tract Society. They are worth A. C. Snead in this issue of THE study. Dr. Pierson, for forty years a missionary in Japan, it – short, evangelical, Biblical, REVIEW.) practical, arresting, adapted for The Rev. W. H. Oldfield, one places the Cross where it should present-day needs. This series of the pioneers, describes vividly be, at the center, and he focuses takes up the meaning of repent- the land and people, the material the divine light of God's Word ance, Christ's call to repent, the progress in recent years and the upon it from all angles-"from teaching of various apostles and work of the Alliance in its vari- above, from the background, Biblical writers on the subject ous stations and outstations. It from its very self, from either and the results of preaching re- is a story of faith, of courage, of side, from the foreground, from pentance today. Ministers and adventure and of achievement. below, and from the ensuing missionaries will do well to study There are still millions who are centuries." In doing so he brings this volume carefully and to unevangelized and one can travel forward the essentials of the preach on the same subject hundreds of miles without see- Christian faith that need emoften. It is too much neglected ing a Christian chapel. Some phasis and restatement at the and too superficially treated. of the best work is being done present hour.
"Except ye repent, ye shall all by Chinese Gospel Bands that Dr. Pierson is well qualified likewise perish," are the words are trained and then go out to for this work not only from a of Christ to religious leaders of evangelize their fellow country- scholastic standpoint but also His day. men. from personal experience. After
from Princeton Uni- The Deeper Life. Max I. Reich. 115 of this Course
versity and S e min a r y, he pp. $1.00. Wm. B. Eerdmans. Young People's Society may preached these truths in Japan Grand Rapids, Mich. , converted into a School for and America. A. H. P'ERPE1'UO. Bible Training. Four Point Project Program. Based New Book. on Missionary Heroes Course No.1. 1936 STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE Theodore L. Conklin. 30 pp. Board But, Until Seventy Times Seven. S. of Education, American Baptist Four Parts-52 Lessons. Part I, The Bible-The May Wyburn. 192 pp. $1.25. Asso. New York. God of the Bible. Part II, The Christ of the Bible Loizeaux Bros. New York. -The Holy Spirit. Part III, Man-Sin and Redemp- God's Methods for Holy Living. tion. Part IV. The Church-Future Events. Christ and the World Today. Wm. Donald Grey Barnhouse. 93 pp. E. Doughty. 126 pp. Methodist 50 cents. Revelation. Philadelphia. Send 15c in stamps for current issue. Book Concern. New York. The History of Sin. Happy Though HRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS.IN(; My Servant Moses. E. Ray Cameron. Poor. History of Temptation. Men 187 pp. $1.50. Revell. New York. Whom God Struck Dead. The 1502 N. Third St., Hlrrisburg, PI. Marks of, Sonship. When Winter Then and Now in Kenya Colony. Comes. Donald Grey Barnhouse. Bishop Lauress J. Birney, retired, Willis R. Hotchkiss. 160 pp. $1.50. 16 page leaflets. 10 cents each. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Revell. New York. Revelation. Philadelphia. died in Pasadena, California, on May 10 at the age of 65. He was born in James Hudson Taylor. James J. Living in the Ministry of Song. Tom Dennison, Ohio, and after graduation Ellis. 96 pp. 18. Pickering & Jones. 180 pp. 2s. 6d. Pickering from Boston University School of Inglis. London. & Inglis. London. Theology, served several pastorates. He was elected Dean of Boston Uni- Pioneering in Kwangsi. W. H. Old- Obituary Notes versity in 1911 and in 1920 was ele- field. 208 pp. Christian Publica- vated to the Bishopric, with China as tions. Harrisburg, Pa. (Concluded from page 337.) his special mission field. Mr. Frederic F. Helmer, editorIal Christendom and Islam. Their Con- secretary for North America for the tacts and Cultures Down the Cen- China Inland Mission, died in Toronto, turies. W. Wilson Cash. 205 pp. Canada, March 19. Mr. Helmer had $2.00. Harpers. New York. filled various positions in the C. I. M., among others Publication and Prayer Church Unity. F. H. Knubel. 86 pp. Union Secretary. He remodeled 75 cents. United Lutheran Pub. China's Millions and founded Young House. Philadelphia.· China.
OBJEOTIVES AND PRINOIPLES FOR YOUTH We earnestly commend the following personal and social objectives for. the enlistment of youth: .
I surrender my life to Jesus Christ and His way of living and I enlist in His service.
I believe that it is the purpose of God to make Christ known in all the world so that all human relationships will be controlled by God's law of love. I propose to live, so far as He enables me, as if His Kingdom were now recognized.
I will faithfully observe a "quiet time" each day for meditation and prayer and the study of God's Word.
I will regard my lifework as my share in extending God's Kingdom. I will choose my life- work in accordance with what I can discover to be God's will, and not for personal selfish gain. I will practice restraint and self-denial in all my personal nabits.
I will keep my friendships on a high level, not conforming to lower standards of the world, but helping to lift the standards of my group to the best that I know, as God has revealed His way of life.
I will serve Christ through the Christian Church, doing all that I can to make it the effec- tive instrument that it must be if God's world is to be truly Christian.
I will oppose the war system as murderous and selfish, and will work ceaselessly for the establishment of peace based on righteousness and love.
I will refrain from the use of alcoholic liquors, and will work to rid the world of the degrading liquor traffic.
I will treat those of all races as my brothers and sisters made in the spiritual image of God.
I will give myself to the creation of better economic and social conditions wherein every member of society shall have opportunity to earn a livelIhood for himself and those dependent upon him and wherein every member of society shall have sufficient to meet his economic needs.
I will use my leisure time only for such recreation as is wholesome and will enrich and uplift personality, and will refrain from amusements which injure or degrade myself or others.
I will give of my time, as far as possible, to working for the building of a Christian world -in personal work, public speaking, writing, and circulating literature, and in every possible way evangelizing for Christ.
I will give sacrificially of my earnings and other possessions to support the enterprises which are working to build a Christian world.
I will conscientiously seek to obey the Will of God as revealed in His written Word and will put Him first in all things-that Christ may have the preeminence. -Adapted from "The Evangelical-Messenger."
THE SPECIAL uMOSLEM NUMBER"
OF THE MISSIONARY ~'WORID This October Issue will contain articles on CHRIST AND THE MOSLEM WORLD Why Take Christ to Moslems? Samuel M. Zwemer The Gospel for Mohammedans W. Wilson Cash Present.day Trends in Islam Edward C. Dodd Moslem Reactions to Christ • James Haldane My Experience with Moslems Frank C. Laubach Christ and Moslem Homes . Eleanor Calverley What Christ Has Done for Me • S. Khoobyar A Sermon by a Former Moslem Saee'd Kurdistani and others—with maps and illustrations ORDER COPIES IN ADVANCE FOR YOURSELF AND MISSION STUDY CLASSES 25 cents a copy $20 a hundred $2.50 a year THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streel:s, Harrisburg, Pa.
ROBERT E. SPEER, President DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor READ THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE JULY NUMBER Patience (Editorial) George Swan The Arabic Version of the Bible Paul Erdman The Bible and Moslems • J. Christy Wilson The Bible in the Balkans • James Oscar Boyd The Koran as Magic Bess Allen Donaldson Moslem Chronology in China Isaac Mason Shi'a Standards of Hyderabad • • Kate Greenfield A Statistical Survey Carlo Gasbarri Why Not Canonize Mohammed? Mounir R. Sa'adeh Egypt Tastes Independence Pierre Crabites Book Reviews ••• Current Topics••• Survey of Periodicals __-+)0 SUBSCRIBE NOW ~~-._ 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents.) British Agents: MARSHA!.!., MORGAN & SCOTT, 12 Paternoster Buildings, !.ondon, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight Shillings a Year, net
The Missionary Review of the World — June 1937
JUNE,1937
Rural America Number Challenge of the Rural Community Mark A. Dawber The Forgotten Man of the Back Road Ann Mitchell Neglected Fields in Rural America William R. King Farm Tenants and Sharecroppers Chas. M. McConnell Twenty"Five Years Ago and Now Ross J. Griffeth Keeping the Fountains Clean Henry W. McLaughlin Case Workers in Rural Areas Hilda L. Ives As a Farmer's Wife Sees It Nina B. Hewitt A Rural Pastor's Job Mark Rich One Solution-The Larger Parish Ellsworth M. Smith Cooperation in a Rural Community Edward D. Hamner A Church of the Countryside Coe Hayne Ministry of a Rural Colporter John C. Killian Importance of Pioneer Sunday Schools John M. Somerndike 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
MEETING OF SUMMER CONFERENCES AND .The
THE REVIEW SCHOOLS OF MISSIONS A weekly religious newspaper in The annual meeting of The Mission- Council of Women for Home Mis- its lo6th year of continuous pubary Review Publishing Company was sions and Affiliated with the lication under the same name. held at 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, Committee on Women's Work, on February 18, 1937. A financial re- Foreign Missions Conference It is conservative and evangelport for the calendar year, 1936, was ical, gets its news by telegraph presented by the Treasurer, Mr. Wal- June 19-26-Lake Geneva, Wis. Mrs. and keeps abreast of the times. ter McDougall, showing a deficit of T. A. Freeman, 427 Greenwood $1,394.88. The representative of the Blvd.; Evanston, Ill. It goes into every state of the Evangelical Press, Rev. David Fant, Union, the District of Columbia, stated that the renewal of subscrip- June 20-26-Boulder, Colo. President, and U. S. possessions. tions to THE REVIEW are over 80%, Mrs. Henry F. Hoffman, 741 Adams an unusually high proportion. The St., Denver, Colo. It goes to Asia and Africa, South Secretary, Mr. Delavan L. Pierson, America, Canada and New Zealand reported that the special numbers on June 21-27-Winona Lake, Ind. Miss and into twelve countries of Euthe American Negro and Missions in Minnie Rumsey, N. Mayflower Road, rope. Africa, published during the year had Lake Forest, Ill.. had a very gratifying sale and that Subscription Price, • • $2.50 special numbers on Rural America and June 26-July 3-Eagles Mere, Pa. Ministerial Rate, • $2.00 Moslem lands are planned for the Miss Muriel C. Post, 907 Lindlay coming year. Ave., Logan, Philadelphia, Pa~ 50c. extra—Canadian postage $1.00 extra—foreign postage The following members of the July 7-15-Northfield, Mass. Miss Board of Directors were elected to Amy O. Welcher, 796 Prospect Ave., THE PRESBYTERIAN succeed themselves: Hartford, Conn. 1217 Market: St:reet:, Philadelphia, Pa. Robert E. Speer, President; A. L. July 10-17 – Mountain Lake Park, Warnshuis, Vice-President; Walter Md. Chairman, Mrs. J. M. Knight, . . ceeded to his father's title in 1913 and McDougall, Treasurer; Delavan L. 207 Roane St., Charleston, W. Va. Pierson, Secretary; Wm. 1. Chamber- was president of the Friends of Arlain, D. J. Fant, Mrs. Orrin R. Judd, July 17-24-Mt. Hermon, Calif. Mrs. menia Society. Wm. B. Lipphard, Eric M. North, N. J. Forsberg, 1144 Eddy ~t., San Samuel M. Zwemer, Samuel M. Cavert. Francisco, Calif. …
A special committee was appointed, July 19-23 – Bethesda, Ohio. Miss Rev. Charles L. Goodell, D.D., Secwith Dr. John McDowell as chairman, Mary I. Scott, 310 Tomlinson St., retary Emeritus of the Commission to consider and report on the subject Moundsville, W. Va. on Evangelism of the Federal Council of the future of THE REVIEW. of Churches of Christ in America, August 15-22 – Chautauqua, N. Y. died on April 27 in New York City at Respectfully submitted, Chairman, Miss B. Louise W ood- the age of 82. Dr. Goodell was widely DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary. ford, Candor, N. Y. After August known as an evangelist of the air and 1, Chautauqua, N. Y. gave his Sabbath Reveries every Sun- Dates to Remember day morning for eight years. He was August 19-25 – Kerrville, T e x a s. a highly honored minister of the June 3-8 – T r i e n n i a 1 Convention, Chairman, Mrs. T. M. Cunning- Methodist Episcopal Church and World's W. C. T. U., Washington, ham, 618 West Sydamore, Denton, served several successful pastorates D. C. Texas. in New England and New York. He was born in Dudley, Mass., July 31, June 21-25 – Council on Christian Obituary Notes 1854, the son of Warren Goodell. He Evangelism for Our Day. East was graduated from Boston Univer- Northfield, Mass. w. J. W. Roome, the well-known sity in 1877 and came to New York State in 1896. Dr. Goodell was the June 23-30 – Alliance of Reformed African traveler, died in Tangier, author of m4ny devotional books and Churches Throughout the World Morocco, on March 31, in the 72d year Holding the Presbyterian System. of his age. Mr. Roome was for 30 served a nation.-..wi.d.. e p…arish. Montreal, Canada. years an architect in Belfast, Ireland, but retired at the age of 50 to devote Dr. Adolph Deissmann, well-known June 25-28-Conference of Missionary his remaining years to missionary Christian theologian of Germany, died Workers and the Annual Meeting service. He was secretary of the in Berlin on April 5 at seventy years of the National Fellowship of In- British and Foreign Bible Society for of age. He was born in Langenscheid dian Workers. University of Wis- East and Central Africa for 12 years in 1886 and after occupying chairs in consin College of Agriculture. Mad- and during that time crossed the con- several universities became Professor ison, Wis. tinent 13 times by various routes, of New Testament Theology in 1908 traveling more than one hundred thou- and was retired by government order July 5-16-New Jersey Summer sand miles, largely on foot or bicycle. in 1935 after he had signed a protest School of Christian Work, Blairs- He visited many parts of Africa never to Reichsbishop Mueller's policies and town, N. J. Write to the Mission- before visited by a white man, and interference with the Church. Dur- ary Education Movement, 150 Fifth made an ethnographic survey of many ing the World War, Dr. Deissmann Ave., New York. parts of the continent locating about sent some stirring messages to Amer- 3,000 tribal units. Accounts of his ica declaring that "the gangerous July 8-13 – International Christian journeys and impressions received ulcer of hate which poisons interna- Endeavor Convention, Grand Rap- were printed in a number of Yolumes, tional relations must be burned out." ids, Mich. including "Through Central Africa He was the author of several well- for the Bible," "Through the Land of known books, including one in Eng- July 11-16 – Anniversary, First Con- Nyanza," and "Tefaro Tales from lish on "The Religion of Jesus and ference of American Methodism. Africa." In recent years, Mr. Roome the Faith of Paul." Old St. George's Church. Phila- was chairman of the Unevangelized delphia. Fields Mission. He is survived by his (Concluded on ad c01Jer.) July 12-26 – World Conference on wife whom he ..m. a.r..rie..d. last January. Life and Work. Oxford, England. Lord Radstock, well known in mis- July 14-17-Nat.ional Council of Fed- sionary and evangelistic circles, died erated Church Women. Lake Ge- at Mayfield, Wooston, Hampshire, neva, Wis. England, on April 2 at 77 years of age. Grandville George Waldegrave, August 3-18 – World Conference on the eldest son of the third Lord Rad- Faith and Order. Edinburgh, Scot- stock, was born on September 1, 1859. land. He was graduated from Cambridge University and was associated in evan- Sept. 28-30 – Annual Interdenomina- gelistic work with his cousins, Rev. tional Missionary Institute, Wom- Sir Montagu Beaucham, M.P., and an's Interdenominational Union of Sir J. E. Kynaston Studd. He suc- Philadelphia and Vicinity. First Baptist Church, Philadelphia.
"The April REVIEW is a good num-
THE MISSIONARY ber all through. The REVIEW looks REVIEW OF THE WORLD well, reads well and is better than DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor ever." DR. A. E. ARMSTRONG, VOL. LX JUNE,1937 No.6 Secretary of the Board of For- Publication and Business Office– Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. eign Missi01l8, The United Editorial and Executive Office– Church of Canada. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Entered as second-class matter at *** Post Omce, Harrisburg, Pa., under Personal Items Act of March 3, 1879. The Rev. Kenneth W. Moore, of When the good work 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. Trenton, N. J., has been elected Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Treasurer of the Board of Foreign calls you East … sail Published monthly, except August. Missions of the Presbyterian Church, All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. U. S. A., to take the place of Mr. p&O British agents – Marshall, Morgan Russell Carter who retired on May 1, and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, having reached the age limit. Mr. This year marks a full century of P & 0 London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Carter has given 27 years to unselfish service to the lands beyond Suez! 10 shillings a year. and effective service. Mr. Moore is a Whenever you are called to the other Princeton Universityand Theological side of the world, choose this tradi- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- Seminary graduate. He has been in tional route. Cross to England by LISHING CO., INC. the Statistical and Publication De- Cunard White Star •.. and there partment of the John A. Roebling's embark in a great liner of the P & 0 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sons Company, and President of the and British India fleets, led by the ROBERT E. SPEER, President Kenneth W. Moore Company in the new 22,5oo-ton Strathnaver, Strath- A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-Pre8ident field of pUblicity. aird and Strathmore. Regular service WALTER MCDOUGALL, Trea8urer to Egypt, Sudan, Persian Gulf, India, DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary *** Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, China, Japan, Australia, East and SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT The Rev. Paul Braisted, recently a South Africa, Mauritius. Low rates. missionary of the American Baptist WILLIAM I. CluMBBlILAIN Foreign Mission Society in India and Convenient through bookings can be arranged D. J. FANT Burma, has been elected the new sec- by your local travel agent or any office of retary of the Student Volunteer MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD Movement. Mr. Braisfed married CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE Miss Ruth Wilder, daughter of Dr. WM. B. LIPPHARD Robert P. Wilder, and went to India GENERAL AGENTS ten years ago. For the past two ERIC M. NORTH years he has been teacher of Bible at 25 Broadway and638 Fifth Ave., NewYork SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Mt. Hermon School for Young Men. Both in India and America he has had Editorial Chat close contacts with students and is deeply evangelistic and missionary- We take pleasure in presenting our minded. special "Home Mission Study Number" on Christ and Rural America. *** It is an exceedingly rich and important theme. The changes in recent Dr. John R. Mott has recently reyears call for a fresh study of the turned from a six months visit to In- dia and the Near East. He addressed needs and opportunities in neglected the sixth biennial meeting of the Near areas. East Christian Council at Alexandria, Egypt, March 10-17. This council is The subject is so vast and so varied a coordinating agency for thirty-seven that we have not been able to cover missions working in nineteen countries all in one issue of THE REVIEW. Other in the Near East, extending from articles will appear in July and later, Morocco to Iran. including: *** The Murdock Trail, by Alvin E. Magary. Archie T. L. Tsen, President of the Board of Missions of the (Chi- Some Interesting Rural Churches, nese) Chung Hwa Sheng Kung Hwei, by W. H. Thompson. will visit the United States this sum- mer. Mr. Tsen retired from business Student Volunteer Service in Maine, several years ago to devote himself by Louis C. Harnish. entirely to volunteer work for mis- sions. Woman's Work in a C 0 u n try Church, by Mrs. James D. Wyker. *** Frederick Oberlin and His Rural W. E. Doughty, formerly a secre- Parish. tary of the Laymen's Missionary Movement, and later an official of the Problems of the Rural Church in Near East Foundation, has received Canada, J. R. Watt, and others. from King George II of Greece the Order of the Redeemer in recognition Pastors and mission study class of his twenty-five years of service to the Greek people. leaders will be wise to order their copies early, before the edition is ex- *** hausted. Dr. C. T. Wang, the new Chinese *** ambassador to the United States, was formerly secretary of the Y. M. C. A. Also, will you call the attention of in China and later was the Secretary friends to THE REVIEW. Speak of it of State under the Nanking Governto your pastor and in missionary ment. meetings. Here are some comments recently received: [273 ] "For several months I have been getting your magazine from our college library and reading it with great enthusiasm and deriving much inspira- tion. I find that I can hardly get along without subscribing and having the copies to keep and enjoy by re-reading." GRACE ROBINS.
Birmingham, Ala.
FAITH OF GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK
An address of the Generalissimo, sent to the Central Conference of Eastern Asia of the Methodist Episcopal Church in session at Wesley Church, Nanking, Good Frida.y Evening, Miarch 26, 1937. Read in Chinese and in English translation to the Conference by Col. J. L. Huang, Director of the New Life Movement.
I have now been a Christian for nearly ten years and during that time I have been a constant reader of the Bible. Never before has this sacred Book been so interesting to me as during my two weeks' captivity in Sian. This unfortunate affair took place all of a sudden and I found myself placed under detention without having a single earthly belonging. From my captors.I asked but one thing, a copy of the Bible. In my solitude I had ample time for reading and meditation. The greatness and the love of Christ burst upon me with new inspiration, increasing my strength to struggle against evil, to overcome temptation and to uphold righteousness.
I am, indeed, grateful for all my fellow-Christians who continually offered prayers on my behalf. I was deeply conscious of a strong spiritual support for which I extend my hearty thanks to all Christians, and to which, before you all today, I testify that the name of God may be glorified.
The many virtues of Christ I cannot possibly enumerate. Today, being Good Friday, I merely wish to explain some of the lessons I have derived from the trials of Christ. His utterances from the Cross are our spiritual inheritance. Entreating forgiveness for His enemies, He cried: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Truly great is the love of Christ! In all my meditations I found these thoughts returning and providing me with rich spiritual sustenance.
To illustrate, I am going to recount some of my experiences in Sian. Before I went to Shansi on my second trip I was alreaqy conscious of perverted thoughts and unusual activities in the army there. I had previously received reports of intrigues and revolutionary rumblings that were threatening to undermine the unity of the State. My immediate associates tried to persuade me to abandon the journey, but I replied: "Now that our country is unified and the foundations of the State established, the commander-in-chief of the armies has responsibilities for direction and enlightenment from which he dare not withdraw. Furthermore, I have dedicated my soul and body to the service of the State, and there can never be any considerations of my personal safety.
According to the record of the New Testament, when Christ entered Jerusalem for the last time, He plainly knew that danger was ahead, but triumphantly, on an ass, rode into the city without anguish, without fears. What greatness! What courage! In comparison, how unimportant my hfe must be. So why should I hesitate?
My fondness for my troops has always been as great as the love between brothers and this love drew me into the heart of the rebellion. Such disregard of duty in the face of danger caused deep concern to the government, worried the people and, for this, numerous prayers were offered by Christian friends. In the mldst of it all my understanding increased and my love mUltiplied.
Following my detention my captors presented me with terms and demands, with tempting words of kindnesses, with threats of violence and torture and with a public trial by the "People's Front." On every hand I was beset by danger out I had no thought of yieldmg to pressure. My faith in Christ increased. In this strange predicament I distinctly recalled the forty days and mghts Christ passed in the wilderness withstanding temptation, His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the indignities heaped upon Him at His trial. The prayers he offered for His enemles upon the cross were ever in my thoughts. I naturally remembered the prayers offered by Dr. Sun Yat-sen during the imprisonment in London. These scenes passed vividly before me again and again like so many pictures. My strength was redoubled to resist the recalcitrants and with the spirit of Christ on the Cross I was preparing to make the final sacrifice at the trial of the so-called "People's l<'ront." Having determined upon this course of action, 1 was comforted and at rest.
Following the settlement of the Sian affair, the rebels knowing their unwise and treasonable actions, were naturally afraid. Remembering that Christ enjoined us to forgive those who sin against us until seventy times seven, and upon their repentance, I felt that they should be allowed to start life anew! At the same time I was greatly humbled that my own faith had not been of such quality as to influence my followers and to restrain them.
Ever since training the cadets and launching the expedition, 1 have repeated to my followers these two principles: (1) On detecting the slightest selfishness on my part, or discovering plans contrary to the interest of the country and the people, anyone may accuse me of guilt and put me to death; (2) Should my words and actions betray lack of truth and good faith, or indicate departure from the revolution¥y cause and principles, any of my subordinates may take me for an enemy and put me to death. I honestly believe that these two sayings were prompted by sincerity and grew out of my religious faith. They are in line with the spirit of Christ, and the forbearance and magnanimity of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
The life of Christ reveals a long record of affliction and constant persecution. His spirit of forbearance, His love and His benevolence shine through it all. No more valuable lesson has yet come to me out of my Christian experiences.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen was a Christian, and the greatest thing he received from Christ was love-love for the emancipation of the weaker races, and for the welfare of the oppressed people. This spirit remains with us and reaches to the skies. I am an ardent follower of the revolution, and although my faith in Dr. Sun at the outset did not appear to have any religious significance, it was similar to a religious faith. For this reason I have become a follower of Dr. Sun and his revolution based on San Min ·Chu 1 (The Three Principles of the People).
Today, I find that I have taken a further step and have become a follower of Jesus Christ. This makes me realize more fully that the success of the revolution depends upon men of faith and that men of character, because of their faith, cannot sacrifice their principles for personal safety under circumstances of difficulty and crisis. In other words, a man's life may be sacrificed, his person held in bondage, but his faith and spirit can never be restrained. This is due to confidence brought about by faith. On this Good Friday these reflections are ours. For such is the importance of faith in the revolution, and in religion.
[274 ]
NARY
REVIB ORLD VOLUME LX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 6 JUNE, 1937 Topics of the Times RURAL AMERICA FOR CHRIST ers and dairymen, and small town tradespeople, but the mountaineers, the miners, the lumbermen, Those who make the greatest noise often receive and the ranchmen. The races include not only the most attention, but this does not prove that descendents of the Pilgrims, Dutch and other importance is in proportion to commotion. Mark early settlers, but more recent immigrants from Twain used to tell of the Mississippi stern-wheel Italy, Greece, Poland, Russia and other European steamer with a very loud whistle; steam was so countries; also Negroes, Indians, Mexicans and low that every time the whistle blew the steamer's Orientals. Many religious beliefs are involved- engine had to stop. American cities with their Jewish, Protestant, Roman and Greek Catholic, hustle and noise, their rapid transit, their fac- Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Islam and various tories and scare-line newspapers, usually receive philosophical cults, as well as atheism and rank more attention than the quiet rural districts but paganism. These present foreign mission peo- this does not prove that cities are more important pIes and problems at home.
to national life than are the country towns and Third: Rural America is important because the farming communities. farms and country districts form the basis of our For the coming year (1937-8) the Home Mis- material prosperity. From the earth come all sion study topic is to be "Rural America." Until things that sustain life and that are used in manu- recently the farmers and rural villages have been facture – the food, the cotton, the minerals and unorganized and without any powerful mouth- oils for physical needs and for great buildings and piece so that they have received little attention. industrial enterprises. The land is the great God- Today the Secretary of Agriculture, the Farmer's given source of wealth.
Unions and Cooperatives, such men as the late Fourth: Rural America is important because Kenyon L. Butterfield, and the Agricultural Mis- of the character and influence of rural peoples.
sions Foundation, have brought the rural prob- Here are the pioneering spirit of sacrificial toil; lems forcibly to public attention. the prophetic vision looking toward the future; The study of Rural America is of great im- here we find greater independence of thought and portance for many reasons: First, because of its action, rugged individualism and homespun phi- size. One-half of the people of North America losophy. Here too, in the past at least, have been live on farms, in rural districts or in towns and manifested true faith and sterling honesty. The villages of less than 2,500 population. Although rural districts have always been the great feeders the largest amount of taxes do not come from of the cities, not only in food supplies but in pop- rural districts, neither the Government nor the ulation. From the country come the ambitious Church can afford to overlook the importance of and stalwart youth to supply brain and brawn for the 50,000,000 people who live outside of our cities industrial, commercial, political and professional and their residential suburbs. It is estimated that activity. Abraham Lincoln and many other na- 25,000,000 American children and youth live in tional leaders came from the country; so did Sam- the country districts. These are bound to be a uel Colgate and countless other industrial giants.
great factor in the life of the nation. Three hun- D. L. Moody, America's greatest evangelist with dred years ago all American life was rural; there a world-wide influence, was a lad from the small was no truly urban population. town; so were the majority of metropolitan Second: Rural America is important because preachers and famous missionaries. It is not of the variety of its people, languages and prob- wealth and comfort, but character, hard work and lems. The occupations include not only the farm- opportunity that produce great leaders.
[275 ]
Fifth: Rural America is important because the religious liberty, and has refrained from saying future of the country is inseparably linked to that any missionaries have been or will be exrural life, for good or for evil. If the farmers' cluded on the ground of religion or nationality, families, and the small town and roadside popula- many missionaries-Swedish, British, French and tions, are neglected physically, intellectually and American-have already been asked to leave and spiritually they will starve or will poison the city others are being refused permission to return. and national life. Keep the sources pure and The Italian Government is also rendering some virile and the nation will feel the benefit; allow missions homeless by taking over their property. these sources to become corrupt and the nation It is even reported that Ethiopian Christians conwill decay. nected with Protestant societies are being ar- rested and exiled. Already the Vatican is send- Sixth: It is important to study Rural America, ing large numbers of Roman Catholic missionaries because this field has been grossly neglected. Peo- to bring the Coptic Church and the Ethiopians ple in many thinly populated areas have been al- under the sway of Rome. most or wholly without religious privileges – as among the mountains, mining settlements and It seems clear that Italy does not desire the scattered farm lands. In other cases villages and presence of alien and Protestant Christians in towns have been overchurched but undernour- Ethiopia. The reasons given by the Italiansished and have lived religiously at a poor dying charges of espionage, unfriendliness toward rate. There is great need for Christian readjust- Italian occupation and undue sympathy with ment and for cooperation between urban and Ethiopians – are evidently excuses to rid the suburban churches that have wealth in the midst country of non-Catholics and non-Italians. Natof plenty, and the rural parishes that are weak urally the Christian missionaries cannot view with and starving for leadership and material equip- complacency the wholesale killing of Ethiopians, ment. Let city churches assist rural parishes. without trial, but as ministers of Christ they do not engage in political activity. Italy does not Seventh: But the greatest reason for the study give the missionaries the right to defend themof Rural America is in order that the supreme selves against these charges before an impartial need of the rural peoples may be supplied – the tribunal. need for a clear knowledge of Christ and His Way of Life; the need for Christian training for chil- Full and correct information is difficult to obdren and youth; the need for effective leadership; tain on account of rigid government censorship the need for well-directed social life and Christian and because the few missionaries who- are still in activity. Addis Ababa believe that silence is "golden" at present. If any are permitted to remain it seems The careful and prayerful study of the needs that the privilege may be granted to a few of the and opportunities of rural America, and the ap- Protestant missionaries, including some United plication of these studies in practical lines of ac- Presbyterians, Seventh Day Adventists and tivity, should mean great blessing to America in thirty-five of the Sudan Interior Mission. both civic and rural life. Jesus Christ himself was brought up in a small village and spent most The real reasons for the Government's objecof His earthly life ministering to rural people in tion to Protestant missionaries seems to be Galilee. As a rule His parables were drawn from (1) that they are subjects of countries unfriendly the fields. Most of His early disciples were from to Italian occupation; (2) that they are true the country, and when they were scattered by per- friends of the Ethiopians and desire for them edusecution they went forth to preach the Gospel in cation and freedom, rather than exploitation or the towns and villages and by the wayside. extermination; (3) that Italy wishes to have undisputed, autocratic sway of Ethiopia, with It is clearly important that we make an earnest control over all educational and medical work; study of Rural America, with especial reference (4) that the government prefers to have Italian to discovering the ways in which Christ may have subjects as religious and secular teachers. a larger and more controlling influence on the fifty million men and women and children in our The latest authentic letter to come out of rural areas. To this end the mission study books Ethiopia from a reliable missionary source (dated have been prepared, Rural Life Sunday is ob- April 5) reveals some of the hardships and disserved, and for this purpose we offer this special couragements encountered and the Christlike issue of THE REVIEW. spirit with which these are met. This personal letter is, in part, as follows: CLOSING DOORS IN ETHIOPIA These have been most difficult and trying days but God's Conflicting reports come as to the outlook for grace is ever sufficient and He overrules all. On March 8, Protestant missionary work in the new Italian we received word from natives that our station (in the incolony. While the Government officially promises terior) had been plundered, one building burned, others torn down and used for firewood, and that "everything
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
had been stolen, so that not even a scrap of paper was to Nanking. While Generalissimo Chiang could not be pres- be seen on the place." While the losing of some things ent in person, he sent Colonel J. L. Huang, Director of the especially seemed hard we have committed it all to God New Life Movement, with an address to be read both in and praise Him that our lives have been spared. While Chinese and in English translation. Col. Huang was the our earthly possessions have thus been reduced to a mini- first person to fly from Nanking to Generalissimo Chiang mum we know that "all things work together for good to in Sian after his detention. In some ways it is a more those that love God and that are called according to His remarkable document than the speech on leaving Sian, for purpose." in this the Generalissimo bears open testimony to his Christian faith and describes the spiritual experience While we have felt for some time that for us this might which came to him during the crisis. (See page 274.) be the end of the work here, we have had no definite word to that effect. Permission was at first given for workers Things have been happening with bewildering rapidity to return to their stations, where the Italian army was in this ancient land. The "strange interlude" at Sian in occupation, and we looked forward to getting back to tested the mettle of the government and people. It showed — even if only for a short stay, to strengthen the the growing strength of the Central Government and re- Believers, encourage earnest seekers, and commit the work vealed Chiang's great hold upon the loyalty and affections into their hands. But on Easter Sunday we received word of the masses. Both Chinese rebel factions and the Japto come on to Addis as soon as possible. It would have anese military party were surprised at the steadiness of been difficult to go back to our station and say good-bye to the Government through the crisis and at the popular those whom we have learned to love. support evoked for Chiang. The good coming out of the serious trouble is increasingly apparent. There is hope While our work in Ethiopia for the present seems to be that the Central Government will come to some kind of ended, we are as'Sured that God's work is not finished. an agreement with the communist army which will pre- Pray for the little native church in this land, that those vent further war between the people of the same nation. who have been "called out" may be kept by the power of Many civil leaders and some military leaders in Japan God. His Word has been sown and His promise stands seem to have a new respect for China. Much needed resure that it shall not return unto Him void. Although so organization of the central and provincial government many of the Believers are only babes in Christ, God has upon a broader and surer basis is being quietly carried promised the Holy Spirit to make real the things of Christ out. The Generalissimo has the nation behind him as to His own; Please join us in claiming the fulfilment of never before in the great task of hUilding a modern State. these promises for the glory of God. He is facing his great responsibility and opportunity with humble faith in God and with ever-greater appreciation It is distressing to think of the dark days ahead of the life and example of Jesus Christ, and of the meanfor the Evangelical Church in Ethiopia but it is ing of the Cross. Why should not China and America encouraging to hear that even now some of these work together to help build a Christian world, a world of young Christians are undertaking to carryon the justice and peace? evangelistic work. Hardships and suffering and the necessity of depending wholly on God may be Various explanations have been offered for counted on to strengthen faith in the faithful and Chiang Kai-shek's release from his abductors. to develop character in those who have the Word The chief human factor was his Christian wife, of God and have received spiritual life. Mayling Soong Chiang, a graduate of Wellesley College. Mrs. Hugh W. White, a missionary in THE HOPE OF CHINA Yencheng, wrote in the Sunday School Times: All who have read the accounts of the capture Much prayer had been made for him, and many Chinese, and release of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek by not Christians themselves, realize that this [release] was the Chinese rebel forces at Sian last December, an answer to prayer. We hope and pray that the incident have new hope for China and the Chinese. In the may be greatly used to the furtherance of the Gospel. face of foreign invasion and domestic strife, with complications from famine and flood and the usual The North China Daily News gives the followand unusual problems of a great unorganized na- ing interesting sidelight: tion, it is clear that character, courage and intelligent, unselfish patriotism are what Chinese must On Christmas morning, Dr. Kung was praying as on have if China is to be saved. These character- other days. When he opened his Bible he found chapter 16 istics are promoted by Christian faith, such as is of the Acts, which tells of the release of St. Paul, and read evident in the Generalissimo and his devoted wife. verse 35: "And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go." Dr. Kung continued A letter recently received from Rev. Frank W. reading verses 36 to 40. He marvelled at the appropriate- Price, of Nanking, tells the story in part. He ness of these verses and felt strangely comforted at their writes: message. He then told his friends of his conviction that the Generalissimo would be released. The same afternoon news of General Chiang's freedom reached the Finance Minister.
When the Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek was released Madame Chiang Kai-shek's own story of the from his captivity in Sian, on last Christmas Day, he gave Generalissimo's capture and release reveals clearly a parting message to General Chang Hsueh-liang and her courage and faith in God. It will be rememother officers which, many think, will go down in Chinese bered that her mother was a highly respected history as the great utterance of a noble and magnani- Christian and her brother, T. V. Soong, and her mous statesman. It is already being printed in many sisters, Madame H. H. Kung and Madame Sun school textbooks.
On Good Friday a special Christian service was held in
Yat-Sen, are also Christians and prominent in toward Christian work in the country remains to government affairs. be seen. Men must find the light their souls crave, and Christ is the answer to Burma's needs. When Madame Chiang reached her husband in his captivity, he said: "Although I urged you not "When a big mining company builds a new road to come to Sian, I felt that I could not prevent it. through the hills to take their tin ores to market," When I opened my Bible this morning my eyes writes Rev. H. T. Marshall of Rangoon, "along lit on the words in J·eremiah 31: 22, "Jehovah will that same new road follows not only the worst of now do a new thing; that is he will make a Western life, with the products of distilleries and woman protect a man" (Chinese rendering). breweries, but Christian messengers in modern autos with the Word of life." Today a fellowship Madame Chiang not only prayed, with assur- with Christ is exemplified by His followers in ance that her prayers to God would be answered, Burma. but she comforted her husband saying: "God is with us. I am here to share your fate and to die Through the new Life that has come to them, with you if God so wills, and if He wills it other- Karens are now taking charge of the work which wise to live and work with you for the sake of the before had been under foreign misilionaries; the nation." people take part in meetings where formerly only the clergy officiated. Jungle women, usually so Madame Chiang also impressed upon the cap- shy that they could not utter a word in public, tor, General Chang Hsueh-liang, that he must re- now stand up without self-consciousness and tell pent of his act and must seek the guidance of in a straightforward way what new life in Christ God on all occasions. means to them. The progress of the work, the spiritual outlook and the effects of the Gospel on China's hope is in the development of strong conduct are very encouraging. National leader- Christian leaders and citizens who put an intel- ship, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, gives ligent desire to know and do the Will of God above these people release from old strangling customs personal ambition, and the good of their country and develops them into forward-looking Christian above self. It will not be forgotten that Chinese workers. "One supposedly Christian village," Christians, without the use of force, were used to says Mr. Marshall, "that six months ago was full bring about the release of the Chinese Generalis- of carousing and superstitious demon worship, simo. now realizes that God wants to use them to help reach neighboring villages; a large delegation re- THE NEW BURMA cently spent a whole forenoon in prayer and then started out to bring the Gospel to those whom six On April first Burma ceased to be counted a months before they would not have tried to part of India and became a separate dominion of reach." the British Empire. This means a new Burmese government with a British Governor General, a Burma needs national leadership that is Godnew Burmese House of Representatives and Sen- controlled and directed; Christian natives must ate, new Burmese stamps and coins-though the be the real evangelists of the country. The rupee will continue to be the medium of exchange. Church must be guided and filled by the Holy It is expected also that these changes will bring a Spirit if Burma is to experience the moving power new spirit of independence and self-expression. of God to make aNew Burma. May there also be a new spirit of progress and a new desire for righteousness and peace. THE GENERALISSIMO'S MORAL LAW There is much, however, that has not changed, These rules, by General Chiang Kai-shek, for with Burma's altered political status. The pre- Chinese soldiers are printed on a little card and vailing religion is still Buddhist with a strong distributed under the auspices of the Officers' mixture of animism, and the priests have a Moral Endeavor Association: strong hold on the populace. There is still poverty and ignorance among the masses. There is 1. Thou shalt not covet riches. great need for education and economic improve- 2. Thou shalt not fear to die. ment, but particularly the Burmese must have 3. Thou shalt not advertise thyself for vain glory. Christian standards of life if they are to become 4. Thou sbalt not be proud. a strong people. 5. Thou shalt not be lazy. 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery nor gamble. In the new government, Christians are taking 7. Thou shalt not smoke. an active part. One of the six cabinet ministers 8. Thou shalt not drink wine. is a Karen, a fine Christian young man. Several 9. Thou shalt not borrow money. other Christians are in the House of Representa- 10. Thou shalt not lie. tives. Thra San Baw of Tharrawaddy and Dr. Ma Saw Sa, the leading Burmese lady doctor, are Christian senators. What attitude the new government, with its Buddhist slant, is going to take
Challenge of the Rural
By the REV. MARK A. DAWBER, Philadelphia, Pa.
_.<t!if Superintendent, Town and Country Work, Methodist Episcopal Jil.- Church; Author of "Rebuilding Rural America"
THE changing conditions of life everywhere lowed to degenerate, industry is itself in peril. It are making new and stern demands upon the would therefore seem wise to realize that the na- institutions of society. Government, busi- tion's economic life is all of the same piece. Our ness, agriculture, education-all are being called civilization has become so interlocked and inter- upon to meet the exigencies of a changed and con- dependent that all parts must work well if any of stantly changing world. Religion and the Chris- it is to work well. Therefore, the reconstruction tian Church are no exception to this rule; rather of agriculture and the stabilizing of the economic it would be a fair statement to say that perhaps life of rural people is of vast importance not only the Church is being tested today as no other in- to rural people, but to city people. Now the stitution. The conditions are widespread and church has much at stake in this consideration.
there is no avenue of life that has not been touched The church is always the first institution to suffer by these forces of change. No group of people or as the result of economic collapse. Much of its community anywhere is so remote that it has support comes out of the surplus and in times like been able to escape the impact of the changing those through which we are passing, the church conditions of our modern life. Rural communities has suffered out of all proportion. But it is not are tremendously involved. In fact, we make bold in the interest of its own selfish life that the to declare that in comparison the changes that church must be concerned, on the contrary. The have taken place during the past decade are such urge and the implication of the Gospel it preaches that rural America is now more seriously affected are the major reasons for its interest and the dy- than are the urban centers. What is the meaning namic for its activity to help obtain economic of this for the church? justice and social security for the farm families'
The changed rural community constitutes an in America. This is a challenge that now comes imperative challenge to the church today. We are out of rural life with the urgency of immediate conc~rned that the rural church shall face this need and with a sense of national importance that challenge. The obligation rests upon it to estab- the Church cannot afford to ignore or avoid.
lish the new rural civilization that is now emerg- The Challenge of the Enlarged Community ing, upon solid foundations of spiritual truth and to instill into it that quality of life, without which Anothli!r vast change that comes out of modern no worthy or enduring civilization can be estab- rural life is that of a new geographical area that lished. now constitutes the working community of rural America. Most of the present church buildings The Challenge of Economic Justice and their parish lines were the product of the old The first important challenge of rural America agricultural community life. The range was that is that of a very drastic change in its economic of horse and buggy on a mud road. Some eight life. The economic dislocation that has befallen to ten miles radius was the extent, and, in many urban America was inevitable. A short-sighted cases, less than that. Some fifty families was a industrial leadership, satisfied with the joyride of good basis of support. The school, the economic a false prosperity had concluded that it could last life, the social organization, and the total institu- forever. This leadership seemed oblivious to the tionallife including the church were the reflex of fact that these so-called values were mere paper a fifty to sixty family community. It was the day values; the moment these values were challenged of the self-sufficing agriculture, the little red they collapsed like a pack of cards. The deflation schoolhouse, a simple satisfying social life that has reacted of course, upon agriculture; but it was developed around the farm home. This has must be remembered that the plight of agricul- all been shattered. The economic range is now ture during the peak of our industrial prosperity unlimited, but at least it can be said, that it has is, in a very important way, the explanation of the been enlarged to include the county. Because of collapse of industry. Agriculture is the founda- the economic changes, farmers are county con- tion of industry, and whenever agriculture is al- scious. The schools for the most part are con- [279 ]
solidated and take in several of the old-time com- new Christian statesmanship if it is ever going munities making them one in educational purpose to arrive. and spirit. The social life is mostly expressed at the county seat town. The movie and the dance But with all our material progress, good roads hall dominate. This changed scale of rural life and rapid transportation, there has come accomis a real challenge to the church in rural Amer- panying problems of poverty and neglect. The ica to reconstruct itself to meet a new and en- automobile and the hard roads have been a boon larged community of interests and sometimes a to millions, but there is a sense in which they have confusion and conflict of purposes; to reorganize also proved a bane to others. They have put milthe parish boundaries so as to include the larger lions of people on the main highway and the geographical unit as a single parish; to find ways beaten track, but corresponding millions have and means among the several differing denomina- been removed from it. There is a new religious tions to adjust their differences and to unite in neglect in rural life. Those who are living on the some constructive forward looking, adventurous dirt road and in the marginal sections of rural program to make a single impact of religion in America are more isolated and neglected than the interests of a larger and more Christian king- ever, so far as religious privileges are concerned. dom building type. In the old days when all the people lived on dirt roads and the means of transportation was a horse In saying this we are not unmindful of the diffi- and buggy, all were in the range of parish visitaculties that this presents. To bring together town tion. The preacher also had his horse and all and country people in some common purpose for homes were almost equally accessible. Now few spiritual advancement is no easy task, but that it preachers have a horse and hence the people livmust be achieved is now clearly evident to all those ing on the side roads, that in the winter are deep who in recent years have been giving time and with mud, are seldom, if ever, reached with a thought to this matter. An intelligent engineered religious ministry. This is also true of the chilalignment is now necessary to any future rural dren and young people where the small schools progress. Good roads, automobiles, radios, tele- are still maintained off the hard roads. They are phones and other instruments that have conquered a most neglected group, and where these conditime and distance, require that some similar prog- tions obtain, there is a religious destitution and a ress shall take place in those forces and agencies growing paganism that should be a matter of deep that govern human relations. Some progress is concern for the church. The situation as here evidenced in the reorganization of the economic stated is not confined to anyone part of the coun- 'and the educational life, but much remains to be try. It is not a condition that is isolated to the done. But the religious life of town and country traditional backwoods' sections, but it exists in for the most part, is a standing rebuke to the the most highly developed eastern states. Maine church and a stern challenge to readjust itself to and Vermont are equally in need with Arkansas a more scientific demand and the enlarged com- and Georgia. This is a condition that calls for a munity that have come in the trail of recent social new missionary passion and a new consecration change in rural America. To revise and reor- on the part of the church and its rural ministry. ganize our systems of society, local government, political, educational and social institutions of The Challenge of the Rural Home rural life is a difficult task indeed; when we come to the institutions of religion the difficulty is in- The rural community is also presenting a new creased many times, and in this realm of read- challenge to the church at the point of the changjusting the church of rural America to these new ing farm home. Drastic changes in the methods demands of community life, will require the in- of agriculture are breaking down the family type sight and courage of a new and greater statesman- farming and hence destroying the farm home type ship than that of yesterday. In this, of course, we of community. The trend toward mass produc- are dealing with human nature, with all its weak- tion and single commodity farming is one of the ness and frailty, and we are fully conscious that danger spots in our present system. Capitalistic a thing is not always going to be achieved because large scale agriculture should be discouraged. It it is logical or right; the temptation is very great does not make for the larger prosperity of all, but to cling to the habits and ideas of yesterday, and it has resulted in the disintegration of the farm to huddle around vested interests the moment family and the destruction of the community there is a suggestion of change. Nowhere is this spirit. As a further result we now have the poor- temptation greater than in the institution of reli- est social order in rural America in those states gion and the rural church has some added diffi- where we have the richest soil. Here we find the culties at this point that are in a class by them- tenant farmer and the sharecropper or transient selves. But the fact remains that rural progress and migrant labor. Here we find our weak in the church and elsewhere must wait upon this churches, our poorest homes, and our most prolific sources of crime. The cure will be found in the 1937] THE CHALLENGE OF THE RURAL COMMUNITY discouragement of the capitalistic competitive man race. We are also slowly but surely learriing , profit-seeking agriculture and the encouragement that a man's life does not consist of the abundance of the family-type of farm ownership and opera- of things, but in seeking the satisfaction of his tion.· Observation would suggest that the best mind and spirit, without which things, in them- social order and the most satisfying rural com- selves, have little or no value. They become a munities are those in which dwell a large per- stumblingblock to the highest progress. Rural centage of family home farmers. Farm owners life is in particular peril at this point just now.
are the most reliable citizens. They support Farmers have been more naturally a religious peo- schools and churches, and elevate the moral and ple. But the emphasis upon material development spiritual standards of the community in which in recent years has gone far to create a materi- they live. Home ownership integrates and sta- alistic conception of life in rural America.
bilizes the moral and spiritual characteristics of We need a culture that will bring to rural life the people. It makes for a more reliable and a worthier sense of its rightful heritage, that will trustworthy citizen and nowhere is this so true create in the minds of rural people an apprecia- as on the farm. tion of those more permanent satisfactions that Other forces also are operating to break down can be achieved by a rural culture. But we :need the home life of rural America. The fact that also to decide as to what are the earmarks of such many rural communities have not organized to a culture. It must be distinctive and characterprotect themselves against the dumping of the istic of rural environment. It must be something road houses and dance halls into the country, that grows out of the soil and the people who have where they would not be permitted in the county their roots in the soil. We must refuse to accept seat towns, is a matter for serious consideration. a culture that is imposed from without. But this Other changes could also be cited that would go rural culture of which we have been writing must to illustrate and explain this tragic condition of also be part of a social and spiritual vitality that the rural home. These all constitute an unprece- will prevent the city from either dominating or dented challenge to the rural church. It must draining the countryside. Any true rural culture stake its life in its defence of the family farm must spring from life in the country. Therefore enterprise. Human values are the primary values. the social and spiritual development of any life The end in view is a satisfying life and not the must be closely related to the common task. Life quantity or even the quality of goods. The farmer in the country is simpler than life in the city is more important than the farm. To restore the and should be kept so as far as possible. It is family farmer to agriculture and to give dignity nearer to nature and to God. Life on the farm, and restore the sacred meaning to the farm home, under the open sky, the changing seasons as they would achieve not only an economic society that is come and go, the growing things, the soil, the now essential to permanent social stability, but trees, the stock, flowers, birds, grass, mountains spiritual gains would result that cannot obtain and running brooks – these surely have the posunder any other system. The rural church would sibilities of a great and worth-while culture that render the Kingdom a great service in giving voice has vast social and spiritual implications. But to this imperative need of reestablishing agricu1- this social expression and spiritual impetus must ture on a family farm basis and in conserving be rooted in the things of rural life. Too much of those home values that are basic to a Christian rural religion has been a thing apart. It has failed civilization. to build itself upon the foundations of these na- tive values in rural life. Now the time has come The Challenge of Spiritual Need when those who believe in rural America, who live There is another important challenge that comes on the farm and appreciate its possibilities for a out of these several considerations of the chang- full and satisfying life, must band themselves to- ing life of rural America. It is that of a vital cul- gether for a courageous forward movement to ture and a new social and spiritual vitality. Much achieve this social and spiritual vitalizing of rural attention has been given to the production side of life. Most of the satisfactions of rural life are rural life. Agriculture has been developed to a still to be achieved by this appreciation and culti- high point of efficiency. Science and invention vation of these simpler worthwhile things. Life have made possible a basis of economic produc- grows rich only in worthwhile friendships and in tion way beyond the wildest dreams of living man. those lasting values that are alone to be found in But science and invention, while able to satisfy human relations and in man's relation to God.
man's wants, offer no help in assisting man in de- The rural community is calling for a leadership ciding what he should want. We have made two that will go forward with such a program. It is blades of grass grow where only one grew before, the outstanding and urgent obligation of Ameri- but we have not found a way to make that extra can statesmanship, but it is above everything else blade of grass serve the best interests of the hu- a clear clarion call to the Christian Church.
Forgotten Man of the Back
-sf I By ANN MITCHELL, a Country Neighbor I Je- ~==========================~ W E HEAR much about "the forgotten will pay tuition for any boys and girls who wish man." I know him! He lives next door to attend the one in the town, nine miles away. to us, here on the back road. His farm It is twelve to the high school from our four was once one of the finest in the county. His corners, and there is no trolley or bus available. grandfather cleared the land, building literally What good is tuition without transportation for miles of neat stone wall, planting a maple grove a boy who cannot afford even a Model T and the and an apple orchard, and putting up buildings of gas to run it? The bright children are through which he could be justly proud. His father car- the grades at twelve or thirteen (the dull ones ried on successfully for a while, but lost his cour- have to go until they are sixteen!). When a boy age when the new "Black Road," instead of pass- has been out of school for four or five years he ing his place, followed the river, four miles to the feels quite like a man of the world and ready to south, and later the lake shore, five miles to the establish a home of his own. The critical years north. Electricity and other "advantages" fol- of adolescence spent in loafing about an idle farm, lowed the improved highway, while his dirt road hanging around lumber camps, spending on movies and dance halls the money earned by do- ing odd jobs here and there-what a poor prep- aration for successful living!
Jim married at nineteen, and Jimmie Junior was born just six months later, on Addie's seven- teenth birthday. Before Jim was thirty there were seven children, and he had seldom had steady work on which he could depend from month to month. He would have liked to bring the old farm back to its former prestige, but how could he? It takes so long to put any farm project on a paying basis, and some capital is absolutely THE CAMP THAT JIM BOUGHT necessary. There was no money for plowing and harrowing, for fertilizer and seed. There was no became more neglected each year. How could he money to buy really good stock, and if Jim had hope to compete with men to whom modern im- been able to secure a horse and cows and chickens, provements were easily available, and whose there was no money with which to buy feed for produce could reach the markets so much more them. So there was. nothing to do but take the quickly and safely? Better to put down the fields odd jobs by which he could earn enough to buy to grass, work his horses on the rapidly spread- bread for the family (often bread without butter, ing network of state roads in the spring, do odd to say nothing of jam!) and let the big barn stand jobs for the summer colony during July and empty and the fields run out. By the time he in- August, hoping to get a job in the woods in the herited the place all the buildings were in bad con- winter. He managed fairly comfortably, but his dition. There was no money for repairs!
son, our friend Jim, is not faring so well. And When we came to the corner six years ago the no one seems to care! Apparently everyone-Road paint was gone from the dignified old house-it Commissioners, Board of Education, Public Utility looked as bad as the abandoned one we had ac- Commissioners and, until recently, even the quired! Sills were rotting, kitchen floor wearing Church Board have forgotten Jim and his prob- through, walls shabby and soiled, furniture lems. broken, and everything dejected looking and down We boast of our "New England traditions"! at the heel. Even the pump had given out, and There are five colleges in our state, and several Addie was drawing water from the well with a fine academys, but Jim was through school when bucket on a worn rope. What wonder that she he was thirteen years old! Our village, like many used it sparingly, and that her clothes were al- another in this section, has no high school, but ways a "tattle-tale gray"! They used kerosene [282 ] lamps and wood fires. The children went to a friends along the back road – people of fine old one-room school with an old air-tight stove-all American stock, everyone. People with kind the (in) conveniences of grandmother's day, in hearts, most of them; men who mean well; New England in nineteen thirty-one! women who carryon bravely and cheerfully under almost unsurmountable difficulties. But they have Jim's home is typical of many in this regionback three or four miles from the state highways. THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT Of course grandmother married young, lived on a dirt road and raised a large family with just such had no educational opportunities, no economic seprimitive equipment, but it does not matter so curity, no social standards (they are unmoral, not much where you are as the direction in which you immoral!) , no proper health care. And the chilare going! Our grandparents were pioneers in dren – many of them so neglected that they are the vanguard of progress, and were helping to growing up to be a menace to society! build a new world. Jim, and the many others like him, are bringing up the rear and are slipping When We Came to the Back Road farther and farther back as time marches on! When my family and I came to the Back Road They are living in old neglected homesteads, in six years ago, we had been driven from a suburban shacks covered with tar paper, in lumber camps. home by the "depression," and for some time were Always and everywhere there are the children! too deeply absorbed in our own problems to ap- preciate our neighbors. We thought that we were There's Jack; he inherited no farm, and lives poor, but when we gathered up the pieces after on waste land at the other end of nowhere with "the crash" we found that we had enough to make his gentle little wife and nine children. (The the old house comfortable and give it something tenth will arrive this summer, and I suppose the of its early charm. We were able to make over town will have to pay the doctor's bill, as usual!) the big barn into a hennery and to stock it with Jack has lost what pride he had and does not hesi- good birds. Going back to grandmother's day tate to "call on the town" – more often than is was for us a real adventure, and we are making a necessary, some folks think! They call him a success of things in spite of poor roads, lack of worthless fellow, but the shack he made out of electricity and other conveniences. When we betwo old henhouses, a pile of weathered, unplaned gan to look about we found ourselves faced as boards and rolls of black paper is somehow attrac- never before with the problem of stewardship. tive! The small rooms are neatly lined with cor- Of course we plunged with enthusiasm into the rugated pasteboard, and he has planted little ever- work of the newly formed Larger Parish which greens in the door yard. The children are bright was seeking to reach the back roads with its proand clean and mannerly, but the two oldest, thir- gram, but-that was not enough! It is one thing teen and fifteen, are "through school" and have to live in a neighborhood where everyone is more gotten in with a pretty rough crowd! than comfortable and to feel that you are truly Christian if, while enjoying your own pet lux- Bob is a clever workman, but "awful easy go- uries, you give (conveniently!) to the work of the ing" and his wife is just plain lazy, so folks say! local church. It is quite another thing to live next Their house, which started to be a nice little place door to a family like Jim's and feel truly Christian on the hill overlooking the lovely lake, is filled to while enjoying even pet comforts, to say nothing overflowing with children – his and hers and of luxuries, and we like to feel that we are doing theirs! Poor Sally! She certainly has had no our share in building a church program here that chance! Married at fifteen~because she had. to is adequate. The personal ways in which we have be! – divorced at seventeen, married again at been able to help are so small and so obvious that eighteen to a widower with three small children; it seems hardly worth while to tell of them, but I now, at twenty_six, she is herself the mother of sometimes wonder if it is not here, after all, that six and has the other three to care for, and abso- we are getting at the real heart of the problem! lutely nothing to do it with! Sharing, cooperating, working and playing to- gether-is not that the way out? Then there are Harry and Laura. They have a new camp of two rooms, each ten by twelve feet. He was seventeen and she sixteen when they were married six years ago; now they have four adorable children. Laura keeps the tiny home as neat as a pin and the children are well cared for, but her face is very sad! Harry likes a good time, and is tired of a wife who is always either carrying or nursing a baby and can never go with him to dance halls; so-he is "running around" with a girl from the Creek!
These are only a few of our neighbors – our
Of course it takes understanding and patience buy grain for Jim's stock-he has some nowand tact, and most of all appreciation and real and he takes care of our cows to pay for it. Addie affection. Addie and her friends initiated me into wanted a small flock of hens, so we let her pick the mysteries of old-fashioned housekeeping. I twenty pullets from among our birds; she is sortdid not know how to cook with a wood fire, to care ing our eggs to pay for them.' One year we gave for kerosene lamps, to rub clothes clean on a washboard, to make good country butter! In return I three of the neighbors seed and fertilizer; in rehave introduced them to the world of literature turn they helped with our garden and haying. and music, and the charm of afternoon tea! At Sara, down the road a piece, needed a bed that we first my cups had to travel up and down the coun- were not using and I needed help with housecleantryside, as no one else had enough to go round! ing. We have been able to keep a small fund in We have now our Woman's Club with four charter the savings bank for emergencies-a fund which members; our neighborhood suppers and parties, would have seemed absurdly inadequate in the our Sunday-night sings. At first standards dif- days before "the crash" but now it gives us a comfered so much that it was hard to find a common fortable feeling of security. Last year we found language; I have to remember always that we do that Ed was going to lose his farm, as a threenot try to reform our friends, we only love them! hundred-dollar mortgage was proving impossible. Sometimes it is hard not to feel discouraged. Two In the "good old days" we would have said that years ago when Jim Junior was only eighteen, it was "just too bad, but what could we do about and without a sign of a job, he married a slip of it?" As Back Road Christians with an emergency a girl of seventeen, and last year his sister, Emma, fund we felt that we had to do something about who is not bright, had a baby without being mar- it! We bought that mortgage and told Ed that ried at all! Though we lived right next door, we he could take his time to pay it. The amazing could not do anything about it, except to keep on part of it is that with the fear of foreclosure reloving and standing by! moved Ed has straightened his shoulders and tightened his belt and has gone to work with new Most of these country people are self-respecting will. This spring he has paid not only the interand proud. Many of them would starve before est but twenty-five dollars on the principal! they would accept "charity" but-they are glad to share. When we came up here we had many more Jim Junior and his Ruthy lived with the old things than we needed! What right had I to two folks, but she was not happy. When he had a coats, when the woman at the corner had none? chance to buy a "camp" for thirty dollars he came Extra curtains-why lay them away for future to talk it over. Such an edifice would not add to use when they would transform Abbie's shabby the beauty of the neighborhood, and the logical parlor? Garden surplus, cracked eggs, skimmed place to put it was almost in our door yard; but milk-it is so easy and happy to say "I find that building lives is certainly much more important I don't need this. Can you make use of it?" Our than architectural style! We advanced the money car-often in the early days-was the only one on and now the young people are making the tiny the hill that could be relied on for the trip to town. place into a real home. They are paying for it This presented more of a problem. But when I little by little, sometimes in cash and sometimes explained that it was God's car and I only had the in labor. privilege of driving it, folks smiled indulgently, but found it easy to accept its favors without Bob has an old car, but had not been able to pay "loss of face." We long ago lost count of the the tax and register it this year. When he had a neighborhood trips it has made-taking people to ch~nce to work in the woods beyond walking dischurch services and farm bureau meetings in the tance we let him have money to put the Ford on village, to clinics in the city thirty miles away, to the road, and he is reducing the debt a bit each and from the hospital, and out for supplies in pay day. emergencies. It is understood that our linen and sick-room equipment are available in time of These are a few of the "emergencies" in which illness. If there is something that we can borrow, our fund has helped out. It has also paid doctor's our friends are just delighted! bills, provided glasses for weak eyes, even bought tires for a Model T, and neighborhood needs have For a while, before a P. W. A. project started been met without injury to anyone's self-respect! near us we were the only family at the Corners who had any steady cash income. During that Understanding, sympathy, affection-only as period we bought groceries for all, and found some work on our place that the others could do to pay we have these, the qualities of true neighborliness, for their share. That was the beginning of a can we appreciate the problems, the handicaps and system of sharing resources which has been in the possibilities of others. When we do really apsuccessful operation for three or four years. We preciate what the other fellow is "up against" we feel that we must share our resources, material and spiritual. When all are willing to share there will be no "forgotten man" on the back roads, but everyone will have a fair chance to make good!
Fields in Rural
By the REV. Wm. R. KING, D.D., New York Executive Secretary of the Home Missions Council I T IS difficult to answer directly and specifically building and then rested back comfortably upon inquiries about unchurched communities, neg- the illusion that the field was occupied, Gospel lected groups, and overlooked areas. There is privileges were provided and the field was no a lack of clear understanding as to what is meant longer neglected. That general notion has perby "neglected fields." Shifts and changes are sisted until the present day. Denominational constantly taking place in communities and among executives still claim that a field is not neglected groups, and there is a lack of accurate and up-to- if there is any semblance of church or religious date information, although we have been actively service no matter how occasional or how inadeengaged for the past ten years in making surveys quate the religious program and the church minand accumulating information along these lines. istry may be. This is one of the greatest diffi· A large amount of data has been gathered and culties in the way of comity adjustments today. published in articles, pamphlets, and books, as a Denominations will claim and hold on to a field, result of surveys which include about twenty-five even though there be only an occasional service states. Some studies have been intensive, reach- and no community ministry whatever. ing down into counties, communities and indi- As a matter of fact, any community that has not vidual parishes. an adequate, efficient and effective church min- What is a "neglected field"? There is quite a istry is "a neglected field." A district cannot be difference of opinion among church leaders upon classed as "occupied" without a proper evaluation this point. Some seem to think that if there is a of the character of the religious program that is church building with an occasional service by some being provided. By any adequate evaluation of itinerant missionary or circuit rider, that field is church ministry we must confess that there are not neglected. This is a general opinion among vast numbers of fields in rural America that are some denominational administrators. It is an in- being neglected by the Church. This fact has been herited attitude from the past. When the country abundantly established by the surveys and studies was new and home missions meant church ex- that have been made during the past decade. tension and the planting of churches in new communities, it was generally accepted that a field was It is not too much to say, speaking generally of occupied if it had an occasional ministry and par- the rural church of the present day, that most ticularly if it had a church building. The ques- rural communities in America are neglected by tion of program and efficiency did not enter the Church. By and large in America the rural largely into the consideration; it was a mere church is not functioning adequately and effecmatter of being on the ground. ,It was somewhat tively. It is distressing to ride through the coun- tryon the train, or especially by automobile, and like homesteading in the early days when the observe the little one-room, unpainted, unkept, pioneer went into the new section and drove down neglected churches which give every indication of his stake and entered his claim. He felt that the neglect, inadequacy, and decay. Many are actually farm was his. It mattered not how much or how dead or in a rapid decline. It is estimated that little improvement he had put on it or how well they are passing out at the rate of about 1,000 a he was occupying the land. He had preempted year. The "little church at the cross-roads" is it; he had established his claim; he was able to very largely a thing of the past. In these days say "This is mine." Therefore, it was "occupied" of new highways and automobiles, the rural farmland. In the same way, in the great West churches are, as a rule, no longer at the cross- especially, the churches were established in the roads. They are not on the new routes of traffic early days. Ambitious denominational superin- and are no longer located in strategic places. tendents and pioneer missionaries went into these Many of them are out of the way, inaccessible, new territories and drove down their ecclesiastical and no longer "by the side of the road." The stakes, preempted a corner lot, brought a few pea- very location makes it almost impossible for them pIe together and organized them into a church. to render an effective service. Possibly they erected a little one-room church The new day has brought improvement in rural [285 ]
homes.· It has brought electric lights and many First, there is the United Parish Plan or what other luxuries of our modern life. It has brought is generally called the Larger Parish Plan. The the new consolidated school. It has obliterated concensus of opinion of the best informed and distances and eliminated time but the little, dilap- wisest leaders of country church work is that the idated, country church still stands as a relic of a only hope, and the only possible way to provide past and as an indictment against the present an adequate ministry to these neglected rural statesmanship of the Church. fields, is through some form of interdenomina- Surveys made in recent years in New England, tional cooperation.
for example, show a rapid decline of country These places that are being over-looked and churches throughout the whole of that region, and neglected are not wanted by any denomination.
general inefficiency which is alarming. These They are not looked upon as worth while for they surveys divide the communities into three classes: are liabilities rather than assets. They are too those inadequately churched, the communities ade- expensive and too unprofitable. Even the new quately churched, and those that were over- sects that are springing up so rapidly, and are churched. In New Hampshire, for example, 33 making such remarkable headway in these hectic towns or townships were classified as inadequately days, are overlooking these rural communities and churched. These, for the most part, are towns are centering their efforts upon the towns and with small populations and open country commu- cities, rushing into communities that are already nities. In many of these communities it would not overchurched, watching for every possible oppor- be possible to support a church but, nevertheless, tunity of establishing themselves in the centers of the question of neglect and absence of religious population.
privilege exi&ts. In Maine, 131 towns were classi- If anything is to be done for the neglected rural fied as inadequately churched; in almost all cases fields, it must be done on a much more generous the populations were small. The total population and much more unselfish basis than heretofore.
of 131 towns was only 38,000, in no instance was They must no longer be exploited for denomina- any more than 1,000; the average was around tional interests. They must be served unselfishly 300. In all of these communities the churches in the interests of the neglected people and of the were weak and inadequate, and most of them Kingdom of God. There must be interdenomina- functioned only for part of the year. In the tional planning and strategy if there is to be any- other New England states the same general situa- thing like an equalization· of religious privileges tion obtains. Vermont perhaps presents the most throughout rural America. Everyone in every distressing exhibit of neglected rural churches in community, however small it may be, has a right New England. to the ministries of the Church, but these rights There are many sections in the mountain areas will never be secured so long as rural America is of the South and in the Ozarks and in the inter- regarded as a battlefield for warring Christian mountain region of the West, where rural com- denominations and rival sects. It is a question of munities are either without any church at all or Christian statesmanship and loyalty to Christ and have very weak and inadequate churches. There concern for the establishment of His Kingdom.
are also racial groups of people in the rural areas Will we be big enough and brave enough and un- who are neglected; for whom no ministry is be- selfish enough to build an adequate church in every ing provided. This is perhaps the most difficult rural community in America?
problem of all to meet. They are, as a rule, scat- A second solution 'for the rural church problem tered and few in number in anyone locality, thus is a trained rural church leadership. The greatest making it difficult to gather them into a church weakness of the Church in rural America is the organization, or to absorb them in any existing lamentable lack of an effective program, an edu- body. But they are neglected so far as any reli- cated ministry and a trained Christian leadership. gious privileges are concerned and are presenting This is not a pleasant thing to say. It sounds to the church one of its rural problems. harsh, critical and unappreciative. But it is one The results of these surveys and studies, made of those "stubborn facts" that cannot be ignored over wide areas of the country, present a very in any proper evaluation of the rural church.
discouraging picture of the rural church in Amer- There are, of course, many exceptions. There are ica. This is the biggest problem facing American some educated and successful rural pre3:chers. Christianity today. There are some outstanding, well-functioning Three Possible Solutions country churches. But they are like hens' teeth- not enough to be very 'effective. It must be said What can be done about it? This is not an easy also, in all fairness, that the great majority of question to answer. As I see it, there are three rural preachers are men of fine character and possible solutions of the rural church problem. commendable consecration; many of them have
FARM TENANTS AND SHARECROPPERS
useful natural gifts. This is true of many moun- specially-trained, high-grade pastoral leadership tain preachers in the Southern Highlands. They have a gift of oratory and leadership and enjoy if it is to survive. the respect and confidence of the people. They are devoted and consecrated. They love their The third sQlution Qf the rural church problem Lord and have a passion for souls. But they are uneducated and untrained; many of them cannot in neglected fields is a real-to-goodness interderead and write. Very few of them have ever had a high school course; still fewer have a college nominational comity. Overchurching in small training, and iewer still have ever attended a theological school. communities is a glaring disgrace to American Some of the denominations have tried to help Protestantism. Every denomination wants to these untrained men by means of summer schools, conferences, and short courses. The Home Mis- be in the most. promising communities. No one sions Council has sponsored about a score of summer schools for rural pastors for many years. wants the "byways and hedges." The selfish ag- Home mission boards have used circulating libraries, special scholarships and other devices to gression of denominations in crowding into almake up to their rural pastors what they need in special training. A few theological seminaries ready occupied fields and the willful tenacity with are beginning to give special courses for young men preparing for the rural ministry. But these which they cling to these overchurched communimethods are all inadequate; they do not meet the need. The rural church must have well-educated, ties is the "scandal of Christianity." Unless this can be overcome, I see no hope for the church in these little rural fields. Something has been done in comity and much is now being done to correct the evils of overchurching and competition, but much more must be dQne and done quickly if the neglected rural fields are to be given a worth while church ministry.
I submit these three things as the only possible ways of reaching the neglected fields in Rural America-the United Parish Plan, a trained lead- ership, and an effective comity.
J Farm Tenants and Sharecroppers By CHARLES M. McCONNELL, -.~ Boston, Massachusetts }at– Interseminary Commission for Training for the Rural Ministry FARM tenancy is one of the major issues be- A committee of forty members appointed by the fore the people of the United States. Sociol- President of the United States has just reported ogists refer to it as "our greatest social their findings on farm tenancy. humiliation." Another writer, with a theological bent, has called tenancy "the besetting sin of An issue which is rated with such importance American agriculture." A governor of Arkansas by national leaders cannot go unnoticed by the recently broke into The New York Times with Church. There are some moral issues involved in this statement about tenancy: this system which must not be ignored or allowed to go unchallenged by churchmen. No easy-going I recognize the seriousness of the tenant farmer or tolerance can stand in the way of drawing up an sharecropper problem. For decades it has been developed indictment by the Church against the evils of a and in recent years has grown to such proportions and system which has created widespread poverty, such serious condition that the problem must be settled if oppression and human wreckage. But along with Arkansas is to have peace among its citizenship. The any challenge to the evils of tenancy there must plight of the sharecropper may be exaggerated in some go a positive, constructive and statesmanlike reports but the thing itself-the system-is eating at the church program to solve such moral problems that vitals of the South's economic structure. tenancy creates. In this field the words of the Church must "become flesh and dwell among" the Strong words are these from one whose admin- farm tenants in the uttermost parts of America. istration was marked by bitter struggles between sharecroppers and planters, and who should know The nature and extent of farm tenancy must be "the system" thoroughly. Political leaders have understood before the Church can propose the begun to consider the problem of farm tenancy simplest remedies. A farm tenant is any person and two leaders of Congress have gone on record who hires the farm land which he operates as a by saying, "The tenancy problem is the paramount farm. Two million eight hundred and sixty thouchallenge before the 1937 session of Congress."
sand tenant farmers operate forty-two per cent of ants. Security of tenure is by no means guar- the farms in the United States. These tenants anteed by an uncertain title, for rent is some- are distributed over rich lands and poor lands times easier to raise than interest on a mortgage. with startling unevenness. Contrast the 4.5 % of Furthermore there is no relief from farm tenancy farm tenants in Maine with the 72.20/0 of farm in sight that will catapult the whole mass of farm tenants in Mississippi. Iowa, with the highest tenants into owners. A proposal was recently percentage of its land under cultivation, has 47.3 % made to set up a revolving fund of $50,000,000 by of farm tenants. The 6,288,648 farms of the the United States Government and the Secretary United States with their total population of 32,- of Agriculture quickly pointed out that such a 200,000 are operated by a tenant population fund for the use of tenants in the purchase of land slightly under one-half the total and a land own- would require two hundred and thirty years to ing population somewhat above the one-half mark. eliminate the tenants now on the land.
To get at the real problems of farm tenancy we The Church can recognize tenancy as a present must delve deeper into the system and unearth the necessity and go ahead ministering to tenant and meaning of sharecropping in rural America. The landlord alike without regard to their relation to sharecroppers work the land for a share of the the land. Ministers can well add the words, "both cash crop and need to have furnished for them to tenant and landlord," to St. Paul's list of those farm tools, work animals, fertilizer for the cash to whom he was indebted, found in the first chapcrop and generally the food they consume during ter of Romans. In the most extreme cases of the crop growing season. The South is the home strain between tenant and land owner, the minof this sharecropping system and cotton is the crop which is shared. None of the cotton grow- ister can at least recognize the fact that the sysing states fall below sixty per cent in farm ten- tem is in part responsible for the poverty of each. ancy. The Census Bureau of the United States But the land itself needs an advocate to plead its has defined a tenant plantation as a continuous cause. Tenancy has robbed the soil of its basic tract of land of considerable area under the gen- fertility to such an extent that erosion, impov- erishment and soil destruction have resulted over eral control or supervision of a single individual or one seventh of the once productive crop area of firm, all or a part of such tract being divided into the United States. {(The earth is the Lord's" and at least five smaller tracts which are leased to not the landlord's is an appropriate text for a tenants. This landless, debt-ridden and depend- sermon to farmers. ent tenant, white or Negro, operating a twentyfive or thirty acre plot of cotton land on a tenant Sharecropping in the South is the hot spot in plantation, is in a class of farm tenancy by him- this whole tenancy system. The Church, both self and is the central figure of farm tenancy in local and general, is involved in the system. The the United States. local congregation is in an area where three- fourths of the entire population live upon the The Church and the Sharecroppers land: No other section has such excessive over- Before considering the evils of this sharecrop- churching and at the same time so many comping system and making a wholesale criticism of munities (ten per cent) unchurched by Protestant farm tenancy we must separate the system from bodies. Nearly seventy per cent of the country its evils. Tenancy is often called the agricultural churches have nonresident ministers. Ninety per ladder on which an energetic young man might cent of the white rural Baptist and Methodist ascend from hired man to tenant and to land- churches have once-a-month services. The large tenant class-72.2% in Mississippi, 63 % in Arowner. Census data give ground for this ladder theory for 24 % of all farm owners were formerly kansas, 66.6 % in Louisiana, and so on through tenants, and 20 % had been both farm laborers the cotton belt-are largely not being reach~d by and tenants previous to their status as farm the churches. Although 59.5% of the farm own- owners. There are thousands of farm tenants ers are members of the church only 33.50/0 of the who are living on land which they do not own and tenant class are so counted. Nevertheless the are rendering a good account of their steward- Church is the most important institution in this ship. Tenancy offers the only opportunity for area for the South is greatly devoted to the countless farm families to have access to the land. Church. Much depends upon the leadership in Among the membership of rural churches there this crucial hour and no mission field offers such are many tenants who assume their share of the a challenge to the Christian churches of America.
church's maintenance and live on a high level of We have on our hands a situation which is not life. Nor can all the poverty of farm life be laid sectional nor secular. It strikes at the very roots to tenancy. There are farm owners whose stand- of the economic and social and religious structure ard of living is far below that of some tenants and of America. We will let Erskine Caldwell de- whose income is far less than that of many ten- scribe the poverty of his own people.
FARM TENANTS AND SHARECROPPERS '289
In parts of the South human existence has reached its cotton houses they came seeking refuge and a lowest depths. Children are seen deformed by nature and chance for "life, liberty and the pursuit of hapmalnutrition; women in rags beg for pennies; and men piness." They would have readily waived the last are so hungry that many of them eat snakes, cow dung, of these rights for the bare chance to live. In and clay. These are the unknown people of today, the brief this project, after one year, reports thirtytenant farmer of the South. These are the people who one families of white and Negro sharecroppers hide their nakedness behind trees when a stranger wanders living cooperatively, law abiding under the laws off the road. There is hunger in their eyes as well as in of Mississippi which forbids the teaching of racial their bellies. equality but says nothing about forbidding its practice. The income of the thirty-one families Missionary aid is not a big factor in the has been doubled and an equity in the farm churches of the South for the twelve leading Prot- earned, while the standard of living has been estant denominations in this area put aid into this higher than any of the families have hitherto field in about the same proportion as they extend known. it to the Colonial region. For more will have to be done along this line among people so poor that And the churches have had a part in this enterfood, clothing and shelter are denied them beyond prise which a few courageous and statesmanlike the mere existence line in some sections. The more prosperous areas of the Church should at least help support an adequate ministry. But one rural secretary of a home mission board is on record with this far-sighted policy, "The difficulties in trying to maintain a rural church under such conditions are almost beyond description. That a ministry to such a group is a primary missionary responsibility is evident. The point we would press is that the Church must do more than merely provide a ministry to these depressed, dispossessed and discouraged people. It must find a way to bore into the basic problems of this poverty and to deal with the causes of the conditions which make the abundant life impossible."
The Delta Cooperative Farm Photo by Rothstein A SHARECROPPER'S FAMILY IN TANGIPAHOA In this, as in other fields, an ounce of creative PARISH, LOUISIANA activity is worth pounds of speculation, exhortation, criticism or fervid theorizing. The trial and men have fostered and carried on in the face of error method will once more have to be invoked. odds too heavy for timid souls. Sam Franklin has Fortunately for the South, and for the churches been the spearhead of this advance into the north and south, there is an effort being made in strongholds of a system which is gnawing away Mississippi among the sharecroppers which bids at more than the vitals of the South. Over in fair to turn up something of a solution even after Arkansas, Sam Franklin went onto a plantation only one year of trial. "The Delta Cooperative to talk with the widow of a murdered union man Farm" came into existence in March 1936. It and was accused by the landlord of "interfering was almost forced into existence by the desperate with labor," which is some kind of a crime in needs of the sharecroppers who were being de- Arkansas. When F:ranklin remonstrated at benied not only the necessities of life but their rights ing ordered off under threat of death the landas American citizens guaranteed under the Con- owner ended the conversation with this choice bit stitution. A farm of 2,138 acres along the Mis- of language, "I'd shoot you if you was Jesus Christ sissippi River near Hillhouse was bought by funds himself." Sam Frankljn is a Presbyterian minprovided by Dr. Sherwood Eddy and his friends ister, a former missionary to Japan. As director and was put into the hands of a board of five of the Delta Cooperative Farm he is also the mintrustees for a cooperative farm for sharecroppers. ister of the church on the farm which ministers Evicted sharecroppers, whose only offence was to the sharecroppers. Church boards of home membership and activity in a labor union known missions, local churches, labor unions and a host as the Southern Tenant Farmer's Union, had of others who are concerned about the evils of brought upon them the wrath of landowners and sharecropping have aided and abetted this worthy riding bosses on tenant plantations. These were and most important enterprise. invited to live on the farm and join the cooperative enterprise. From roadside colonies of evicted sharecroppers, from hiding places in woods and
Twenty–Five Years Ago and
By PROFESSOR ROSS J. GRIFFETH, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana Secretary of the National Rural Church Commission, Disciples of Christ T ODAY, in Madison Township, Morgan ways; automobiles; Indianapolis less than thirty County, Indiana, there are three church minutes drive; Public Enemy Number One? buildings, all of brick, well built. Two stand This is the picture of one rural community in idle almost all the time, with only an occasional which are to be found a fairly stable population, feeble effort at holding Sunday school to break the many well educated people, above-the-average eco- silence of one. Sporadic emotional outbursts in nomic prosperity, several aggressive workers in the second are reminiscent ghosts of revival meet- cooperative enterprises, a small group of church ings from the long ago, but now the effects of re- leaders who have become increasingly conscious vival efforts are shadowy, swiftly gone. Two of the plight and the importance of the rural other church buildings which once served the church. Such a picture, with different highlights, countryside are only memories in the minds and is repeated in many hundreds of American rural hearts of the few remaining septuagenarians communities.
whose residence extends so far back. The one How did this condition come to be? Trace the church which has regular services-Sunday morn- broader outlines of American history that, during ing only – is served by a minister who lives in the last twenty-five years, have led to the present Indianapolis, drives out Sunday morning and back situation; then glance at some of the measured to the city in the afternoon. factors that have contributed to the development Madison township is strictly rural. It has no of present-day rural church problems; finally, restore, no industrial enterprise save a canning fac- lieve the gloom by considering the work of two tory that cares for the local tomato crop. One or three rural churches in which important strides blacksmith shop with the ubiquitous gasoline have been made toward solving local problems.
pump, and one other gasoline pump furnish the Rural Progress Since 1912 only strictly nonagricultural pursuits, and even these are operated by farmers. What picture do we have of the church and its Approximately one hundred and thirty families community twenty-five years ago? Turn back the with less than six hundred individuals, make up pages of memory, but do not trust memory too the population. Sunday school attendance aver- much. You may be romancing.
ages fifty-five, and church attendance is about the The last large area of cultivable land within same. The church roll has on it eighty-six resi- the boundaries of the United States had been dent members, about sixteen per cent of the pop- claimed twenty-five' years ago. Some of it was ulation but some one hundred fifty of the people well settled; some only partially. The pioneer are touched by the church in some way. In so far spirit that had driven men out to make new geo- as the other four hundred are concerned, except graphical conquests was beginning to turn them as a landmark, the church is nonexistent. toward subduing the last virgin prairies and for- A consolidated school across the highway from ests. Here and there a voice of warning was the active church provides education through the raised in protest against the careless exploitation first eight grades. Twenty-nine young people at- of loam and woodland, but these voices were gen- tend high school in a near-by town, the home of erally unheeded. What did professors in .agricul- the once Public Enemy Number One, John Dil- tural colleges know? Was not the wealth of the linger. Only one of the twenty-nine high'school continent inexhaustible!
youths attends church regularly; a half dozen Itinerant evangelists at irregular intervals others come at infrequent intervals. brought emotional revivals to hamlet and country- What is the relationship between these factors: side. Now and again greater evangelists sent the the open country; closed churches; a nonresident populace of metropolitan areas to their knees- minister; inadequate religious training for for a time. Preaching was generally doctrinal.
youths; a satisfactory school system; paved high- The Church was seldom conceived of as having a . [290] social program for the community, but worked expanded, overmechanized. Land speculation valiantly to meet, in its own way, the needs of the brought economic disaster to many thousands of people as they were then understood. farmers. Land prices, averaging $108 per acre in 1920, fell to $76 per acre in 1926. Thus the The earlier pioneers had built churches as well equity of many who dreamed of one day calling as homes. No landscape of the prairies was with- rich farms their own, vanished, and these found out its church steeple. "The church in the wild- themselves to be tenants on soil owned by the wood" was an ever-present fact and an inescap- mortgage holder, or else they sought employment able factor in the life of each community. in the great city.
TENANT'S HOUSES IN ARKANSAS (Near Dyess Colony) The church, in both rural and urban areas, faced new problems, new forms of vice, new so- Twenty-five years ago the United States seldom cial and economic problems. Young people went looked beyond its own borders. Weekly news- to college or to industrial centers. The rural papers, and less frequently issued farm papers, church was all but stripped of its maturing leadbrought news of the larger community to the rela- ership. Urban churches could not provide for all tively contented countryside. Woodrow Wilson, who were thus transplanted. On the basis of sevwhose primary interest was in domestic problems, eral local surveys, it has been estimated that in was elected President. The policies, which in 1913 moving into Indianapolis, more Disciples of Christ he characterized under the title, "The New Free- failed to identify themselves with an urban church dom," aimed to bring a larger measure of privi- than there were in all the Disciples churches withlege to the citizens of limited or average means. in that city. They did not take account of Europe, the Far East, or African rubber plantations. Rural Amer- Under these conditions, secularism grew apace. ica had its problems, to be sure, but Wall Street Economic problems in rural areas left the church appeared to many to be only the major expression helpless. The depression came to rural America of Satan; banking reform, antitrust legislation, nearly ten years before October 29, 1929. In and farm loans at four or five per cent interest, 1919, wheat sold at $2.14 per bushel; in 1921 the seemed adequate to meet all needs. price was $1.19. There was no corresponding change in taxes; no lowering of the farmers' ex- Automobiles were few and expensive. Prac- penses. The church shared in the economic distically impassable roads seemed an insurmount- aster. While in 1925 and 1926 the United States, able obstacle to their general use. Telephones, taken as a whole, reached its all""time high in givhowever, had reached out into the back country ing to the church and to missionary enterprises, and had broken down some of the rural isolation. Rural mail delivery was becoming significant. In FARMER'S HOME' IN DYESS COLONY, ARKANSAS many communities the kerosene lamp appeared to be the final achievement in rural lighting. Farm the rural church was, at that time, struggling to machinery operated by other than anImal or man live. Trained ministers had migrated to the city power was beyond the thoughts of most tillers of and few were being trained to meet the needs of the soil. rural fields; and, tragically, few seemed to care.
Then came the World War. Agriculture ex- Then came the industrial depression. Boys and panded to feed hungry armies. Farmer lads were girls who, in the previous decade, would have gone torn from the soil to taste of travel, the devasta- to the cities, remained on farms. But mechanized tion of international strife, vice such as always farming, farm surpluses, ruinous prices (wheat marches with armies seeking to kill, and to rub brought the farmer twenty-five or twenty-six shoulders with sophisticates from bright light dis- cents a bushel in Oklahoma in 1933) made these tricts or crowded slums. young people an economic liability rather than an With the war over, agriculture was over-
asset as in pioneer days. The rural church was million, who took with them youth, vigor, ambition, and almost powerless to help in the crisis. To farm- up to thirty-five billi'On dollars of wealth. ers, ministers seemed to be a luxury. Thousands of churches said, "We shall do without a minister These facts lead to certain conclusions: until times are better." The income of churches fell off, as did that of individuals, only the (1) Cities cannot live without additions to their churches suffered most. Communities that once populations from rural areas; maintained, even though with pitiful inadequacy, two, three, four, or five, church buildings, could (2) The future city church cannot grow unless scarcely keep one going. The church of the open the rural churches prosper; country, in numberless cases, closed up or ceased to do more than give feeble evidences of life. Vil- (3) The cities, which have received vast lage churches fared little better. amounts of wealth from farms, must help, in a financial way, the rural congregations so that they Today the picture begins to brighten. Is it twi. may again be effective; light or dawn? Vigorous Christian leaders are determined to rehabilitate the rural church; they (4) Both rural and urban churches must, in are determined to make it dawn. As we behold the future, cultivate their fields more intensively what seems to be the opening eyelids of the morn- and reap a larger harvest of souls from a stable ing, let us take note of certain facts that must be or declining population, or they must perish. considered in any program of reconstruction. Tenantry and the Rural Church Rural Churches and Changing Life The President's Committee on Farm Tenantry Our survey of the larger American scene has reported on February 16, 1937, that "Tenancy has barely hinted at epoch-making factors that have increased from 25 per cent of all farmers in 1880 dynamited the life of a people and made debris of to 42 per cent in 1935. Because of debt, the aconce well-ordered thoughts. With old thought tual equity of operating owners is far less than patterns shattered, it is necessary to form new these figures indicate" (p. 3). What does this ones. The past must be pondered if we are to mean to the church? erect rock-founded structures for the future. Robert E. Hanson, graduate student in Butler Professor E. C. Cameron, whose invigorating University, College of Religion, who has just compublished articles, inspiring teaching, and dy- pleted a study of rural Churches of Christ in Innamic deeds were arousing numberless Christians diana, found that 69 per cent of rural church to meet the challenge of needy rural fields, and members were farmers. The other 31 per cent whose early death last December brought sorrow was composed of business men, professional men, to all whose hearts beat in sympathy and with and persons in other occupations. Of the farmhope for rural Christians everywhere, has writ- ers, 67 per cent owned their farms, 29 per cent ten: were tenants, four per cent were hired hands. No definite figures are available for comparison, but Until the last few years we had assumed that the people it is certain that the percentage of farm owners of our nation would one day number two hundred million. who are church members is higher than the per- Upon the basis 'Of this continued expansion, our Chambers centage of tenants who belong to church. Furof Commerce envisioned growing cities, new and larger ther, the financial support of the church rests in public buildings, an ever-gr'Owing demand for industrial large measure upon the farmer who owns his products. Educational leaders prepared for larger enroll- land. The tenants, because of insecurity, find it ments in grades and colleges. Churches were built t'O care difficult to feel that any investments they make in for congregations expected to become large as a matter of the local church will be of continuing service to course. Our national life was permeated by.an optimistic them. and invigorating, if a little slap-dash in style, phil'Osophy of expansion. According to figures published in Wallaces' Farmer, on February 13, 1937, 34 per cent of all Since 1932 we have been brought up with a jerk. On Iowa farmers had been on their farms less than the basis of the 1930 census, and other data, Dr. O. E. two years and 25 per cent more had been on their Baker, Senior Agricultural Economist, Department of farms from' two to five years. Thus, 59 per cent Agriculture, figures that our p'Opulation will reach a top of Iowa tenant farmers had been on their Jarms of one hundred thirty-two million in 1945, and then dr'Op five years or less. It is difficult, if not impossible, to one hundred twenty-seven million in 1960, and under to build significant churches or important comone hundred million by 1990.· munity programs with such shifting populations. To bring stability in the church tomorrow, the There is ample evidence that all cities 'Of 2,500 popula- tenant farmers must be helped to purchase their tion and above are not having enough births to keep their farms today. population at present levels. The surplus births which feed our cities and continue our populati'On growth occur Indiana has often been used for surveys of one in rural districts and mainly bel'Ow the Mason-Dixon line. kind and another, especially church surveys. As- suming that Indiana is typical of rural America, Following Dr. Baker again, from 1920 to 1930, nineteen milli'On farm boys and girls went to the cities; thirteen million returned, leaving a net gain to the cities of six
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AND NOW
and the Disciples of Christ are typical of Indiana, in the community. On June 6, 1937, Mr. Hugh here are miscellaneous facts discovered by Robert T. Miller, of Columbus, Indiana, son of John C. E. Hansen that tell the plight of the rural church Miller, himself a minister until conditions beyond in America. his control kept him from the work, will serve as representative of his family and formally give to Only 30 per cent of the rural churches have full-time the trustees of the Nineveh Church of Christ the ministers. family farm of eighty acres. The house is to serve as the parsonage. The present minister, G. F. Only 53 per cent of the members of rural churches are Powers, will share the rural life of his parishactive. ioners by planting a garden, keeping chickens and a cow, and living close to the soil. He will not do Forty-eight per cent of the rural Sunday schools make extensive farming so as to hinder his ministerial no provision for leadership training. One-third more have work but will further his worK by sharing the life had but a single leadership training course. of his people.
Only 48 per cent of the rural ministers live on the field The congregation at Stilesville, Indiana, decided they serve. that it needed something more than a one-room meeting house. With Albert Reitzel in charge, Eighty-seven per cent of the rural ministers have had seven men, with four teams, dug a basement in little or no training which especially fits them for work two and one-half days. Harvey McClellan arin the rural field. A RURAL CHURCH IN MORGAN CITY, INDIANA The Way Out ranged for the needed sand and gravel. Under Are the rural churches today capable of serv- the direction of Theodore Mullis and Robert Rhea, ing the communities in which they are located in the cement floor and walls of the basement were such a way that the moral and spiritual founda- completed in l~ss than four days. Bernard O'Rear tions of the communities will be made secure? and Chester Gregory, using volunteer groups of The answer, of course, varies from place to place. men and boys, built the structure over the base- Thousands of rural churches have closed their ment. Schuyler Arnold attended to the finishing doors. Economic necessity, loss of leadership, work. In one way or another, every member of population shifts, have all done their share to the church and Sunday school was used. The chilmake the abandoned rural church an all too fa- dren enjoyed sharing in the clean up. miliar sight. Fortunately there is an increasing number of communities where planned movements The formula for making the individual rural toward unity have eliminated wasteful competi" church effective is simple. The main elements tion between rival denominations and have made are: devotion to Christ; a vision; the willingfora finer community spirit. Here are the things ness to see it through. The church does not so some Indiana churches are doing to make the much need expert leaders as devoted leaders who church effective. will act as well as dream.
Rev. Lee Tinsley, fifty years a minister, chair- What will the rural church be twenty-five years man of the Indiana Rural Church Commission, from now? That depends upon what we now Disciples of Christ, has made the church a com- start to make it. munity center. Whenever the farmers think of holding any kind of meeting, they think of the Little Flat Rock church. When Sunday comes, their automobiles know how to stop at the church. Each year a Rural Church Week is observed, and each day of the week some group is stimulated to undertake a larger task within the church.
Nineveh, Indiana, has but one church now. Another passed out of existence many years ago. From this continuing church have gone out two Superintendents of Public Instruction for the State of Indiana, several ministers, missionaries, college professors, and many public school teachers, as well as to other callings. The church was founded in 1832. About thirty-five years ago, a beloved minister, John C. Miller, who lived on a farm a half-mile from the church, went to his eternal reward. The children held the farm and continued to make substantial contributions to the budget of the church although they no longer lived
the Fountains
By the REV. HENRY W. McLAUGHLIN, Richmond, Virginia Director of the Department of Country Church and Sunday School Extension, Presbyterian Church in the United States FROM over the hills of yesterday come the Ills and the Cure memories of a fountain by which stood great oak trees. Near this spring my grandfather There are many things in the world today which selected the location, and erected the two-story log are calculated to give us grave concern. The conhouse in which I was born. Here I used to play flicts between labor and capital, the constant inunder the watchful eye of my grandmother. As crease in the manufacture of implements of war, in Wordsworth's lines- the international jealousies and misunderstand- ings, the enlarging use of intoxicants, the increase We lay beneath a spreading oak, of crime, and the breakdown of family life-all Beside a mossy seat; are indications of modern trends which threaten the peace and happiness of the world. If we And from the turf a fountain broke should permit ourselves to dwell upon these mod- And gurgled at our feet. ern trends, we would all tend to become pessi- mists. Indeed, I would be a weeping Jeremiah if I One of the chores, when I was a lad on my fa- did not believe that there is a remedy for society. ther's farm, was to keep this spring clean. The good health of the family depended upon it. Never In the World War, President Woodrow Wilson was there a case of typhoid fever in our family, called our American youth to arms and across the save one, and that contracted away from home. seas four million strong. He called them with the That spring, the sole source of the family water slogan – "We must make the world safe for desupply was but one of many thousands of sources mocracy." What we need in our new emergency of the Ohio River and its tributaries. in America, where the dangers are from within rather than from without, is a democracy which In Psalm 104, the 10th verse, we read: "He is safe for the world. If we are to have such a sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run democracy, our citizens, the self-sovereigns, must among the hills." be intelligent and trustworthy. We are spending millions of money to make our citizens intelligent. We are beginning to appreciate our great rivers Never has the world seen such another adventure as means of transportation and sources of power. in education as is found in our great public school There is, however, a very vital relationship be- system-from the little one-room school houses to tween the springs that run among the hills and the great universities. We are discovering, howthe rivers. If the springs should dry up, our river ever, that crime grows apace, and that educated beds would become stagnant pools. criminals are a greater menace than those who are illiterate. Education alone will not guarantee A few months ago I visited Habersham and us a democracy which is safe for the world. All Hall Counties in North Georgia. There I saw our citizens might be as highly educated as Aaron those beautiful crystal springs that burst from the mountainside and form the source of the Chattahoochee, and I was reminded of the song of one of our Southern poets, Sidney Lanier- But oh, not the hills of Habersham, Burr, and yet democracy would fail. We might And oh, not the valleys of Hall have miraculous power to transform the machines Avail: I am fain for to water the plain. of war into implements of peace, or alcohol and Downward the voices of Duty call- narcotics into water and harmless drugs as a re- Downward, to toil and be mixed with the main; cent play by H. G. Wells shows, but unless there The dry fields burn, and the mills are to turn, were so-me power to change the charact~rs and And a myriad flowers mortally yearn, motivations of people and to make them trust- And the lorIdly main from beyond the plain worthy, their selfish civilization would prove a Calls o'er the hills of Habersham, failure. Calls through the valleys of Hall.
As the fountains among the hills are the sources We believe that the Gospel of the Lord Jesus of the rivers, so are the country communities to Christ is the one dynamic that can change men society as a whole. and can rightly motivate them. As the Apostle [294 ] Paul says, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel: for of today will have six times as many descendants as 1,000 it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone city people. The rural people, like the meek, seem very that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the likely to inherit the earth, or at least to acquire the use Greek." What the Gospel will do for the indi- of it. vidual, it will do for society. Our need in America, where we have so many ills and so many nos- It will be noted (see graph) that in the cities, trums offered as a cure, is that we as a people be- largely of American stock,there are only 225 chilcome Christian not merely in name but in reality. dren under five years of age for every 1,000 But no nation was ever made Christian by at- women 15 to 45 years of age; while in the rural tempting to make it Christian in the cities alone. The crying need of the hour is to make the people NUMBER OF FARMS of America Christian at the sources. We cannot have clear and beautiful rivers from muddy springs. We cannot have a Christian America unless the sources of society are Christian.
The Sources in Rural Life The country communities are the sources of so- nonfarm population, which consists of the dwellciety, because here a large number of children are ers in cotton mills, mining, lumber and other vilborn and reared. According to Kolb and Brunner lages, there are 471; while on the farms there are in their "Study of Rural Society," in the cities 545 children for every 1,000 women of child-bearthere are only four families out of every 100 ing age. In some of our Southern counties there which have four or more children. On our Amer- are almost as many children under five years as ican farms 40 out of every 100 families have four there are women from 15 to 45 years of age. Dr. or more children. Or to put it another way, in Baker calls attention to the fact that it requires our cities there are only 38 people out of every 370 children per 1,000 women to maintain a sta- 100 under 20 years of age. In our villages there are 48 out of every 100 persons under 20 years of ro tionary population. Roughly speaking,there are age; while on our farms there are 52 out of every 100 under 20 years of age. 25 less children born in our cities than are Dr. O. E. Baker, Senior Agricultural Economist ro necessary to keep the population stationary, while of the United States, in a recent address, said: on our American farms there are 50 more than In our large cities today ten adults are having about are necessary to keep the population stationary. seven children. If the birthrate remains stationary, these The rural communities are, therefore, the main sources of society. NUMBER OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE PER 1.000 WOMEN 15 TO 45 YEARS OF AGE IN"UNITED STATES.APRIL 1.1930 The Rural Work Commission of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has issued a report CLASS OF POPULATION NUMBER OF CHILDREN PER 1.000 WOMEN showing that church membership and Sunday 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1 000 school enrollment run very much lower among the o rural people than in the urban districts. From their Report No. I, and other sources of infor- URBAN mation, we gleaned the facts tabulated below. Note that we are giving the urban and rural pop- All CITIES II ulations of the sixteen Southern states and the OVER 100.000 — — – – 293 District of Columbia; we also give the church POPULATION II membership, nonchurch population and the per- centage of church membership both in the urban ALL CITlES ABOUT 310 CHILDREN PER 1.000 WOMEN and rural areas; likewise totals in the sixteen WERE NECESSARY rONA/NTAIN POPULATION Southern states and the District of Columbia. 2.500 TO 100.000 – – – – 341 STATIONARY IN 10&0 Clean Fountains and Pure Rivers POPULATION IIII Our rather extensive studies reveal the fact that RURAL if you answer three questions about the people IIIII who live in the communities that lie within the RURAL NON-FARM (MOSTLY VILLAGE)— 47 t POPULATION LESLIE COUNTY IIIII EASTERN KENTUCKY – 91 5 (95% ON FARMS) • PORTLAND (ORECON). SAN FRANCISCO. LOS ANGELES. KANSAS CITY, ST LOUIS, NASHVILLE. AND ATLANTA seven in turn will have only five, and these five only three and one-half children. In three generations, or a century, these cities would decline to about one-third their present population, unless they received accessions from outside. A century is not a long span in the history of a nation. In the farm population, on the other hand, ten adults are now having thirteen children. If the birthrate remains stationary, these thirteen in turn will have seventeen children, and these seventeen would have twenty-two children. It appears likely that a century hence 1,000 farm people
trade area of a city, you can tell almost exactly the purpose of purifying the water supply alone. what will be the crime record of that city. Should they not be interested even more in purify- ing the fountains from which flow their popula- What proportion of the people dQ not own their homes? tions? Shall the new generation now being reared What proportion of the people are not members of any on our American farms, many of whom must church? inevitably flow to the cities, go there as Christians What proportion of the people are not enrolled in any or as potential criminals? That question must Sunday school? be answered by the churches of America in this generation. Where non-home ownership, and non-church membership, and non-Sunday school enrollment Christ not only shows the way of righteousness, run high, in the communities constituting the but furnishes the power by which men may walk sources of society, the cities which are fed by these in that Way. He offers the only dynamic that sources have a high crime' record. The annual can rightly motivate living and banish selfishness. cost of crime is a tax on our American people of Therefore, the only hope of society in America something like $120.00 per capita. But it is not and in the world is through the power of Christ. the cost of crime that is the worst feature. Crime Only when He has been enthroned in the hearts is but a symptom, as pain is a symptom of cancer. of men, only when we seek first the kingdom of Think of all the sorrow, suffering, wretchedness, God and His righteousness can we settle our diffidegradation, depravity, sin that lies back of this culties, and solve our economic, political and socost of crime. Think of the people who are at the cial problems. Only thus will crime be abolished; very sources of society, with lost souls because only thus will we learn war no more and make they have been neglected by the Church. Our pure and happy the home life of the people. cities are tremendously interested in keeping pure their sources of milk and water supplies. Some Keep the fountains clean! of our cities are spending millions of dollars for URBAN RURAL Percentage Percentage Nonchurch Church Church Population Members Church Nonchurch Church Members States Populations Population Members Population Members Alabama …………. 744,273 345,867 398,406 46.4 1,901,975 871,303 1,030,672 45.8 FAlrokraidnasas…………………….. 282,878 182,672 200,206 47.7 1,471,604 759,778 267,747 492.,031 35.2 438,435 1,033,169 29.7 Georgia ………….. 895,492 427,573 467,919 47.7 708,433 799,026 433,712, 365,314 54.2 2,013,014 260,633 447,800 36.7 ………… Kentucky •• 0 ••••••••• 833,532 1,815,563 974,869 1,268,061 922,611 1,090,413 43.8 Louisiana 338,850 1,859,119 656,657 617,792 1,197,771 34.0 MMMiiassrssyiosluasrinipdpi……………………………… 809,847 1,670,971 821,621 500,636 332,896 60.0 1,770,248 536,372 731,689 42.2 North Carolina ……. 371,080 523,270 451,599 53.6 2,326,429 896,538 1,574,359 235,096 421,561 35.8 OSToeknulanthheossmCeaaero..li..n..a……………………. 2,389,348 1,367,685 TWVeierxsgatisnVi.ai.r.g..i.n…ia………………………. 785,537 170,844 168,006 50.2 1,720,018 629,665 1,041,306 37.6 . District of Columbia . 491,514 967,323 891,796 52.0 3,435,367 486,869 1,636,314 613,955 1,156,293 34.6 1,237,701 392,321 417,526 48.6 1,014,684 1,345,745 42.9 282,264 539,417 34.8 … ….. 221,694 149,386 59.7 298,819 1,275,540 18.9 651,834 715,851 47.7 409,750 486,788 45.7 608,283 1,111,737 35.3 1,060,075 1,329,273 44.3 1,220,291 2,215,076 35.5 418,268 367,269 53.2 754,179 882,135 46.1 227,684 263,820 46.3 304,299 933,402 24.5 . ……. …….. 238,871 247,998 49.0 14,640,161 7,070,571 7,569,650 48.2 26,598,399 9,978,251 16,630,150 37.5 POPULATION, CHURCH MEMBERS AND NON-CHURCH MEMBERS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES Here it will be seen that while about 36% of the population of these states are in urban communities, and 64510 live in rural districts, only 37% of the rural population is included on the church rolls. There are over 16 million people in rural areas who are included in the non-church population, or nearly twice as many as in the cities.
Workers in Rural
By REV. HILDA L. IVES, Newton Center, Massachusetts Executive Secretary of the Associated Commissions for the Development of the Rural Churches in New England EVERYTHING has its good and its bad side. it will not be done in great areas of rural Amer- The sun can scorch and destroy, even as it ica. There is no one else to do it.
can invigorate and call forth life. A Christian ministerishould not prescribe treat- So the rulfal community, near to fields of slum- ment for the syphilitic man, but he should know bering seed, waiting the touch of the sun, close to the early and late symptoms of the disease. A forests vibrant with song, in the midst of flower- minister should not treat the mental case, but he ing and fragrant meadows, also contains homes should know the symptoms of a disordered mind of squalor, of stark unadornment and of menacing -the signals of danger in hypersensitive person- conditions of life. alities. A minister should not set bones but he The slums of a city rend the heart. People should be able to put on a tourniquet in times of underprivileged and poor, through little fault of accident and give first aid in the innumerable their own, are herded together in surroundings emergencies of farm life when no other help is that suggest no handiwork of God. There are at hand. The minister must 'Je the spiritual con- hot pavements, crowded tenements, cluttered tact man: one who will astablish contact between yards, many with no blade of grass! These are the person in his need and tIie social reliefs and man made-both the slums and the setting. Slums the scientific helps of the modern age. He must in a rural community are paradoxical. God and especially be a man who will establish contact with life and beauty abound everywhere; man alone the dynamic resources of the Living God through is degraded, unlovely and not free. Jesus Christ, for the renewal and the regeneration The meadow shack, the home of a rural squat- of body, mind and spirit. ter, the isolated cabin jammed with family life, After one hundred years and more of continued the temporary homes built around sawmills or work the rural church of the United States has logging operations in the woods, are not only an failed to reach four-fifths of its constituency. It insult to the sun, to bracing winds and to ov~r- must dare to face its failure and the reasons for shadowing mountains and hills, but are an insult it. May it not be true that the churches, with to God Himself. their emphasis on preaching and teaching, have As one thinks of "case work" among families opened the hearts of very limited numbers to real in the cities, families that must be rehabilitated religious experience of God? Jesus' approach to and restored, there comes to mind innumerable the hearts of men was constantly through the philanthropic agencies equipped with personnel alleviation of hunger, pain and acute mental and and means to meet human need. Witness the physical distress. He found people and went Community Chests of the cities with budgets that about doing good. The Samaritan woman by the reach into the millions and with concentrated well did not seek Him. He first spoke to her wealth to tap. But as one surveys the villages and as she drew water. He recognized and knew the hamlets, the available philanthropic resources her moral problem of having had five husbands are few and the trained social workers for the and of living with a man who was not her hus- most part are many miles away. band. The man of Gadara out of the tombs did These very facts create an unparalleled oppor- not seek Jesus. Jesus met him "whom no man tunity for the rural ministers of Christ. A King- could bind and who always day and. night was in dom of Service is waiting for them-a service to the mountains crying and cutting himself with rural folk in their deepest need. But this service stones." The multitude at the pool of the sheep is only possible for a ministry that is trained to market did not come to Jesus. He went where detect and understand these needs, with knowl- the blind, the halt and the withered were gathered edge of how to ameliorate existing conditions and and told an impotent man, who for thirty-eight with spiritual power to transform and restore life. years had been waiting for help, to arise and take If the minister of Christ cannot give physical, up his bed and walk.
moral and spiritual first aid, one thing is certain: A fair critic of the rural ministry must realize [297]
how inadequate is the preparation of the average tive hearts-a wedge that opens the heart with- minister for vital case work. Run over the cur- out its conscious knowledge and allows the warmth ricula of the theological seminaries if proof of and glow of friendly understanding and interest such a statement is needed. There is, however, to enter. It is true, probably, that the majority encouragement in an awakening to the need. A of people feel real hesitation in asking a minister bulletin of the Andover Newton Theological for practical and material assistance unless they Scho,ol at Newton Centre, Massachusetts, has this are loyal to the church which he serves. For the heading: "Supervised Clinical Experience for same reason they very often do not reveal to the Students of Pastoral Psychology" under Professor minister in his calls of friendship, their most per- Philip Guiles. The report of the Investigating sonal problems, or their most devastating de- Committee of the American Association of The- spairs, unless he tactfully shows that he knows of ological Schools as regards Clinical Training for their difficulty and desires their happiness and Theological students contains the following para- welfare. A minister who serves in life's emer- graph: gencies, when all human reliances are set aside The Council for Clinical Training and the Earhart by pain or poverty, can gain an entrance into a Foundation are the only two organizations offering a care- man's heart and inner life that can' come in no fully conceived plan of training on an interdenominational other way. He becomes associated with the whole basis. Therefore this study has been confined to them. healing plan that can be worked out in coopera- The Council for Clinical Training has taken as its aim, tion with other experts. It is one thing for a "To provide for students for the ministry opportunities minister to enter the ward of a hospital, and find to obtain clinical experience in dealing with the infirmities of mankind." Training is offered to a limited number of there a parishioner injured or ill and then work qualified students from theological seminaries of recog- out a way to sustain him by friendliness, counsel nized standing irrespective of denomination. It consists and prayer; it is another thing to be called as a of directed case work and study of the social resources of Man of God at the moment of dire need. the community; actual work with patients in the hospitals and clinics; participation in the medical ward rounds and I remember a call that came once from a young conferences with regard to these patients; and, finally, mother on an isolated farm. The message over seminars in which general physician, psychiatrist, psy- the telephone said, "Come at once please, Ma is chologist, and social worker discuss together with the theological students the patients with whom they are awful sick." I hurried to the farm home which working. was set far back on a rough country road. Rural Up to the present, the work has been confined electrification was too expensive for such areas of to patients in hospitals. The scope and influence the country. The little son had walked six miles of this work must be extended to many other types to reach a telephone to call me to his mother's aid. of institutions, and into the parishes of ministers I overtook him, as I drove along the road; he was that are eager for such education and help for a hot, distressed little figure knowing something their people. very bad was happening to his mother. To be a little boy and to have something wrong with one's Thousands and millions of suffering souls in the cities seek the clinics, hospitals, family welfare mother is like pending doom. societies and temporary shelter without the guid- As I entered the home I could see the high color ance or sympathetic friendliness of a minister of God. The deep and deserved loyalties of these of fever on the pallid face, the intense suffering people are given permanently to these social work- from pain. A doctor was on his way, but fifteen ers, these doctors and these nurses. The Church miles could not be covered in a very short time. should realize what its ministry has lost in not Here was my chance as a case worker to give being called upon as the helpful servant in the courage, tenderness, God-to prepare the way for emergencies of human life and the ministering possible hospital treatment; to tell of the friendfriend in time of greatest need. The rural min- liness and goodness of doctors and nurses so that ister need not be so handicapped. If he is worthy they might not seem to be strangers; to assure the of being a trained case worker for Christ, his mother that every care would be taken of her fields are already before him-white unto harvest. home during her absence; and to let her know that I would stand by her through thick and thin. Naturally I put my hand on her hot feverish head Someone may well ask, "Cannot the minister and prayed that the cooling healing touch of the gain the deep loyalties of the people on the spir- Master- might make her whole-that touch which itual plane apart from the other ministries of drew its life from an unswerving faith 'that no relief?" The answer is that a head-on, direct ap- permanent harm could ever come to a child of proach to the religious needs of people who do not God, the Father. .
feel, to any marked degree, the need of God, and There are several qualities that must belong to who do not want anyone's help to find Him, is not a Christian case worker. His parish must know the Christian touch on human hearts. The min- that all confidences are placed in a spiritual safe ister must find the entering wedge into unrecep- which holds them in'violate. The case worker
CASE WORKERS IN RURAL AREAS
must consider as sacred the disclosures of to forgive to the number of seventy times seven. wounded hearts. A Christian case worker has really to love the The Christian case worker must not be afraid unlovely. He must believe that every human soul to face facts frankly with a friend. I remember is precious in the sight of God. So the search to the case of a girl who had lost her position in a reach that soul of man becomes a spiritual advencommercial firm. Word came that she was dis- ture of trust and of love. A soul may be growing couraged so I went to seek her out. As she came by the grace of God; it may be struggling in the to the door to talk with me, I knew almost in- midst of sin; it may be buried deep; but to a stantly the truth about her condition. Her body Christian case worker, the soul of a man must be revealed definite disease in an advanced form. reached. One would never dare believe that a At my request we withdrew to a stone wall some soul could be awakened apart from God. Only distance from the farmhouse where her mother those case workers who by closest communion could not hear the conversation and I spoke sym- with Christ, and in closest contact with human pathetically of her loss of position and of the en- need have opened their lives to the creative life suing worry that had come to her. She gave no of God, can be used to permanently change human sign of telling the truth about herself. The time life. Social workers, uninspired by God, can be had come when I must tell her the truth so I said counted upon to achieve few real transformations quietly, of moral and spiritual life.
"You must be your own fine self. You must be A case worker must use the increasing wealth in the future strong and well. I know you are ill. of valuable publications prepared by national and You have an infection of syphilis. You haven't state social agencies. A pamphlet placed in the known, have you, how to get help? Of course you hands of a person in need can be read and reread. have been afraid. But you can be made well. In this way the quiet study of a problem can be Will you let me help you?" extremely helpful. * She burst into tears and said, "I haven't known what to do. I didn't dare to There is a question when and how prayer should tell anyone the truth." be used in pastoral visits. Only a sensitive case "Have you been close to your little sisters?" I worker can judge. One thing is sure, I believe, that prayers that throb with deep understanding of the asked. human heart, its aspirations, its denials and its "Yes, I have," she said, "I have been sharing the agonies, are life-giving to others. Prayers that share another's joy or ecstacy or pain in naturalsame bed with one of them." ness and sincerity are always welcomed and re- "Well, we'll now be sure that they are safe, too," membered. A Christian case worker should not ask if a person wants a prayer-that creates a I replied. "Have you seen a doctor?" self-conscious situation. He should never pray if "Yes," she answered. "I was better for a time he could easily be prevented from praying. He should only pray when he must. Then God speaks after my visit to him, so I didn't go back to him -not he himself. And when God whispers to man, as he suggested." man never forgets.
"Does the man in the case know of your con- The rural case worker will find that human lives will share dark secrets of sin, hidden fears and dition ?" baffiing problems of conduct if his service has "Yes, he told me that he was -ill and that I had been lowly and sacrificial. He will find that hu- man lives will be unwilling to receive suggestion better look out." of change in life's conduct or surroundings if "Is he standing by?" trust has not been established from heart to heart. "No, he left me some weeks ago, and is paying This analysis of the need of trained case workattention to a school-teacher in another town." ers for rural America applies equally to the rural "We will have to face facts with him too," I world. There are great mission fields in foreign lands whose social, health and religious needs said. "You must help me to help all who may should arouse the whole Christian Church to an have been hurt by your mistake." immediate sacrificial crusade for the alleviation of this human suffering. Out of this experience came a deep and abiding • The materials of such agencies as the Social W()rk Publicity friendship. C()uncil, the Child Welfare League of America, the National Recrea- A Christian social worker must have infinite tion ASSOCiation, the Nat()nal Probation ASSOCiation, the American Public Health ASSOCiation, the American S()cial Hygiene Associati()n, patience in dealing with cases that may need ad- the National Committee f()r Mental Hygiene, the Family Welfare justments and counsel, not only for years, but Association of America, the United States Children's Bureau and the, throughout life. The Apostle Peter's loyalty was Foreign Language Inf()rmati()n Service are heartily recommended,- not developed, even in his early intimate contact H, I. with Jesus, into a dependable, never-failing virtue. Life's strains and stresses often bring to the surface old weaknesses and sins that in hours of strength seem to have been conquered. Jesus Himself showed the need of continual patience and forgiveness when He said that one must be ready
a Farmer's Wife Sees
–tEtI~i ; ; ;v; ; ;e; ; ;fm; ; ;o; ; ;o; ; ;t= ; ; ;!JI ~- ==;;;;;B;;;;;Y;;;;;N=IN=A;;;;;B=.;;;;;HE=W;;;;;I;;;;;TT=,;;;;;R;;;;;i;;;;;ve;;;;;f;;;;;to;;;;;o;;;;;, C OMING from a farm home I have always greet the trees and plants by name, like old been farm-minded. After having lived in friends. Heaven bless the man who allows fruit- small villages, except for about three years bearing bushes and trees to grow that the birds in the capital, my home is now in the midst of may live. A fine sense of these blessings naturally farms with a magnificent Green Mountain view leads to the worship of God.
to west and north. There are few really pros- One little community that we know has "left perous farms in this area, and very few active their low-vaulted past" and has "built new temples Christians. Poverty, debts, privation and attend- nobler than the last" until they have become an ant miseries abound. earnest, organized, active Christian church with Throughout the country we are reaping the re- such an interest in serving others that their gifts for benevolences were higher per capita than any suIt of banishing religion from public schools. We other church in the district. They outgrew the have a crop of young folks whose ignorance of dance hall, remodeled an old store into a comforteverything concerning the Bible or religion is colossal. Social evils abound, such as could not able and commodious church, and' finally, to rid obtain were there a wholesome ~espect for the the place of drunken brawls and other wicked- Mosaic Law. nesses accompanying the dances, the church bought the dance hall and converted it into a par- Nine-year-old brides are not found in this vi- sonage and Community Hall supervised by the cinity, but far too many brides come to the Manse church. There was some grumbling, but the several months too late. One couple came to be community as a whole realizes the benefit. Some married bringing their baby! Incest, sodomy, of the dearest saints we know live there in that fornication, adultery are undisturbed by officers rural hamlet where now they practice cooperative of law. It is rumored that two families living in buying and selling. When Christ is given a a double house have swapped mates but not names. chance, life can be transformed and become "more Nothing is done about it. Would not a general abundant." respect for God's laws make a difference? Think of the lynchings, kidnapings, assaults and murder Farmers are peculiar creatures. They need the of young girls, one of the most recent having been influence of Jesus Christ. There is far too much perpetrated by boys of five and nine years! Why? of "each man for himself"; too little neighborly Why? How can little boys play that way? Why? helpfulness; too, much work; too little play.
Do not parents need to be educated for their re- Recreation is too far away. The whole family sponsibilities? will pile into the old Ford and drive to town to see the movies instead of helping to plan neigh- As though we could not produce enough trouble borhood good times. for ourselves, gangs of city criminals come and rob our banks, steal our chickens, our cars and Too many farm folks never know when Sunday our apples; , yes, and our beans, cucumbers and comes. They never hear a sermon, unless by sweet corn. Forgery frequently comes into our radio. They never accept the challenge of Malachi courts. Even counterfeiting has been discovered. 3: 10: "Bring ye all the tithes into the store- It is hard to catch these thieves, for in a night house, that there may be meat in mine house; and they can go so far in automobiles. Can anyone prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, estimate the moral ruin brought about in cars if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and parked in lonely spots with curtains drawn? pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be When tares are sown what shall the harvest be? room enough to receive it."
There is a pleasanter side of the picture. Some It seems sensible for farmers to provide a house country people see God's handiwork in the for hired help; to allow the "help" to raise a few smallest blade of grass, the tiniest blossom, the calves, pigs or chickens; to furnish land for his majestic mountains, the splashing brooks, fields garden. But comparatively few such homes are of waving grain. We can see the blue sky-more seen. I wonder that the Federal A-Z does not intensely blue beyond an expanse of green field or endeavor to place some of the unemployed this above a spreading elm. It is no small pleasure to way. Government money might well be used [300] among our farmers. Our farm daughters would center where no minister ever calls, each thinking be safer than they are now with the lusty, young, those people are in the other parish. There is a often unprincipled hired man living in the farm- wide field for the Home Department of the Church er's home. Neighbor-ownership of expensive School with a faithful visitor to operate. farm machinery like tractors, harvesters, silo fillers, spraying apparatus, would be a good thing. In one parish an interesting experiment was made last summer. A friendly, energetic, city Some farmers suffer from specializing on one minister wanted a vacation in the country, to live product such as milk or potatoes, or apples. When in the parsonage and preach each week. He and the crop fails or the market is uncertain, the his family went to this little village and had a family suffers real privation. He either borrows good time visiting the people. The sermons money to keep going or skimps along somehow. pleased them. He could lead the singing. The The old-time diversified farming produced a liv- church was lacking young people. A canvass was ing. If crops failed there were the pigs, calves made and nearly two hundred were found within and chickens to help out. This region depends the bounds of that parish! Spiritual life was upon the maple sugar crop for certain income quickened; interest in church affairs was reevery year, though it varies greatly. newed; financial support was promised, even by people who never before would help – all this What the Rural Church Needs during the vacation season of one preacher and his family! If Christ were lived by preachers and It is customary for people to look to the Church laymen, it would not take long to work a treto correct all sorts of errors. But the rural church mendous change in many a rural settlement. is rather helpless. Its members are farm people who have had no training in religious education Many a country church thinks it cannot do and social service. It is hard to find anyone will- things for lack of equipment, while probably right ing to try to teach in the Sunday school-and it is in the dooryard stands a vacant house whose worse to have some teachers than none at all. We owner would gladly allow it to be used for a social need farm girls and boys who can be trained for center or sell for small price. It woud be helpful social and religious work, and who will come back if church activities were reported in local newsto the home town and become leaders. We need papers. A church news reporter or publicity preachers who can live on next to nothing- agent should tell every week what is coming and preachers filled with the Holy Spirit like the early what has been done. A woman in a little village circuit riders, full of zeal and devotion, who can do church near me takes pains to send such items to pioneer work, unhampered by family cares. Many the daily paper. More such news and less of a rural hamlet will never more have preaching crime would tend to make newspapers better unless something of this sort be done. Fine old reading. New England Meeting Houses are going to ruin because the people think they cannot pay a min- Many a community does not realize its reister's salary. sources; does not utilize the talents of its people. We cry for leaders while perhaps people with We need Ambassadors of Christ who have the leadership ability are living near and wishing for skill to present the work of the Church in such a something to do. In these days of musical trainfascinating way that the congregation will know ing in public schools, it is to be regretted that that the larger work was in the mind of Christ rural churches suffer from inadequate choirs. when He said, "Go … preach … teach … heal." We work hard during the week and easily Strong advocates of righteousness and religious doze off to sleep in a church service. The education are found in many rural churches. The message must be vital, searching, deep, command- women's missionary societies, the Christian Teming attention. It need not be marked by flowery perance Unions, the Anti-Saloon League and other oratory, but must be delivered with sincerity that organizations do valiant service. Their meetings, can be felt. The average adult gets more good their study and social gatherings furnish a means from Bible truths when expressed in language a of real growth. Horizons are broadened, interest child can understand than from a dissertation in the less fortunate of the world is awakened. crammed with seven-syllable words. The average They learn the physical, religious, moral, mental rural congregation contains few college graduates. and spiritual needs of others and then do some- thing about it. It is astonishing how the small Rural communities suffer when they are served sums we give in local societies help to roll up by a preacher from a larger town, miles away. the millions that are used "For the love of Christ Things close to home loom larger than the rural and in His name" for His "brethren" all over the parish so far from sight. We need circuit riders to come around to such places in regular routine. world. Do not forget the no-man's-land surrounding Christian citizens often forget their civic reevery organized parish – sections far from the sponsibilities. Many never go to town meeting. The worst example of the result of such laxity is
the present burden of the liquor traffic. Having In towns the nearness of people makes a differrid the country of it once, the Church could have ence, and the constant presence of distracting kept it out if they had not become careless. Why things helps one over the critical period. But we must some terrible calamity occur before right country folks have to receive our comfort (if we action is taken? We have not yet become the have any) from communion with God and medi- Church Triumphant therefore we should continue tation upon His Holy Word. to be the Church Militant. Perhaps if we were more militant the nations would be less militant. Christ told his disciples to preach, teach and "Without vision the people perish." heal the Jews first, that is, among his own people. What a Christ-like thing it would be for young The rural community is handicapped because doctors from our S~ate universities to serve their the people are so far apart, and it is so hard to own first. Older physicians well established in hold meetings, yet telephones could be put to large towns, find it nearly impossible to drive out better use than they sometimes are. We fail to into the coufitry to attend the sick. The price of utilize the advantages we have at hand. The such service is almost prohibitive, quite so to many Grange, the Home Demonstration Groups, the families. This is one of my pet "visions": that Four-H Clubs, and Ladies' Aid ought to be more townships should vote in the next meeting a sum helpful in religious and civic matters than they large enough to secure the residence of a doctor are at present. and a nurse. With these two on call, the health and happiness of our country people would be There are many, many people suffering agony, greatly improved. hopeless and helpless, hidden away on isolated farms. Oh, how country people need Jesus Christ He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what to sustain and comfort when illness or tragedy doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love enters the home! Many a time my heart has been mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. wrung by the sorrows that rural neighbors have had to bear alone-alone so far as human help is *** concerned. Everybody has all he can do. No time to call on the sick. If death comes, funerals The Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the are largely attended, but in the days following lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and while going about the routine of work, there is with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the little to lift the gloom from the mourner's heart. first commandment; and the second is like, namely this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
The Country Pastor's Job By the REV. MARK RICH, Ithaca, New York I Field Representative of the Rural Institute fit- for Religious Workers D URING the past generation the country pas- The rural pastor has a tremendously significant torate has not been looked upon as a field job. His first task is that of a messenger of good for very fruitful service; country pulpits will. This follows the example of our Master as have often been used as a stepping stone to so- He walked in Galilee, teaching humble folk in called positions of wider influence in the cities. country places. The rural pastor is a herald of Neither seminary, training school, nor denomina- brotherhood and unity, not a promoter of divitional administrators have usually considered sions and discord. This needs to be emphasized town and country fields of first importance. City because it is possible that churches and pastors life has been exalted, rural life discounted, and may stir up a spirit of ill-will. Consider two inthe country church thought to be second rate in stances: comparison to the city pulpit. Not long ago two women from a struggling open As a result of this attitude surveys, field studies country church came asking help. Four miles and casual observations point to one appalling fact from their church lay a little village of seven hun- -the rapid decline of the country church. But dred inhabitants cradled in a lovely valley. There the situation is far from hopeless. There are are four churches there, each served by a minmany signs of awakening interest and of a new ister, three of whom are resident. appreciation of the task of the country minister. "Why do you not share pastors with the
THE COUNTRY PASTOR'S JOB
churches in this village?" I asked. "They can help the people of all faiths, especially during the you more than anyone else." terror of the Revolution when he was the only "Why," retorted one woman, "the churches in pastor to remain in the valley, that a new bond the village are so busy quarreling among them- of brotherhood was established. An English vis- selves that they have no time for us." itor noticed that on the communion plate in Ober- An outstanding agricultural leader, a layman lin's church were wafers, leavened and unleavened of staunch Christian character, one day spoke out bread which were taken by Catholics, Lutherans of deep conviction regarding two churches in a or Calvinists according to their conviction. Good- village. will in the enobled valley was one of the finest "It's all a man's reputation is worth," he said, among all the worthy contributions of this man.
"to become affiliated with one of the churches." So it is with every rural pastor, who draws men A cannon which stands on the village green sep- into a common brotherhood in Christ. This is the arating the churches is symbolic of the iII-will unique job of the rural minister.
they stir up in the hearts of some people. Merely to have one church in a village, instead Unfortunately these are not isolated instances. of four, does not insure spiritual vitality and right Such results come from too many competitive relationships among the people. But, it has been country churches. They are so involved in the proved that the active promotion of unity is a way things which keep them apart that they have no to keep right relationships.
time for the main business of reaching people with A country pastor has also the opportunity of the Gospel. That is the malady which is afflicting interpreting spiritual reality to people who live hundreds of American churches. In seeking to on the land. The church is an agency for the ex- save themselves they are not only losing their pression and transmission of spiritual truth. Jesus lives but failing to save the community. A pastor taught truth about God, about the right relation or a church which promotes discord is not of of man to man, and of man to God, in ways that Christ. were understandable to his hearers. Sometimes At its best the Christian church brings God's one wonders how people>ever came to think that message of goodwill and unity. A lover of rural preaching an involved theology is the way to build life and an ardent church worker recently bore a church. Theology ought not be removed from testimony to this fact when she said to a large life, but a large proportion of sermons, both con- gathering of her fellow church members: "This servative and progressive, are far removed from parish has made it possible for us to call one an- the interests and understanding of the hearers.
other friends." The country preacher, following his Master, Not many months ago I visited a saintly aged ought to explain the eternal truths in terms which minister in a tiny hamlet. Once two churches, are comprehensible. For this task, he will find decadent and hopeless, served the farmers of the much material in the everyday life of country narrow valley. His first entrance into the com- people. But to understand these things the min- munity was welcomed by members of one church ister himself must be rooted in the soil. A num- only. The others were indifferent, or hostile. One ber of prominent rural church leaders and mis- woman vowed that no minister of the other de- sionaries are saying that no missionary should go nomination would ever darken the doorstep of to the foreign field and no pastor to a rural church her house. Some would not even attend a funeral without an agricultural college background. How service held in the other church. far much of our preparation has missed the mark!
Later the woman repented and the minister was A rural minister should know something about invited into her home for Sunday dinner. Now the work in which his people are engaged. In a the two congregations are worshipping together dairy region he could at least know the difference in happy fellowship. Why this change? Simply between a Holstein and a Guernsey cow and be because the pastor has the spirit of Christ in his conversant with some of the basic problems facing heart. He would not stoop to littleness, to bicker- the dairy industry. He ought to thrill at the sight ings or ill-will. He represents the attitude and of an elm tree, appreciate flowers, the glories of task of the truly Christian minister. rural life. He must be one who understands.
An Ideal Country Pastor If the rural pastor finds spiritual reality in the country he can help interpret it to the people, and John Frederick Oberlin, perhaps more than any will find receptive hearts. Many a farmer finds a other represents the ideal country pastor. Trained deep abiding joy in his work. Of this he may be to a doctor's degree at the University of Strass- but half conscious and one of the jobs of the pastor burg, he gave himself for nigh 60 years to the is to help him develop this appreciation.
needy people of the Valley of Stone in the isolated Perhaps the least part of a country minister's Vosges mountains. Like his Master he went about task is the pulpit. The ministry of John Fred- doing good. Oberlin had so endeared himself to erick Oberlin did not consist in oracular announce-
ments. After his sermon he might implore his conventions. Some recognition is craved by every people to build a road, to clean up their houses or man, including the rural minister, but he will to plant a tree in the name of God, but he never probably have to do with less than do some others. ended with that. On Monday he took his pick and shovel and set the example in building roads or in But the rewards outnumber the disadvantages. planting trees. To get rid of disease or to build a An alert and consecrated rural minister can have the satisfaction of doing a creative piece of work. YOUNG PEOPLE'S RURAL WEEK-END CONFERENCE IN The rural church is today in a condition of flux. GROTON COMMUNITY PARISH-SIX CHURCHES OF THREE Old forms are being sloughed off and new forms are emerging. He who builds today is setting the DElNOMINATIONS ARE COOPERATING IN THIS patterns for the future and the pioneer does not LARGER PARISH ask for monetary rewards. He is happy to blaze the trail on which future generations will travel. school and provide a consecrated teacher was quite The rural minister can have that satisfaction as much a ministry in the name of Jesus Christ today. as was preaching. Another reward arises out of the fundamental There is much to make a man's heart bleed as importance of work in the country. The 1930 he observes the rural scene in America today. census reveals the fact that the rural population One finds much poverty, underprivileged children, is still the source of population supply for Amerhosts of families untouched by any church and no ica. The farm population is producing fifty per man's lands abandoned by one denomination after cent more children than are necessary to maintain another. And the sturdy farmers, whose families the population level in the country. Today's rural will inherit the prosperous fields, need a faith and minority is tomorrow's overwhelming majority. hope that will make the citizenship of the coun- Boys and girls trained in the country not only tryside spiritually clearsighted. make the country life of the next generation but exert a profound influence on city life for good or Dr. Kagawa of Japan says there are three prin- ill. The country pastor who is farsighted sees ciples to be observed by the farmer: (1) he should that he is moulding national life for good at its love the soil, (2) he should love his neighbor, and very source. Other men must build with the (3) he should love God. In these three principles timber he seasons. lie the secret of good living on the farm. Helping people to practice these things sums up the task The country minister also finds deep satisfacof the rural minister. The farmer who finds these tion in the relationships of rural life. He knows has found the abundant life. members of "his flock" by name. They belong to What can the pastor who gives his life to the him and he to them. When a man remains in a shepherding of his rural flock expect in the way community over a period of years he comes to have of reward? It is certain that he cannot expect a wide influence which compares with that of the large financial returns. A salary of two thousand larger city parishes. The rural minister can find dollars and parsonage is munificent in the coun- deep satisfaction in the rural way of life. The try, but even that is small compared with the head of a great farmer's cooperative recently said emoluments that the larger city churches shower that farming was about the only occupation in upon their ministers. No, the rural pastor cannot which a man can retain his spiritual freedom. If expect luxurious comfort. this be true, the conscientious rural minister is pursuing a calling in which he can find spiritual Nor is the rural pastor likely to win as much values. After all, a man's influence arises out of renown as do some of his urban brethren. He can- what he is rather than what he does. A rural not expect to have his voice speak from the pages pastor, in a particular way, can be a follower of of the metropolitan dailies nor to take prominent Jesus Christ who went about country ways revealpositions on the platform of his denominational ing the love of God by doing good.
Happily, there are some evidences that the tide is turning. Some are saying that if America is to be saved she must be saved through her rural people and if the city church of the future is to be strong she will gain her vigor through the li~e blood flowing from the country. Believing that, the country pastor has the opportunity of mold- ing the spiritual life of the nation.
Solution – The Larger
By ELLSWORTH M. SMITH, New York Field Representative of the Town and Country Department, American Baptist Home Mission Society RURAL churches in America are going out of limited to business, politics and recreation. Here business at a rate estimated by some as high we have most of the causes of death. as one thousand per year. When one real- Usually these churches represent two or more izes the importance of rural Christianity, not only denominations. The lines have been sharply to the people of the countryside but to the nation drawn and, though there is toleration and a cer- as a whole, when one remembers that usually half tain amount of polite gesturing, there is no help- the workers of a city church received their initial ful cooperation.
religious impulse in the church of the crossroads, At this juncture leaders of the denominations this statement of death rate is tragic. involved go to the area and meet their church peo- Of course, some of these dying churches are not ple. They hear their statements of resigned hopeneeded. Some have ministered to racial or na- lessness. The denominational executives have tional groups that have shifted to other localities. been putting into these churches all the money Others have failed to adapt themselves to modern they could afford and no more is available, but needs and have been replaced. Still others have they have a suggestion to offer. Larger Parishes been in competing situations. An illustration of have done seeming miracles elsewhere, so they this last statement is the recent death of two , talk to the people about this new plan and find a churches in a village of three hundred fifty peo- considerable though wary response. The people ple, leaving an active total of five churches still would be willing to have another meeting to concarrying on! sider it, though they do not believe that anything Many churches that die are, however, desper- can be done. ately needed. Of this large group are those in the One of the denominational leaders gets in touch remote open countryside, localities from which with the others involved and together they agree the people will not onen go to the town or village, that for the perpetuation of their various interests for religious privileges. These breakdowns are a Larger Parish is perhaps the only solution. A due to a variety of causes, not the least of which mass meeting of the people of all the churches is are the disappearing of neighborhood conscious- called and at this meeting several things happen. ness in the open country, and the increasing difficulty of carrying the financial burden, particularly People of ,each community meet friends whom they have not seen for a long time. They realize where agriculture is not prosperous. Others of that. they are all in the same difficulty and this these churches have failed to meet needs and have not been replaced, or adapted. Other causes for gives them comfort. They listen to the counsel of their denominational leaders and see real posthe disappearance of needed churches have been inadequate leadership and a spiritual hopelessness sibilities. The descriptions of the things accom- plished in Larger Parishes rekindles enthusiasms. due to lack of vision. And lastly, some have died because of sheer loneliness. , Pamphlets are distributed. Sample constitutions show that denominational connections are main- To each of these needed, but dying churches, the tained intact and that each church has equal Larger Parish offers a partial and often the only representation and fair treatment. The very sight solution. of the leaders of different denominations on the What Is a Larger Parish? same platform, earnestly recommending this bold Consider a situation in which the churches of cooperative venture, creates a new spirit. A date an area of six near-by communities are ready to is set for another meeting to organize and adopt close their doors. Finances are down, the separate a constitution. communities have exhausted themselves in "going it alone"; the last ministers they have had have Discussions are held in each community and in been inadequate to save the situation; the finan- each church. The term "Larger Parish" is on cial resources of the area are not what they have everyone's tongue. Correspondence flows between been; fellowship betwpen the communities is these localities and state offices. In preparation for the organization meeting each church elects [305 ]
two delegates who shall become their representa- isters are their pastors. Regular staff meetings tives on the proposed Larger Parish Council. for reporting and planning are held each week, Finally the great day arrives and the entertain- with regular Council meetings each month. The ing church is crowded by representatives of the Council holds an annual meeting of the Parish several churches besides a number of people who to report to the people. The churches hold an- have not shown any interest in religion. Each nual meetings for their regular business and to church announces that it is ready to go ahead, the elect Council delegates, no one of whom may serve constitution is voted on section by section, and more than two consecutive terms of two years adopted with modifications. The names of the each.
representatives of the churches are announced Each church draws up a budget to cover local and an early date is set for their first meeting in expenses and after all these, budgets have been the home of one of the delegates. accepted by the Council, they are included in the How the Plan Works total Parish budget. This total includes the sal- aries of staff workers, their transportation allow- At the first meeting of the Council there is much ances, office costs, and other general items decided to be done. Delegates-at-Iarge are elected, also a by the Council.
chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and Parish Building a Program treasurer. The amount of money that can reason- ably be expected to be raised is agreed upon and The program of the Larger Parish is detera tentative budget is drawn up. A canvass of mined by the needs and interests of the cooperevery family in the area is placed in charge of a ating churches, of which each has a committee committee and another committee is appointed to made up of Council delegates, and all of the active find a staff of two ministers. leaders in the church and community. This puts Since the churches of the Larger Parish include the church in a position to build itself solidly into all in the area, everyone is asked to contribute, the entire life of the community and demonstrates whether a church member or not. Pledges are a community purpose without which the organiza- paid through local churches. When the returns . tions may find themselves at odds with one an- are in and it is known how much the denomina- other. The general committee meets with the en- tions will contribute, the total working budget is tire staff at frequent intervals to talk of commu- adopted. nity and church needs and to plan a program.
The Council finally votes to call two young men, The genius of the Larger Parish is that it visions and often this action is ratified by all the member a complete program which will serve all the needs of the people. The Council, with the staff, seeks churches, the calls are extended. The new staff workers become ex-officio mem- to coordinate the many projected activities into a bers of the Council and one of them is elected complete Parish program. Director. The program is discussed and a line Individuals subscribe to the total Parish work of action is adopted with schedules for meetings, through the churches in their own communities, including church worship, church school and and these contributions are sent by the local treasyoung people's meetings, on a regular basis in urer to the Parish treasurer, who pays all bills each community, no community having more than on the O. K. of the Council chairman. Even the one set of services. The abilities and interests of missionary funds may be handled this way, keepthe two ministers are taken into consideration and ing all the records in' separate books but in one each minister accepts responsibility for certain office.
types of activities. The Director of the staff may The Larger Parish puts a strong emphasis on be responsible for planning the worship and young people's work to meet the local needs and preaching program, the pastoral calling and men's interests of separate groups. The program of work, while the second man may be director of each society may be distinct, but there is set up a young people's work, recreation and the Christian Young People's Senate which meets at regular in- education program. The Director of the staff is tervals with the director of young people's work.
held directly responsible for the general carrying The entire league of societies holds occasional out of the entire program. The two members of joint socials and inspirational programs.
the staff share in the particular work of each, Each church school has its own organization, though each man plans the program in his de- but the superintendents and active workers meet partment and endeavors to see it through to a together in a Central Committee on Christian satisfactory completion. Education, to discuss the administration of the The staff members live in the same community schools and to direct a program of leadership in order that they may confer daily and may avoid training for the entire parish.
the danger of sections feeling that particular min- The staff Director is the editor of the weekly
ONE SOLUTION – THE LARGER PARISH
Parish Calendar, which lists news of all the special financial arrangements with doctors, the churches and their announcements, and is distrib- hospital and for higher education for promising uted in the services. A monthly Parish news let- young people; a yearly survey of the area with ter is distributed by mail or through young people Christmas calls by the entire staff at every home to every home in the area, regardless of church (this usually requires a month!); AND THROUGH memberships. The young people's league edits ALL OF THIS PROGRAM-IN PREACHING, TEACHING, and publishes a mimeographed booklet at inter- CONVERSATION AND EXPRESSION – A CONSTANT vals to promote fellowship, and finances it through DEMONSTRATION OF THE MEANING OF THE SPIRIT small charges made at joint socials. There are OF CHRIST IN ALL OF LIFE!
contributing' editors from each society and young Now that this Parish has been organized and people serve as mimeograph stencil cutters, crank running for several years, what are the results?
turners, "printer's devils" and delivery boys. Not only has church membership doubled, mis- The program of the Larger Parish develops as sionary giving increased fourfold, church schools fast as local leaders can be found and trained. filled to capacity, nearly every young person a Over a period of years the projects worked out in- clude an amazing variety of things. A list of these activities will prove quite convincing: church worship and preaching, church schools, young people's meetings and week-day religious educa- tion every week; pastoral service reaching every- one in the area and with special attention to the aged, the shut-in, and those who are ill or have special problems; organized church school classes with outside activities for all ages; young peo- ple's socials, community socials, men's clubs, boys'
clubs, girls' clubs, 4-H clubs, Boy Scouts, Friendly Indians; basketball, baseball, volley-ball and bowling teams; banquets for classes, Mothers and Daughters, Fathers and Sons and the young peo- ple's league; book clubs, music clubs, dramatic clubs and many other kinds of hobby and special interest groups; camps, conferences and leader- The Trego Larger Parish-Wisconsin ship training schools; junior choirs singing weekly in their own churches and on special oc- This map, from "The Larger Parish Plan," by Malcolm Dana, casions as a joint junior choir; an adult choir, shows the district inclnded around Trego, Wisconsin. Five weak special musical programs and vespers; pageants churches united to. pool their resources and to join in a program to serve the whole community in the name and spirit of Jesus Ghrist. Kingdom interest took the place of denGminational interests of a religious nature and several plays; commu- nity clubs for the adults and young people; the church member, finances adequate and steady observance of special days, such as Thanksgiving, even during the depression, but the Christian Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, "Religious Edu- religion has become the big thing in the life of cation Days," Rural Life Sunday, etc.; outdoor the community and individual and social redemp- services for the churches and particularly for the tion has become a glowing reality. To bring young people's societies; an Easter Sunrise serv- all of this wholesome activity and spiritual direc- ice; missionary societies and church aid societies; tion in a steady continuing church program out of church suppers; a special Lenten program in- the desperation and hopelessness of the previous cluding a series of evangelistic meetings in each situation has been the accomplishment of a de- church, church membership classes for all ages, voted, courageous and kindly group of average and special calling for church members; Holy Christians working through a type of organiza- Week services; sex education and marriage coun- tion known as The Larger Parish. There are selling; vocational guidance and testing; coop- many variations of the plan, variations in name, eration with the schools, the public health service, in number of churches and in number of staff service clubs, Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., and workers, but the above description is in all essen- Grange; participation in all the denominational tialparticulars, the story of a particular Larger activities, materials and promotional programs; Parish, its life history to date.
A Church of the
By the REV. COE HAYNE, New York –tEl Department of Publicity, Literature and Research, American Baptist Home Mission Society T HE church at M-, New York, is in the open the paneling and the lady of the parsonage was country. Not more than ten houses are head varnisher. The cost totalled a sum far less within half a mile of the knoll upon which than the estimated cost of $600 had the job been stands the beautiful old edifice with its towering done by a contractor. spire and colonial fa~ade. From the hills and valleys beyond come the people to worship. Since Some of the men thought that a quick and effi- 1803 this Baptist church organization has had a cient way to improve the appearance of the woodcontinuous existence. During one hundred and work was to spread thereon a liberal coat of paint. thirty-four years the Gospel has had a witness in Not so thought the women. Beautifully grained this countryside by reason of the Christian loyal- wood, worth a fortune, to be smeared over with ties of successive generations of farmer folk. paint! The men today are glad they had not their way. The lady of the parsonage on scaffold and When Pastor Peterson came to Martindale De- stepladder worked day after day with a small pot ten years ago, one of his first activities was to brush and an oak stain to obliterate the scars on survey the field. He found ninety-one houses the woodwork before the varnish was applied. within the legitimate limits of his parish. In these All are pleased with the job.
houses lived 270 people. The next nearest church The countryside has beauty. Why not promote was located four miles away. An acquaintance beauty in the sanctuary of a church of the counwith every person, whether Jew, Catholic or Prot- tryside. Cleanliness, quiet tastefulness in decoraestant, or nonreligionist, living in these houses, tion, sunshine, good cheer-all these blessings are became the pastor's pleasant duty. His kindly, possible in the house of worship, all are especially neighborly attitude became proverbial in the desirable for people who enter the sanctuary dicountryside. The people looked to him as their rectly from a world of outdoor beauty. pastor and friend. True sympathy was the golden commodity this rural-minded minister had in his Something happened to the people when their possession to dispense to those who sought his church was made beautiful. It had been the fellowship. In their joys or sorrows he loved custom to hold all social activities, such as plays, them. During one year a couple, deprived of a dinners, festivals and sales in the sanctuary. This fourteen-year-old boy who had been killed by a one room was the only place for such gatherings. truck, received many messages from Pastor Peter- The pastor and the lady of the parsonage were son, and interviewed with him to help them recon- glad to find many in .the church who had a feeling struct life anew. that the sanctuary ought to be preserved for wor- There was much to be done to make the old ship services. church attractive. The shabby walls of the sanc- Any record of the doings in this parish during tuary did not at all assist in creating a worshipful attitude. The plaster had been falling from the the past ten years would be incomplete without ceiling and it was evident that the new pastor mention of the help that has been given to the stood in danger literally of being bombarded out pastor by his wife and daughter. During an illof his pUlpit unless something was done about it. ness of her husband she was constant in her visits Estimates for installing a metal ceiling were se- in homes and at the meetings of the women and as a teacher in the Sunday school. The "parish in cured and it was thought that the proposed cost automobile" owned by and maintained by the pas- was within reach of the people. The Ladies' Aid tor and constant use for parish work is driven Society assumed the responsibility of decorating by the lady of the parsonage. The daughter has the walls and revarnishing pews and woodwork, been a leader in the young people's movements in recovering the cushions and putting up new the county.
shades. The women used the scaffolding erected On September 29, 1930, Pastor Peterson felt by the workmen who put on the metal ceiling. impressed to pray as follows: "Dear Lord, I ask The president of the Ladies' Aid Society designed Thee for a building in connection with the church.
[308 ]
COOPERATION IN A RURAL COMMUNITY
equal to the need for such a building to take care telephone freely to send out messages. He has of the social life of this community for which this memorized hundreds of Bible verses which he church is responsible in Thy sight!" The pastor finds are a help at every turn in his work. Four claimed the promise of our Lord as recorded in years ago he expressed his Christian faith in the Mark 11: 24, "Therefore I say unto you, what following: things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall receive them." o Jesus Christ, my precious Lord, By the following spring the people were ready O'er all the earth be Thou adored. to build. The old sheds were taken down and a For Thy great love, so full and free, fine social hall erected at a cost of about $2,400. Is sweeter far than life to me.
All community gatherings of a helpful nature This verse was printed in a county weekly newsmay be held in this commodious building, but the paper and the next week a poem of three verses character of all gatherings is determined by the was accepted for publication. The editor asked church. Among the activities made possible are the pastor to furnish more of these Christian monthly community birthday socials. Those who poems and as a result they have appeared every have had or will have birthdays during any cur- week during the four years. At present eight rent month, sit at a special table. This draws other country newspapers print his poems. This people who are not connected with the church. service, "unto Him," has widened immeasurably his ministry and some of his verses have been set It has been the practice of the pastor to use the to music.
Cooperation in a Rural Community By the REV. EDWARD D. HAMNER, Oakwood, Texas Pastor of Blackfoot, Montalba, Oakwood, Slocum and Tennessee Colony Rural Christian Churches SMALL town boosters like to advertise the is not merely a theory, but a supreme necessity multiplicity of their institutions. Some think for rural America. it an honor to have many churches. Yet in most small towns and country communities, the The average rural community, capable of supfewer the churches the better for the community, porting one church with a vital Christian profor few rural communities are so populous that gram, is keeping up a skeleton existence for two one church would not be far better than two or or more churches, none of which are doing much more competing churches. A vast majority of except through a "weakly" Sunday school and rural churches are in communities where there part-time preaching. The cooperation between are other churches and few are without competi- these churches will depend in part upon their re- spective polities. Little is possible between tion. churches when each insists that it has the only An efficient rural church must operate with two true doctrine "once and for all delivered unto the saints." Between churches with broader views factors in its favor: a limited area, and adequate but loyal to Christ and recognizing their own numbers. The limited area is necessary because limitations and imperfections, a large measure of of the many who, at least under present condi- cooperation and ultimate unity is possible. The tions, have no way to go long distances to the nature of cooperation will depend upon why we church services. The factor of adequate numbers cooperate. is necessary in order that efficiency may be maintained and the program supported. Doctrines differ as to the form of baptism, the use of ritual and instrumental music, the rules of With a divided church – that is, where two or membership and form of government. Many and more denominations attempt to minister in the varied are our differences of faith and practice, same area, the result will be either limited num- yet, fundamentally, bers, when the constituency is divided among the competing groups; or, if sufficient numbers are Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, maintained, the area will have to be so widened Our comforts and our cares. that inefficiency results. And so, Christian unity
It is because of "the tie that binds our hearts in pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not Christian love" that we seek "the fellowship of destroyed. " kindred minds." We cooperate because of common aims, and hopes, and despite those things Though it is because of a careless habit that we which divide. Some have assumed that coopera- often omit the third verse of many hymns, we tion is impossible between people who believe dif- ought to omit the third verse of "Onward Chrisferently; others have shown that even those with tian Soldiers" until the harmony of our efforts extremely different views of the Bible and of some makes it possible for us to sing honestly Christian doctrines may have happy and profitable fellowship. People with different tastes eat We are not divided; at the same table, those with varying ideas of All one body we, style buy from the same shops, and members of the same family like different types of cars – so One in hope and doctrine, there is no need for us to despair because of dif- One in charity. fering ideas and tastes as to worship, organization, and doctrines. Christians may love each What Unity Is Possible? other, and work and have fellowship together despite these differences. If all of life were cut to With this spirit and this goal, what cooperation the same pattern it would be drab indeed. Is not is possible, and what unity is desirable between this true of Christianity? churches in a rural community?
Not merely because of common interests and Some steps must be taken before others are loyalty do we cooperate; but because our ultimate possible. Efforts to unite the churches of a comaim is not mere cooperation, but unity. Our co- munity when no cooperative spirit has been deoperation is the first step toward a closer rela- veloped would be worse than useless. There tionship. It is to our shame that the Church must be simple beginnings-forward steps-first of Christ is so divided. The Apostle Paul wrote: achievements, before real unity is possible. "Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love." But we have made In communities where summer finds many peoarticles of faith so great that they have divided ple away on vacations and evening services slump, us, and have even caused some professed followers churches have found it advantageous to hold union of Christ to hate each other, and to contend one Sunday night services. In one village of less than with another, instead of loving each other. Why 1,000 population the pastors of the six -churches cannot faith, hope, and love operate together? (think of it!) worked out a plan whereby each A vigorous and healthy Christian love need not pastor preached two Sunday nights during the diminish faith. three summer months, each preacher in the pulpit of another church than his own. Attendance was Our Lord prayed ". . . that they all may be better than the combined attendance would have one . . . that the world may believe. . . ." If been if each church had held its own services, and our ultimate aim is to bring about the unity for there was the added advantage of fellowship towhich He prayed; our cooperation should be such gether, and the inspiration of numbers. Union as will contribute to this end. fifth Sunday night meetings, and the exchange of pulpits, have similar values. The rural church is less able to survive denominational competition than the urban church be- Union revival meetings prove helpful if propcause of the two factors-distances and numbers. erly conducted. Especially where money is scarce Moreover, competition is destructive; it breeds a home-force meeting, with the pastors of the coan ugly spirit among neighbors, and like scattered operating churches alternating in the pulpit, has fire it accomplishes far less than united effort. proved satisfactory. . When an outside preacher is brought in, he must be very carefully selected, Cooperation ought not to be the pseudo-friendly as an evidence of even slight sectarian bias will gestures of hostile groups, sparring for advan- react adversely. A charitable spirit shown by all tage, but should be marked by honest efforts to parties is essential to the success of such ventures. come closer together, and to accomplish together For example, in one village union meetings were what we cannot do, or cannot do well, apart. Nor abandoned after a near conflict between two local should we become discouraged if plans go awry, preachers when one of them insisted, perhaps in if others show a less cooperative spirit than we fun, in calling the other's church by a disliked desire, or if plans occasionally back-fire. In the nickname. A spirit of love is essential in Chriswar against the world, the flesh, and the devil, the tian coope_ration. church of Christ may lose some battles, but it is not defeated. "Weare pressed on every side, yet The churches of rural communities often coopnot straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; erate in "singings" and in taking a religious census. In one community three churches are working together on the "Lord's Acre" plan of finance. Each church has a committee of three members to operate for that church, and the three committees together form a community committee
to create wider interest in the plan. This com- churches represented have separate organizations munity, needing a community hall for social gath- which work as circles, and alternate in presenting erings, banquets, boys' and girls' work, and clubs, united programs. Each group supports its own hopes that its Lord's Acre projects will provide denominational work.
such a building. Nearly one hundred years ago, pioneers from Among the most practical Christian work which Tennessee settled in a rural area of Texas and can be done by the churches of a rural community built a school and church building. There have are cooperative efforts to rid the community of been organizations here from time to time of at liquor, campaigns against vice or corrupt govern- least five different denominations, but always the ment, and community-wide go-to-church cam- people have cooperated at least to the extent of paigns. Rural churches may also unite in local having a common church building. At present charity work, the doing of which is, after all, as there is a union church building, with union Sun- much a cardinal Christian virtue as a govern- day school, union young people's society, and fed- mental responsibility. erated woman's missionary society, but with two Benefits of Cooperation church organizations, each maintaining its own part-time pastor. The church property is main- Such cooperation as we have suggested will de- tained by a joint fund consisting of five per cent velop a spirit which will in time make possible of the income of each of the two churches. An- even closer relationship. Opposition to coopera- other union church cares for its building main- tive efforts will often come from people who are strongly sectarian and when actual union takes place there is almost sure to be some disagree- ment. Wisdom, tact, careful planning, and above all the spirit of Christian love under all circum- stances are needed to produce harmony. Opposi- tion should not be ruthlessly brushed aside, or disdainfully ignored, but should be melted with the warmth of Christian love. We "can do all things through Christ who strengthens us."
Union Sunday schools can be maintained in many rural communities. In one community, the union Sunday school died when a narrow-minded minister set out to oust all teachers not of his A CROWDED COMMUNITY CH UR CH , ANDERSON particular sect. After several years another min- CITY, TEXAS ister of the same denomination, but with broader tenance through the treasury of the union Sunday sympathies, made progress by preaching Chris- school; and with special calls for funds for intian unity and inviting people of the other surance, paint, and other additional expenses. churches in the area to share in the teaching work. An agreement may be reached not to argue The ultimate goal of every rural community over points of doctrine on which the churches should be to have one church, adequately serving differ. all the community. Community churches of vari- ous types are proving a success. When any unity Young people, not having sectarian loyalities of seems possible, that type should be chosen which long standing, work well together. The union seems most appropriate for the particular comyoung people's society, whether strictly nonsec- munity such as the federated church, the denomtarian or a denominational society for aU the inational community church, or the nondenominayoung people of the community, has been a pioneer tional community church. Whatever the form of in Christian cooperation and unity. In one com- unity, the success of such united groups will demunity the older young people have a Christian pend much upon the wisdom and the Christian Endeavor Society in one church, while the young- spirit of its leadership. er ones have a B. Y. P. U. in another church. A fine spirit was evinced in the omission of a pro- Christianity is like a wheel. Christ is the hub; gram in the quarterly which the other churches the denominations are the spokes. The closer we did not accept. Another union young people's so- are to Christ, the closer we are to one another, and ciety uses the literature of one denomination for people who have the spirit of Christ can work tosix months, then changes to that of another for gether in harmony, even though many of their an equal period. ideas differ.
A federated woman's missionary society has "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for been organized in one rural community. The two brethren to dwell together in unity."
Ministry of the Rural
By JOHN C. KILLIAN, D.D., Philadelphia -.~ Secretary, Colporter Department, American Baptist Publication Society D URING the last twenty years stupendous filled with Bibles, books, and tracts. The story changes have come to rural life. Millions of Christ was shared with those he met by the of people have moved to the city; thou- roadside, and those he visited in the homes. The sands of farms have been abandoned. The farm Bible was a strong force in recognizing God on enterprise has become dependent upon world the frontier. Many strong Sunday schools and markets which in turn has introduced a new churches today date back to that early visit of the struggle in economic security for rural dwellers. colporter. Following this the Chapel Car was In areas which the colporter-missionary serves, launched, with a church and parsonage combined.
the problems have become greatly intensified. Thus the missionary and his wife were able to There is an austere poverty among many rural reach the people more effectively in the new and people, and because of the long years of independ- growing towns along the railroads.
ence this sturdy stock has greater hesitancy to ap- Horse and wagon were needed to extend the ply for welfare relief even when that is available. services to groups settling in areas far from the Year after year of crop failure and dust storms railroads. With the passing years this equipment have dimmed their hopes and left upon their faces has changed, to Chapel Autos and now to the the seared scars of dreams for better days. They latest model of automobiles, where the mission- have been driven backward in the vain attempt to ary can speed across the barriers of desert and mask a keen sense of inferiority. The barrier of sagebrush to some home or outstation seventy or isolation has been widened between them and the perhaps a hundred and fifty miles away from his people of the distant town with whom they base. This modern car can often be seen parked mingled previously. In these sections, off the by a small cabin, or perhaps in the midst of a beaten highway, one can see the old cars which cluster of homes squatted irregularly upon the have been jacked up and unused for three and dusty sands, or in front of a schoolhouse. The four years, waiting in hope that the next crop will latest venture in equipment is a modern all-steel enable them to secure the needed license. In one trailer.
section I saw seventeen cars owned by farmers, Today colporter work is varied, though it re- but fifteen of them had been upon blocks for sev- tains some of the earlier methods. The great need eral years. now is to give support and encouragement to The change in the rural church is pathetically those organizations and to develop native leader- parallel. The inability of a small, decreasing ship through preaching and Christian education.
rural group to maintain the church as formerly During the years of financial depression, nine- has meant, in many instances, a lower standard of teen churches in areas of need in one state alone leadership or closing the church altogether. The would have been closed, but for the work of these great vast area of western prairie and desert, as colporters. Because of the new comity policy of well as rural sections in some eastern states turn some larger denominations many of these to the mission boards for help. To our shame be churches now serve the entire community and the it said, that when this group of Americans need missionary ministers to all groups. In drought- encouragement, our response is so inadequate. stricken areas where more than two-thirds of the Yet, those who have ministered in these fields have church members are on relief, and they were un- labored heroically and have reaped a hundred fold able to keep a pastor the worker has been a great harvest. blessing. .
In the early days of colportage a hundred years In another field the missionary worked in the ago,* the missionary traveled about on foot carry- areas surrounding the town. Outstations were ing his handbags suspended around the neck, formed and members were lined up with the town church, which could not have kept their own pas- t or WI't ht the al'd f th ese newly 'Interested • The work of the Colporter-Missionary Department of the eAm1HeZr2- groups. OU ican Baptist publication Society was started in 1840. (Sinc 0 this work has been done In cooperation with the American Baptist Home Mission Society.) [312 ] THESE AMERICAN CHILDREN HAVEl NEVER BEEN REACHED BY CHURCH OR SUNDAY SCHOOL In one fine community strong factions had de- ing had dawned when the last of the revelers veloped, weakening the church almost to the point drove away noisily; then a strange stillness preof death. The last group holding the fort were vailed. A few hours later I met with a group of unable to support a pastor and the others were about fifty people who had gathered for worship. quite unwilling to cooperate. The State Secretary Repeatedly they expressed their gratitude for the offered to send a colporter-missionary acceptable missionary that had come to them, for now they to all when they agreed. The result reads like had new courage and felt that they would be able a miracle. Disaffected groups gradually returned, to contend against the forces of evil and to rear and in less than one year the fine church was their children in the fear of God. again self-supporting and reaching out into needy areas. The blessing of a live church is that it Picture another town nestling on the edge of a transforms the community. One of the business drab desert waste of sagebrush and cactus. But men of a town where the missionary served, the town is not drab. It is a blooming oasis. Here writes: the missionary's wife was a great lover of flowers. Her first attack against the unloveliness of the You have made {)ur community a better place in which town was made on an old dump heap on the corner to live, you have helped to make our neighbors and, in near the parsonage. A transformation followed fact, our customers, better people with whom to deal. and it became a veritable old English garden with tall delphinium, fox glove and Canterbury bells. In another town the Superintendent of Schools Then the town began to change. A new day has states: come to the church which has grown steadily in strength and membership. The story is well told I have observed a marked transition ·from the early in aletter: Western-town ideas of drinking, gambling, and unc{)uth society toward intellectual refinement and Christian ideals, How grateful we are to have had your colporter and and an outlawry of the former evils. his wife here these years! Their home and the church are the center of all that is worth while in the village and Recently I stopped on Saturday night in a for many miles around. Each summer when I have rewestern town on the edge of the desert where a turned to the valley and noted the steady change for the new man had been sent to reopen the church. better in people's personal appearance, and in their poor That night the town was all astir. Ranchers had little door-yards, I have been astounded. come miles to attend the opening of another saloon. The town was literally ablaze with gam- These phases of the colporter work give a bling dens and saloons, twenty of which could he glimpse of the well-rounded and effective procounted from the hotel window. Sabbath morn- gram. While the form of missionary service may
have changed through the years, and while the men to any religious approach made his work alservices needed now in a community more often most impossible. His efforts met with continued pertain more to the reviving and reorganization failure to win the men. One day he chanced to of Sunday schools and churches, the work of the enter the cookhouse, and noticed that the cook was colporter-missionary still remains a distinct effort very angry, and stormed out that his assistant had to reach the isolated and to carry the message of deserted. If the men did not have their hot-cakes Jesus Christ into the home through house-to-house they would be angry. The missionary said, "Give visitation. Isolation and poverty have built bar- me a start, plenty of batter, and two griddles, and riers to fellowship with other Christians. It is a I will help you out." When the men heard that great joy to ride over the dreary wastes and then the "Sky Pilot" was going to cook the breakfast, come unexpectedly upon a new cabin home and they chuckled, but they ate until it hurt. He kept discover that some folks are disciples of the Great them supplied and won the hearts of those men Galilean. so that the workwas made easy.
One worker tells of a place where a few homes Another worker, in ministering to the suffering, were clustered among the hills of Wyoming. In changed the front seat of his car so that it could the stillness of the evening he heard the sound of be turned back and made into an ambulance. He an organ, and a voice singing the old familiar writes: "I have carried the sick one hundred miles hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee." He discovered to a hospital, and have taken the dead to a a woman of about seventy years of age, seated at morgue. I have laid back the top, placing the an old organ. Over fifty years ago she had moved casket across the body of the car, and driven A MODE,RN ALL-STEEL TRAILER THAT CARRIES THE GOSHIDL TO OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACES from Ohio to the far west and for years had driven many, many miles to the cemetery. In these days an old lumber wagon more than ten miles each of drought, depression, and grasshoppers, I have Sunday to play the organ for the Sunday school been able to serve in this way."
in the little log schoolhouse. During the last three In the rural sections the missionary comes to years the services in the schoolhouse had been dis- the people as the voice from the world outside.
continued, except when a visiting preacher passed One writes, "I called at a ranch where the people through, but this woman had kept up the Bible had lived for twenty-six years, but I was the first school. preacher who had ever entered their home. In To become identified with the people one must another ranch, they told me that I was the first truly become "all things to all men." One worker preacher who had called there, and they had lived found it helpful to study osteopathy and medicine, . on this large ranch for 16 years. They appre- so that he might relieve physical suffering. The ciated the visit so much that after dinner all the wide territory which he covered was without a men were called together and a service was held."
physician, and the people were generally too poor All the homes are neither along the back roads to go the long distance for medical aid. It was a nor cabins among the hills. Many ranches have joy to stop at some home where a severe headache dwellings that are models in every way. From had been working its ravages. upon an individual, one of the prosperous families a gift came to, the and with a slight adjustment, bring instant relief. worker with these words: "When we were poor He would often trek over the mountains to isolated and beginning life in the West, you were our cabins in the lone hours of the night when the call friend; now we are able, and we want to remem- came for help. ber your work."
One missionary who was sent to work in a log- In these days the missionaries are redoubling ging camp found that the cold indifference of the their efforts to identify themselves with the young
IMPORTANCE OF PIONEER SUNDAY SCHOOLS
people, great numbers of whom are in these rural stars they talked for another hour of the real areas. Many have missed the opportunity for verities of life, and there they yielded their hearts education. Others have gone off to a denomina- to Christ and resolved to follow His way. tional college for perhaps a year, and have been compelled to leave, with their dreams uncom- In one of my trips west, I visited a settlement pleted. Again, many have graduated from col- of Russian people, and attended a service with the lege, but have found no opportunity for work, and colporter, who mentioned the fact that during the have been compelled to return to the ranch home. last two years he had baptized twenty-one young To these young people, with their ideals in jeop- people. At the close of the service he asked those ardy, the colporter-missionary and his wife are a who had been baptized to come forward and stabilizing influence. twenty young people responded. A splendid group with great potentiality! In one of their homes, in One young missionary and his wife tell of a the absence of the mother, a child of twelve previsit to a home where there were three young peo- pared a most tempting meal for us, one that would ple who had great hopes. After they had dis- have been a credit to an experienced housewife. cussed things of common interest, the afternoon had worn away into evening, and the missionaries As objects on the western prairie are clearly started to leave. The young people followed them silhouetted against the sky, so the colporter-misand stood by the car, as though reluctant to sionary in his life of "ministering" seems to stand part with this voice which had awakened again a out in clear relief as a follower of Jesus Christ. great longing in their hearts. Under the prairie Like a golden thread running through all their work is their passion for the souls of men.
Importance of Pioneer Sunday Schools By JOHN M. SOMERNDIKE, New York Secretary for Sunday School Missions, Board of National Missions, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
THE Sunday school has been characterized as their children should learn religion. More than they crave "the most flexible, adaptable and far-reach- the Gospel for themselves, they believe in it for their little ing institution ever designed for the conver- ones. It is frequently possible to enlist rough men who sion of the world." As an evangelizing agency its know no Scripture and profess no religion in the support effectiveness has been abundantly demonstrated of an active school for the children on Sunday, because of in the results achieved during the past fifty years the universal belief of all serious men in the necessity of by Sunday school missionaries. They have religious training for the young. adapted the Sunday school to the spiritual needs of unchurched rural communities and neighbor- One hundred and forty thousand children in hoods in a manner that has made it one of the nearly three thousand rural unchurched commumost potent factors in establishing Christian nities and villages are receiving Bible instruction standards of community and family life in new and training in Sunday schools which have been rural localities. They have also made the Sunday planted and fostered by Sunday school missionschool the pioneer of the church, and in hundreds aries. In almost every case, they represent the of places have blazed the way for the organized only Christian organization in the community, in church and the settled pastor. localities where churches cannot be maintained. They provide the means of character-training for A few years ago, the ·late Dr. Warren H. Wil- boys and girls who know no Christian minister son, whose leadership in matters pertaining to and who never have an opportunity to attend a rural church work was recognized by all evan- church service. But the great need is only pargelical denominations, paid this tribute to the ef- tially being met. More than four million children fectiveness of the rural Sunday school: of school age living in scattered villages and ham- lets on the western plains, who are receiving their The beginning of the reconstruction of a country place education in the "little red schoolhouse," are yet is often the founding of a Sunday school. The limitations unreached by any Christian teaching. Two and of Sunday school work are well known, and you will find one-half millions of Negro boys and girls living these limitations if you do Sunday school work; but it is on plantations or in sawmill and turpentine camps well to go ahead to the limit before you try another and children of the sharecroppers, poor and negmethod. Country people are religious. They ',believe that
lected, are similarly underprivileged so far as operation. Many community Sunday schools that spiritual advantages are concerned. In the "hol- are organized will never develop into churches, lows" of the southern mountains and in rude but the results of their work in shaping the lives cabins hidden away in the fastnesses of the "Great and characters of boys and girls after the pattern Smokies" tens of thousands of boys and girls are of Christ and preparing them for Christian citigrowing into manhood and womanhood without zenship more than justify the comparatively small any opportunity to come into an appreciation of expenditure of the missionary funds of the Church life at its best through the teaching of the Word for the support of this work. Out of these comof God and the principles of Christian living, munity Sunday schools have come young men and which is their rightful heritage. women who have dedicated their lives to service in the pastorate, in mission fields, and in other While the Christian forces of America are not forms of Christian activity both in our own and wholly to blame for these conditions, neither can in other lands. they disclaim the responsibility for their correction in an age that recognizes the importance and After three days of visiting homesteaders who significance of Christian child nurture. Science, were pioneering a new country in northern New education, and law are busily at work in formu- Mexico, the Sunday school missionary conducted lating ideals and programs, in creating public the first religious service ever held in that region. sentiment, and in promoting legislation for the Nearly one hundred people crowded into the little purpose of developing the children of this gen- log schoolhouse. The cold north wind whistled eration socially, morally, and physically. Shall through the cracks as the building had not been the Christian agencies of our nation be less zeal- "chinked"; neither was there a floor in it. About ous or less progressive than they in providing for half of the congregation sat on the ground as there the soul-culture of that portion of the nation's were not enough benches for all. There was not children who are denied their full heritage of an organized church within a hundred miles. He Christian knowledge and life through no fault of preached the first sermon that had ever been their own? preached in all of that country, At the close of the meeting, the group voted to organize a Sunday Recently a Sunday school missionary, report- schooL The work prospered, and the entire coming the development of a community Sunday munity cooperated in carrying forward its proschool in a pioneer settlement in Wyoming, wrote: gram. Several months later, responding to an in- vitation to conduct an all-day preaching service Someone wrote me recently and asked if this type of in this community, the Sunday school missionary pioneering work was as important now or as necessary as found himself at the close of the morning service it was in the earlier days of the settlement of the western surrounded by an earnest group of leaders in the plains. I answered by telling him the story of. our com- community pleading for the organization of a munity Sunday school at Poison Creek. These people are church. Within a few months they had the joy all homesteaders and most of the men work on the North- of being called together for the formal organizawestern Railroad in the summer but have no winter work. tion of their congregation and for the dedication They have from fifty to sixty in attendance every Sunday. of a little white frame church building which had Some of the children from eleven to thirteen years old had been erected through funds procured from indinever been inside of a Sunday school. The parents had viduals interested in developing this type of no Bibles and were ashamed to have me know it and we pioneer mISSIons. Arrangements were made to ordered ten to be used in the school. The men take part conduct regular preaching services in addition to and are as interested as the women. The women said in the Sunday school. Soon a minister was placed the beginning: "This will not bea school just for women in charge, and a comfortable manse erected beside and children, and if the men don't come there will be no the little frame church. The need of high school Sunday schooL" So the men do their part in teaching, training for the young people having developed, singing, and planning. Very soon I am going to have a the Sunday school missionary's advice was again communicants' class and I believe over half of the group will join our church . . . they wanta real training class a sought and through his influence with the county before they join, and I am glad to be able to give it to them. I am hoping in a year or so to organize a church educational authorities high school teacher was at this place. It will be the only one within seventy-five appointed. The little log school did not provide or one hundred miles and will give the pupils in my other sufficient facilities for high school work and under community schools a church to join. the leadership of the Sunday school missionary the community set to work to build a high school, Poison Creek Sunday School hauling the logs one by one from a distance of ten miles back in the mountains. The story of Poison Creek Sunday school illustrates the conditions of spiritual need that pre- "When I think of this community," writes the vail in thousands of communities and neighbor- Sunday school missionary, "I think of a dream hoods throughout our land and can be remedied realized; of a prayer answered; and a happy most economically and successfully through this type of pioneer missionary service. Its catholicity in not requiring any subscription to a denominational creed or form of government wins local co-
community of Christian people working and wor- work in the Southern states in planning for the shipping together for the building of the Kingdom organization of all our fields on a similar basis. of God." Parishes have already been established in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Creole work The planting of a Sunday school is only the be- has progressed with remarkable success under this ginning upon which a community consciousness missionary parish policy. In the southern mounof the necessity of maintaining and developing tains there are the Leslie County Parish and the Pikeville Parish in Kentucky, the newly estab- GOING TO SUNDAY SCHOOL THROUGH A SNOWSTORM lished parish organization in Rhea County, Ten- IN THE DEiSERT nessee, and the Hughes River Parish in West Vir- ginia. The parish program includes the following: This is one of the difficulties met by missionaries in min- istering to scattered populations Organization of Parish Council. Sunday school held regularly throughout the year. Christian influences is to be built up. It has al- Vacation Bible School. ways been the policy of Sunday school missions to Week Day Bible Instruction in cooperation with public put forth every possible effort to assure the growth of new Sunday schools and to integrate schools. them into the life of their respective communities. Young people's work and other age-group organizations. The churches that have grown from this work and Leadership training. the three thousand community Sunday schools Adult education. that are permanent organizations under the fos- Promotion of family religion. tering care of Sunday school missionaries bear Evangelistic services. impressive witness to the achievement of this pur- Parish institutes and rallies. pose. This effort toward permanency has found Financial cultivation for local support and benevolences. expression in the policy recently inaugurated of combining the community Sunday schools within Enlisting the Women given areas into missionary parishes. Under the leadership and supervision of the Sunday school One of the most significant developments of remissionary an intensive program of religious edu- cent years is the promotion of a movement to cation and evangelism is carried on. Even though enlist Christian young women who are teaching there is no church organization in the area, all the rural public schools in giving Bible instruction to elements that enter into an educational service for their pupils. No elaborate machinery or prothe Christian teaching and training of children cedure has been set up and no salaried officials or and youth, including adult education, are capable offices have been created for the purpose of superof successful adaptation. Practically all of pio- vising it. Growing out of our knowledge of the neer Sunday school missionary work in New Mex- fact that the children in thousands of "little red ico and Arizona is now organized according to schoolhouses" throughout the United States are this plan. In New Mexico the work is represented being taught by young women, many of whom in ten missionary parishes, comprising nearly one have received training in Christian families and hundred community Sunday schools. During the past year two new parish groups were organized A PRAIRIE CHURCH — THE RESULT OF SUNDAY in Arizona and one in Colorado. In each of these SCHOOL WORK parishes, one or more groups have been organized into congregations. Too weak to provide any sub- This church is forty-five miles from the railroad. The pastor stantiallocal support for a pastor, they are served lives fifty miles away. The nearest other church is 4·0' miles by Sunday school missionaries in the same manner as the communities which have a formal churches, it was proposed that wherever pracchurch organization. ticable, and as an expression of their own desire to render a service to Christ, they designate one A forward step has been taken in the Negro hour each week after school sessions during the school term for Bible instruction. To guide them in this work a series of six books under the title
of "Manual of Week-Day Bible Lessons" was pre- of two hundred thousand such children, taught by pared, containing material for Bible instruction more than nine thousand school teachers who used for children through the six years of their ele- these Bible lessons last year, to receive the knowlmentary school attendance. A book for pupil's edge thus imparted to them, in connection with handwork on each lesson for each of the "Man- their public school training? uals" is provided for their use. The Vacation Bible School likewise has been The response of rural school teachers and of adapted to the rural communities of our land as a county and state superintendents of education means of supplementing the instruction provided throughout the United States has encouraged be- by the community Sunday school. 'Upwards of lief in the possibilities of this movement. More two thousand communities were blessed by such than four millions of children are enrolled in rural schools last summer. More than one hundred and district public schools. Many of .these children thirty thousand children were enrolled in them. live in neighborhoods where there is not even a Sunday school. They do not, and many could not, Still there is need for the extension of Sunday attend the Sunday school in the nearest town, be- schools, supplemented by the Vacation Bible cause the I'nearest town" too often is from ten to School and by week-day Bible instruction in all fifty miles distant. Unimproved roads and lack parts of rural America. It is a great and pressing of suitable conveyance makes traveling difficult. need. The Church as well as the nation marches Can we fully realize what it has meant to upwards forward on the feet of the children and youth. They can and must be won for Christ.
The Church in the Heart -_.~.g~f~~B~Y~M~BRy~SM~.~RRS~.U~RT~UH~TCH~.~CM~.U~ML~ULL~'L~,A~AS~shh~llaan~dn~,dK~'a~nKs~aas~n_sa~s~I~JIie~- ~==========================~'
T HIRTY years ago it was a common thing, father said that if I wanted to we would postpone especially in Western Kansas farming dis- starting home until after church on Sunday morn- tricts, for a community to organize a Sunday ing. I've always had my books but I think I school to meet in the neighborhood schoolhouse. missed the music most of all." Some intelligent, Christian woman, usually with a family of children, who had some ability in Sunday school and preaching services in rural drawing together the neighborhood, would start schoolhouses are practically a thing of our pioneer the Sunday school. Occasionally a minister from past. Automobiles have made distance such an a neighboring town would come and preach after unimportant matter that those who can manage the Sunday school. drive into the town churches. But distance is still a problem to our people who live in the ranching A comparatively small number of rural districts and to our wheat farmers who, in passchurches were built in western Kansas outside of ing through the depression and drouth in the the towns. It has been said that Kansas people, "dust bowl" find gasoline money a real item. with their Puritan heritage, do not have the church habit that might have been expected. My husband and I live on a western cattle ranch where our nearest neighbor is four and one- When my grandmother came to a western cattle half miles away, with four gates in between. ranch, comprising some thirty-five sections, the They who refer to the west with its "wide open nearest neighbor was fifteen miles away and was spaces" have never taken into account the barbed reached only over a rough prairie country in a wire gates that a good cow man builds. For the buckboard or on horseback. Once when, as a first year, on Sunday mornings, I prepared breakchild, I was complaining because I couldn't go to fast for from two to five cowboys, attended to my Sunday school, she remarked: house work, drove twenty-two miles to Sunday school and church and returned home in time. to "My dear, you will have to learn to have Sun- prepare a late Sunday dinner for my men. It was day school in your heart. When your grandfather necessary for me to go alone to church for cattle and I first came to Kansas it was almost two years feeding and ranch work go on without considerabefore I was inside of a church. Grandfather and tion of Sunday. I soon felt that in the hurry I I drove to Dodge City, fifty-two miles, in a buck- was losing a measure of serenity. So like my board to buy lumber for a new barn. I felt grandmother I turned to church in my heart. 'home' again after a long absence when grand- II Effective 'Ways of Working 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home s. EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'=I============================~I~ Building Your Program for Include among your program to-Use pamphlets are provided the Coming Year specifications these pointers, il- for the adult books, while an As stated last month the De- lustrated by such "effective ways abundance of concrete plans and partment Editor finds it impos- of working" as have been con- devices are included in the books sible in the nature of things to tributed lately to this Depart- for young children, which acobtain "Tested Methods" bear- ment: counts for the slightly higher ing on the new themes to include in her copy sent for publication 1. No appetite tickling condi- prices of the latter. A leaflet on ments, no blurbs of coloring, no "Mission Study – Aim sand previous to the appearance of mere entertaining features will Ideals," by Mrs. Charles P. the study books and their pres- build or maintain vitality for Wiles, says: entation at summer conferences; earnest missionary endeavor. One of the striking features of secand as her stated function is not ular education is the way in which to provide raw material but While variety and attractiveness education is being adapted to national in catering greatly increase the needs. Personal hygiene, domestic tried-and-proved-good blueprints effectiveness and are, therefore, science, industrial and agricultural desirable corollaries to solid sub- education and many other civic needs and specifications for its use, ject matter, it is fatal to major are being studied systematically inspecific helps for the home mis- on these or to make them para- stead of being left to the uncertain mount in importance. Using the and spasmodic influence of home and sion topic must be delayed until community. Short courses, part-time the September issue, while those current study books as adapted by qualified educators to the age work, etc., all indicate what the State on the foreign may appear on interests insures this worthful- is willing to do for the sake of effi- riess of subject matter, although ciency. These are a challenge to the schedule in October. You are Church to cultivate her own special invited to send in your own other themes may be substituted. fieId with equal diligence. . . . The plans for handling "Rural Amer- The advantages of falling into reason why many Christians are lukeica" and "The Moslem World," step with other Christian work- warm on the subject of missions is as well as any other subjects you ers simultaneously considering that they have never visualized the may desire to substitute. the same things, and also of world and its stupendous needs. . . . Regardless of the specific For the great work confronting us, availing oneself of leaflet and theme, c e r t a i n fundamentals mag a z i n e literature supple- every Christian needs convictions clear should be adhered to by the pro- mental to the current topics is and deep. Convictions such as these cannot be secured by an occasional gram builder. And while care- not to be disregarded. THE RE- missionary sermon or address or even ful adaptation to the age inter- VIEW and various denomina- a missionary m.eeting once a month. tional missionary pUblications ests of the various groups is im- keep these united study themes Secular education treats no subject perative, is there so much differ- that it takes seriously in this manner. ence between the gray matter, … "Every member of the Church of Christ a student of present-day needs the motivations and the reac- a,nd opportunities" sh01l,ld be our camtions of men and women that sex in the spotlight each year. In paign motto. corrals are necessary? If so, ensuing issues of this Depart- It is not always possible to semissions must be considered as ment fresh plans from outstand- cure formal study on the part of a thing apart in general educa- ing workers will be presented a group. Mrs. Katherine Brention and even in modern busi- for aiding pastors, Sun day ner says in Woman's Home Misness life, where the sex like the school leaders and directors of sions that at one meeting the color line is in process of era- other church groups in their task leader gave out questions on a sure. Of course there are cer- of "making the whole church chapter in the study book at the tain differences of function in missionary minded." beginning, telling the member- field activities that must persist 2. Handling worthful ma- ship to listen closely and they because of dyed in the wool hu- terial in sequential study rather would hear the answers before man physiology; but in local than disconnected programs they were through. The church mission study and endeavor and makes all the difference between bulletin announced that another in the authorship of plans, shall ephemeral and permanent ef- meeting would have a Mail we line up as "boys" and "girls," fect. This is not so difficult as Order Program. At the meet- "men" and "women" when a it seems. New recruits in this ing an improvised post office union of forces would make for endeavor may not know that contained a postmaster who re- greater efficiency? practical supplementary How- ceived from a uniformed mail [319 ] (not male) man a bag of letters National Motion Picture Service, Personal Growth Material included as and post cards, the former con- 723 Seventh Ave., New York, can a constituent in each of the above entaining parts of the chapter furnish a limited range of travel deavors. Every member receiving a under consideration addressed pictures free from rental fee. book is asked to outline for herself a to members who would share Various denominational m iss ion plan for growth by choosing from the them with the membership, the boards have also prepared good given list such things as she is willing postmaster himself adding a films on the current studies and to undertake for her development, touch of humor by stopping his other topics. Send for catalogues keeping tab on her work by marking distribution to read some of the and price lists. points on a "Check Your Progress" postals aloud. Other mail con- schedule. Among the possible choices sisted of copies of Woman's A great variety of visual and in building a plan of life are (1) Sug- Home Missions con t a i n i n g dramatic material is listed in gested Means, such as observance of marked passages, some of which every denominational catalogue. the daily quiet hour, reading books on were to be read at the meeting Next month we shall present religious thought and experience, and the rest taken home for con- this topic in further detail, also serious study of sections of Scripture, sideration. Mrs. Brenner says: deal with act i vat ion sand membership in a prayer group, mem- personalizations of missionary orizing Scripture passages, hymns and The leader had all mail listed and themes. devotional poetry, participation in a called for letters and various items in prayer retreat, etc.; (2) Reading for order. The enigmas and shorter clip- A Plan for Personal and pings were read first so that those Personal Growth, the books listed inreceiving letters had a chance to read Kingdom Growth cluding "Victorious Living," "Ways them over. Clippings were pasted on of Praying," "The Meaning of postcards, also enigmas, answers to In the "teaching mission" Prayer," "The Upper Room," "Pracwhich were to be read. Some of the which inaugurates the three- tising the Presence," "Skyward," mail was left unaddressed till the year campaign leading up to the "Paul's Secret of Power," "Disciplemeeting so that everyone received celebration of the Seventieth An- ship," "Challenge and Power," "The something. A parcel post boy brought niversary of the Woman's For- Transforming Friendship"; A Checka large package by special delivery, eign Mission Society of the ing List of Observed Results, such as which contained doughnuts, sugar and Methodist Episcopal Church, the increase of peace, joy, patience a package of coffee addressed to mem- mentioned last month, an initial with problems, absence of personal bers of the entertainment committee. plan is the issue of a personal resentment, willingness to do hard Special music also came to the ones notebook entitled "My Record," things without recognition, love of who were to sing. We hope that many with a seven-pointed star as a fellow men regardless of color, realnew subscribers will be added as a companion. These are to be ization of answered prayer, consciousresult of the meeting. (It should be placed in the hands of as many ness of God's presence, eagerness to stated that Woman's Home Missions women as possible, both within share His riches, commitment to His features the current study topics.) the organization and among the leadership in missionary endeavor at unenlisted in the church at large. Visualizations, and dramatiza- From the keynote of the Cross home and abroad. tions, if kept in subservience to on the front cover, the book elabthe subject matter, are not mere orates its contents as "Personal Means suggested for Membership trimmings and appetizers but Growth Material," calling upon Education (a choice to be made as adaptations to normal human the world-wide membership of before) include planning and presentneeds. Pastors and mission the Society to unite in a climb to ing a missionary program, reading study leaders who have not yet higher levels of personal reli- the mission study textbook for the learned the superior values of gious living, of understanding current year, regular reading of the moving pictures in presenting and intelligent service, and of in- missionary magazine and of current their messages, are missing a formed and effective leadership. international news, promotion for great opportunity. For the bene- participation in a forum on world fit of those who are not regular The objectives under each one are trends, reading from the membership readers of THE REVIEW, we will outlined as (1) Personal Growth education list of at least one item repeat addresses given once be- through prayer circles, use of spe- each on world peace and alcohol edufore. "Movies" in either 16mm. cific growth material, significant wor- cation, cooperation in the promotion or 33mm. sized films may be ob- ship services, devotional reading and of missionary education in the local tained from: meditation, retreats: (2) Education church. of Members through study of the Beacon Films, Inc., 25 West 45th St., "giving projects"; study of "Valorous "Leadership Development" suggests New York. Ventures"; reading of the mission- ary magazine, group study, etc.: as means: Reading and study of a Holbrook-Smith Production, 33 West (3) Development of Leaders through specific list of materials (which fol- 60th St., New York. ' enrollment in the leadership training lows as. a citation of outstanding courses, in which shall be enrolled books) and of training courses; at- Pilgrim Press, 14 Beacon St., Boston. every junior and young people's lea<!er tendance upon district and branch Division of Visual Aids, Presbyterian in 1937-38, plus at least one from each meetings; coaching conferences, re- woman's society auxiliary; enroll- treats and schools of missions; study Board of Christian Education, ment in Board of Education courses of psychology, public speaking, social Witherspoon Building, Philadel- for those having completed the W. F. trends and world affairs as opportu- phia, Pa. M. S. courses; emphasis on reading nity offers; attendance upon insti- Y. M. C. A. Motion Picture Bureau, for leadership development; attend- tutes for peace and alcohol education; 347 ;Madison Ave., New York, or ance upon training centers inclusive cooperative leadership in local church 19 South La Salle St. (Room 10), of coaching conferences, retreats, dis- Chicago. trict and branch meetings. affairs. The Religious Motion Picture Founda- Following each of the foregoing tion, 140 Nassau St., New York. Following these objectives is the The Japanese Tourist Bureau, 551 lists is a schedule for checking con- Fifth Ave., New York, and The scientiously the person's observed progress, as in the case of the first section on "Personal Growth"-and, a heart-searching list it is! "I am will- ing to follow as well as lead"; "I will accept minor responsibility as gladly as conspicuous leadership"; "I can work harmoniously with others"; "I have surrendered myself, my time, my talents, my means to the work of the Kingdom, subject to the guidance of God"; "I have become a tither";
EFFECTIVE W Ay,s OF WORKING
"I do not drink nor serve alcoholic by "Taro" and "Ume" – two orange and a little red crayola, beverages and I support efforts children dressled in kimonos- adding a suggestion of a foreagainst the liquor traffic"; "I have ground. We prayed for the chilbecome. thoroughly interested in mis- who invited us to a tea where we dren who worship idols because sionary work" -these and other met their mother. She let us go they do not know the true God queries, considered prayerfully in out to her garden and pick iris one's quiet hours, can hardly fail to (some I had made). Then we unless we send missionaries to be used of God in stirring up the learned how to make small paper teach them, and Taro and Ume Christian conscience and bringing out lanterns from the colored bor- taught us to sing "Jesus Loves one's increased endeavor. ders of wall paper, and these we Me" in Japanese just as they sing it in mission schools. The star contains on one side the strung all across the front of the seven points of emphasis for the three room. As we had no sand table we years, and on the other a suggestion worked out a Japanese scene in for membership development. One of We next decided to take a jin- a box standing on its side with the points on the star indicates the at- rickisha and climb Fujiyama, a the front open – grass, cherry tempt being made to tie up all the larger poster of which hung on and evergreen trees, pool, curvunits of work on the field – the or- the wall. Two broomsticks, run ganizations of women closely linked under one of the kindergarten ing bridge, iris" wistaria, sacred with the local auxiliaries in all of chairs simulated the jinrikisha, mountain, houses and people. their endeavors. We dressed the ladies in more of which was manipulated by two the flowered wall paper and Are not there points in this plan of the boys. Only one child could worth "borrowing"? go at once, but the children were made raincoats and hats for the good about taking turns, and we coolies out of fringed tan paper. Missions in Terms of the Child's World learned much about the sacred The jinrikisha was made out of mountain. heavy black paper. Then Taro By ANNYE ALLISON, and Ume taught us some of the Richmond, Vi.rginia Next day we again visited favorite flowers, and trees of Taro and Ume, going by a dif- Japan and explained flower ar- When my primary children, ferent path which led across one from six to nine years of age, of the curved bridges that are rangement. We covered oatwere going to study Japan I meal boxes with marbled wall planned the course in the form StO common in Japan – three of paper and arranged some of the of a trip, collecting pictures, the chairs placed side by side flowers in them. making posters, paper flowers, and their seats covered with models of houses, fans, lanterns, paper. Here we learned how to We made posters of Japanese etc., before the class began. make small folded fans with children under blooming cherry On the first day they were told more wall paper border. These trees and boys sailing kites. to go into an adjoining room and we decided to wear in our hair. Then we drew lanterns on 9×12 buy their tickets, then take their inch cream drawing paper, made seats, in the train for Se'attle, the The day following Taro and three-panel folding screens with seats being their own small Ume told us about the festival chairs arranged car-wise. One of kites and of dolls, showing us frames of heavy black paper and of the boys wearing a cap and a Japanese doll and a fish kite masks of Japanese men and armed with a conductor's punch women. We cut teapots, sugar came out and handled the tickets made to look like a carp–a'spe- -long strips of pink paper. cies having brave qualities which bowls and cream pitchers out of Japanese fathers want their flowered paper and mounted On arriving in Seattle we sons to possess. The children changed to the steamer, Empress them on black so as to have tea of Japan, so the chairs had to be drew pictures of both, then Taro sets to take home. Some of our rearranged as on a deck and and Ume served them with missionary money was sent to a newspapers spread over the chil- sweetened rice custard and worker in our own denomination dren's knees in lieu of rugs. taught them the way Japanese Soon the band, composed of chil- children bow – a pretty little and the rest to a Japanese leper dren, came out on the deck and exercise set to rhyme. mission. Some of the handwork began to playa collection of toy was taken home, soOme sent to instrumentsl I had made, and the We came upon a small Shinto schools and Sunday schools maklittle folks greatly enjoyed this shrine next day, covered with ing a study of Japan, and some "music." little lumps which looked like kept by our own school to use on Chairs placed alongside of rough cement but which Taro missionary occasions. tables gave the effect of upper and Ume explained were the and lower berths, with the news- prayers of Shinto worshipers The foregoing outline of a papers as covers. The trip was who had chewed up the papers surprislingly short and very soon on which they were written and Japanese study for young chilwe arrived in Japan. While the dren may well serve as a pattern children went out for a short re- tried to shoot them into a small of universal application, subject cess, some of the posters" pic- hole in the shrine – successful tures and artificial flowers were prayers being those which en- to such adaptations as any intelarranged to give a Japanese at- tered the mark. Many fell short. ligent leader will be able to mosphere. We were welcomed Then the children cut both make. The visualizations, acti- shrines and temples or pagodas vations and personalizations in from black paper and mounted its elements are so fundamental them against sunset skies drawn in a child's world that they apply on cream paper with yellow, equally well to a study of "Rural America" and "The Moslem World." The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK, ~L~I~~==~~~~~==~~~~=~ emphasis will be upon the South- ern Mountain situation, one phase of the rural problem. Mr. Edwin E. White has written a book which describes vividly the situation which has developed in the Appalachian Mountains since 1930. Mr. White is also pre- paring the leaders' helps for this book.
Another special emphasis in the rural situation will be the Migrant labor problem. A book is being prepared on this sub- ject for the use of study groups; paper, 35 cents. Many will wish to use this in connection with the study, "Rebuilding Rural America."
"FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP" – Barbara Green Schools for Rural Leaders The above picture has just been awarded an international medal For fellowship and educa- and Is on exhibit in the Art Ga lleries in Antwerp. Belgium. tional opportunities sum mer schools for rural leaders are to Thy Good Gifts Nation-Wide Study of Rural be held at agricultural colleges; America, 1937-1938 and theological seminaries. "Our Father in Heaven, Lord While great emphasis has been of Field and Forest, Hill and Throughout the country in placed on the importance of Stream, we thank Thee for the 1937-1938 mis~·;ion study groups rural pastors attending these manifestation of Thy power in will be concentrating on the schools the courses which are all growing things. Fruitful Church in rural America. Dr. offered in many instances would soil, quickening sunlight, favor- Mark A. Dawber, outstanding be very· helpful to the pastors' able rains are Thy good gifts to authority on the rural situation, wives and other women who are us. As Thou hast made us to is the author of the study book leaders in the rural community. have dominion over all the work for adults, "Rebuilding Rural of Thy hands, help us, by Thy America"; cloth, $1.00; paper, The cost of attending the spirit, to enter into our heritage, 60 cents. The supplementary schools ranges from $15.00 to esteeming it a high calling to be course which has been prepared $25.00 for the two weeks' ses- Thy husbandmen. Help us to for use in connection with the sion. Certain of the Home Misbe mindful of Thy partnership study of "Rebuilding Rural sion Boards offer a limited numin all the cultivation of our America" has been prepared by ber of scholarships to country gardens and the care of our Dr. Benson Y. Landis, secretary pastors and it is suggested that flocks and herds. And when the of the American Country Life any interested in attending these ground hath brought forth plen- Association. This course is en- schools inquire of their Mission tifully and earth hath yielded titled "The Church and Amer- Boards about the possibility of her increase may we know that ican Rural Life"; paper, 25 attending these sessions: Thou hast given us our daily cents. bread, and give Thee thanks." Wisconsin Rural Leadership Summer In Young People's groups the School, University Qf Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, June 28- [322 ] July 9.
Auburn Summer School of Theology and Religious Education, Auburn
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
Theological Seminary, Auburn, must be attained on the commu- as in sixty-three rural schools, three N. Y., June 28-July 15. nity level. If it fails there it institutions and two parochial schools." fails everywhere. That means Virginia Summer School for Rural that in the community we must From NEW YORK: Ministers, Virginia Polytechnic recognize neither East nor West, Institute, Blacksburg, Va., July North nor South, White nor One of the outstanding pieces of 12-21. Negro, city. nor country, owner civic education for women in New nor tenant. There must be York State is the Legislative Forum. The Ministers' Short Course in Com- rather that equality of opportu- It was started in New York State by munity Leadership, South Dakota nity for which de m 0 c r a c y a woman who had come from Wis- State College, Brookings, S. D., stands." consin where she was interested in a July 12-23. similar organization. This Forum is The reports of the activities of made up of a group of women-repre- Pastor's Summer School, Hollister, the rural women were evidence sentatives of women's organizations Mo., August 3-13. of this "idealism, sympathy and of the State. They met weekI" dur- spiritual insight." ing the session of the Legislature. Rural Leadership School, Purdue Uni- The Governor of the State gives them versity, Lafayette, Ind., June 21- From ILLINOIS: the use of the Assembly Parlor in the July 2. State Capitol for their meetings. Any Rural homemakers in Illinois have group or organization of women in- Seminar on "The Church and Agricul- set some minimum requirements for terested in varied legislation may be- ture," Garrett Biblical Institute, health toward which we are working. long, such as the State Federation of Evanston, Ill., June 14-July 16. . . . Clinics for tuberculosis, for tra- Women's Clubs, the Parent-Teacher choma and for crippled children; hos- Associations, the League of Women The Pastors' Institute, Divinity pitals for rural people for acute med- Voters, the New York State Federa- School, University of Chicago, ical cases; medical attention for the tion of Home Bureaus, and many Chicago Theological Seminary, expectant mother and her baby; for others. Disciples Divinity House, July immunization for smallpox, diphthe- 26-August 1. ria, and for typhoid and scarlet fever Each member of the Forum is at reasonable expense; for a safe appointed to one of five groups, com- The Rural Church Institute, Duke water supply and in this connection parable with Committees in the Legis- University, Durham, N. C., June have had a rural school water survey. lature, Finance, Judiciary, Welfare, 14-25. Weare one hundred per cent free Public Service and Internal Affairs. from tuberculosis among our cattle. North Dakota Summer School for We have been working to destroy flies At weekly meetings, bills introduced Ministers, Jamestown, N. D., July and insects, and to improve the sani- in the Legislature during the past 12-17. tary conditions of toilets in rural week are turned over to the commit- schools and churches which are so tee appointed to consider that par- Summer Institute for Rural Religious often neglected. We can get these ticular subject. The following week Leaders, Washington State Col- things through the cooperation of the committees report unon the bills lege, Pullman, Washington, June groups of women interested in health, assigned to them. No action is taken 28-July 9. and we are getting much help from on any bill. It is purely educational. our Extension Service. . . . In one Each week a report of the meeting is New England Rural Church Workers' year 3,934 individuals reported im- sent out to persons desiring it at a Conference, Ocean Park, Me., proved health habits, 1,334 reported small cost. In this way the informa- June 28-July 2. improved posture, 1,222 adopted im- tion is sent out to every County Home proved health practices and immuniza- Bureau in the State. and used as a Institute of Public Affairs, University tion, while 1,053 homes adopted bet- means of increasing the interest of of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va., ter nursing procedure. rural women in legislation and mak- July 4-17. ing them conscious of their civic re- From DELAWARE: sponsibility. Cornell Summer School for Town and Country Ministers, Cornell Uni- It was not until 1927 that county From OHIO: versity, Ithaca, N. Y., July 18-30. lii:Jrary service was given to the rural people of our county. Then, a woman In Ohio alone there are more tha'1 Women in Rural America in Wilmington, Delaware, much inter- 21,000 Grange community meetings, ested in rural boys and girls, felt that in which importance of the Bible and Life on the farm and in rural they should have the same opportunity religious ideals have constant emcommunities is richer today be- that city children had been having, phasis. Without question this incause women in the country had appropriated a certain amount of fluence alone touches thousands of vision and perseverance. In a money, and with that the county li- homes that would not come in contact recent conference of over 300 brary was started. For two years it with direct influence of the church. rural homemakers fro m 24 was carried on entirely through dem- Other community groups are recogstates there was evidence of this. onstrations. After that time, enough nizing the need of religious influence public opinion was aroused so that a and inspiration. A combined and sub- Realizing that "The home is bill was brought up and passed in our stantial program, coupled with indibasic as a factor in family and Legislature appropriating a certain vidual interest and initiative, should national security" the rural amount of money which is handled do more to improve the religious sithomemaker is a very vital per- through the Levy Court of our county uation in our rural Americ:on homes. son in the rural situation. In and thus our county library is addressing these women Dr. Ed- financed. We started off with one From NEW HAM?SHIRE: mund de S. Brunner said, "the librarian but library service has community is but the extension grown by leaps and bounds. Last In most of our rural communities of your home and as such of year's report showed a circulation of we do not have enough money to supyour housekeeping. It needs 194,769 books in such places as wom- port a pastor or church activities. If your attention. It needs the en's clubs, Grange halls, churches, we could increase our religious interidealism, sympathy and spiritual private homes, country stores, as well ests, if we could unite the various facinsight of women if social sta- tions in a community, and have fewer bility is to be maintained as a churches to support, then we could basis for social progress. And get the money. . . . Our boys and this is important for if real de- girls cannot carryon the ideals of a mocracy is to be achieved and Christian nation unless we give them made manifest in our nation it the background of Christian training.
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper. of Current Events ~~~=-=-=-=-=-=-=E=D=I=TE=D==BY==M=R=S=.=H=EN==R=IE=T=T=A=H=.==F=ER=G=U=S=ON==,=X=E=N=IA=,=O=H=I=O=========-===-=-~~ NORTH AMERICA ships of life than to the vertical Churches and the Slums relationships; who are more Church in a Suitcase conversant with the world than The Fed era I Council of they are with the Church. Churches is appealing to church When Rev. Dudley S. McNeil, members "to support all sound young Elgin, Ill., Episcopal Thirty-eight District Commit- and effective measures for slum clergyman, went to his field in tees have been organized to push clearance and the re-housing of southwestern W yom i n g, he a three-fold program which will low-income wage-earners." found there were but three require several years to carry churches of his denomination in out. It is believed that two- As for the part the churches an area of 40,0{)0 square miles. thirds of the church members may take in a national movement As he saw it, it was not a prob- never do church work unless it for better housing, the Federal lem of how to get the people to is organized for them, and that Council Bulletin says: church, but how to get the the highly organized present-day church to the ranchers, oil dig- world is drawing many people The churches may not have the gers and miners scattered over away from the church. technical competence to determine the the countryside, or living in methods by which the appalling houshamlets which had no churches. An Investment that Paid ing conditions in our cities can best Accordingly he built an altar be overcome, but there is something that could be carried in a suit- In 1914, windows in South basic which they can do. They can case, a complete church, he calls Philadelphia's Baptist Commu- shake the public out of its callous it, in collapsible form. Mr. Mc- nity House were repeatedly complacency. They can awaken the Neil plans to cover his territory broken by stones and at times imagination to see the wreckage of by automobile. the missionaries were greeted life and personality that present con- with similar objects. Now, the ditions mean. They can arouse a We read, also, of a new trailer district police captain affirms, moral demand that ways of redresscathedral, which will go to the there is less crime there than ing this great social wrong can be people of the diocese of southern elsewhere in his "beat." A mis- found. The greatest need is for a Ohio, instead of waiting for sion worker writes: new conscience on the subject; that them to come to it, planned by conscience the churches by concerted Bishop Hobson of Cincinnati. "Sons and daughters of par- action can supply. It is to be called "St. Paul's ents who could neither read nor Wayside Cathedral," and will write have worked their way Moody Colportage Work enable the Bishop to minister di- through college. In these 23 rectly to all the parishes and years, 2,500 students have at- The Moody Centenary calls atmissions of the diocese with a tended our evening schools; tention to the fact that the Bible program of greater service. In many are now nurses, teachers, Institute Colportage Association addition to an altar, it will con- dentists, druggists and doctors; of Chicago, which the evangelist tain a library and motion pic- four are ministers of the Gospel. founded in 1894 for the publicature outfit. Again, 23 years ago there was tion and dissemination of Chris- so little responsibility assumed tian lit.erature, has had a larger "Unite the Youth" by the few attendants at the output than in any year of its church that 27 cents for current history. The Association's pub- Lutherans are rallying for a expenses and missions was the lications in this and foreign "Unite the Youth Endeavor." total offering taken at the first countries the past year totaled Its purpose is to bring present- Sunday morning service. Now 6,376,259 copies of evangelical day Christian youth face to face there are many tithers. Ten books: booklets, Gospels, Testawith the challenging task of the young people have become either ments, Pocket Treasuries and Church, and to lead them to missionaries or ministers of the salvation tracts. Much of this adopt in word and deed a Chris- gospel. Eight are on the field was sent free to prisons, hospitian philosophy of life. It and two are soon to enter mis- tals, CCC camps, mountain and reaches out especially for those sion work." pioneer schools, fire stations, young people who are on the lodging houses, lumber camps, fringes of the congregations, From this small beginning state institutions, and the peoand who are giving more atten- has grown an Italian Baptist ples of Alaska, Phi lip pin e tion to the horizontal relation- Church, with a Sunday school Islands, India, Mexico, Central of 400 members. -Missions. and South America, Spain and Africa, as well as those in [324 ] French Louisiana, and the flood and drought-stricken areas. Child Marriage in U. S. A. "Moving Pictures Today-Admission of building. As long as we are under One Fish." a roof we judge we are fulfilling the India, in raising the marriage- law of religious assembly. The little able age limit from 14 for girls Bethel's inhabitants, 20 whites and town of Quiche springs into life every and 18 for boys seems to be ap- 200 Eskimos, by this sign knew civ- Saturday morning as the market place proaching the level of the United ilization had reached the Kuskokwim begins to fill with Indian men, women States where newspapers tell of River country. and children bringing in the cattle, a Tennessee bride of nine years wares, vegetables, fruits, etc., to sell. and one of twelve in New York. The admission charge of one fish This led us to tackle the unevangelized The editor of Missions finds, as- leaves it optional with the Eskimo Indian masses that never darken the tonishingly enough, that the movie patrons whether they pay one doors of our institutions. marriage laws of nine states- dried salmon or one dried whitefish. Colorado, Idaho, Florida, Mary- We started innocently enough in a land, Mississippi, New Jersey, -New York Times. back storeroom to keep within the Rhode Island, Tennessee and law, but this storeroom housed the Washington – specify no mini- LATIN AMERICA supplies and the agricultural tools of mum age for either girl or boy. the owner. Fearing that the Indians In the 39 states which specify a The Velorio Deserted might stealthily relieve the owner of minimum age, it varies from 14 these necessities, we moved under the to 18 for girls and from 15 to 20 A velorio is an all-night vigil eaves to still comply with the law and for boys. in honor of a saint who has an- held forth the Word of God with zest. swered a prayer. While one was This type of services has now spread Mormons Lay New Plans being held in Placetas, Cuba, a to adjoining- villages, with heartening cottage prayer meeting was During the first week in April, under way next door, separated results. -Guatemala News. 12,000 delegates to the 108th an- only by a thin partition, full of nual conference of the Mormon holes. The saint's devotees in- A Rural Need in Colombia Church met in Salt Lake City, spected the prayer m e e tin g with one of tne most ambitious through the holes, deserted the "Twenty Thousand R u r a I programs ever undertaken. This velorio, and joined the prayer Schools Needed," "Three Hunincluded $1,350,000 in educa- meeting. Ten became candidates dred Teachers Suspended in tional projects (50 per cent in- for admission to the Presby- State of Antioquia," "Two Huncrease over 1936), purchase of terian Church, and the hostess dred Fed era 1 Scholarships a site in Los Angeles for a $350,- of the velorio offered her home Granted in Normals" : these 000 temple, another at Idaho for another prayer meeting. headlines in Colombia dailies Falls, Idaho, for a $250,000 mirror the changing educational temple, erection of a score or In another district, the inten- scene, and the articles that folmore chapels in the United sity of fervor at such prayer low give details of a country- States and abroad, and intensifi- meetings sent the hitherto un- wide interest in the struggle cation of their worldwide mis- rivaled priest to court with a de- against ignorance and disease. sionary work. The Mormon mand that these meetings cease. It is shown that 10,000 schools hierarchy, to obtain funds, en- "This is not Spain," the court re- are trying to do the work of forces the old-time tithing sys- minded him, and refused to in- 30,000. Many agencies are contem, collects from each member, terfere. Two hundred were in nected with these schools in their in addition, for the relief emer- attendance at each service, effort to raise existing standgency, the cost of two meals per seated on chairs lent by the mov- ards : Protestant missions, the month. ing picture house and two of the Catholic Church, state and fed- social clubs. eral government and individuals. The church borrows no money and mortgages none of its vast This is all part of a general Dr. Herrera, former presiproperties, which include sugar- evangelistic campaign under- dent, began the present educabeet and other factories, mines, taken by the Presbytery of Ha- tional advance, which is taking hotels, newspapers, buildings vana in the months of January, mighty strides despite great oband mercantile establishments. February and March. Each stacles, and mission schools are community was divided into dis- taking an important part in the The Movie in Alaska tricts; church members were as- awakening. They have done signed to visit the families of much to stimulate an interest in Here is an illustration of the each district, giving out tracts education, and to form charspread of picture show influence, and holding prayer meetings. acter in the process. so often a handicap to the mis- Many meetings resulted in cansionary's work. didates for church membership. -Colombian Clippings.
An Eskimo boy paraded the mile- -Monday Morning. Homes for Lepers' Children long two-plank sidewalk of Bethel, Alaska's "Main Street" recently, ring- The Indians of Guatemala A Brazilian woman, wife of ing a cowbell and turning himself Prof. Anderson Weaver, Methproudly so all could read the legend Open-air preaching is forbid- odist missionary to Brazil, is emblazoned on his sandwich boards, den by Guatemala law; religious leading a movement in her coun- services must be held in "tem- try to establish in every state a pIes.'" Rev. William Oughton of "refuge home" ~or the healthy Quiche writes: children of leprous parents, where they may be cared for, Where no Evangelical church build- trained and educated, and grow ing exists we must resort to any kind
up free from ,all taint of lepros~. founded charges of Communism their parish either drift into in- She has already raised large have given rise to terrorism, difference or are absorbed by the sums and homes have been built floggings and even murders, Roman Catholic mass in which in seven of Brazil's 22 states. leading to the removal of mis- they are embedded.
One home has been named in her guided officials. -World DominionPress. -World Dominion Press. honor. Mrs. Weaver, "Dona Eunice," has invitations from EUROPE Bible Distribution in Italy the governments. of ten other states to come and help them Communists' Catechism Circulation of the Bible is not with similar campaigns. easy in Italy; there are power- Dawn is authority for the ful forces to block the way. Re- If her husband were a Bra- statement that there are more cently a decree was issued that zilian he would probably not than 124 communist Sunday copies must bear on the title permit his wife to travel about schools in Great Britain in page the word "Protestant." It and conduct money-raising cam- which the communist faith is was charged that evangelicals paigns. But Prof. Weaver, who taught. Their catechism in- were duping Catholics by cir- cludes such questions as: culating the Bible without tellis superintendent of the People's ing them it was the Protestant Central Institute in Rio de Ja- "What is God?" "God is a word Bible. neiro, knows that this philan- used to designate an imaginary being thropic work is helping to put which people of themesleves have Difficult as the problem was, Protes;tantism on before the peo- devised." the evangelicals did not feel that ple in Brazil in a favorable light. they could print the word "Prot- "Who is Jesus Christ?" "Jesus – World Outlook. Christ is the son of a Jewish girl estant" on the Bible. It is not Protestant Progress in Brazil called Mary." exclusively a Protestant Book. "Is he the Son of God?" "There is It existed before the word "Prot- The latest biennial report of estant" was coined. Things the Evangelical Federation of no God, therefore there can be no were at' a deadlock; and the Brazil marks a definite advance God's Son." Vatican rejoiced at what it reof the churches. Spiritual life garded the success of its astute has been vitalized, literature for "Is Christianity desirable?" "Chris- move. the work of the churches in- tianity is not advantageous to us, but creased, and the training of Sun- harmful, it makes us spiritual crip- The evangelicals continued day school and other workers ples. By its teachings of bliss after quietly in prayer. The decree greatly improved. The Evan- death it deceives the people. Chrisgelical churches in Brazil show tianitv is the greatest obstacle to the could not be revoked without loss a development greater than that progress of mankind, therefore it is of prestige, but those responsible in any other Latin American the duty of every citizen to help wipe were made to see their position country, having a Christian com- out Christianity." was untenable; that it revealed munity of nearly 2,000,000. This an ignorance of history. Evenrecent effort to promote fellow- Church Union in France tually, a way was found for those ship and unity of effort is who had made the decree to fraught with brightest promise. Union of the Reformed modify it without sacrifice of Churches of France will prob- dignity. Would the evangelicals, The churches have a sense of ably be realized during 1937. while letting the words "Bibbia responsibility for the Indian The synods of the v a rio u s Sacra"-"Holy Bible"-stand on tribes in the forest. A union ex- churches are meeting earlier the title page, put clearly underperiment to reach the Cayua In- than usual to set forward the neath the title the name and dians is shared by three denom- proceedings. The Ref 0 r m e d style of the translator? That inations. The Baptist Church has Evangelical Churches prepared they readily agreed to do, and, been forward in this pioneer for the act of union by an appeal to the priests' chagrin, a comwork and for some time has last year for 3,000,000 francs to promise was effected. It is felt maintained a work among one set their finances on a firm basis. that what was intended as a or two tribes as part of its na- Despite hard times they received crippling hindrance has become tional missions' scheme. A 2,800,000 francs. Union will a furtherance. couple of years ago a mission strengthen the churches to face a difficult situation. The sub- -Beyond Alpine Snows. urbs of Paris increase their pop- ulation enormously, but Prot- estant pastors who are trying in working among the Indians pub- many cases to care for 100,000 News Out of Russia lished a paper in Portuguese to to 250,000 persons are hopelessly stir interest in the forest In- overworked. More pastors and Things are going on in Russia dians. It was very well received, evangelists are needed to turn-a which one does not get in the secured subscribers in practi- work of conservation into a cam- daily news. The Quarterly Jour- cally every state of Brazil, and paign of conquest. nal of the United Christian Lit- in 1936 reached a self-support- One of the most difficult tasks erature Society gives a few ing basis. of the French Protestant Church facts of significance.
Communism is rigorously sup- is the care of scattered members. During 1936 Moscow used 86 pressed by the government, but To an alarming extent, individ- different languages on its subin certain rural districts un- uals and groups who move from sidized printing presses. In
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
editions of vary'ing size, it pro- slow death from e con 0 m i c among Moslems in Khartum and duced some 10,000 publications, strangulation. Omdurman is regarded as in- and of these 37,000,000 copies It is reported that the Polish tolerable. There is a general went out. In "tracts" and Government plans the "evacua- opinion current that the Azhar brochures, the total for 1936 tion" of all the 3,150,000 Jews should send a mission to preach came to five thousand millions; in Poland, thereby confronting Islam in the Sudan, and it is refor boys and girls the books is- other nations with a migration ported that the Sudan Governsued totalled thirty-two millions. problem of unprecedented mag- ment would raise no objection. Furthermore, the cinema has nitude. The Society for the Defense of had its special bureau, of which the Moslem Religion is arrang- no figures are available. AFRICA ing public meetings to discuss However, there is actually The New Egypt the preparation of a mission.
talk of religious revival. Though -World Dominion Press.
there is persecution, priests re- Egypt's "New Deal" began on Tripoli Mission Closed main, living like hunted pariahs. August 26, 1936, when a treaty Some, having escaped the massacre in which many thousands was signed in London bringing The work of the North Africa of their brethren fell, furtively to Egypt a new framework Mission in Tripoli City has been celebrate religious rites in the within which her leaders pur- suppressed by Italian authoriconcentration camps, where they pose to work out Egypt's future •ties. This work had been mainendure the horrors of forced destiny as a free country. There tained for a half century as a labor; others wander in beg- can be no doubt that the treaty medical and evangelistic center, gary from place to place, keep- is popular. Plans are on foot to and has been a means of healing ing alive as they go the villagers' better the living conditions of and spiritual blessing to thoufaith; others minister to crowd- the people. It is proposed to ed congregations in the few choose certain villages in differ- sands of Jews and Arabs. churches still allowed to func- ent parts of the country as model tion. Blatant atheism is not so villages, to be improved in every At about the same time, the blatant; the circulation of its Vicar Apostolate, Msgr. Facchief organ has fallen from way and made fit habitations. 37,000 to 14,000; not only the Changes in the educational set- chinetti, consecrated a new old folks, but the young, includ- up are in prospect, and it is church to St. Francis de Assisi, ing young soldiers, are daring hoped that the rights of women in the center of Tripoli City. to attend religious services and may be recognized in a wider sing the old hymns – as only plan of education. Already Near by is a small monastery Russians can-where once stood for the Franciscan missionaries. beautiful churches. there have been proposed laws With this addition, the Catholic in parliament for the regulation It seems clear that when the of women's dress in public, and churches and chapels in the Vigreat revival comes, a new cariate Apostolic of Tripoli now church must emerge; no longer a law for the prohibition of ala caste, indifferent to the peo- coholic and intoxicating. bev- total forty. Thus, from the ple's need and chained to a erages. Italian possessions in Africa, dynasty. What part religion may take evangelical witness is being sys- Jewish Crisis in Five Countries tematically excluded.
Anti-Semitism, raised by Hit- -Alliance Weekly. ler in Germany to the status of a political religion, is rapidly in the new era is a question that Roman Catholic Propaganda spreading throughout Eastern cannot be answered. One looks Europe, and is approaching the in vain for political leadership in the Congo high water mark in Poland, the anywhere in the world today The Southern Presbyterian which is actuated by religious Board reports that their success in the Congo Beige have aroused motives in making decisions. the Catholics, who say that neither men nor money will be -Women's Missionary Magazine. spared in wresting these gains Demonstration Against from the Protestants. They are Missions making no idle boast, for every steamer from Europe is crowded country with the biggest Jewish Excitable El Azhar Univer- with priests and nuns, and the population outside the United sity students are responsible for Belgian Government is spending States, and the highest percent- a violent demonstration against millions in erecting schools, ca- age of Jews in proportion to its missionary work in the Sudan. thedrals, convents and hospitals total population, except for Pal- The Arabic press has espoused for these invading hosts. Last estine. Of the world's entire the cause with zeal. Al Misri, January, out of a total white Jewish population, 30 per cent Al Ahram and Al Mussawar population in Congo of 18,683, are facing the choice of repeat- publish long articles attacking the priests numbered 2,320- ing the Exodus on a bigger scale the Sudan administration for whereas all Protestant workers than that chronicled in the Bible, favoring the Christianization of of all nationalities numbered and somehow crashing through pagan tribes, and making educa- only 734. Whereas the Roman- immigration bars, or of dying a tional grants to missions. Work ists are increasing by scores and
hundreds, the Protestants are hymns. In Mt. Silinda, Rev. and INDIA AND BURMA actually decreasing. Apparently Mrs. John S. Marsh report tak- Another Open Door they have, as they claim, un- ing two Christian A f ric a n limited financial resources. women to a conference under an- Rev. Chandra Das of Benares other mission where 3,000 other cites instances to show that for Their line of attack is through native Christian women lived the Christian message Benares the schools, increased to include three days in conference on reli- offers a fair field. every tiny hamlet. They charge gious matters. They had planno tuition, provide equipment "Benares is famous for palmfree, and are using every legiti- ned and carried through the en- istry and astrology. Not far mate and illegitimate form of tire affair without the help of from our book room is the office propaganda against Protestant- missionaries. of one of these pseudo-scientists, ism. -Presbyterian Survey. in charge of a modern-minded -Overseas News.
Achievement in Central Africa In Tanganyika Outposts young man who has traveled in the West. One morning he A plan to establish a line of A worker for the Church Mis- called me into his house and conmission stations from Mombasa sionary Society in Tanganyika fessed to me a sense of painful to Lake Chad has been completed pays tribute to the work of Af- need. He asked me a direct after forty-two years' work. rican teachers in isolated out- question – 'What has C h r i s t The Africa Inland Mission, in. stations. "Their patience and done for you?' I spent over an association with two other so- love in carrying out their round hour with him and left a copy cieties in French Equatorial of duties week by week, and of St. John's Gospel. Since then Africa, has the chief honor of year by year, could only be main- he has come to our library many the achievement. Missionary in- tained in the power of God." times and bought a Hindi Bible. fluence now permeates some She continues: "A Moslem religious teacher 4,000,000 native peoples. The It always thrills me when I am one day discussed with me the Christian meanings of the Son Society has 230 missionaries asked to interview and examine for of God, perfection of Christ's laboring on 53 s tat ion s in baptism women and girls brought in character, etc., in a very humble Kenya, Tanganyika, West Nile, from the outstations. I hear them read God's Word, and answer ques- and teachable spirit. I was im- Uganda, Bel g ian Congo and tions on the life of our Lord that in French Equatorial Africa. would daunt some of the children at pressed by the absence of ego- home, and I realize that they have tism and argumentative spirit Church schools have been opened learned entirely from the Bible and common in Moslem inquirers. in 1,500 centers and are served from their fellow-Africans. by 2,000 evangelist – teachers. "A Tamil-speaking youth of -C. M. S. Outlook. Madras used his holiday leave in During 1936, 20,000 catechu- mens were under instruction and WESTERN ASIA going about to shrines and holy 6,900 were baptized. In order places in search of peace. 'What to consolidate the churches and Novel Attack on Illiteracy could Christ do for me?' he to plan for developments, the Society has sent its deputation sec- Of Turkey's 40,000 villages, asked. I had an opportunity for retary to confer with the mis- days together of explaining to sionaries. of which many hardly deserve that name, 32,000 have neither him the peace that Christ gives. -World Dominion Press. school nor teacher. It is cal- The case was unique in that young men are rarely troubled Singing African Christians culated that with the help of existing institutions it would re- about spiritual peace. I try to One dark night a missionary quire 96 years to train the neces- follow up these inquirers. Those was traveling on the outskirts of sary teachers. But the govern- who leaye Benares are kept in a territory untouched by Christian influence, so far as he knew, ment dcided to have this done in touch through correspondence although looked upon by the ten years, and devised a plan and literature sent to them by young Chilesso church as its re- which will not only yield the post, and for many of these con- stant prayer is offered in private necessary number of teachers in that short period, but will also and in our common worship."
sponsibility. He heard Christian train a type that psychologically Cow Worship hymn tunes. Investigating he will be much nearer the rural found a young man from one of population than is the ordinary The cow-worshiping cult has the few Christian villages near town-trained man. received new impetus from that section who had carried the Since the Turkish army is the Gandhi. A statement of his Gospel message in song, and a most efficient school in the na.- that the Depressed Classes "are goodly group had caught the tion, it has now been decided worse than cows in understand~ .contagion of the music. The that non-commissioned officers ing" called forth protests on the Chilesso church which now has shall be trained as village teach- part of some of his missionary some 2,600 members maintains ers, and also shall be prepared friends. As a reply to these prooften that it was first led to al- to disseminate elementary no- tests he issued the following legiance to "The Name" through tions of farming and hygiene. statement in The Rarijan of the influence of C h r i s t ian -The Christian Century. January 9:
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
In my conversations with Dr. Mott, New Madras Christian College He must have adult material. at one stage I said, "Would you preach With proper textbooks and the the Gospel to a cow? Well, some of On January 30, Lord Erskine, method of teaching and making the Untouchables are worse than cows in understanding. I mean they Governor of Madras, opened the volunteer teachers, it should be can no more distinguish between the new buildings at Tambaram, the possible to make India literate relative merits cif Islam and Hinduism new home of Madras Christian in 25 years. and Christianity than a cow." Some 9011ege, into which the College missionary friends have taken excep- IS to move in this, its centenary, -Baptist Missionary tion to the analogy. I have no re- Review. morse about the propriety of the year. The first sod had been cut analogy. There could be no offense meant to Harijans because the cow is on January 5, 1932. Five years Anti-Leprosy Work a sacr,ed animal. I worship her as I have passed, and much of what wors~Ip my mother. Both are givers was then a dream has been real- Many new leprosy treatment ?f mIlk. And so far as understanding ized. It has cost £174,000. The centers have been opened in the IS concerned I do maintain that there Government of Madras has do- Punjab, according to the latest are, be it said to the discredit of nated the spacious site of 400' report. With the organization superior class Hindus, thousands of acres and has contributed half of 18 new clinics, the total num- Harijans who can no more understand the cost of the buildings. On ber of treatment centers rose the merits and demerits of different the same condition of pound for from 34 to 52, apart from the religions than a cow. That after a pound, it is prepared to carryon five clinics at leper homes. The long course of training Harijans can and fulfil the dream completely. number of doctors trained in have their intelligence developed in a The College grew out of the anti-leprosy work went from 127 manner a cow's cannot, is irrelevant little school opened by John An- to 178. Besides, there were four to the present discussion. derson, the first missionary of sanitary inspectors and one dis- the Church of Scotland in South trict medical officer of health. -The Indian Witness. India, who arriv-ed in Madras Systematic propaganda w 0 r k April 3, 1837. The London Mis- was widely carried out and the National Christian Council sionary Society now shares in provincial leprosy officer ex- tended his survey work to vari- The seventh biennial meeting the enterprise. of the National Christian Coun- ous districts, thus visiting 664 cil, held in Nagpur from Decem- -L. M. S. Chronicle. villages in all, with a population ber 28, 1936, till January 1 1937, considered some urgent Causes of Illiteracy of 169,879. It is stated that in issues of the present ferment. 124 villages 326 cases were de- Seven practical proposals were Dr. Frank C. Laubach enumade: merates the causes of India's tected in different stages of the appalling illiteracy. One handi- disease.-The Indian Witness. Retreats, conferences and inter-visitation should be arranged cap is that if an illiterate desires The Acid Test in Ceylon for workers; large numbers of voluntary workers should be en- to read he must learn to read in Dr. Russell Maltby tells the listed and trained; readj ustment of available forces should be a foreign language, not in the following story: A high-caste made in some areas; every effort should be made to remove language he speaks, for the clas- Bra h min was converted to illiteracy in the Church; the help of the older churches should sical written vocabularies are so Ch~istianity. On the day on still be sought for enquirers and training young members of the different from the spoken collo- WhICh he was to be baptized he Church; the secretariat of the National C h r is t ian Council quial that they are really differ- came to the table where the misshould be strengthened in order that one member may be free to ent languages. sionary was seated, and pouring further this work; cooperation on the part of all branches of the A~other reason for slow prog- out a glass of water, he offered 9hl!rch sho1;lld be developed, as It IS essentIal for undertaking ress IS that when parents are il- it to the missionary. The l amttae~r the task adequately. hardly knowing what the literate the children are likely to The statement concludes: forget all they learned. If the wanted, took a drink, and The Council would specially ask for prayer on behalf of those who are adults were taught first, the chil- handed the glass back. Wheregroping after the light, sometimes hardly knowing what they seek. dren would never forget. It has upon the Brahmin took the glass Prayer is also asked for the Church in India, called to a work so full of been found that an adult can and drank from it himself! A difficulty and dangel, that, purified and strengthened and filled with wis- learn to read in about one-fifth strict Brahmin would rather dom, it may carry out God's purpose for this land. of the time required to teach a drink poison than do a thing like -I. M. C. Quarterly. child. This important discovery that. It was a severe test for a has tremendous bearing upon Brahmin to take for Christ. India. .
Again, the language of the A Modern Muezzin in Malaya books and newspapers is not the colloquial one of the people so In the great Masjid Sultan that there is nothing they can Mosque in Singapore the Muez- read when they have first zin, who calls Moslems to prayer learned to read. Apathy must is to be aided by loudspeakers: be overcome, and finally, appro- Instead of climbing the stairway priate lesson material must be of the minaret five times a day, provided. An adult does not en- to cup his hands to his lips and joy studying children's books. utter his weird cry, he will step
to a microphone and broadcast. East generally of a conscious- of its students are now at work Singapore Moslems opposed the ness of the world mission of in the villages and rural areas innovation at first, and there are Christianity. The larger meas- of the province. Recently, the some who have not yet become ure of responsibility which has governor of Fukien Province reconciled, but the traffic noises devolved upon the Christian has appropriated almost twentyoffered too great competition to churches in the East is every- two thousand dollars, Chinese the call from the minaret. A where apparent, notably in re- currency, to cover the full cost new machine was therefore spect to the Conference of the of extension of this rural procalled to the aid of an old cus- International Mis'sionary Coun- gram. Under the leadership of tom. -Christian Advocate. cil to be held in Hangchow in Dr. Francis Chen, the Univer- the Spring of 1938. The West- sity is now finding many new CHINA ern sense of world mission is avenues of service to every part broadening into a universal of the province. A New Man ·Christian fellowship, with a conscious world vocation in the Chinese Mission Control Here is a transformation that service of Christ. followed a reading of the prodi- On April 1, the American gal's return. A villager had Soochow University Methodist Episcopal Mis s ion been a lazy, worthless dope blazed a new trail with a profiend, had spent his life mis- President Y. C. Yang, of Soo- posal that mission property be treating his family and spend- chow University, lists some placed under Chinese ownership ing their substance on opium. achievements among the insti- and control. Now the people of the village tution's graduates to show the see him going to the fields every vital part it is taking in helping The sixth quadrennial East day with a hoe, have noticed that to Christianize the intellectual Asia Conference named a board his vocabulary has radically current in China. to study the project under which changed, and that even the tone church m iss ion properties, of his voice is different. He is Many of the University's former widely scattered in China and most thoughtful of his mother. students and graduates are now serv- having an estimated value of His neighbors know he must ing their country in positions of prom- $5,000,000, would be transhave been able to do an almost inence and leadership. In the field of ferred. The proposal is the first impossible thing to break off the law and governmnt, the new Constitu- of its kind advanced in any fordrug habit. tion of China, which is to be submitted eign mission in China. It will to the People's AssemJly for adoption, be submitted to the highest au- When asked how he did it he was drafted by the principal of our thorities of the mission in the says he sings hymns and reads Law School and one of our own grad- United States for final decision. over and over about Jesus. He uates. In the financial world, the says he wants to go to summer managers of the Bank of China in Soldiers Sweep Streets school where he can study the Shanghai, Nanking and Hongkong Bible and be able to explain it to are all former Soochow students. In The Rev. E. H. Forster, of the people of his village. His the field of social religious service, Yangchow, China, writes in The neighbors corroborate every- five of the largest and most important Churchman of some things obthing he says. What started Y. M. C. A. associations-Nanking, served during a visit to the city this revolution in him? He says Shanghai, Soochow, Hangchow and of Paoying, especially among the he heard an evangelist tell the Swatow-are all Soochow graduates. soldiers. The m.ayor was edustory of the father who had two In the field of education, three out of cated in England, representative sons, of how one went off into the eleven men now serving as presi- of the new type of officials with the far country, of how the fa- dents of Christian colleges and uni- which the government is trying ther watched and longed for his versities in China, and the first presi- to supplant the old. The city has return, and bf how finally the son dent of the Central Government Uni- an institution for the cure of saw his great folly and went versity are Soochow alumni. In the drug addicts, where the Chinese back home. -World, Outlook. field of religion, Dr. Z. T. Kaung, pas- physician in charge is a church- tor of our great Moore Memorial man, son of a clergyman in Will Missions Shift Emphasis? Church, Shanghai, and chairman of Ningpo. the Executive Council of the China The editor of the Chinese Re- Conference; Mr. Z. S. Zia, general He was also impressed with corder believes that the mission- secretary of our Board of Christian the bearing and personal appearary enterprise is shifting from Education; Dr. T. C. Chao, dean of ance of the soldiers. They were a world mission with its drive the School of Religion of Yen~Ching a well dressed, well set-up group centered in the West, to one University, and Mr. Z. K. Zia, Chinese of men, who showed in their world-wide in drive as well as editor of the China Christian Litera- manner that they were accusin scope. A corresponding weak- ture Society, are all graduates of Soo- tomed to discipline. "I was even ening in the West of the Chris- chow University. more impressed," he says, "when tian sense of world mission he I saw them sweeping the streets, considers is apparent, but is -World Outlook. leveling and paving roads, and compensated in a measure by the effecting many improvements in emergence in China and in the Rural Reconstruction the appearance of the city. I In response to requests of both people and government, Fukien Christian University is putting increased emphasis on rural reconstruction. This is not a new departure, for many
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
:found that many of the officers port, "to imagine a more pitiable Evangelistic Band during the were Christians, that they took crowd of men. They had only past three decades. This indegood care of their men, that they rags for clothing, supplemented pendent church, exercising all held regular religious services to by straw packing, or anything the functions of an indigenous which the men in the ranks were else, that would give them a society, such as self-support, invited. In view of this experi- modicum of warmth." Of sev- self-government, and self-exten- ence I could not help feeling that enteen admitted to the hospital, sion, will relieve the parent or- this sort of army discipline and seven died within a few days. ganization of the heavy respon- life could not but be a very val- Some of the men professed con- sibilities of caring for estab- uable training for thousands of version. Most of these men lished churches, and permit it men in China, provided they were suffering from typhus or to devote its energies directly to could always be used for con- tuberculosis, in addition to gun- the evangelization of unreached structive instead of destructive shot wounds. communities. service." Work among lepers has repre- A Nation of Readers sented the main activity of the Medicine by Trailer Hospital. At one time they had Japan Today and Tomorrow 76 inmates. The increase last says that of 30,347 books pub- The "trailer" has come to year was made up mainly of Ti- lished the past year in Japan, China! Dr. W. H. Dobson, of those concerned with education Yeungkong, whose 39 years in betans. Fifteen lepers were head the list, followed by books China have not dimmed his abil- baptized last summer, seven be- on politics, economics and the ity to recognize and seize every ing Tibetans. Christian lepers new idea that would aid him in have contributed toward the home. Books on religion are his medical work, is starting out work. -China's MiUions. also increasingly popular; there to spend several months in coun- Siushan Joins the World was an increase of 257 over the try districts with his trailer, previous year. It is not indi- holding clinics in villages where For the first time in history a cated how many dealt with there is still need for spreading motor bus came to the very gates Christianity, but it is probable knowledge of modern medicine. of the hoary city of Siushan, that these increased in propor- Despite many years of Christian Szechuan, West China, a Chris- tion with those on other relimedical missions, and the in- tian Alliance station. The news gions. creasing number of government of this great event spread rap- Magazines are increasingly hospitals, rural dis t ric t s in idly throughout the town, and popular. At the end of 1934, China are still sorely neglected. steady streams of people flowed Japan had 947 magazines; 25 After ancient Chinese medical to and from this curious new were devoted to religion, 102 practice has left them in a hope- object. The car came to the were concerned with education. less condition, too many patients edge of the city wall at the south Magazines having the largest are brought to the mission hos- gate; spectators lined the top of circulation were those on poppital in Yeungkong as a last re- the wall, while others crowded ular recreations, with women's sort. Dr. Dobson is now under- about the car to give it a thor- magazines second and children's taking preventive as well as ough "once over." third.
curative medicine. In a short time cars should be A Language Without -Monday Morning. able to get through to Lungtan Profanity and Yuyang, while within a few Borden Hospital in Kansu months they should get through The Japanese language is the to Pengshui and on to Chung- only language in the world, says Borden Memorial Hospital at king. This motor road heralds the Christian Union Herald, in Lanchow accepts disturbances a new day. In a most providen- which there is not a profane as a matter of course, and finds tial way it touches at three main word. Although thousands of many opportunities interwoven stations and will link us directly with them. The number of with Chungking in the west and expressions and phrases have Tibetan patients has been larger Changsha in the east. Time, been absorbed from other lanthan usual, there being at one money and missionaries' health guages, the native tongue retime an average of fifteen Ti- will be conserved. betans with them. Towards the mains clean and wholesome. To end of the year there were many -The Frontier. be profane is the worst thing hundreds of Communist prison- that any man, over there, can do. ers of war camped in a temple JAPAN-OHOSEN He realizes it, and knows that if not far away. The Chinese Gov- he indulges in profanity picked ernment asked our friends at the New Ohurch Formed hospital to give these men med- up from foreigners, he will be The Japan Church of Jesus ostracized by his friends, his Christ is a new organization, neighbors and his own family.
ical attention. The government formed by the merger of several "On the Air" in Yokohama hospital was filled and others groups of believers which have had refused them. "It would be grown up as a result of the evan- Recently Baptists in Japan difficult," says the Hospital Re- gelizing efforts of the Japan had their first opportunity to
broadcast a Sunday morning laboring under heavy burdens has been a direct result of the church service, and it came to and wish to hear Christ's loving new spiritual life received from the Kanagawa Church in Yoko- call come without hesitation to these times of study and fellowhama. The Sunday morning the Uchinomaki Church." He ship. Two of the girls who at- feature of the radio network is came, deeply convicted of his tended from Ronna returned usually Buddhist. sins, and joyfully accepted with the message: "Today is the The time allotted in this in- Christ as his Saviour. day of salvation." They went stance was 40 minutes, but pas- -The Dawn. from house to house and from tor Kawamata decided to use relative to relative, insisting only 30, in order to leave the Trials in Korea upon the claims of the Gospel final ten minutes for meditation Korea is not escaping certain message. As a result of their before somethins- else went on disruptive effects of material- efforts seven new members have the air. His sermon was on the been won during the past few subject, "Praise Be to God." ism, and the fine edge of spir- months. The plan of follow-up ituality is blunted in places by after the institute to be held in -Missions. politics and factious jealousies. October is to hold other insti- Nevertheless, the whole Prot- tutes in each of the districts, Better Understanding thus keeping up the interest and With China estant Church advanced last the impetus. Never before has year. The "shrine question" this field been so well manned An interesting exchange of with native pastors. amenities has been made be- has hindered the quiet growth of tween the National Christian the Church and continues to be -Philippine Presbyterian. Councils of Japan and China. perturbing. Missionary opinion The Japan Council voted to send Manila Union High School a statement to the Chinese is divided, some accepting the Christian b6dy calling attention Government General's assurance The Union High School of to the testimony of both history Manila has completed seventeen and topography "that the rela- that attendance of scholars at the years as a separate institution. tions of these two nations, each shrines is not a religious but It presents unrivalled opportuniwith the other, ought to be more ties for the development of intimate than with the other simply a patriotic act. The Christian ideals and character powers"; 'and urging "that larger number, however, main- among its students. Each stuthrough mutual conference a tain that the services are reli- dent is considered as a responsuitable place and time may be gious, notwithstanding the offi- sibility given to the school for chosen where we can kneel to- spiritual training. Each soul gether in the presence of our cial statement. The missions affords an opportunity for per- Lord, deepen the fellowship with these represent have decided to sonal interest on the part of the one another and seek for God's withdraw from secular educa- teachers. To meet this great fullest guidance to the end that opportunity three religious edua spiritual reapproachment and tional work, which will affect cation classes and two chapel unity may be brought about be- 25,000 pupils. The Government services are conducted each tween our two peoples." Ac- week. In addition, a week of cording to news dispatches, the educational provision is only for special evangelistic services fol- China Council has received the about twenty per cent of chil- lowed, when many students petition with sympathy and the dren of school age. Much will made new resolutions as to their depend upon the action of the Korean National Churches; but a concerted decision is not easy, as meetings to discuss the ques- tion are not permitted by the authorities.
-World Dominion Press.
Chinese have expressed willing- manner of living and personal ness to meet their Japanese ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC relationship to Christ.
brethren in any such conference On Cebu Island Three Siamese students are of mutual respect. enrolled. One was brought up In the Cebu field, P. I., 242 in the royal palace. Though a -The Christian Century. have been received into the Buddhist by birth, he is no churches on profession of faith Would-be Suicide during the past year, and eleven longer a Buddhist at heart. He places have been opened to the A pickle merchant of Omuta Gospel. This does not mean has said that he wants to worlost heart because of family places where occasional visits ship the true God. Recently, troubles, and decided to plunge are made, but places where reginto the crater of Mount Aso, a ular services have been estab- when told that he had passed in volcano. But face to face with lished, and a group of baptized all his subjects he said it was death he could find no peace. As God who had helped him, as he prayed to Him every day.
he lay on the ground near the believers is carrying on by Chinese Christians in Hawaii crater, he saw written on a post: themselves. Four ten-day Chris- "Come unto me, all ye that labor tian workers' institutes have Bishop Willis, of Hawaii, says and are heavy laden, and I will been conducted, with an average that Chinese Christians stand give you rest." Then the follow- attendance of 69 students. We out in two particulars. One is ing words: "Let any who are believe that much of the advance the friendly Christian fellowship
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
within their own congregation. to July 1, for the study of the understanding, social service, the movies, the radio, personality They are constantly giving so-, subjects: Christianity and the and religion.
cial entertainments, particularly totalitarian State, the conscien- -The Living Church.
Chinese dinners and chop suey tious objector, the League of "Dithering"
meals, which bring their mem- Nations, sanctions and interna- Some one has written an ar- ticle on "Diseases of the Mission bers together when there are tional police. In England, Scot- Field," the most serious being what he calls "dithering." A parish meetings, confirmations land and America cooperation writer in The Chronicle shows how serious this may be. and baptisms. with the Fellowship of Recon- You start o.ut determined to show The other particular is their ciliation in several countries has the carpenter how to set out a window sash. Before you have gone a dozen missionary interest which keeps been secured. The office of the steps you are pounced upon by a man with eggs fo.r sale. You inform him them in close touch with church International Union is at Am- that the cook buys the eggs; he then offers you chickens, and you tell him work in China. They have given merstol, Holland. that the cook buys these too. But an- other man has seen you, and bears largely toward the endowment -International Christian down with a request to. be sent somein the Shensi diocese, for famine Press. where to fetch a load of something. relief and other special needs in You answer him that you don't want a load of anything brought from any- China. When the day school Catholic World Missions where, whereupo.n he says he wants to children heard of the recent buy a Bible. Of course you have to martyrdom of the catechist, The Roman Catholic Church sell him that but you find he has only Huang Han-Tsang, killed by has 340 seminaries in its major half the necessary money. He says bandits near Hankow, they mission fields with 18,541 stu- he will bring the balance in beans, and dents for the priesthood. China so the transaction is temporarily in raised $100 for his family. abeyance. has 4,361; India, 1,801; Indo- -The Churchman. China, 2,237 ; Africa, 4,260 ; Fearing the .:arpenter may have made the window sash according to Missionaries Televised Japan and Korea, 669; the his o.wn ideas, you dash toward the islands of the Pacific, 47l. shop. But a bricklayer, building a The British Weekly recently There are 500 separate Roman cottage for a medical orderly, interhad an interesting account of Catholic missions in the foreign cepts to ask where exactly to put the missionaries on furlough being mission fields, so that the con- window frames. You realize with a televised in London. sickening feeling that you have not tention that this Church presents yet marked the exact position of these frames. They are pro.bably building In an hour's television program one front is not quite accurate, them all in on the windward wall, in last week there were two exceptionally which case the medical orderly will interesting missionary items. One especially as the cooperative never, never open the windows. You councils of Protestant missions dash off and find that your surmise was an interview with Bishop Flem- are banding themselves closer is absolutely correct. Directing labor ing of the Arctic, while on the other and closer together in a world- in Africa is largely a matter of go- ing to. see what So-and-so is doing, the interviewer talked with that amaz- and telling him not to. At last you may (or again you may not) arrive ing trio of women, Miss Mildred Cable wide organization already su- at the shop and find the carpenter' and the two Misses French, of the happily pegging together the window China Inland Mission. They had perior in many ways to the sash-an almost perfect rhombus. Topsy, their little Mongolian deaf and so-called "united front" of the WHAT WILL HELP YOU? dumb friend, with them. They looked Roman Catholic Church. on the experience of being televised Many readers have sent us reports as an adventure not unworthy o.f a -The World Today. of their Metho.ds for promoting mis- sionary interest; others have exparty of women who had recently Girls' Friendly Society pressed their gratitude for the help given in our "Ways of Working" Decrossed the Gobi Desert for the fifth partment. Is there some special way in which we can help you in planning time, and told their hearers very The Girls' Friendly Society is your work for the promotion of missportingly and vividly how they trav- sionary interest in yo.ur church, your society, the Sunday school or home, elled, what they carried with them, one of the most active and vig- or among other groups? What would why they went, and the sort of things orous organizations, of the Epis- you find most useful in the way of program material and suggestions, that happened to them on the way. copal Church. Founded 60 years literature, sermonic and illustrated They themselves were tremendously ago, it now has a membership of material, o.r methods of stimulating interested in all that went o.n in the missionary interest in children? Please forward your questions or requests to studio, and seemed quite unperturbed 29,000, with 900 branches in the Mrs. Estella S. Aitchison, Granville, when a camera, looking more like a United States, the Philippine Ohio. tank and manned by four men, would Islands, Puerto Rico, Panama, suddenly begin to bear down on them for a close up while they talked. The Japan and China. The Society first missionary to be televised was provides a varied and balanced the 83-year-old Archdeacon Batchelo.r of Hokkaido. program of worship, study, rec- reation, social service and serv- Antimilitarist Congress ice to the Church for girls and young women. Its twofold task The Executive Comittee of is the development of character the International Union of Anti- and friendship in loyalty to the militarist Ministers and Clergy- Church, and the arousing of an men, which has branches in Hol- intelligent interest in and underland, Switzerland, Eng I and, standing of the issues of the Scotland, France, Sweden, Nor- world today. Under the general way and Denmark has decided theme of Christian Citizenship, to hold the fourth international study is given to such vital probcongress in Edinburgh, June 29 lems as world peace, interracial Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information GOOD BOOKS ON RURAL AMERICA COMPILED AND ANNOTATED BY DR. BENSON Y. LANDIS, Associate Secretary of Department of Research and Education, Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America Rebuilding Rural America. By Mark plan of church work adapted to United Churches. By Elizabeth R. A. Dawber. New York, Missionary that culture. Hooker. New York, Harper & Education Movement. 215 pp. $1.00, Brothers. 1926. 306 pp. $1.75. cloth; paper, 60 cents. Industrial Village Churches. By Edmund deS. Brunner. New York, A most adequate study of A comprehensive discussion Harper & Brothers. 1930. 205 pp. types of community churches in dealing with our c han gin g $1.50. town and country areas. American rural life and the ways and means being used by Studies of representative com- The Rural Church and Cooperative the Church to rebuild rural munities and churches. Extension Work. By H. W. Hoch- America and to give it spiritual baum. Washington,Department of ideals. Religion in the Highlands. By E. R. Agriculture, Circular 57. 1929. Hooker. With a section on Mis- 25 pp. The Christ of the Countryside. By sionary and Philanthropic Schools Malcolm Dana. Nashville, Tenn., by Fannie W. Dunn. New York, Instances of cooperation. Cokesbury Press. $1.00. the Home Missions Council, 105 E. 22d St. 1933. 319 pp. $1.00. The Community Church. By David A popular treatment of well- Piper. Chicago, Willett, Clark & known portions of the Bible re- Native churches and mission- Co. 1928. 158 pp. $1.00. vealing the rural setting and the ary enterprises in the southern rural significance of its themes. Appalachian area. An interpretation of the com- munity church movement by a The Country Church As It Is. By Statesmanship and Religion. By participant. A. J. W. Myers and Edwin E. Sundt. New York, Fleming H. Revell Co. Henry A. Wallace. New York, Community Religion and the Denom- 1930. 189 pp. $1.50. inational Heritage. By J. R. Har- Round Table Press. 1934. 139 pp. greaves and others. New York, A unique book presenting case Harper & Brothers. 1930. 150 pp. histories of fifteen parishes. $2.00. – $1.00.
The Country Church and Public Af- The part of religion in bring- Treatise on the uniqueness of fairs. Edited by Henry W. Mc- ing about a social control that various religious bodies. Laughlin. New York, The Mac- will mean social justice. millan Company. 1930. 260 pp. Y. M. C. A. in Town and Country. $2.00. ****** By Henry Israel. New York, As- sociation Press. 1929. 116 pp. Comprehensive discussions at The Larger Parish-A Movement or $2.00. the Institute of Public Affairs, an Enthusiasm? By Edmund deS. Virginia. Brunner. New York, Harper & Proceedings of a national con- Brothers. 1934. 95 pp. 50 cents. ference on the rural Y. M. C. A. What's Right with the Rural Church. By Ralph A. Felton. Philadelphia, A study of over 100 larger ****** Presbyterian Board of Christian parishes. Education. 1930. 150 pp. Cloth, A Parish Program for Community $1.00; paper, 50 cents. The Larger Parish Plan. By Mal- Service and Family Religion. By Warren H. Wilson. New York, Popular treatment of the as- colm Dana. New York, Congrega- Board of National Missions of the sets of the rural church. tional Church Extension Boards. Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. 1930. 63 pp. 25 cents. 32 pp. 10 cents. The Farmer's Church. By Warren H. Wilson. New York, D. Apple- How Can Local Churches Coine To- A brief guide, especially for ton-Century Co. 1925. 264 pp. gether? By Elizabeth R. Hooker. the pastor. $2.00. New York, Home Missions Council, 105 E. 22d St. 1928. 82 pp. 25 Tested Methods in Town and Coun- A statement of the peculiari- cents. try Churches. By Edmund deS. ties of rural culture and of a Brunner. New York, Harper & A practical han d boo k of Brothers. 1923. 173 pp. $1.00. methods. Summarizes the programs of forty churches of distinction; Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the RIlvIIlW publishers on receipt of price.
[334 ]
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
valuable as a text for general Financing the Country Church. By resentment against the Turks. reading. The author truly has a message R. T. Baker. Richmond, Va., The of God's love and of Christian Our Templed Hills. By. Ralph A. Department of Country Church and faith and devotion, which is Felton. New York, MissIOnary Sunday School Extension. P. O. worth reading. Education Movement. 1926. 241 Box 1176. 8 pp. pp. Cloth, 50 cents; paper, 25 cents. The chapter on "Yeni Che- A study course in the chang- General Reviews riler" will give many new inforing rural life and in modern Changing Russia. By F. J. Miles, mation about the J anisaries but country church methods. D.S.O. Marshall, Morgan & Scott, should be understood as a his- J tory of the 18th century and does A New Day for the Country Church.. London. Paper. 144 pp. 1s. 1936, not indicate that modern Turks bring up their children as de- By Rolvix Harlan. Nashville, Tenn. The author of this small but scribed on page thirty-four.
The Cokesbury Press. 1925. 166 significant book is International The deep spiritual life of the pp. Cloth, 50 cents; paper, 20 cents. Secretary of the Russian Mis- author's father and mother will Brimming with practical sug- sionary Society in England. In be a revelation to many Amergestions; bound to give the connection with the British and ican Christians. This interest- ing bit of history and Christian reader a wide vision of the task Continental Touring Club, he autobiography leaves one with of the local church. has made many visits to Russia, having exceptional opportunities Steeples Among the Hills. By Arthur for observation. Mr. Miles an awed sense of the reality of Wentworth Hewitt. New York, God's present care of His chil- Abingdon Press. 1926. 260 pp. recognizes the good things that $1.50. the Soviet Government has done, dren. CLARENCE D. USSHER.
A narrative of experience by but he confirms the current im- Alaskan Adventures. By Loyal L. one of the best-known country pression that it is making re- Wirt. IlIus. 8vo. 124 pp.. $1.50. ministers. lentless war, not against any Fleming H. Revell Co. New York. particular church, but against 1937.
The Social Work of the Churches. all religion. "A determined at- Here are stirring, and at times Edited by F. Ernest Johnson. New tempt is being made to raise a exciting, tales of pioneer days in Alaska-of daring journeys by York, The Federal Council of nation of atheists." Apparently snowshoe and dogteam over the snow- and ice-covered mountains Churches. 1930. 238 pp. Cloth, he wrote his book before the and down dangerous rapids. $1.25; paper, $1.00. Dr. Wirt made his first trek with promulgation of the new consti- miners over the White Pass in 1899. Then he returned to civ- A handbook of information. tution, but its assurance of ilization to bring food, medicine, lumber and nurses to Anvil City "free-dom of religious worship" (Nome)-only to have the sup- plies lost in a storm at sea. Religious Education in the Rural means nothing, for a pastor can- Again Dr. Wirt started alone as Church. By Henry W. McLaughlin. the first white man to cross New York, Fleming H. Revell Com- not preach outside of his own Alaska by dogteam in the win- pany. 1931. 224 pp. $1.50. pulpit and cannot teach religion ter. This time he was success- to groups of young people under ful in getting help from the A compilation of the papers presented at the Virginia Insti- eighteen years of age. Most of United States Government. tute of Public Affairs. the normal activities of a church Boys will enjoy this tale of ad- are prohibited. School teachers venture, vividly described, and a thrilling story of the faithful The Episcopal Church in Town and are not permitted to attend any dog, "Whiskers." Sandwiched Country. By Goodrich R. .!'enner. church and the Bible cannot be in with the tale of adventure are slices of information about New York, National Council, Prot- printed or circulated. Many wolves, Eskimo dogs,' Eskimo estant Episcopal Church. 1935. churches have been closed and men and women, courtship, home 160 pp. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 life, babies, tribal dances, supercents. those that remain open are be- stitions and gold seekers. Most of the incidents and facts might ing strangled by heavy taxes. have been woven into the story more skilfully but they add to Village Sermons by a Novelist. By Meantime, unrestricted anti- the wealth and interest of the Gustav Frenssen. New York, D. "Alaskan treasurehouse." Dr. Appleton-Century Co., 1924. 162 religious propoganda is openly Wirt makes us realize what pp. $1.50. sponsored by the Government. hardships men will endure for It is a tragic story that moves gold and that followers of Christ A noted Scandinavian novelist the reader to respond to the aupreaches a series of sermons, thor's plea for prayer. using rural materials. ARTHUR J. BROWN.
Services for the Open. By L. 1. Mat- My Beloved Armenia. By Marie S. Banker. 205 pp. $1.25. B.!. C. A. toon and H. D. Bragdon. New York, Chicago. 1936. D. Appleton-Century Co. 1923. 212 pp. $1.50.
Suitable religious services for While this book contains various occasions. stories of "Turkish atrocities," Manual for County and Local Coun- the authenticity of which I would cils of Religious Education. Chi- not dispute, it was refreshing to cago, The International Council of Religious Education, 203 N. Wa- find that the book has been writ- bash Ave. 1932. 64 pp. 25 cents. ten more to give a constructive Gospel message than to arouse
will endure as much or more in the evils from which we suffer, Jungle Friends. By the Bishop of the service of their Master-and not only in Japan but in Amer- Rangoon. 63 pp. 18. S. P. G. with no thought of material re- London. 1937. ward. ica. These thirteen true stories of Morocco in Mufti. By James Hal- North Pacific. By Edward Weber people and incidents in Burmese dane. 8vo. 231 pp. 68. Arthur Allen. 282 pp. Map and sixty-five villages form the second in a H. Stockwell, Ltd. London. 1937. illustrations. Professional and series of character sketches, the Technical Press, New York. 1936. first being "Jungle Folk." These are vivid pen pictures of life in Morocco, that quaint This is an unusually interest- H. H. F. land of mountains and markets, ing book of travel and observafanatical Moslems and strange tion in Alaska, western Canada, The Father and His Sons. By A. B. unconquered tribes. Japan and eastern Siberia, by a L. Karney. 68 pp. 18. S. P. G., man who sees intelligently and London. 1937. "Your European civilization, knows how to tell what he sees. like a pair of shears, is snipping As United States Commissioner The author states that he has away the glory we won by sword and Secretary of the Internaand book," said an intelligent tional Fisheries Commission he found so much help from the Moor of the old school. In this describes a tour from San Fran- descriptive volume we see the cisco to Alaska, the Aleutian story of the Prodigal Son, and old contrasted with the new-in Islands to Kamchatka, south- business, in culture and in reli- ward along the Kurile Islands to has returned to it so often that .gion. Mr. Haldane, a Christian Japan, and back to San Franmissionary, gives. us a brief but cisco – a complete circle of the he believes it worth while to very readable story of Morocco's lands bordering the northern history, with his views of the Pacific Ocean. His experiences share some interpretations found present conditions, Moslem be- were varied and he gives a liefs and strange customs, life wealth of information about in it. There is much to ponder among villagers, mountaineers fisheries, the resources of Alaska and city dwelle~s, and mission- and the numerous people that he over in his discussion of this ary work among them. Mr. met. References to mission- Haldane has used some unusual aries and missionary work are immortal parable as related to opportunities to understand Mos- warmly sympathetic, particulems and conducts an interesting larly in Alaska where he makes many modern problems-home work with Moorish boys. He is special mention of such notable a valuable guide to those who Christian workers as William life, dangers threatening the would visit Morocco and know Duncan, Sheldon Jackson, W. T. the Moors. Lapp, Bishop Peter Trimble church, the State, the lack of Rowe, Archdeacon H u d son Kagawa Pamphlets: Stuck, S. Hall Young, and missionary interest, the situa- others. A bibliography and a Kagawa in Australia and New Zea- tion in Germany, Italy, and other land copious index add to the value of this attractive volume. topics. H. H. F. Kagawa in Lincoln's Land (United States) ARTHUR J. BROWN. Frances Ridley HavergaI. By Esther E. Enock. 95 pp. 18. Pickering Kagawa Calendar (Printed in & Inglis, London. 1936. Japan) The development in the Chris- Kagawa on Christian Brotherhood tian life is traced in this biog- These pamphlets set forth Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa's Christian raphy of one of the world's bestphilosophy and economic plans. He believes that Christ, as the known hymn writers, together Son of God and Saviour of men through His death on the Cross, with incidents of the period in also teaches the way of brotherhood, peace and economic justice which she lived (1836-1879) and that His principles and teachings should be put into and her relationships with other practice in daily life, with Christlike self-sacrifice and love Christian leaders, among them of equal opportunity. Kagawa has himself led the way in what Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. he conceives to be Christ's way. This program, if put into opera- Sankey. H. H. F. tion by truly regenerated men, would doubtless correct many of Awake I An African Calling. 55 pp. Follow Me. By Una Roberts Law- 18. Church Missionary Society. rence. 95 pp. Baptist Home Mis- sion Board, Atlanta, Ga. 1936. London. 1937. This brief analysis of certain Blasio Kigozi, a young Afri- home mission problems in the can evangelist of Uganda, died South, in Cuba and Panama, is last year at the beginning of a a summary of tasks in unevan- promising career. Missionaries gelized areas; and an outline had counted on his help in a re- for the study of the situation in vival in the Church of Uganda the various departments of and Blasio had spent months Southern Baptist Home Mis- in preparing "three points": sions. H. H. F.
(1) The cause of deadness in the Church; (2) Attendance of Through Stormy Seas. By Capt. E. G. Carre. 96 pp. 18. Pickering open sinners at the communion; & Inglis. London. 1937.
(3) How bring a revival? He The personal experiences of a British sea captain have to do wanted to arouse the clergy to with the transforming power of prayer. spend less time in raising funds and more in searching their per- sonallives. H. H. F.
Book. Just Like You Stories. Lucy W. Pea- his 86th year. His father, the
body. 186 pp. Illus. $1.50. M. H. William Ashmore, a missionary in About the Old Faith. Henry W. Leavis. Boston. China for 53 years, died in 1909. To- Frost. 128pp. $1.25. Revell. gether, father and son gave over 100 New York. Mothers Union and S. P. G. Report. years to China. On the son's 75th 2d. 16 pp. S. P. G. London. birthday at Swatow, he finished the Bush Aglow-Life of D. L. Moody. third revision of the entire Bible, Richard E. Day. 331 pp. $2.00. The New Walk. Capt. Reginald translated from their original tongues Judson Press. Philadelphia. Wallis. 40 cents. A. B. C. Assn. into the Swatow colloquial. Philadelphia. Consider Him. Vance Havner. 100 Deaconess E'l"len'" La'"khshmi Goreh, pp. $1.50. American Bible Con- The Road to Victory. C. M. S. Re- ference Assn. Philadelphia. port for 1936-7. 6d. C. M. S. who died January 11 in Cawnpore, London. India, at the age of 83, had a remark- Church Militant. Popular Report, able career. Her father was a con- 170 pp., 6d.; Official Report, 240 The Romance of a Doctor's Visit. vert from Brahminism. Left mother- pp., 18. S. P. G. in F. P. London. Walter Lewis Wilson. ls. Pick- less in infancy, she was cared for by ering & Inglis. London. missionaries and later educated in Except Ye Repent. Harry A. Iron- sides. 191 pp. $1.50. American Unity in Diversity. Report of Friends Tract Society. New York. Service Council 1936. London.
Evangelical Handbook of Latin What Is This Moslem World. Charles England; became active in social America. 120 pp. 4s. World Do- R. Watson. 204 pp. $1.00. M. E. M. work and eventually returned to In- minion Press. London. New York. dia as a Zenana Mission worker. AS author of the poem, "In the Secret of Follow Me. Una Roberts Lawrence. The Young Moslem Looks at Life. His Presence," she was known far 96 pp. Home Mission Board. At- Murray T. Titus. 178 pp. $1.00, beyond India. lanta, Ga. cloth; 60 cents, paper. Friendship Press. New York. The Rev. H'"enr'"y C'" . Ostrom, for The Heart of the Christian Faith. Francis Shunk Downs. 209 pp. A Missionary Looks at His Job. W. twenty-five years a missionary of the $1.50. American Tract Society. J. Culshaw. 144 pp. 2s. Student Presbyterian Church (South) in Ja- New York. Christian Movement Press. London. pan, died in Kobe on January 20. He was a consecrated and gifted mission- Hadramaut – Its Challenge. W. H. Christ's Way and the World's in ary, being acquainted with nine lan- Storm. 8 pp. 2d. World Dominion Church, State and Society. Henry guages. He was born of Lutheran Press. London. Smith Leiper. 144 pp. 65 cents parents at Lockport, Illinois, on De- and 90 cents. Abingdon Press. cember 4, 1876, and after graduating Indians Today. Edited by Marion E. New York. Gridley. 128 pp. $2.50. Indian Council Fire. Chicago. from college at the age of 18 he went to Germany to study music. Later he Living Religion. Hornell Hart. 260 Obituary Not•• attended Princeton Theological Sem- pp. Abingdon Press. New York. (Concluded fro?n 2d cover.) inary and went to Japan as a mission- Missionary Romance in Morocco. ary in 1911. On his first furlough he J ames Haldane. 189 pp. 2s. 6d. Bishop W. F. McDowell, retired, was traveling secretary of the Stu- Pickering & Inglis. London. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, dent Volunteer Movement. died on April 26 at 79 years of a~e. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Missionary Illustrations. Alva C. J!}pmn~ Bowers. 154 pp. $1.50. Revell. He was born in Millersburg, OhIO, New York. February 4, 1858, the son of David A. l.l McDowell; was educated at Ohio 0f tbt None Other Gods. W. A. Visser 't Wesleyan and Boston University, be- Hooft. 185 pp. Harpers Bros. ing ordained to the ministry in 1882. New York. After pastorates in Ohio, he was cvhear,nc1e8l9lo0r-9o9f, stheecreUtnarivyerosfitytheofMDeetnh– .ftr-'brt't'itt'an Poems of a Persian Sufi. Baba Tabis. ~ l.l Translated by Arthur J. Arberry. 7J4f. t'ft W. Heffer & Sons. London. odist Board of Education for five years and in 1904 elected bishop of The Triune God. C. Norman Bart- the Methodist Episcopal Church. lett. 191 pp. $1.50. American eA. Bishop McDowell was widely known Tract Society. New York. BOOK of worship in song, com- as a speaker, lecturer and author but Two Missionary Voyages. Thomas chiefly for his work in behalf of tem- bining a hymnal for general Thompson. 90 pp. lB. S. P. G. in Foreign Parts. London. perance and public morals. church use, and a song book for evan- Unity in Diversity. Report of Friends '" '" '" gelistic purposes. Only songs sound Service Council, 1936. London. in the faith and inspirational in char- The Rev. Dr. James Shepard Kit- With Christ in Africa. D. A. Mc- tell, for the past ten years secretary acter included—emphasizing Evangel- Donald. 158 pp. 28. 6d. Marshall, of the Board of Domestic Missions of ism, Missions, and the Deeper Life. Morgan & Scott. London. $1.00. the Reformed Church in America, died Zondervan Pub. House, Grand in New York at 64 years of age. Dr. Many of the new—the best of the old. Rapids, Mich. Kittell was born at Hamilton, Ont., a 504 Songs Responsive Readings Mecca and Beyond. Edward M. and son of John and Jane Drysdale Kittell, Rose W. Dodd. 220 pp. 50 cents, Topical Index Gold Embossed paper; $1.00, cloth. Central Com- mittee on the United Study of For- and came to the United States when Published in round notes and Roxite cloth eign Missions. Boston. seven years old. He attended Alle- edition only at $65.00 per 100—an especially gheny College and the Western The- low price. Single copy, 85c postpaid. The Cross of Christ. George P. Pier- ological Seminary, was ordained in son. 173 pp. $1.50. American 1903, and after filling several charges Write today for returnable sample copy Tract Society. New York. CRUSADE SONqS in Congregational churches, he became The Christian Evangel. John Mc- Nicol. 91 pp. $1.50. American pastor of the First Reformed Church Tract Society. New York. of Albany, 1907-21. In 1913, Dr. Kit- C/l CHOICE selection of 105 hymns and tell was president of the General The Israel Promises and Their Ful- Synod of the Reformed Church in choruses for Revival Services, Bible Con- filment. Samuel Hinds Wilkinson. America. ferences, and Missionary Conventions. 196 pp. 88. 6d. John Bale, Sons and Danielson. London. '" '" '" Strong manila binding, 15c each; Dr. William Ashmore, for forty- $12.50 per 100. Carriage extra.
eight years a missionary of the Amer- ican Baptist Foreign Society in China, who retired in 1927, passed away on March 11 in Santa Ana, California, in
Partnerships and Hssured
During seventy-five years The American Baptist Home Mission Society has encouraged its friends to have a share in the development of Christian Missions in the United States and Latin America through Annuity Gifts to the Society.
These gifts have amounted to over Three Million Dollars, while in the same period the Society has paid over Two Million Dollars to annuitants and has used for its general work or added to its permanent funds over One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars released by deaths of beneficiaries. In no instance during three quarters of a century has the Society failed to make a payment to an Annuitant according to agreement.
Inquiries concerning ANNmTIES AND LEGACIES may be addressed to SAMUEL BRYANT, Treasurer THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY 23 East 26th Street New York City ORDER THE SPECIAL "MOSLEM NUMBER"
OF THE MISSIONARY ~~WORID This October Issue will contain articles on CHRIST AND THE MOSLEM WORLD Why Take Christ to Moslems? Samuel M. Zwemer The Gospel for Mohammedans W. Wilson Cash Present-day Trends in Islam Edward C. Dodd Moslem Reactions to Christ My Experience with Moslems . James Haldane Christ and Moslem Homes . Frank C. Laubach What Christ Has Done for Me Eleanor Calverley A Sermon by a Former Moslem . S. Khoobyar Saee'd Kurdistani and others—with maps and illustrations ORDER COPIES IN ADVANCE FOR YOURSELF AND MISSION STUDY CLASSES 25 cents a copy $20 a hundred $2.50 a year THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
ROBERT E. SPEER, President DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor